Best DX10 fast-memory card for ~$150?

jliverance1

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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.
 
Solution
I still believe anything over a 5770 will be seriously bottlenecked by your CPU.
That means 4890,GTX460 i wouldn't reccomend unless you O.C. your prossesor.
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I would recommend a gts 450 gtx 460 or that 5770 they all run pretty well and should be ok with your setup.
 
I don't see why you don't go with a 5770.It is a really good card for the money.And they are going for as low as $130.If you remember the old 4850,the 5770 is the equivelnt to it.
What is the name/model of your current PSU?
I'm sure you will see some bottlenecking from your CPU.It's just to slow and kinda old to run some of the newer high end mid range cards.
I guess if you wanted to you could go for a 4850,they are cheaper but consume more power than a 5770.
 

jliverance1

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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.

Concerning the cpu, I do intend on upgrading to a ~3ghz quad-core this year, so I'm not set on the mid-range, but clearly the gpu is my current bottleneck.

@ Cia24: What game are you talking about, that you're getting 40fps? Bad Company is my primary goal here, and if a 5770 will do the trick, I'll go with it.

@ purple stank: The PSU is antec, not sure of the model. Only one 6-pin power connector.


 
Hmmm,i dunno about a 5770 giving you smooth play at max settings.I can barely get 55+FPS with my 6870(no aa).I think a 5770 could do medimum settings.
I really think the 6850 would be the way to go.Just stretch your budget about $30 more dollars and you got a card that will last you for a few years.I was going to say might as well get the GTX460 but since the 6850's prices are becoming so low why not get it instead.

Sapphire 6850 $175=$160 after MIR+Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&cm_re=6850-_-14-102-908-_-Product

I do encourage you to wait until laster this week when the GTX560 will be released.I'm sure you will see prices being slashed everywhere from the 58xx series to the new 68xx series cards.Not to metion the GTX460.


 
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The 4890 is alot faster then the 5770 and it overclocks like a beast
 
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+1 hes right on this, i would recommend a cpu and gpu upgrade together.
 

jliverance1

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Jan 22, 2011
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So here's what I'm going to go with in the next week, unless I find a better deal:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127476&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=404255&SID=s_google


It's an MSI 5770, for $100 shipped (with a rebate). It's only got one DVI port, which I'm a bit shady about, as I'm a fan of dual-monitors. But adapters aren't outrageously priced, so should be good...


That's for now, I'm looking at an Athlon II X4 645 sometime within the next few months, and if I feel the need for more muscle, a motherboard upgrade and another 5770 in CF.


 
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http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1035200287

word to the wise the better bussines burueo has many report of msi not refunind rebate. there is alot of talk about this on the web also i never got mine.
 

plague115

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I have the XFX Radeon HD5770 in my rig with a quadcore 3.0 and 8GB ram, and I run all my games on max settings at 1050 (wont go 1080 without a black border on your moniter, even with HDMI cables and a 1080 moniter). I can get 60 FPS on max setting WHILE recording 1050 definition with fraps. Outside of recording, I usually get 70-80 FPS. All my games run as smooth as can be, it preforms way better than I thought it would. Have to wonder if its just your rig?
It was 150$ from amazon when I bought it 4-5 months ago, I think its down to like 140$ now. Its definitely well worth the money, plus has a lifetime warranty if you buy it new and register it with XFX within 30 days. Plus it fit like a charm, I have a normal size box and had no issues getting it in there. Just make sure you have a 450w PSU and a 6pin connector. I went with the Corsair 750watt PSU, comes with the 6pin connector but the cord length is ridiculously long, unless you have a spare bay to tuck them in, might be a tight fit, lol. Heres a list of the games that I play on max settings, to give you an idea:

COD World at War
COD Modern Warfare 2
COD Black Ops
Battlefied Bad Company 2
Killing Floor
Mirrors Edge
NFS Shift
Street Fighter 4
Fallout 3
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2

None of these games have any lag whatsoever when I play them and always stay at max EVERYTHING. Im not sure about crysis, that might be pushing it, lol (you said that doesnt matter anyway though). Get this card, you cant go wrong bud.

XFX Radeon HD 5770
http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Radeon-5770-Graphics-HD577AZNFC/dp/B002SP113K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295939367&sr=1-1

Corsair 750watt
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMPSU-750TX-750-Watt-Certified-compatible/dp/B000X2677A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295939440&sr=1-1
 

cthunder067

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you coud do that, or you could upgrade to the Athlon II x4 645 first (recommended) then get a video card later. By then prices should have dropped on 5800 and 6800 series cards.
 
The 5770 is in your price range but the GTX460 or 5850 is your best bang for buck.Espically the 5850 sinces the prices are dropping because of the 68xx series.But i don't even think with a 5770 in an old phenom x3 @2.1ghz can do anything more than the 7900gs.Yes you will see a slight improvement but with your slow CPU you will be servely holding back any card you put into it.I would really advise you to spend this money on a new CPU now and get a graphics card later.
Also the prices are dropping already for the 68xx series card because of the realse of the GTX560 today.And i'm since the 68xx series cards price' are dropping the price of the 5770 will too.So it is probably best to wait anyway to see what the prices' will be like in a week or two.

EDIT:Just to be clear you do have a Phenom not a a Phenom ii right?
 
Here's a couple of nice prossesors you can still use with your mobo.But i'm not sure what your mobo is cpable of powering so you might need to read into that if you plan on upgrading.

AMD Phenom ii x4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103472&cm_re=am2%2b-_-19-103-472-_-Product

AMD Phenom ii x4 B.E.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471&cm_re=am2%2b-_-19-103-471-_-Product

Both are Socket AM2+,but like i said i don't know if your mobo can power them(Require 125watts).