What is the optimal graphics card for i3 2100?

[joneb]

I bought a new computer self build but it still needs a graphics card. Can anyone advise me on the optimal one that doesn't get bottlenecked by the rest of the machine? Here are the stats:

I3 2100
micro atx motherboard
midi tower case
500 watt or 650 watt psu (have both)
4GB memory
1TB sata HDD

Thank you in advance

 

[inzone]

I'm not up on ATI/AMD but as for Nvidia if you use the 650 you could actually get a low end GTX 580 and defniatly a 570 and lower. If you use the 500w then you have to start at the GTX 560 and lower. If you go on Newegg.com and look at the video cards they will always, in the details tab, give you the recomended power supply.

 

[purple stain]

What is the make/model of your PSU's?

What is your monitors resolution?

What is your budget?

 

[Jim_L9]

Will you be paying games?

 

[joneb]

Im going to play games and want the card to do good 1920x1280. The 650 watt is a Corsair TX 650, the 500w looks like a generic one. The cards Im thinking about are Nvidia 570, 560 Ti, Radeon 6870, 6950. What I was wondering was would any of those cards be wasted on the i32100

 

[purple stain]

Anything over a GTX560ti or 6950 will get bottlenecked by your CPU.Since the 6950 and GTX560ti are about the same performance wise it comes down to which one you would prefer and what your budget is.

 

[joneb]

Thanks guys

 

[purple stain]

So which one were you thinking about getting?

What types of games are you playing?

 

[iam2thecrowe]

if you want to play crysis 2 with the dx11 update at 1080p with good fps, a gtx570 is the minimum card you need, regardless of CPU. the gtx560 and 6950 are better value though and should play majority games maxed out.