Looking for a budget Graphics card

[Spunkee311]

hey everyone,

I'm looking for advice/opinions on a budget graphics card. I currently have the Geforce 6150SE Nforce 430. I'm looking for an improvement over this but don't want to spend $400. I don't need anything high end.
I was researching the galaxy Geforce 9500GT, but was wondering what everyone things about this card? newegg has it for $69.99 with 1 gig of ram and seemed like it was a good deal. Will this be an improvement over what I have currently?
I am pretty much only using and playing WOW so again don't need anything too high end or expensive.
Any opinion/recommendations would be appreciated.
Also any recommendations on the power supply that would be needed as well.

 

[Helltech]

Could you tell us your motherboard, cpu, ram and power supply? Also the resolution taht you play at? Your budget would be helpful as well.

 

[Spunkee311]

I have an Acer Aspire E380.
-Windows Vista 32 Bit
-2 Gigs of DDR2 RAM (soon to be 4 gigs)
- My current Display resolution is 1440 by 900 [WOW is 1024 by 768]
- AMD Atholon 64X2 Dual Core Processor 4400 2.3GHz
-I believe my current power supply is only at 250W



I was looking only to spend roughly $100 or so. Depending also on the Power Supply as well. Any opinions on graphics card or the Galaxy Gerforce 9500 GT would be appreciated.

 

[aznshinobi]

The 9500GT is a good way to go, the 240GT is now only 70$ so that'd be a good way to go. Way better than the 9500GT.
Benchmarks: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2906/6

But the best, that's close to your budget would be the 4670, or the 4770 (great but only if you can find it, NEwegg doesn't sell them anymore)


Another good card is if you can afford to spend 30$ more, the GTS250 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127495&cm_re=250_GTS-_-14-127-495-_-Product

Or the 4850 Vapor-X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102834&cm_re=4850-_-14-102-834-_-Product

 

[aznshinobi]

Woops, your PSU is iffy to support the 4850 or GTS 250 so think about the PSU you upgrade, also you might bottleneck with the 4850 or 250

Not the best PSU but it'll be much better than your current and be able to pull the 4850 or 250 gts. However it will push your budget

Seasonic S12II, great rep and good PSU for the cost: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

Cooler Master Silent Pro 600w Not 80+ bronze, but still 80+ the great thing is it actually is quiet and that it has some wattage headroom, plus its 50$ off Oh It's actually not bad, I have the 700w version.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171036

 

[Spunkee311]

can I fit a Graphics card that has DDR3? Cause my Ram is DDR2

 

[aznshinobi]

Yes, It will, video card ram is different from mobo ram.

 

[Spunkee311]

If I do go with the 9500 GT or the 240 GT would I still have to upgrade my PSU? Mine currently right now is at 250W I believe.

 

[Helltech]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5670,2533-17.html

No you shouldn't.

 

[Spunkee311]

THe Newegg calculator did mention that the 9500gt would minimum use 3oo or 350 watt, can't remember.

 

[Helltech]

That calculator is inflated, they do that to cover their ass/sell units.

You can use benchmarks like the one I just showed you to show how much power you need.

 

[joemathew85]

hey everyone,

For 250 watts psu ,the best u can have is an ati radeon 5570 hd.better than nvidia 9500

 

[punnar]

Ensure that your PSU can support the total amps that are being drawn by the whole system.

Read How Much Power Does Your Graphics Card Need?

 

[Tamz_msc]

A HD 5670 might also work, its the most powerful card that you can have without a PSU upgrade.

 

[punnar]

A HD 5670 might also work, its the most powerful card that you can have without a PSU upgrade.

That's right. If you get any of the 5000 series GPU you will get all the new techs like TrueHD, eyefinity, and DX11 support.

 

[Spunkee311]

Ok I'll research this HD 5670. SO I can actually get this card without having to upgrade my PSU? Just want to make sure cause I obviously don't want anything to happen to the PC. Also, I know that someone said that Video Card Ram is different from Motherboard Ram. So am I able to get a game card with DDR5 as well? when my PC uses DDR2? Just wondering cause i went to New Egg and saw the HD5670 with 1 gig DDR5 Ram.
So I take it this might be the best way to go? I'm really not wanting to upgrade my PSU unless absolutely necessary.

 

[aznshinobi]

Long as you have at least PCI Express 16x (you don't have to have 2.0 it's just that you'll see better performance with 2.0 since 16x 1.0 is backwards compatible with 2.0)

 

[aznshinobi]

OH sorry double post, but since your psu is most likely generic, your going to have to. At least to 350 watt or 400+ watt. Video ram is different that your pc's mobo ram -.- how many times do i hafta repeat it. YES YOU CAN USE DDR5 from your card. -.- There isn't even DDR5 desktop ram i don't think.

 

[Tamz_msc]

OH sorry double post, but since your psu is most likely generic, your going to have to. At least to 350 watt or 400+ watt. Video ram is different that your pc's mobo ram -.- how many times do i hafta repeat it. YES YOU CAN USE DDR5 from your card. -.- There isn't even DDR5 desktop ram i don't think.

He does not require a PSU upgrade- the 5670 uses very less power.

 

[g00fysmiley]

5670 is pretty efficient card, probably your best bet at sub $100


you'll probably be able to play in ultra with max fps on one

heck my 8500GT plays WoW at 30-35fps in ultra

 

[punnar]

5670 is pretty efficient card, probably your best bet at sub $100


you'll probably be able to play in ultra with max fps on one

heck my 8500GT plays WoW at 30-35fps in ultra

Yeah. Until they release cataclysm.

 

[g00fysmiley]

admitadly yes my graphics card probably will limit me to down some settings for cataclysm but i'd imagine the 5670 would still be able to handle it at ultra or at least near maxed settings with good fps

 

[makubex1211]

a similar question
which graphic card is the best under 200$ for resolution 1366 x 768?

 

[Timop]

Strictly speaking a GTX460/HD5830.
Though even a GTS250/4850/5750 might be doing it a little over/

 

[joemathew85]

hey everyone,

I'm looking for advice/opinions on a budget graphics card. I currently have the Geforce 6150SE Nforce 430. I'm looking for an improvement over this but don't want to spend $400. I don't need anything high end.
I was researching the galaxy Geforce 9500GT, but was wondering what everyone things about this card? newegg has it for $69.99 with 1 gig of ram and seemed like it was a good deal. Will this be an improvement over what I have currently?
I am pretty much only using and playing WOW so again don't need anything too high end or expensive.
Any opinion/recommendations would be appreciated.
Also any recommendations on the power supply that would be needed as well.

i did an approx calculation of ur power supply requirement for ati 5670 using eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite v2.5. i got a minimum req of 202 watts and recommended req of 254 watts according to ur current configuration assuming u use only 1 hdd.it gives an approx idea of wat the total system powerdraw wen that card is used. so ati 5670 might work but in course of time the psu wil get damaged