I currently have a 512MB 9800 GT, looking for replacement around $150

[austin316]

First off, I searched the forums, but when you don't actively pay attention to the video card game, it's hard to keep up.

I currently have a GeForce 9800 GT 512MB card (Paid like $130 back in 6/2010), which runs games like Starcraft 2, League of Legends, Portal 2 and Diablo 3. However, looking for an upgrade to run things like Syrim.

What's a good replacement card for around $150 bones? Most important to me is noise level. My GeForce recently started to sound like a jet engine.

TIA fellas!

 

[borisvodofsky]

First off, I searched the forums, but when you don't actively pay attention to the video card game, it's hard to keep up.

I currently have a GeForce 9800 GT 512MB card (Paid like $130 back in 6/2010), which runs games like Starcraft 2, League of Legends, Portal 2 and Diablo 3. However, looking for an upgrade to run things like Syrim.

What's a good replacement card for around $150 bones? Most important to me is noise level. My GeForce recently started to sound like a jet engine.

TIA fellas!

Look no further, 7850, best performance to bucks ratio.

 

[Binky]

If you can find a 7850 for $150, I'll buy two.

The best in the $150 range is probably the AMD 6850 or 6870, or maybe a Geforce 560. If you push it to the $200 range, you can probably get a 6950 or 560ti.

Just put in a slickdeals alert for all of the above and see what pops up first with the right cooling system. Since noise is important to you, you should pay a lot of attention to the cooling system. You will probably spend $10-$50 more for a good cooling system when compared to the lowest price cards (with noisy single fan setups).

 

[lehtv]

If it's $150 without rebate, that's HD6850 territory, there's no competition. If you factor in rebate, your best bet is MSI GTX 560 $140 AR. On newegg, all the 6870's are $160 AR or more.

These are both quiet cards thanks to dual fans. Use MSI Afterburner to further tweak the fan profile to your liking; they should both have some temperature overhead for lowering load fan RPM.

 

[TemjinGold]

What's the rest of your system look like? Skyrim is pretty cpu-intensive too...

 

[Rambusted]

I bought an xfx 6870 single fan card on newegg for 159 w/free shipping. I wouldnt recommend that card in particular unless you have a very well cooled case layout but the gpu itself is quite strong. I play skyrim, tribes ascend, serious sam 3, and quite a few others without any framerate issues at all. I wish i had gone for the dual fan card due to heat issues in my somewhat cramped case but I just take the side off and point a 7 inch fan at it and it runs cool as the other side of the pillow now

 

[Binky]

This XFX 6850 looks pretty good for $120AR. Free Dirt game too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150515

 

[Kevmanw430]

A 460GTX on the forums is just as good as a 560 while cheaper. The 6870 is the best bet if you can find it for the price.

 

[toyota]

only one person has even bothered to ask what the OP's specs are? austin316, always list you current specs including power supply and resolution when asking for gpu advice.

 

[RussianSensation]

Assuming you have a decent CPU (any modern Core i3/i5), $144 Sapphire HD6870 with coupon code "TRIBUTE" is a sweet deal. The games you listed will play fine with a dual core CPU as long as it's a modern processor. HD6870 is the best budget card under $150 right now.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Assuming you have a decent CPU (any modern Core i3/i5), $144 Sapphire HD6870 with coupon code "TRIBUTE" is a sweet deal. The games you listed will play fine with a dual core CPU as long as it's a modern processor. HD6870 is the best budget card under $150 right now.

Yeah, and Superbiiz is a very good site.

For $150 the HD 6870 is a very good deal. The HD 6670 DDR5 is just about the same speed as an 9800GT, and you can look at how they compare here:

The HD 6870 would be almost 2.5x faster provided you have a good CPU, which nowadays would mean anywhere from a Sandy Bridge Core i3 to a Nehalem Core i5.

 

[austin316]

only one person has even bothered to ask what the OP's specs are? austin316, always list you current specs including power supply and resolution when asking for gpu advice.

Sorry! After 11 years on here, you would think I would follow the rules.

i7 2600K CPU
16GB RAM
Seasonic X650 silent PSU
24" monitor (1920x1200 native)

 

[Denithor]

If your GPU "just got loud" it might be as simple as your thermal paste dried out. There was another thread recently with similar comments, the OP replaced his thermal goo with fresh stuff and temps came back down and fan quieted to normal levels.

Worth a try if you're even marginally competent with building.

 

[austin316]

If your GPU "just got loud" it might be as simple as your thermal paste dried out. There was another thread recently with similar comments, the OP replaced his thermal goo with fresh stuff and temps came back down and fan quieted to normal levels.

Worth a try if you're even marginally competent with building.

I might try that as a quick fix, but also ready for a new card!

 

[Termie]

Assuming you have a decent CPU (any modern Core i3/i5), $144 Sapphire HD6870 with coupon code "TRIBUTE" is a sweet deal. The games you listed will play fine with a dual core CPU as long as it's a modern processor. HD6870 is the best budget card under $150 right now.

RS - Superbiiz deals aren't worth it unless they're offering free shipping. Their standard shipping is ridiculously high.

This XFX 6850 looks pretty good for $120AR. Free Dirt game too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150515

I'd go with this, given the games you're interested in.

 

[RussianSensation]

Good call Termie. The HD6850 for $120 is a good deal too.