For less than $100, what would be the best card?

[emblem]

A HD 4890 or GTX 460 768MB.

A 4890 can be found on ebay for less than $100 and I think the 460 768MB is selling for like $90 after rebate.

 

[mnewsham]

Dx11 or not?

 

[emblem]

Dx11 or not?

.. I don't know.
I guess.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Please read this thread so we can help you out more specifically to your needs:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2132257

 

[emblem]

Budget is $100 or less, after rebates.

I don't mind overclocking.

I just need an upgrade from my 3850, that will last me a year or so.


My specs are
E2200 @2.9ghz
2gigs ram(plan on getting another 2)
3850
resolution is 1680*1050
430W psu

I know my cpu isn't that good at all, I'm still trying to find a good price for a new one. So i'm focusing on the video card right now.

 

[Insomniator]

GTX 460 768 is the best choice imo. Very good value for under 100.

 

[-Slacker-]

I'm wondering if that E2200 could be a bottleneck, even at 2.9 ghz?

 

[emblem]

If it is, would it really matter though? How much of a reduction can a bottleneck create on a system?

 

[happy medium]

I'm wondering if that E2200 could be a bottleneck, even at 2.9 ghz?

Only in quad core optimized games. I will be fine for dual core games, the other 90%.

 

[HeXen]

I'm wondering if that E2200 could be a bottleneck, even at 2.9 ghz?

probably, but he'd still get better gaming performance over what he has regardless.

 

[Skurge]

430w PSU? Forget about the 4890 then.

 

[Skurge]

Only in quad core optimized games. I will be fine for dual core games, the other 90%.

No, you know that CPU has 1mb L2 right? That CPU is around Athlon 64 X2 performance if I'm not mistaken.

 

[emblem]

The most intensive game i have is Bad Company 2 and I can run that decent in single player. It's unplayable in multiplayer. Like 5-15 fps

I know BC2 likes quad core, but a video card upgrade will still be good right.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Your power supply is a bit on the low side. With that processor you most likely wouldn't notice the performance difference between these cards. Without a bottleneck the 4890 will be faster in some games and in others the GTX 460 will be.

So the GTX 460 would be the safest alternative. Although if your 430W is an Antec Earthwatts it could probably handle the 4890, but I still wouldn't really advise it. I think the 460 is your best option, all around.

No, you know that CPU has 1mb L2 right? That CPU is around Athlon 64 X2 performance if I'm not mistaken.

You are not mistaken. Clock for clock it should be roughly the same as an Athlon X2.

 

[happy medium]

No, you know that CPU has 1mb L2 right? That CPU is around Athlon 64 X2 performance if I'm not mistaken.

Not really, its 300mhz faster clock for clock.
It would equal a x2 @ about 3.2.
Thats fast enough for a gtx460 768.

Based on this article a Athlon x2 @ 2.7 = a 2220 @ 2.4.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/charts/index.php?pid=25,67&tid=6

 

[cusideabelincoln]

I know BC2 likes quad core, but a video card upgrade will still be good right.

See my sig. I run a 3850. At 1280x1024 I can play BC2 multiplayer at 30+ fps, with the occasional dip below. I've never seen the game get 5-15 fps constantly with my 3850, although if I turn up the settings it gets choppy. In fact I'll post the exact settings I use. You can try them out and see if you get a performance boost:

Go to Documents -> BFBC2 -> Settings

This is what I'm using:
-----------------------------------------
[WindowSettings]
Width=1280
Height=1024
Fullscreen=true
RefreshRate=60
VSync=false
[Sound]
Quality=low
VoipEnable=true
SpeakerCount=0
[Graphics]
Effects=low
Soldiers=medium
Vehicles=medium
Overgrowth=medium
Undergrowth=low
StaticObjects=low
Terrain=medium
Shadows=low
Bloom=false
HSAO=false
MSAA=0
Water=medium
MainQuality=custom
Texture=high
DxVersion=9
Aniso=3
Detail=low
RenderAheadLimit=0
Fov=75
------------------------------

Changing the renderaheadlimit to 0 and the dxversion to 9 made some big differences when I kept the other settings the same.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Not really, its 300mhz faster clock for clock.
It would equal a x2 @ about 3.2.
Thats fast enough for a gtx460 768.

Nope:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2288/6

Essentially the same clock for clock.

The Core 2 arch loves cache for gaming. Cache for everything else doesn't do that much. But the less cache it has for gaming the worse it gets, and the E2xxx series has the least amount.

 

[emblem]

See my sig. I run a 3850. At 1280x1024 I can play BC2 multiplayer at 30+ fps, with the occasional dip below. I've never seen the game get 5-15 fps constantly with my 3850, although if I turn up the settings it gets choppy. In fact I'll post the exact settings I use. You can try them out and see if you get a performance boost:

Go to Documents -> BFBC2 -> Settings

This is what I'm using:
-----------------------------------------
[WindowSettings]
Width=1280
Height=1024
Fullscreen=true
RefreshRate=60
VSync=false
[Sound]
Quality=low
VoipEnable=true
SpeakerCount=0
[Graphics]
Effects=low
Soldiers=medium
Vehicles=medium
Overgrowth=medium
Undergrowth=low
StaticObjects=low
Terrain=medium
Shadows=low
Bloom=false
HSAO=false
MSAA=0
Water=medium
MainQuality=custom
Texture=high
DxVersion=9
Aniso=3
Detail=low
RenderAheadLimit=0
Fov=75
------------------------------

Changing the renderaheadlimit to 0 and the dxversion to 9 made some big differences when I kept the other settings the same.

Thanks, i'll try using those settings..

But i should also say that my 3850 is the 256mb version...

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Thanks, i'll try using those settings..

But i should also say that my 3850 is the 256mb version...

Oh, big difference. 256MB holds this card back.

In my settings you should set the textures to low or medium. Definitely not high. Heck you might have to use low for more settings where I used medium.

 

[toyota]

I would find a new hobby if I had to game at 1280x1024. 5:4 is just cruel for modern games.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

I would find a new hobby if I had to game at 1280x1024. 5:4 is just cruel for modern games.

Well BC2 was cruel... Until I changed the FOV. Then everything felt fine.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Well BC2 was cruel... Until I changed the FOV. Then everything felt fine.

What did you change it to?

 

[emblem]

the settigns worked fine. I'm getting 30-40fps. It dips to 20 at some points.

Thanks bro.

 

[Skurge]

Not really, its 300mhz faster clock for clock.
It would equal a x2 @ about 3.2.
Thats fast enough for a gtx460 768.

Based on this article a Athlon x2 @ 2.7 = a 2220 @ 2.4.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/charts/index.php?pid=25,67&tid=6

Thats not the same CPU. Thats an E5200, its much faster.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

What did you change it to?

75. I tried 90 but that made things harder to see. 75 works and was much better than the default, which I think was 55 or 60. If I had a widescreen I'd probably use something higher than 75.