Best Graphics Cards For The Money: December '09

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knightmike

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Thanks for this wonderful article. I look forward to it every month. I was able to pick up a PNY GTS 250 1GB for $73. It's connected to an Acer 21.5" 1920x1080 monitor I got for $84. I paired it with an AMD 240. I'm currently playing Bioshock, Mass Effect, and Left 4 Dead getting a smooth 60 FPS on all three games at high settings.
 

rutoojinn

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[citation][nom]tacoslave[/nom]i lol'd when i saw the 295 as an honerable mention. By the way where is this 5890 they mention?[/citation]

There is no 5890, and yes how ATi label their models is kinda confusing but it goes to this order 5770, 5870, 5970 and replace the 70 with a 50 for the 2nd tier of that group.
 

falchard

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Lack of research alert. You listed a $200 card for $150. I mean seriously, did you need to create all those new categories so you can squeze in a nVidia. Since nVidia still hasn't dropped prices its only logical in 1 price segment, $100~$130.
 

basket687

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Good Article, but I have two comments:
1- Shouldn't you switch the GT 240 GDDR5 and DDR3 positions in the list?
2- Why do you consider the GTX 280 to be of the same level of HD 5850 (in the list), isn't the 5850 significantly faster?
 

Syndil

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I fail to see how a non-DX11 card ties with a DX11 card. If the two offer similar performance at a similar price point, but one offers more future-proofing, then there is a clear winner.
 

grimjester

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[citation][nom]falchard[/nom]Lack of research alert. You listed a $200 card for $150. I mean seriously, did you need to create all those new categories so you can squeze in a nVidia. Since nVidia still hasn't dropped prices its only logical in 1 price segment, $100~$130.[/citation]

"Like many cards, the GeForce GTX 260 is becoming very hard to find, and may soon be end-of-life'd"

The prices have changed heavily since the article was written. Presumably someone who bothers to read articles like this knows enough not to pay $200 for a GTX260 anyway. Agree that Nvidia needs to drop prices, but it needs to be added that the 295 is still very competitive.
 

cinergy

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This watch artificially pushes geforces to every random price point. 9600GT @ $85, GTS250 @ $110, GTX295 @ $465. What is this best card for $123.45 logic? Why not mention e.g. HD4870x2 ~$429?
 

huron

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Thanks again for the article. I always check it out each month, even if I won't be in the market to purchase.

It's amazing to me that even though it has been awhile, the 8800GT/9800GT and the GTS 250 (rebadged 8800GTS/9800GTX, etc) still make the chart and do OK.

I guess it's not quite time to upgrade (still playing OK).

Thanks again for the article.
 

juliom

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The bias from Tom's favouring Nvidia is more clear with each passing day... How I miss Tom's from the old days...
 

cinergy

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[citation][nom]basket687[/nom]Good Article, but I have two comments:1- Shouldn't you switch the GT 240 GDDR5 and DDR3 positions in the list?2- Why do you consider the GTX 280 to be of the same level of HD 5850 (in the list), isn't the 5850 significantly faster?[/citation]


HD5850 IS faster than GTX285 no matter how they put it. Well, if they bench Last Remnant, Last Remnant and Last Remnant, then perhaps not.
 

superpowter77

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4890 is currently the top dog for conscious gamers under $200, no point discussing here a fact already proven on tomshardware article a few days ago. I currently own a 3870, 9800Gtx+, gtx 260 core 216, gtx 275, 4890 and a gtx 295(yes, I'm a freaking maniac) and just realized how overpriced the gtx 200 series are with the sole expection of the fantastic and unique for its price/performance ratio: gtx 295. If you don't have an Icore 7 you are wasting your money on gtx 200 series cards(Including the amazing gtx 295), simply because nvidia cards don't scale properly on heavy games as farcry 2 and crysis warhead(with very high settings) . I was checking prices today at newegg trying to find 4870x2 and saw a EVGA OC gtx 275 for a ridiculous price of $349. 4890 and gtx 275 are basically on same league and just got my 4890 for $169(on sale), why we need to spend almost double or at least $100 more on a video card which perform identical to 4890. people need to start reading and checking specs on real games with real configuration based on their current CPU/GPU combination to get the most of it. Currently nvidia gtx260,gtx 275 and gtx 285 are a rip off for customers.
 
I am sorely disappointed; not in this article, of course, which is a monthly staple read, but in the absurd pricing we're now seeing. I have been contemplating a post-Christmas upgrade, but at these prices I won't do it. The 5850 becoming widely available would probably do a lot to knock prices where they belong.
 

cyberkuberiah

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ati's redwood (400 sp's) would be a nice card for htpc and light gaming . most of newegg's cards are of 4650/70 and that would change in january . cards at this price point sell in such heavy numbers !
 

Lavacon

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wow.... these articles keep getting worse as time goes on. Are the writers over at Toms trying to get extra Fermi samples under the tree this year.

Why even bother having the GTS 250 1gb on the list when it just barley edges out a ATI 4850 in most benchmarks? The 4870 512 dominates the GTS 250 @ 5$ more. Isn't that the point of these articles? Bang for the Buck?
 

PrangeWay

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I would think recommending any card that doesn't have dx 11 support at this time is just irresponsible and reprehensible. It's the truth, and it's harsh, as I myself will need to upgrade my SLI 285's far, far earlier than I thought.
 
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