budget gaming video card

andersonviola

Member
Aug 5, 2008
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0
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hi all,

I'm about to buy a budget rig for light gaming (x3 720, 790gx, 4g ddr2 1066, antec sonata III) and was going to purchase the asus hd4850 for $85. I started to read the reviews and it looks like there are some major overheating issues in the past; has this been resolved or is it fixable with some tweaking?

Also, is this the best value for performance out right now? I can't see spending much more than $100 for the card relative to the other components, and can't seem to find the rebates on the 4870's ppl were talking about earlier.

Thanks!
 

fffblackmage

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2007
2,548
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76
The 4850 with the newer non-reference coolers shouldn't have any overheating problems.

I've heard a lot of issues with the older 4850's that were originally using the inadequate reference coolers.
 

SlowSpyder

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
17,305
1,001
126
The 4850 is a hard card to beat for bang for the buck right now at $85. Go for it. I think a lot of the heat issues were with people not liking the temps they saw on the card more then actual overheating... though the stock 4850 cooler was pretty weak. At any rate, I'd buy one for $85 today in a heart beat for what you are looking for.
 

tviceman

Diamond Member
Mar 25, 2008
6,734
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Definitely 4850. You should have no problems with it, and for a "budget" card, it'll run anything you throw at it very well @ 1680x1050 with high graphical settings (sans AA).
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,497
6,043
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I picked up a Gigabyte 4850 with a Zalman Cooler on it. Same price as other cards. In retrospect a dual slot exhausting cooler would have been better, but too late now.