Budget Gaming Video Card

[Riney]

Greetings Anandtech,
I am looking into purchasing a video card for my new budget gaming rig and cannot decide between these three:
9600GT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814127333R
HD 3870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814131095R
HD 4650 DDR4: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814140096

All are sub 70$ which is about my price range.
I'm wondering which one preforms best, by how much does it beat the others, and are there any other choices I should consider in this price range?

 

[yh125d]

I'd get a 4830 for $80 AR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131129

 

[Riney]

My max price range currently is 75$ before rebate, sort of a tight budget.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Riney
My max price range currently is 75$ before rebate, sort of a tight budget.

So you absolutely can't squeeze an extra 5$ for a 4830?

 

[kmmatney]

You may have a tight budget, but the gain you get for that extra few dollars is HUGE! I have a HD4830 - It's pretty fast out of the box, and I can just use the Catalyst Control Center to easily overclock it to HD4850 speeds, without even breaking a sweat. You need to get a few dollars more! I have this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102803

Which has a slightly less before rebate cost. It worth it to even wait a few weeks if you have to, in order to buy this one over the other cards. It may even come down in price by then.

 

[Riney]

Look guys,
I came in here and told you what I can spend. You recommended out of the range and I again said I couldn't do it.

I understand there is a performance gap, but could you please help me within the range of what I can spend, rather than recommending to me a range I've already said I cannot do?

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: Riney
Look guys,
I came in here and told you what I can spend. You recommended out of the range and I again said I couldn't do it.

I understand there is a performance gap, but could you please help me within the range of what I can spend, rather than recommending to me a range I've already said I cannot do?

you should ALWAYS list the rest of your specs when asking for hardware advice. if the rest of your pc is up too snuff then it would be foolish not to spend 5 bucks more on a much faster card. saving 5 bucks now want accomplish crap if you cant enjoy your games for the next several months.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Riney
Greetings Anandtech,
I am looking into purchasing a video card for my new budget gaming rig and cannot decide between these three:
9600GT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814127333R
HD 3870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814131095R
HD 4650 DDR4: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814140096

All are sub 70$ which is about my price range.
I'm wondering which one preforms best, by how much does it beat the others, and are there any other choices I should consider in this price range?

Definitely not the 4650.

I'd go for the 9600GT. Similar performance to the 3870, uses less juice and runs cooler.

 

[dguy6789]

+1 vote for the 9600 GT

 

[Sam25]

Another +1 for 9600GT.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Out of your choices the 9600GT is the fastest card.

 

[Jabbernyx]

9600GT out of your shortlist, but I'd REALLY recommend stretching your budget to accommodate an 4830.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

How about a HD 4670? $80 before rebate, $70 after, almost as fast as the HD 3870/9600GT but doesn't need extra power plugs.

 

[toyota]

again we dont even know what the rest of his specs are. if they are decent than the 9600gt should be the minimum card to go with.

 

[dflynchimp]

quick question to the OP, and I say in advance that I mean no disrespect, because we all started out young.

Are you living at home? Highschool? If you're mooching off your parents I completely sympathize with your budget, although my advice would be then to keep that $70 and wait until you can save up that extra $20~ to get the 4830. The performance difference is well worth the extra dough spent.

If you're not living at home (I'm assuming you might have a job then?) then same goes. For $70 you're getting the extreme short end of the stick in terms of bang for buck. If you must get a card now I suppose you can find sub $60 4650's or 9600GT's, which would be nice, but if it was up to me I'd still say wait to get the 4650 or for the price to drop, which it will definitely continue to do.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: toyota
you should ALWAYS list the rest of your specs when asking for hardware advice.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

4830 HANDS DOWN.

Seriously, its almost up to par with the 9800GTX. For only $85, you cant go wrong.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I wonder if the OP will come back...

 

[dflynchimp]

we probably scared him away trying to push our own hardware picks onto his budget.

Hey, not everyone has a day job, you know....

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: dflynchimp
we probably scared him away trying to push our own hardware picks onto his budget.

Hey, not everyone has a day job, you know....

Yeah, he probably got mad because we told him to pay an amazing 5$ more for the 4830.

 

[Sam25]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: dflynchimp
we probably scared him away trying to push our own hardware picks onto his budget.

Hey, not everyone has a day job, you know....

Yeah, he probably got mad because we told him to pay an amazing 5$ more for the 4830.

LOL! :laugh:

 

[Illyan]

That 4830 costs $100, which is $25 over his max budget of $75.

 

[Jabbernyx]

Originally posted by: dflynchimp
we probably scared him away trying to push our own hardware picks onto his budget.
Hey, not everyone has a day job, you know....

Hey, it's easy to get $5 even with just a McJob

 

[Jabbernyx]

Originally posted by: Illyan
That 4830 costs $100, which is $25 over his max budget of $75.

They've been popping up in Hot Deals forums all over the place for $80 after rebate. I think I even saw one for $75

 

[AmberClad]

ASUS 4830 - $75 AR FS

I think you all might have scared off the OP though...we'll see if he comes back.