Best Graphics Cards For The Money: July 2010

[cleeve]

This month, we discuss the new GDDR5-based versions of the Radeon HD 5550 and 5570, the disappearance of Nvidia's GeForce 9600 GT, and almost-universal price drops across the GeForce GTX 400-series line. Come see how our recommendations have changed!

Best Graphics Cards For The Money: July 2010 : Read more

 

[kckrich]

God how I love Tom's.

 

[touchdowntexas13]

I think I agree with the 5850 taking the solid recommendation and the gtx 470 not. The 5850 runs cooler, quieter, and uses less power.

However I just got my GTX 470 with the EVGA lifetime warranty and free copy of Just Cause 2 for $330, so I am happy with that choice

Other than that, like the article states, it was a relatives quiet month for video card updates. Looking forward to ATI/Nvidia's next offerings as well as driver updates.

 

[sprunth]

Error on the 5770 article. Typed '5570' once in the middle.

I just bought a 5770 like a week ago for $130

The 5770 seems to be really good at OCing and economically better priced for X-fire.

 

[misha87]

i thought that the 465 was going to be a little higher

 

[notty22]

I think I agree with the 5850 taking the solid recommendation and the gtx 470 not. The 5850 runs cooler, quieter, and uses less power.

However I just got my GTX 470 with the EVGA lifetime warranty and free copy of Just Cause 2 for $330, so I am happy with that choice

Other than that, like the article states, it was a relatives quiet month for video card updates. Looking forward to ATI/Nvidia's next offerings as well as driver updates.

At $315, the GeForce GT 470 would take a solid recommendation, but at $330 it gets an honorable mention.
Here is the GTX 470 at 299.99, sans rebate, free shipping. Read between the lines and the nod goes to Nvidia
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127501&cm_re=gtx_470-_-14-127-501-_-Product

 

[youssef 2010]

who said the 9600 disappeared.If you think so, kindly check the following links:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130360&cm_re=9600-_-14-130-360-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162030&cm_re=9600-_-14-162-030-_-Product

for 9600GSO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500149&cm_re=9600-_-14-500-149-_-Product

 

[jordan009]

does crossfire even increase perofrmance by that much in games? (what if the games you paly arent optimised for it?) anyways my card is in 4th of the list (5770)

 

[DjEaZy]

... it's ATi all over the place...

 

[FunSurfer]

Why is the mobility HD 4860 is one tier lower than the mobility HD 4850?

 

[mitch074]

My 4850 is now entering its third year of faithful use - and it's still a recommendation! I can hardly believe it.

It doesn't happen often, but this sure is a 'puter product that wasn't outdated 6 months after it came out.

 

[Petey1013]

I'm surprised there's no mention of GTX 470s in SLI, especially compared to a 5970.

 

[user-one]

nice that these guys get paid to chang the title of an article and just re-post the exact same article from the last 3 months.

 

[Reynod]

Don well done on an other great article.

Gee the 9800gtx+ ... er GT250 is a steal at that price.

Great card ... if a little hot on the old 65nm process.

AMD need to drop the price another $10 on their remaining stock of 4 series GPU's and get them out the door ... and keep hammering NV on the 5 series front ... where is is more profitable anyway.

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]youssef 2010[/nom]who said the 9600 disappeared.[/citation]

There's only three models of 9600 GT and two of 9600 GSO on Newegg, and they're all overpriced.

For all practical purposes, the 9600 GSO is gone.

 

[DaeM]

Best PCIe Card For ~$700: None

lol trying to spend maximum allowable top-dollar geting ^^... none lol

 

[chriscusano]

I thought the 5750 was dx10, not 11...

 

[nerrawg]

Great and simple guide as usual but I wonder Cleeve if the GFX hierarchy might benefit from adding a tier between the GTX 285/5850 and the GTX 260/4870 levels? This tier would be NVidia: GTX275, GTX280 and GTX 465; AMD: 4890 and 5830. I think such a tier might better reflect the descrepancy in GPU power between these cards and the GTX260/4870/5770 as well as the fact that there is at least a $50-100 separation in price between the preposed tiers.

 

[scook9]

I disagree with the layout of the chart on the last page.

The 4870x2 and 5870 are about equal and a GTX295 is not as good as a GTX 480. The GTX 295 and GTX 470 should be in that gap and the 5870 should be bumped up a notch

 

[philiprudd]

Nice for AMD again another month with a good lineup still unmatched in many price points but one that is bothering me is that you guys keep on showing the HD5870 is more powerful than a GTX470 but they look very close matched to me these last few weeks but with power and heat the HD cards is on there own with gr8 price/performance.

 

[zooted]

[citation][nom]chriscusano[/nom]I thought the 5750 was dx10, not 11...[/citation]
All of the 5xxx series are dx11

 

[enzo matrix]

[citation][nom]chriscusano[/nom]I thought the 5750 was dx10, not 11...[/citation]
DX 10: ATI radeon 2xxx cards
DX10.1: ATI radeon 3xxx and 4xxx cards
DX11: ATI radeon 5xxx cards

DX10 is old, dude.
What rock have you been living under?

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]chriscusano[/nom]I thought the 5750 was dx10, not 11...[/citation]

You thought wrong!

It's a Dx11 part. The entire Radeon HD 5000 series is Dx11.

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]lamester[/nom]How could the 5750 be "Great 1920x1200 performance in most games" when the 4850 is "Exceptional 1680x1050 performance in most games...[/citation]

Good catch, fixed!

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]nerrawg[/nom]...there is at least a $50-100 separation in price between the preposed tiers.[/citation]

Price has absolutely nothing to do with the hierarchy chart. The only factor is average gaming performance.

On the performance suggestion alone though, I'll have a look.