"Mid-Range" - looking to upgrade my graphic card for a recent build

[Neville]

Due to a motherboard failure, I rebuilt my computer. My new system utilizes the Intel i7 2600K chip with the Sandy Bridge platform on an Asus P8P67 LE motherboard. The Sandy Bridge platform is fast. Even though my computer is not used for gaming, my current graphic card seems to hold back performance in everyday tasks. My computing usage revolves around having many browser windows open along with multiple applications. Flash also tends to be a resource hog. I also perform light Photoshop and video editing work once a month. My system will also be a multiple OS boot; Windows 7, Linux, & OSx86 (so driver availability is important). I am looking for a graphic card as my next purchase and need advice in this arena. My primary goals with this new graphic card are seamless HD playback, dual DVI outputs, energy efficiency, and value. My initial research points to a mid-range card.


Current Graphics Card: XFX NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT 256 MB
Resolution: 1680 x 1050

The list below focuses on price; not performance. Based on feedback, I could speed less or a bit more. My purchase will be in the next month or two depending on sales & rebates.

XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150447
$139.99

MSI N450GTS CYCLONE 1GD5/OC GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-521-_-Product
$133.99

EVGA 01G-P3-1450-TR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-572-_-Product
$129.99

GIGABYTE GV-N450OC-1GI GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-341-_-Product
$124.99

PNY VCGGTS4501XPB GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-343-_-Product
$124.99

ZOTAC ZT-40503-10L GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-187-_-Product
$129.99

XFX GS-250X-YDFV GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150513
$94.99

 

[Barfo]

The video card should not slow down in tasks such as browsing, though if you use photoshop and linux, I believe nvidia cards are better suited for such software.

 

[mnewsham]

Gtx 460 768mb on sale should be around that price. Nvidia had better *nix OS support so if it is important to you then Nvidia is my recommendation.

 

[Tattare]

I posted a sapphire 6850 on the hot deals thread the other day. It cost a little bit more then the other cards you listed before rebate.

With the new cata 11.4 drivers its right there with a GTX 460 1gb.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4221/nvidias-gtx-550-ti-coming-up-short-at-150/4

 

[mnewsham]

I posted a sapphire 6850 on the hot deals thread the other day. It cost a little bit more then the other cards you listed before rebate.

With the new cata 11.4 drivers its right there with a GTX 460 1gb.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4221/nvidias-gtx-550-ti-coming-up-short-at-150/4

*nix support isn't there though.