Appropriate video card

[pella]

Hello everyone, I decided to change my video card and I would like some advice on what to buy. My current PC setup is this:
- Monitor Syncmaster T220 (22"; max resolution 1680x1050)
- AMD Phenom II X4 965
- 4 gb RAM
- Cooler Master GX-750W (RS-750-ACAA-D3)
- Radeon X1550

What I would like to know is, regardless of expense, which is the better video card I could buy. To be more clear, I would not come spend 400 $ for a card that, since the resolution that would go on playing, not being fully exploited. Consider that for at least another two years I would like to maintain my current PC configuration.
Thank you.

 

[jacktesterson]

I'd get a 5770/6770, 6790, 6850 or GTX 460 768MB/1GB Model.

If you can find a 6790 for $100 (which they are on sale at often), then that would be a nice card.

Used 460's are often around $100 too.

 

[Stuka87]

Just about anything would be a huge step up from that 1550.

How long do you want the card to last you? You can get a new 6850 for around $165 or so. Or like the above poster said you can get one of several used cards that goes for around $100.

 

[Rhezuss]

I'd try a 6850/6870 or GTX 550Ti/560 (non Ti).

With your resolution, anything over those would be overkill. You could try to OC your 965 (with a new aftermarket HSF) to reach 3.7/3.8GHz and go with a 6870 1gb or 2gb for the long run and you'd be a happy gamer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150563

$180AR + free Dirt 3 game coupon from AMD...it's looking good!

 

[toyota]

I say with a good cpu, get the MOST gpu power you can afford. 1680x1050 is not a huge drop below 1920x1080 and there are some games where I dip in the 30s at times with a gtx570 at 1920x1080. and that's sometimes without any AA either. I am actually quite frustrated that I do have enough gpu power to use vsync in many cases.

 

[Stuka87]

I say with a good cpu, get the MOST gpu power you can afford. 1680x1050 is not a huge drop below 1920x1080 and there are some games where I dip in the 30s at times with a gtx570 at 1920x1080. and that's sometimes without any AA either. I am actually quite frustrated that I do have enough gpu power to use vsync in many cases.

1680x1050 to 1920x1080 is a 17% jump. Which is the difference between 35fps and 41fps.

I know when I went from a 1860x1050 display to a 1920x1050 display I took a pretty big hit in FPS. But I agree with getting as much GPU as you can. As it means it will last that much longer.

 

[Leyawiin]

I have a GTX 560 (not a Ti) at 930 Mhz paired with an X4 955 @ 3.7 Ghz. My monitor is 1680x1050. I like to max in-game quality settings with my games and I occasionally get slow-downs doing so - and its not entirely on my CPU. I would think you could support up to a GTX 570 or so with the Phenom at that resolution. If you use vertical sync I doubt you'd see much improvement going to something like a GTX 580 (well, at least not enough to warrant the extra $150).

 

[we1shcake]

560ti or 6870 are perfect for that resolution IMO

 

[gmaster456]

Sounds like a GTX560 or HD6870 fits the bill.

 

[SickBeast]

I've been seeing the 1gb GTX 460s go for a little over $100 lately. Amazingly, the GTX 460 is still the best deal in terms of a gaming GPU for most people, IMO.