Cheap but awesome video card

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jibberishballr

Member
Feb 25, 2009
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^^^^^is what I am looking for!!! I have an amd phenom quad core based computer with a decent onboard graphics but want to get a video card. I mostly want to be able to run the new Heroes of Might and Magic VI game at medium quality. I also do video editing and 3d animation so I figured this would help. I'm looking for a video card in the $50 range that will do what I want. I browsed newegg and found a few but wanted some opinions. Thanks in advance!!!
-
Josh
 
V

Via

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2009
4,695
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I don't know what your system specs are (especially PSU), but there's plenty of 8800 GTXs and 8800 Ultras on ebay for around that price.
 
edplayer

edplayer

Platinum Member
Sep 13, 2002
2,186
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You can find a decent/good used videocard for that price but not awesome
 
Rhezuss

Rhezuss

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2006
4,120
34
91
For $50 don't expect too much awesomness...but you could go for a Radeon HD 6450. Nothing amazing though.

If you'd be able to up your budget, i'd check the HDs 6570/6670/6750/6770, but you'll have to increase your budget by 80-150%...
 
Termie

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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SlowSpyder said:
...
The recommended system requirements are for a 3870 level card. For $50 if you go used you'll do a lot better for your money. If you insist on new something like this will probably be ok: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150535
Click to expand...

The 5670 is a great choice, as it's significantly faster than the 3870, but only if you get it with GDDR5 memory. Thus, I'll revise SlowSpyder's recommendation by suggesting this Sapphire HD5670 GDDR5 for $60AR/FS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102871

Also available from SuperBiiz for $51.50AR/shipping and code HOOT: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-567VGA5

BTW, SlowSpyder - isn't Vapor misspelled in your sig?
 
B

Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
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81
Even a 4850 would kill a 5670. If you want gaming performance and you really only have $50, I don't think a new card is an option.

Check the for sale forums for a 4850, 4870, or 4890. They are very good cards.
 
B

Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Termie

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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jibberishballr said:
thanks for all the helpful replies. I was wondering if it would be smarter to go for ddr5 with less stream processing units over ddr3 with more stream processing units? Also any thoughts on this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102947
Click to expand...

You'll have to point us to the cards you're talking about to compare stream units vs. memory speed.

As to the 6450 you linked, it's not a bad card for an HTPC, but it's about half the speed of the 5670 I linked, which is cheaper. In other words, don't bother with it.
 
Rhezuss

Rhezuss

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2006
4,120
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jibberishballr said:
thanks for all the helpful replies. I was wondering if it would be smarter to go for ddr5 with less stream processing units over ddr3 with more stream processing units? Also any thoughts on this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102947
Click to expand...

Not bad card but you will be better served with 1gb of memory...512mb doesn't cut it anymore imo.

I'll stretch a bit and recommend you this one, it's a little over your budget after rebate but it would serve you good for some time: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161375 - $80AR

If it's too expensive, i'd try to get something along those lines: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102952 - $65AR
 
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B

Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
4
81
Jibber - higher numbers in the AMD and Nvidia naming schemes are NOT necessarily faster or better. The first number is the series, which could be considered a vintage. The AMD 4XXX cards are from about 2008 and the 6XXX cards are from 2010 or so. The more important numbers for gaming are the last 3 numbers for AMD (e.g. X450). The 6450 is a terrible gaming card. Almost any 4XXX or 5XXX card with higher numbers for those last three digits will be significantly faster (e.g. 4850, 5670, 5770, etc.).

I'd strongly suggest that you avoid anything less than a X670 card. Your best bet (if you go AMD) is to get something in the X7XX range or higher.
 
Termie

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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Rhezuss said:
Not bad card but you will be better served with 1gb of memory...512mb doesn't cut it anymore imo.

I'll stretch a bit and recommend you this one, it's a little over your budget after rebate but it would serve you good for some time: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161375 - $80AR

If it's too expensive, i'd try to get something along those lines: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102952 - $65AR
Click to expand...

You know, the 5670 GDDR5 I linked to is faster than all but the $80 6670 GDDR5 card, and it's cheaper than all of the 6-series cards you listed, at $51. Any particular reason you're recommending the 6-series, which is basically identical to the 5-series?

Here's a look at performance: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4278/amds-radeon-hd-6670-radeon-hd-6570/4. Keep in mind that the 6570 in this chart is GDDR5 (which does not and never existed), and the 6670 is the GDDR5 version as well. Dropping to DDR3 trims about 20-25% of performance right off the top.

I point this out not to give you a hard time, but to call out the fact that AMD screwed with customers by sending out a 6570 to reviewers that was never commercially produced. Nasty move, AMD.
 
Leyawiin

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
3,204
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Binky said:
I wasn't suggesting a new 4850. There are lots of used models flooding the market as people upgrade. The 4850 goes for as low as $40 used, the 4870 might go for $60-70, and the 4890 is about $80. Find one locally since shipping will add $8-$12 to the price.

I've got a 4850 and a 4890 for sale in the Los Angeles area.
Click to expand...

I'd rather spend a bit more and get a new card with full warranty instead of someone's oftentimes abused hand-me-down. That may be an older card, but its faster and cheaper than anything that's been linked (rebates are a p.i.t.a.), and has 1GB of RAM.
 
R

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
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My buddy is selling his 5770 for around $65 - 70.
 
Rhezuss

Rhezuss

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2006
4,120
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SLK said:
My buddy is selling his 5770 for around $65 - 70.
Click to expand...

It's still a good card. I plugged my 5770 till yesterday when I was waiting for my 6950 to arrive and it still played my games nicely (TW2, Civ5, AoC, Sacred 2, Crysis 2 (medium details) BFBC2 and others).

If you could find one in your price range i'd jump on that.

I'd suggest buying new though if you plan to keep the card for a long time.
 
B

bononos

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2011
3,886
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Rhezuss said:
.....

If you could find one in your price range i'd jump on that.

I'd suggest buying new though if you plan to keep the card for a long time.
Click to expand...

Why would the card have to be new? Does it fail after several years?
 
D

Deanodarlo

Senior member
Dec 14, 2000
680
0
76
People are practically giving away GTX 260's at the moment - the best being the core 216 version but a core 192 would do if it fit your price range. Probably the best buy in the second hand market for price/performance.

Supports DX 10 so you still have CUDA and browser acceleration/Direct2D in Windows 7 too. The 4870 draws too much idle power for me and lacks CUDA if that's important to you, but if cheap is similar to a GTX 260 inc DX10.

If looking for very low power draw, both idle and load, a 3870 5670 6670 minimum for decent gaming usually without AA but decent AF.

I'd also consider 4770 4850 9800GTX+ GTS250 5750 6750 GTS 450 5770 6770. Anything higher you have little chance of buying cheap.
 
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J

jibberishballr

Member
Feb 25, 2009
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having trouble choosing still. need to get one soon so i can play heroes VI though. don't really want to buy used, so still narrowing it down.
 
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