Best card for framerate and graphics @ 720p

[r3dsh1ft]

I am looking for a card that will give me maximum performance with a resolution of 720p. Can you over do it @ 720 and buy too pricey of card or are there some games out there that will push the most powerfull card @720p

looking for 60fps minimum @ max settings for almost all games.

 

[RussianSensation]

In some games that's just not possible (Metro 2033, Crysis 2 Ultra, Witcher 2 with Uber Sampling, BF3 multiplayer with 4xMSAA). Also, at low resolution such as 720P, the CPU becomes a critical factor in trying to get 60 fps minimum.

What is your CPU and clock speed? Do you plan to overclock the CPU or GPU?

Take a look at this review to get an idea of the GPU performance in many games. There aren't minimums but looking at the averages can also help you.

I don't want to recommend you get a $300 card for a 720P display though since at that point I think it's worth it to get a new monitor first. I think HD7850 + manual overclock to 1.1+ ghz is a good mid-range card under $240. You may want to wait another 2 weeks before GTX660/660Ti launch to see if there are possible price drops. HD7850/7870 and 7950 are pretty much the best cards in the $210-320 price range right now. Otherwise you are looking at GTX560/HD6870 which are good for older games but probably won't get you 60 fps minimum in newer games even at 720P.

 

[r3dsh1ft]

Thanks for your response. I have an i7 920 @stock

 

[Rifter]

7850

 

[RussianSensation]

Thanks for your response. I have an i7 920 @stock

Ya, that's not great. The perfect card for that CPU is HD7850 or HD7870. If you are willing to overclock that i7 920 to 3.5-4.0ghz, HD7950 is the next level up. You might want to wait another 15-16 days to see how GTX660/660Ti perform and if they force some price drops on HD7850/7870 cards.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

7850 will max out most games at that Rez provided you are willing to compromise on AA is some other games

 

[AtenRa]

7850 will be fine for now but if you can afford it get the 7950, it will last you longer.

 

[Arkadrel]

For only 720p a 7850 is overkill.

What you want is something like this:ASUS EAH6850 DC/2DIS/1GD5/V2 (790mhz OC version) ~129$ on newegg.

Then give it a tiny OC in CCC or a program like it (up to ~950mhz or so), and your all set to go.
Another Option is a Nvidia 560 card for around ~150-160$ (about 10% faster, but cost 20-30$ more).

 

[jacktesterson]

I can tell you even a 7970 cannot push some games fully maxed at 768p. (AKA Crysis II Ultra) comfortably.

That being said, your CPU is going to push things here. I would O/C that up to 3.8 Ghz and get a 7850. You should be fine for quite a while.

 

[Arkadrel]

@Adam the giant:

^ thats with a high texture pack and everything on highest setting (I believe it was).
Id consider 69fps for a 7970 to be "acceptable" gameplay experiance and thats at 1920x1200.

 

[jacktesterson]

@Adam the giant:

^ thats with a high texture pack and everything on highest setting (I believe it was).
Id consider 69fps for a 7970 to be "acceptable" gameplay experiance and thats at 1920x1200.

Interesting.

I was basing this off my own experience, and I certainly never got that result. Will revisit.

I'm talking completely maxed, maxed AA, etc.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

That is without AA

 

[felang]

For 720p rez I´d think even a 7850 is overkill... I´d probably try to get a used 5850 or 6850. A GTX 460 would probably be great.

My old 5870 would max out BF3 (no msaa) at 1080p ultra settings (around 60fps). And since 720p is less than half the pixels of 720p... you can do the math.

Also 1GB of VRAM should be more than enough.

 

[lehtv]

Why the heck do you have a 720p monitor?

I would much, much rather play at 1080p with medium-high settings than at 720p with ultra settings. Get a new monitor for $150 and a 7850 2GB for $250.

 

[AtenRa]

There are games that need more than HD7850 to get 60fps on max IQ settings at 720p.

 

[Kristijonas]

Why the heck do you have a 720p monitor?

I would much, much rather play at 1080p with medium-high settings than at 720p with ultra settings. Get a new monitor for $150 and a 7850 2GB for $250.

100% agree.
I'm a bum so I have a 720p display and GTS 450 and it's enough for all I play. I don't play games like Crysis and BF3.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

He probably has a 720p TV.

 

[RussianSensation]

Did you guys not read his original post? r3dsh1ft said he wants 60 fps minimum, not average, at 720P. Good luck getting that with an HD6850 or GTS450.