Best Video Card Available Under 100 Bucks?

[marcdisa]

I'm trying to buy a budget video card and was curious on what you all thought regarding the available cards under 100 dollars? I would like something that could run games well at least at medium settings and on a 21.5 inch monitor....

 

[Indus]

8800GT and I'm pretty sure you might be able to play some max with it.

 

[zagood]

4850, look hard enough and you can find a 512mb version under $100 (most of the time after rebate though).

 

[v8envy]

Depending on rebates your best bet is a 9800GTX+ (aka GT250 aka 8800GTS) from nv or 4850 from ati. Failing that you should have a very large selection of 9800GT (aka 8800GT)s to choose from. Another step down would be the various 9600 flavors.

 

[Winterpool]

You may want to read my thread on 'casual' gaming cards:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2026222

The short answer, taking your question literally, would probably be a GeForce 9800 GT, barring some crazy sale on the rapidly diminishing supplies of Radeon HD 4850s and 4870s. For example, Micro Centre was selling an HD 4870 (though only 512 MB) for $103 recently.

 

[Wreckage]

If you don't mind a rebate you can get a GTS250 for just under $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-034-_-Product

 

[zagood]

You may want to read my thread on 'casual' gaming cards:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2026222

Wow. Way to kill a thread.

Good discussion there, and only a few "sux" and "troll" comments.

 

[exar333]

Depending on rebates your best bet is a 9800GTX+ (aka GT250 aka 8800GTS) from nv or 4850 from ati. Failing that you should have a very large selection of 9800GT (aka 8800GT)s to choose from. Another step down would be the various 9600 flavors.

+1.

Wow. Way to kill a thread.

Good discussion there, and only a few "sux" and "troll" comments.

It's a valid comment; this question is asked a lot, and a number of threads exist with this information. Not a troll comment IMHO.

 

[her209]

I bought my Sapphire HD 4670 off eBay for $40 something.

 

[marcdisa]

how is your 467o performance? what games do you play? I'm pretty much going to be playing World Of Warcraft and Star Trek Online and SW Old Republic when they come out....

 

[Vipersfate]

4670 should do WoW just fine. I play it myself with a 4650 now 60 fps most of the time, maybe down to 30-40 in dalaran.

 

[Winterpool]

What is the current sentiment regarding Galaxy cards? I've noticed that many of the cheapest GeForce cards, especially 9600 GT, 9800 GT, GTS 250, are Galaxy-brand. They do offer two-year warranties.

 

[happy medium]

What is the current sentiment regarding Galaxy cards? I've noticed that many of the cheapest GeForce cards, especially 9600 GT, 9800 GT, GTS 250, are Galaxy-brand. They do offer two-year warranties.

I put them one notch above PNY brand.

 

[marcdisa]

see I had a PNY 6800GT back in the day and I thought that card was great.....stay away from PNY?

 

[marcdisa]

This card looks like a good deal..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102854

 

[Winterpool]

There is an ASUS EAH4670 for $55 after rebate. A week ago it was $38 AR.

Several GeForce 9600 GT cards are available on Newegg for $70. They will substantially outperform a Radeon HD 4670.

I'm considering buying the PNY 9800 GT ($80) myself and trying to remember if PNY meant 'no name brand' in a good or a bad way.

 

[bryanW1995]

4850 is consistently below $100 AR, wreckage mentioned the gts 250 that was around the same price, and then there is the aforementioned $103 on a 4870. 4870 is preferable if you can find it, but I don't think that we'll see them that cheap online (aka without sales tax).

 

[toyota]

4850 is consistently below $100 AR, wreckage mentioned the gts 250 that was around the same price, and then there is the aforementioned $103 on a 4870. 4870 is preferable if you can find it, but I don't think that we'll see them that cheap online (aka without sales tax).

they were under 100 AR but I believe they went up. on newegg about 120-125 bucks is what a 4850 will cost you now. also it looks the 4800 cards are almost all gone.

 

[Winterpool]

Jah I don't think there are many HD 4850s left, and I suppose Apple is going to buy the remaining production for their iMacs? I rather regret not buying one of the sub-$100 HD 4850s when I had the chance. It looks like that price point is now occupied by the GeForce 9800 GT.

If anyone finds such a deal on the 4850, please post!

 

[Winterpool]

Some Radeon HD 4770s have gone on sale for less than $100. SuperBiiz has the Sapphire model for $99 - 10 per cent coupon (code 'BLACKFRIDAY') + $9 postage = $98.

Newegg has a Diamond-brand card for $120 - $30 rebate = $90 AR -- though there will probably be a postage fee. And tax in my state.

Note that the Sapphire model has DVI, HDMI, and VGA, whilst the Diamond card has two DVI ports (and comes with an HDMI adapter). They both appear to be stock speed.

Edited: bloody hell, this still isn't cheap enough. Though the HD 4770 generally beats the GeForce 9800 GT, often it's not by a huge margin -- and there are a handful of cases where the 9800 GT beats the HD 4770. These deals will still cost about $100... versus $80 for the PNY 9800 GT (550 MHz, low-power model) on Newegg, shipped -- that's a 25 per cent price difference.

 

[angry hampster]

I'd look for a used 4870.

 

[jvroig]

Close to ~$100 bucks, best performers would be 9800GT or 4770. Also the 9800GTX+ or 4850 if you can find them with rebates or discounts.

If you are for really casual gaming, 9600GSO / 9600GT / 4670 might be all you need, and you won't have to spend $100. If your resolution is actually 1680x1050 instead of 1920x1080 (some 21.5/22 inchers are 1680, some are 1920), then these cards are viable for your casual gaming experience.

 

[BD231]

4850

 

[Kantastic]

If you don't mind used, you can easily find a 4870 for $100, sometimes less.

 

[hdfxst]

if you don't mind open box
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814121325R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814125258R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814121291R