Budget GPU

[hpfreak]

Alright, I'm still working on a budget system for under 500 Bucks.

Here are the specs

AMD Phenom II 955 BE
Cooler Master Hyper 212
Cooler Master Elite RC-310 Midsize-ATX Case
Asus M5A97 motherboard (Not EVO)
LG DVD-RW Drive
G-Skill 4 GB (2x2) DDR3 1333 MHz RAM
Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC PSU

Alright, it totals to about 400 Dollars with this build. I already have a Windows 7 license, and a 3.5" 500 GB Hard drive. So, I just need a good graphics card for UNDER 90 dollars.

100 Dollars is pushing it...
90 Dollars is pretty high...
80 Dollars is good (if there is something slightly more expensive but much better, I'd prefer the better one..)
70 Dollars makes me think there is a catch..

Alright, here is what I'm looking at doing with the Graphics card..

Gaming- I don't expect to run Crysis 2 on Ultra or anything, I just play a few games from time to time, like League of Legends, Team Fortress 2, Medal of Honor: Airborne. I currently have a G73 with a 5870m... the desktop GPU has to be atleast on par or better than that Mobile GPU.

Video Editing- I do some 720p video editing, I use After Effects and Sony Vegas.
Photo Editing- I do a lot of work with Photoshop, I use it for editing photos, creating banners, creating about anything from icons to animated GIFs.



I'd prefer that the GPU have GDDR5 memory, but that if there is something that doesn't have it, yet it is cheap and faster then the cheap GDDR5 GPUs, it will be worth considering.

I prefer to buy from Newegg, that is where the rest of the build is, and I do not want to be entagled with rebates, I don't care if there is a rebate offer with a certain GPU, but they are a waste of time.

Feel free to comment on the build, if you have an idea for it that will will be even cheaper and will give me the ability to add an even better GPU, I will consider it.
I want to keep the CPU, and MB as it though, I hope to upgrade to a Bulldozer chip eventually.

 

[zooted]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131434
95$ AR =[ if that is too much look for a 5670/6670

 

[ps3hacker12]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131434
95$ AR =[ if that is too much look for a 5670/6670

yep that or this too would be a great option: ($89)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130663

and if you can afford it theres this too : ($109)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121435

all three of these graphics cards (the 6770, the gts 450 and the GTX550Ti) will all beat that mobile GPU (if not trump it).

the 550Ti is much better than both the gts450 and the 6770/5770:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/03/15/nvidia-geforce-gtx-550-ti-1gb-review/6

 

[hpfreak]

Let me make this clear, I do not care about the rebates. I need it to be under 100 Dollars to start with, I will not do the rebates, they take too long, and they don't always work.

Thanks,

All of those look okay, but they are over the budget to start with.

 

[ps3hacker12]

Let me make this clear, I do not care about the rebates. I need it to be under 100 Dollars to start with, I will not do the rebates, they take too long, and they don't always work.

Thanks,

All of those look okay, but they are over the budget to start with.

oh sorry if you can afford $100 theres this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=gts+450&x=0&y=0

but at $80 this would be a great option too:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131440

 

[hpfreak]

I really like that PowerCooler GPU... I just have one question about the memory, what exactly is the difference between the DDR3 and GDDR5 memory?

I prefer the faster memory- GDDR5, but I know I'm being irrational if I'm going to ask for the power of a GTX 590 for under 100 bucks

Anyways, is it better then the 5870m?

The one I'm using has 1 GB GDDR5 memory

Core: 700 MHz
Memory Clock: 1000 MHz

I saw on the Newegg specs that the PowerColor AX6670 has a Core clock of 800 MHz, and it says that the memory clock of 667 MHz x2, does that mean that it is 1,334 MHz?

 

[hpfreak]

What do you think of this? I don't care if it's a gen before the 6xxx series. But look at the specs, is it better?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150467

Specs:

XFX HD-567X-ZNF3 Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card


Chipset Manufacturer:ATI
Core Clock:775MHz
Stream Processors:400 Stream Processing Units
Effective Memory Clock:1000MHz (4.0Gbps effective)
DirectX: DirectX 11
OpenGL: OpenGL 3.2
HDMI:1 x HDMI
DisplayPort:1 x DisplayPort

 

[ps3hacker12]

I really like that PowerCooler GPU... I just have one question about the memory, what exactly is the difference between the DDR3 and GDDR5 memory?

I prefer the faster memory- GDDR5, but I know I'm being irrational if I'm going to ask for the power of a GTX 590 for under 100 bucks

Anyways, is it better then the 5870m?

The one I'm using has 1 GB GDDR5 memory

Core: 700 MHz
Memory Clock: 1000 MHz

I saw on the Newegg specs that the PowerColor AX6670 has a Core clock of 800 MHz, and it says that the memory clock of 667 MHz x2, does that mean that it is 1,334 MHz?

The GDDR5 does nothing (or very little) performance-wise, which I believe is due to its increased latency over GDDR3.

and the 667Mhzx2 means there are two GDDR modules each running at 667Mhz.

and i think i was trying to link you to this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150535

and it can be be OCed to the same level as that powercoulor 6670 (only 25Mhz difference beetween them, but the XFX has a better memory modules).

[EDIT]:
yeah that card was one i was looking at too 😛 out of the options i would go for that one, i though the one in this post was GDDR5 but i geuss its GDDR3.

 

[ps3hacker12]

If I was only spending a max of $100 before taxes

I would get the best brand I could :3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127586

lol, he could get a 6750 for only $5 more than that:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102939

also i would reccommend this board over that but its really up to you if you like Asus or Gigabyte more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128521


also i would reccommend this case over that one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

 

[hpfreak]

Personally, I prefer Asus. Gigabyte is great, and I was using Gigabyte systems originally, but I'm looking forward to an Asus board just because of the reviews and my own personal experience with a factory refurbished laptop :O
What is the advantage of that Gigabyte board over the Asus?

I think the 5670 is probably the best option for me at the moment.
I checked online at passmark. And the 5670 ranks 70th while the 5870m ranks 66th..
What kind of overclocking potential does the 5670 have? Without water/aftermarket cooling?


Yeah, I do want to max out, but I'm more concerned about the budget then the power. I'd rather keep it down low and upgrade later on.

I really like the 5670... and I guess there isn't much of a performance difference between it and the 5870m... Besides, I've maxed out all the games I've played, and I've used Photoshop and such with little problem (Sometimes it crashes) after downclocking to make the system run a tad cooler.


Thanks guys, I think I'm sold the 5670... I'd just like to get my above questions answered.

 

[hpfreak]

also i would reccommend this case over that one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

Yeah, I though about it... I was a bit critical on the design, looks fine, but I don't like the flimzy plastic front that isn't walled on the sides.. I could mod it though 😀 but I guess I'll reconsider if you can confirm that it will fit the Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU Cooler..
The Width of the CM Case isn't much better... But I'm trying to go with width because the CM Hyper 212 is like 6" tall, and then plus the mb.. I think it'll just fit.. but I'm still worried about it.

 

[jrwizbang]

Yeah, I though about it... I was a bit critical on the design, looks fine, but I don't like the flimzy plastic front that isn't walled on the sides.. I could mod it though 😀 but I guess I'll reconsider if you can confirm that it will fit the Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU Cooler..
The Width of the CM Case isn't much better... But I'm trying to go with width because the CM Hyper 212 is like 6" tall, and then plus the mb.. I think it'll just fit.. but I'm still worried about it.

Well, I have that case, and I have to say, it is not flimsy at all. It is very well made, and you will not be disappointed. And also, my friend has the m59, which is basically the same case, with a different front, and he has the hyper 212+ and it fits. Just barely, but it fits.

 

[ps3hacker12]

heres a review of that card:
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/xfx_radeon_hd_5670_1gb_review/3

they don't really take it to the limits, but you could use MSI afterburner or similar software to OC that card. And both those boards are about the same so if your looking into Asus right now then go for Asus! And ive done a few systems with that case and they have all been great! i havent tried a CM 212+ but ive tried fitting a arctic freezer 13 and that fit so a CM 212+ should fit fine too.

 

[hpfreak]

Thank you guys so much!

 

[hpfreak]

Best answer selected by hpfreak.