Best video card for under $300..

[bryanW1995]

Oh, so you haven't bought yet? Good thing. Unfortunately, none of the ones under $100 can handle two Radeon HD 6870s. Out of that list, the Corsair TX650 V2 is the best. It's based on a better design than the GS700, has more efficiency, lower ripple, and lower voltage fluctuation. If you can pay a bit more for the possibility of a Radeon HD 6870 CF in the future, though, I highly suggest you get the Corsair TX750 V2. It has more power connectors including 4x PCIe and can handle a significant amount more power, for only $11 more than the Corsair GS700 you were eying.

That said, a Radeon HD 6870 is only around 8-10% faster at the same clock speed as a 6850, and the 6850 OCs a tiny bit more on average. Something to keep in mind if you're gonna OC. I'd be surprised if a 6850 couldn't handle BF3 at high settings with 2xAA at 1920x1080.

A 56a 80+ certified corsair psu could VERY easily handle 2 x 6870. You probably only need 35, maybe 40a on a high quality psu like corsair.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

TPU graphs tend to show less of a performance difference than other websites since they tend to use a combination of older games (HAWX, Call of Duty 4, etc.) + modern games. In modern games it will be closer to 18-20%.



Even from the info you provided, this is not how you calculate math. 100 / 86 = 16%.

Not to mention you linked an older review. Latest review of H6870 X2 shows performance much closer to the 18-20% mark:

60 / 51 = 17.6%

No overclocking required. You get 2 free games + lifetime warranty for just $10 more.



Where do you even come up with this stuff?

2500k only consumes 163 Watts at 4.7ghz overclock.

A single HD6870 consumes a maximum of 169 Watts.

So overclocked 2500k + 2x HD6870 = 501 Watts. You still have 150 Watts reserve on a 650W power supply from Corsair. But even that's unrealistic since you won't be able to peg a 2500k 4.7ghz + 2x HD6870 CF in games to 100% at the same time. Either way, a 650W power supply will run this setup without even trying.

I've seen people run Q6600 @ 3.4ghz + 2x HD4890 CF on my Corsair 520. People don't realize that quality power supplies are made to run at their rated wattage. In other words, if a Corsair rates their PSU at 520 or 650 Watts => it means it will run at those wattages for years at 40*C.

Right now you can get a quality Antec 750 Watt Gamer PSU for $65.



So just $10 extra is going to force him to downgrade to a much smaller monitor?

So you're recommending he uses Molex connectors instead of native PCIe connectors? That's something you should never do for a multi-GPU setup, especially for long-term use. And you keep saying MIR is a final price, and you forget it only counts if they decide to honor it and months after you pay upfront price. And you forget that the 6850 overclocks slightly better and that the OP said he'll be overclocking. And you forget that the 6870 is only 8-10% faster at the same clocks. And you forget that even if you count an MIR for the 6870 you can also get the 6850 for $135 MIR with the same free games. And you forget the TX-750 V2 costs $20 more than the TX-650 V2 and the 6870 $15 more with MIR and $20 more without than the 6850.

The bottom line: if you plan to over-clock, at most the 6870 is 10% faster. If you pay upfront price including the 23" monitor and Corsair TX-750 V2 plus the Radeon HD 6870 you're looking at a total of around
$435 ($150 for monitor, $110 for PSU, $175 for GPU). If you pay the upfront price for the system with the 6850 and 23" monitor, you're looking at a total of around $395 ($150 for monitor, $90 for PSU, $155 for GPU). If you get the system with the 6870 but with a smaller 21.5" monitor you make the price $405, but you get a less enjoyable gaming experience. If you pay for the MIRs, the price drops to $410, $375, and $380 respectively. You still need to pay upfront price and getting the MIR coupon isn't a guarantee, especially since this is XFX we're talking about.

 

[RussianSensation]

So you're recommending he uses Molex connectors instead of native PCIe connectors?

The Antec for example has Four gold-plated 8 (6+2)-pin PCI-E connectors for multiple-graphics card configurations.

And you forget that even if you count an MIR for the 6870 you can also get the 6850 for $135 MIR with the same free games.

The cheapest XFX HD6850 on the Egg is $135 + $7.56 = $142.56. So the price difference is only $7.34, not $15-20 as you make it out to be.

And you forget the TX-750 V2 costs $20 more than the TX-650 V2

Your claim that you need a TX-750 V2 has already been disputed. Not to mention, I linked at least 4 PSUs that cost less than the TX-750 and are powerful enough for an HD6870 CF setup.

You still need to pay upfront price and getting the MIR coupon isn't a guarantee, especially since this is XFX we're talking about.

I purchased an XFX 4850 this year and got my $30 Rebate from them; and it came much faster than my HD6950 rebate from PowerColor.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

The Antec for example has Four gold-plated 8 (6+2)-pin PCI-E connectors for multiple-graphics card configurations.



The cheapest XFX HD6850 on the Egg is $135 + $7.56 = $142.56. So the price difference is only $7.34, not $15-20 as you make it out to be.



Your claim that you need a TX-750 V2 has already been disputed. Not to mention, I linked at least 4 PSUs that cost less than the TX-750 and are powerful enough for an HD6870 CF setup.



I purchased an XFX 4850 this year and got my $30 Rebate from them; and it came much faster than my HD6950 rebate from PowerColor.

However, do you see any PSU's from this list at best buy that might be able to handle crossfire in the future?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olstempl...c=abcat0500000

I was going to buy the gs700 today but if there's something that can handle better in that list I can buy that instead. The budget is $100, and I have a 10% off coupon too

He's buying it from Best Buy, it seems, which is why I limited my list to that. Since you can't get the XFX Core Edition Pro 650W there I told him to get the TX-750 V2 instead. I never said the TX-750 V2 was necessary, just that it's the best he's gonna do browsing at that list.

Also, the Antec HCG-750 is an okay-ish PSU. The 650W XFX has better overall quality overall for the price. If he can buy on Newegg, he should get that, and then the 6870 may make sense. That depends on whether he wants to pay those extra $15-20 for the card. Also, I still wouldn't trust XFX with MIRs. They've been kinda shady lately.

 

[bryanW1995]

How has XFX been "kinda shady lately"? Are you referring to the 6670 ddr3 card on newegg, or did you recently get burned by an XFX rebate? Or did you just read an internet post from somebody who didn't fill out his paperwork properly or make copies of what he DID fill out? Also, if you have such an ax to grind with XFX, why are you recommending their psu?

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

How has XFX been "kinda shady lately"? Are you referring to the 6670 ddr3 card on newegg, or did you recently get burned by an XFX rebate? Or did you just read an internet post from somebody who didn't fill out his paperwork properly or make copies of what he DID fill out? Also, if you have such an ax to grind with XFX, why are you recommending their psu?

The problem with XFX is there's been many cases of them turning down warranties when they're always screaming "oh, it's lifetime". Some other cases have been reported of them returning either wrong or defective parts when you RMA. The XFX unit is superior to the Antec one, but I don't know about their customer service.

 

[Meghan54]

Also, the Antec HCG-750 is an okay-ish PSU.

Just OK-ish?

Let's see......all Chemi-Con caps internally, voltage regulation within 2%, true the efficiency is only bronze, but why carp about a few watts?

Soldering is much better on the pcb in the Antec than the XFX.....Delta's always been much better with their soldering than Seasonic has.

In the end, neither the Antec or the XFX are the end-all/be-all of power supplies, but neither are vastly superior than the other. Both have very good voltage regulation, ripple/noise suppression, with the Antec having a little better transient suppression.

Neither would be a bad choice at all. I'd buy, given the two, by price and looks.

 

[bryanW1995]

Not to mention that both of those are certainly more than enough for sli/crossfire. I don't know about the antec warranty, but my xfx has 7 years on it. Hopefully I'll actually start using it before the warranty expires...

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Just OK-ish?

Let's see......all Chemi-Con caps internally, voltage regulation within 2%, true the efficiency is only bronze, but why carp about a few watts?

Soldering is much better on the pcb in the Antec than the XFX.....Delta's always been much better with their soldering than Seasonic has.

In the end, neither the Antec or the XFX are the end-all/be-all of power supplies, but neither are vastly superior than the other. Both have very good voltage regulation, ripple/noise suppression, with the Antec having a little better transient suppression.

Neither would be a bad choice at all. I'd buy, given the two, by price and looks.

The Antec lacks an MOV and voltage regulation isn't that good, especially on the 12V rail(s)--the most important one. For me that drops it to "okay" status, as the PSU is one of the most important components in a computer. Given the fact the XFX Core Edition Pro 650W will only have to produce around 450-475W with two Radeon HD 6870s and a heavily OCed Core i5 or i7, I don't see why you wouldn't go for that. The only problem is the OP said he's buying the PSU from Best Buy and wants to pay under $100, from what I can tell.

 

[SeductivePig]

Well I've just gone to microcenter and bought a 2500k + z68 motherboard for $280, $265AR. I also have the 8gb of ddr3 ram here. All I need to do now is buy the case from newegg for $80, then power supply from best buy, and the monitor/gpu.


But I can't seem to find out anywhere, is there a significant difference between graphics quality going from 1440x900 to 1920x1080?

I realized that while I might not spend $300 if I use my old monitor, I could invest the remaining $120-150 in an SSD..

I used to have a 22" and it was 1680x1050.. never really tried 1080p gaming before.

 

[happy medium]

Why not just get a SSD and a gtx460 1gb and overclock it and keep your monitor.

 

[SeductivePig]

Why not just get a SSD and a gtx460 1gb and overclock it and keep your monitor.

just not sure if upgrading the monitor is worth it. I'd get 3" more in size and 1080p resolution.

if I decided not to upgrade the monitor I could go crossfire 6850's which is overkill and upgrade the monitor later

I could also get a ssd and a 6870 and have cash left over and keep the monitor

 

[Grooveriding]

Well I've just gone to microcenter and bought a 2500k + z68 motherboard for $280, $265AR. I also have the 8gb of ddr3 ram here. All I need to do now is buy the case from newegg for $80, then power supply from best buy, and the monitor/gpu.


But I can't seem to find out anywhere, is there a significant difference between graphics quality going from 1440x900 to 1920x1080?

I realized that while I might not spend $300 if I use my old monitor, I could invest the remaining $120-150 in an SSD..

I used to have a 22" and it was 1680x1050.. never really tried 1080p gaming before.

A bigger monitor is the best upgrade you can make for a gaming PC. I would get the monitor, if possible get a 24" 1920x1080 model, if not a 23" is good as well.

 

[SeductivePig]

A bigger monitor is the best upgrade you can make for a gaming PC. I would get the monitor, if possible get a 24" 1920x1080 model, if not a 23" is good as well.

It basically comes down to two options

Get a better monitor and end up playing BF3 at mid high settings with a mid range gpu

Stick with the monitor I have now and max out BF3 with a high range gpu

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

It basically comes down to two options

Get a better monitor and end up playing BF3 at mid high settings with a mid range gpu

Stick with the monitor I have now and max out BF3 with a high range gpu

Believe me, playing on medium/high settings on a 23" 1920x1080 monitor is MUCH better than playing on high on a 19" 1440x900 monitor.

 

[notty22]

ditto the Monitor.
I went from a 20 to a 23" last year. Take advantage of the great pricing on monitors that we have, its a upgrade that you enjoy whenever you are on the computer.