Best DX10 fast-memory card for ~$150?

[jliverance1]

Just got my old gaming rig running again, and looking to upgrade the current 7900gs to something a bit more capable. In catching up with the graphics card world, it appears that DX11 is now on the scene, and I'm not sure if I should be looking for a newer DX11 card, or be setting my sights a generation or two older, in search of more raw power. At the same time, I'm not a power user, and would like to keep my system as balanced and bottle-neck free as possible.

Rig is a Phenom x3 @ 2.1 ghz on a AM2+ mobo, 4gb DDR2 in Win7. 500 Watt psu. Current graphics is a 256-bit 7900gs with 256mb of gddr3.

I've been looking at the HD 5770, but I'm concerned about the slow memory bus. Additionally, I'm not really that concerned with DX11 anyways, as I probably won't be investing tons of money into this computer (I aim for $3-400 every couple years, always leaving me 2-3 generations behind on the GPU). This leaves me with thinking picking up a cheaper, more powerful DX10 card would produce the best results at the time, like a 4770 or similar.


Games I'd like to run are BFBC2, upcoming Witcher 2, Bioware rpgs, Shogun 2, GTA4... Don't need to max out Crysis, but I do want to be running at a resolution of *1050, which means more graphic memory.

So, based on the DX considerations, and the cpu bottleneck, what are my best options? I'm open to suggestions about the processor as well. Cheers.

 

[jyjjy]

The 5770 is what I've been looking into the most, but my concern is the 128-bit memory bus, which (in my understanding) won't be able to run shooters smoothly at 1050 or 1080 resolutions. Hence my leaning towards an older 48xx card with a 256-bit bus.

Your understanding is not correct. The HD5770 uses DDR5 memory which means a 128-bit bus is not a significant concern on a card of its caliber except perhaps when crossfired. The actual performance of the card is equal to or slightly better than the HD4870 at this point including the resolutions you mentioned. If the HD5770 struggles at high resolutions it will much more likely be because it lacks the graphical processing power rather than anything having to do with the memory. There's no reason to get an HD48xx card instead unless you find a great deal of some sort(perhaps the HD4890 doug mentioned?) and don't particularly care about power efficiency/DX10/eyefinity/etc.
That said the best card for $150 is the GTX 460 768mb which is significantly faster than the HD5770(about 25%) and overclocks a very large amount as well. This is quite a deal with the rebate, free games, factory OC and great cooling;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127519
It will actually be of questionable benefit vs an HD5770 on your current CPU but once you upgrade it will be well worth the extra money.

 

[residentdean]

I have a bfg gtx 285 for sale. I can sell it to you for $100, it was the second fastest direct 10 card. It is faster than the raedon 4890 and the 4870. Also If I were you I would almost save your money and purchase a new cpu and mobo. It's time for an upgrade

 

[Deleted member 362816]

I have a bfg gtx 285 for sale. I can sell it to you for $100, it was the second fastest direct 10 card. It is faster than the raedon 4890 and the 4870. Also If I were you I would almost save your money and purchase a new cpu and mobo. It's time for an upgrade

285 for sale hummmm, pm me some pictures of the card.

 

[jliverance1]

Thanks for all the input everyone. Just as I was beginning to lean towards the gtx, a friend offered to sell me a pair of xfx 5770s in the near future as the new 6900s are dropping. Taking into account the money saved, I'll take the performance hit.

In the meantime, I'm looking at the yet-unreleased Phenom II X4 840 mentioned in this month's best gaming cpus, (really an Athlon without L3). Hopefully that becomes available on newegg within the next week so I can order one with my student loan money. It's not wildly overclockable, but it's 3.2ghz for $100.

 

[purple stain]

Are you sure you mobo is compatible with the 840?

 

[jliverance1]

Are you sure you mobo is compatible with the 840?

Yes, it's a AM2+, which fits AM3, at the cost of using DDR2 ram.

 

[jyjjy]

Not all AM2+ boards can use all AM3 processors. It is also possible your board can handle the new chip but needs a BIOS update to do so. Be sure to confirm your board can use whatever specific processor you decide on.
That said be aware of what you are getting with the 840. It may be called a Phenom II but the fact is before this chip the difference between an Athlon II and Phenom II was that the latter had L3 cache. The 840 lacks L3 cache. What does that mean? The 840 is actually an Athlon II with slightly higher clocks which can be achieved on the other Athlon IIs with a simple overclock. So don't think you are really getting a Phenom II in the traditional sense; this is just a marketing maneuver by AMD.

 

[purple stain]

I would get the Phenom ii x 4 970.It is the only quad core AMD made that can unlock to a six core.
But with all this new techonoly coming out from both AMD and Intel.I think it is best to wait for the Bulldowzer to come out from AMD.A new line of proessors will really lower some prices for AMD's old generation and maybe for some of Intel'l Sandy Bridge.

 

[cthunder067]

True but even with Bulldowzer coming and AMD's new line of processors. It wouldn't hurt or set the OP back. The best case scenario for Bulldower and the AMD to come out is 5-6 months. Which the OP probably wouldn't upgrade for another 6 months waiting for the prices to drop. Feel free to current me if my logic is flawed.

 

[purple stain]

I read somewhere that Bulldozer was coming out Q2 of this year.
Like 2 more months?

 

[jliverance1]

@ jyjjy: As I mentioned, I'm well aware of the fact that it's really just an Athlon II, reason I'm looking at it is that it's the highest clock speed on an Athlon (3.2ghz), for $20 less than the current fastest (at 3.1ghz.) As for the BIOS, I've checked and the manufacturer does have updates available.

Not gonna wait for Bulldozer, as Q2 could mean anywhere between March and June/July.

 

[purple stain]

I think you would be better off getting a phenom callisto and unlocking the cores.Plus it has 6mb of L3.I bet it's faster than the 840 when it's O.C. and unlocked,plus it's actaully a real phenom.
I found an 820 which i'm guessing is the old model.
x2 555
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103846&cm_re=phenom_ii-_-19-103-846-_-Product

x4 820
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103824&cm_re=phenom_ii-_-19-103-824-_-Product

 

[jyjjy]

^+1
Get that 820. It actually does have L3 cache unlike the 840. It's OEM but you already have a fan/heatsink. Just order some thermal paste as that will need replacing for the new processor.

 

[purple stain]

I think the dual core is actually faster than the 820

 

[jyjjy]

If it unlocks then sure but it is a risk. I can't seem to find it now but I once saw a thread somewhere dedicated to the topic of the success rate of unlocking AMD chips and it was about 80% for the 550. I'd probably give up the 2mb of L3 to make sure I'm not in that other 20% myself.

 

[purple stain]

It is only a 5770.Would benifit more from the 550.But the 840 might be more futureproof.I just think you might be able to get more out of the 5770 with the faster dual and more L3.

 

[jliverance1]

Best answer selected by jliverance1.