Graphics Card for TF2

[owensdj]

I'm looking at getting a mid to low-end graphics card for a new build that will have a 3.4GHz i5-3570k processor. The only game I'm going to be running on it will be Team Fortress 2. What's the least expensive card that will run TF2 with pretty much all details on High at 1680x1050 resolution?

The computer also needs to be good at HD video playback using VLC Media Player.

I was thinking maybe a GeForce GTX 550 Ti card for about $120?

 

[nurturedhate]

If you're looking to spend around $120 an AMD 7770 would be the better buy, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127687

If you are looking for something around the performance of a 550ti for less, this performance would run this game fine, I would suggest an AMD 5770/6770, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814105003. That one is currently a shell shocker deal at newegg.com and at $80 is a pretty good deal.

I would also suggest seeing if you could find an Nvidia 460 (several dif versions of this card, make sure you know which you are buying) or an AMD 6850 on sale in the $120 range.

Also remember the Anandtech bench, http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU12/372

 

[toyota]

just get a 7770 for just over 100 bucks or a 7750 for a little cheaper. either one will play TF 2 on max settings at 1680 with ease.

 

[Arkadrel]

550ti is horrible value, you can get a 7770 which walks all over the 550ti, for around 109$.
(where talking like ~20% faster, for the stock 7770 1ghz)

Since this review, drivers have given performance increases that would probably put the 7770 higher than it is on this chart.

 

[blastingcap]

TF2 is an older game and you can do just fine with even a HD 5770, so long as you have a decent CPU. A HD 7750 is slightly faster than a HD 5770 with new drivers; a HD 7770 is basically tied with a HD 6850 with new drivers.

 

[toyota]

TF2 is an older game and you can do just fine with even a HD 5770, so long as you have a decent CPU. A HD 7750 is slightly faster than a HD 5770 with new drivers; a HD 7770 is basically tied with a HD 6850 with new drivers.

the 7770 is still not quite tied with the 6850 in many cases. in Max Payne 3, the 6850 is a whopping 20% faster which was surprising.

 

[blastingcap]

the 7770 is still not quite tied with the 6850 in many cases. in Max Payne 3, the 6850 is a whopping 20% faster which was surprising.

Singling out individual games does not disprove what I said about the cards being basically tied after 12.7beta drivers.

Even using old drivers the 7770 wasn't far behind the 6850; in fact it was ahead of the 6850 even back then. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/536?vs=539 http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7770/26.html (only ~7.5% behind the 6850 with old drivers; with new 12.7beta drivers that gap should be lower and support my saying that the cards are basically tied)

I have owned both the 6850 AND the 7770, by the way. I'm not sure how many other people in this thread can claim the same.

 

[toyota]

Singling out individual games does not disprove what I said about the cards being basically tied after 12.7beta drivers.

Even using old drivers the 7770 wasn't far behind the 6850; in fact it was ahead of the 6850 even back then. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/536?vs=539 http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7770/26.html (only ~7.5% behind the 6850 with old drivers; with new 12.7beta drivers that gap should be lower and support my saying that the cards are basically tied)

I have owned both the 6850 AND the 7770, by the way. I'm not sure how many other people in this thread can claim the same.

and looking at just an average does not disprove what I said.

 

[jacktesterson]

7770

 

[blastingcap]

and looking at just an average does not disprove what I said.

OP wants to know about TF2 specifically, not Max Payne or whatever. For Source games the 7770 and 6850 are basically tied after 12.7 beta drivers. See, e.g., Anandtech's GPU bench of Portal 2.

If OP was also curious about other games, I think it's safe to say that the 7770 is virtually tied with the 6850 after most recent drivers. I've owned and gamed on the 6850 and 7770 and can't tell the difference, so you might as well buy the one that is sips less power and emits less heat, as well as being perhaps a little more futureproof in terms of tessellation power.

 

[Plimogz]

If you're going to be playing TF2 at 16x10 resolution pretty much exclusively, I'd suggest trying it out with the IGP before you buy anything more. And HD VLC playback should be just fine too...