Recommend a Video Card, Cool Quiet Cheap

[jhh979s]

I want to replace the video card in my wife's computer, an X1900GT. For such a small card it is loud and hot, and the P182Se tower it is in is not known for keeping things cool. Sure looks awesome though. I'd like to get something in the $50-75 range preferably closer to $50 that is comparable in performance to the X1900GT if that is possible. She does not do much gaming and if she does they are sim type games like Sims 3 or Roller Coaster Tycoon. She does have dual monitors both running 1680x1050. Mostly she just uses her computer for word processing and browsing the internet.
Thank you.

Specs
Asus P5B-E
C2D E6420
4 GB DDR2 800

 

[Swivelguy2]

Radeon HD 5450

Under $50, more performance than an x1900gt, and it won't make any noise at all!

 

[zagood]

GT240 $40 after rebate @ newegg. I wouldn't recommend this card though for over $50.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2084559

Most modern cards are going to blow that X1900 out of the water. Good general guide:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-card-geforce-radeon,2646-7.html

 

[jhh979s]

Thanks for the replies. I had been looking at the 5450. Thanks for the link to the chart. I hadn't seen that before.

 

[Qbah]

Radeon HD 5450

Under $50, more performance than an x1900gt, and it won't make any noise at all!

You are so wrong it's not funny. A HD5450 and X1900GT? Seriously? A HD5450 is perhaps as fast as a Radeon 9700Pro or a GeForce 6600GT. A X1900GT smokes those cards.

If you want something within that price limit, grab a HD5570. If you can spend a few bucks more, a HD5670 (well worth it imo).

Whatever you want to do though, do NOT get a HD5450 / HD4350 / HD3450 - those cards are not gaming cards at all.

EDIT: That GT240 will be a great card for $40. I'd bite the deal.

 

[jhh979s]

The 5450 doesnt seem like it has enough oomph. That GT240 is tempting but the reviews are low and most of them say it gets hot. Guess I will wait a few weeks and increase my budget.

 

[nonameo]

How about a 9500GT? It's about as powerful as your current card and would use a lot less power. on the ATI side, maybe something like a 3650 or a 2600XT

edit: actually, if you're buying new, this would be a better deal:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...1355&cm_re=radeon_5550-_-14-131-355-_-Product

also comes with thumbdrive. yes!

note though, the GT240 is faster.

 

[Sp12]

I'd get a GDDR5 5670 and call it a day.

 

[edplayer]

The 5450 doesnt seem like it has enough oomph. That GT240 is tempting but the reviews are low and most of them say it gets hot. Guess I will wait a few weeks and increase my budget.

I bought that videocard for a friend and was concerned about the temps/fan also. I tried it out on my computer before I sent it to her. No problems at all. Idled at around 37/38° C in my HAF 922 (either the intake fan on or none of them were on, can't remember) and it peaked at 70° C or less. Thats about 5° less than my 9600GT SSC at peak and 15° less at idle.

Fan is very quiet. Also comes with several games. SF 4 (for which I substituted Resident Evil 5 (can also get Dark Void)) Power Director, Cryostatis, Shattered Horizons and Crazy Machines 2. One of the best videocard deals of this year if you are OK with low power gaming cards. I paid $38 AR for mine.


and notice that 3 of the bad reviews are from the same person...

 

[Phynaz]

I'd get a GDDR5 5670 and call it a day.

This.

 

[edplayer]

5670 is a nice card but its only slightly faster than the GT240 and about twice as much.

 

[happy medium]

I'd get a GDDR5 5670 and call it a day.

5670 for Roller Coaster tycoon and the Sims 3? Your kidding right?

The gt220 is perfect for your needs jjh979.
63$ shipped.
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-nVidia-Ge...7238969&sr=8-2

The gt240 seems a little overkill also.

Here is some benches of the sims 3 with the gt220.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...hire-radeon-hd-5450-512mb-ddr3-review-12.html

 

[smackababy]

I just want to say if you're still playing the original RCT, I am glad I am not the only one. I love that game.

Sorry for being off topic.

 

[jhh979s]

and notice that 3 of the bad reviews are from the same person...

I did not notice that, I will give it a second look. I usually take newegg reviews with a grain of salt but they are a good place to start.

The GT 220 looks decent at those resolutions but I doubt it could keep up at 1680x1050. Looks like I'll give the GT 240 a shot. Hope it is still on sale Friday.

Thanks for all of your input.

 

[Phynaz]

5670 for Roller Coaster tycoon and the Sims 3? Your kidding right?

The gt220 is perfect for your needs jjh979.
63$ shipped.
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-nVidia-Ge...7238969&sr=8-2

The gt240 seems a little overkill also.

Here is some benches of the sims 3 with the gt220.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...hire-radeon-hd-5450-512mb-ddr3-review-12.html

Funny, in the other thread you're saying don't get a 5770 because it's old and slow and doesn't have a future. And here you are recommending a rebadged DX10 card that was slow when it was new three years ago.

 

[Sp12]

A 5670 is only 100$ and can push Sims 3 at max settings. It's almost 3x as powerful as a 220, and less than twice the cost.

It's also a very cool, quiet, power-efficient part that can handle HD playback, which is actually useful for mainstream systems.

If you still think it's overkill, get a 5550 for 53$ shipped from the egg. 10$ less than the 220 and almost twice the performance.

 

[edplayer]

It's almost 3x as powerful as a 220, and less than twice the cost.

and its also about 5% faster than the GT 240 yet about double its (the gt 240) cost...

 

[lopri]

Also comes with several games. SF 4 (for which I substituted Resident Evil 5 (can also get Dark Void)) Power Director, Cryostatis, Shattered Horizons and Crazy Machines 2. One of the best videocard deals of this year if you are OK with low power gaming cards. I paid $38AR ..

Is this true? 2 games (SF4, RE5, or Dark Void + Cryostatis) included?

 

[Sp12]

and its also about 5% faster than the GT 240 yet about double its (the gt 240) cost...

Looking back at the performance evaluated, we find that in every game the ATI Radeon HD 5670 provides faster framerates and allows us to improve image quality over the GeForce GT 240.

Courtesy hardocp. The cheapest 240 I found was 60$ with DDR3. Cheapest 5670? 88$ with GDDR5.

Personally, I would get the 5670 for future-proofing. The 'best' price/performance card is a 5550.

 

[zagood]

Try reading, people.

GT240 $40 after rebate @ newegg. I wouldn't recommend this card though for over $50.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2084559

 

[happy medium]

The card is for his wife who plays RCT and sims 3 ............Why do I here the word future proofing?

You guys are hilarious but I guess we are enthusiast.

 

[v8envy]

Courtesy hardocp. The cheapest 240 I found was 60$ with DDR3. Cheapest 5670? 88$ with GDDR5.

Personally, I would get the 5670 for future-proofing. The 'best' price/performance card is a 5550.

Future proofing? On an extreme low end card? 5870s and 480s choke on DX11 titles *today*, what do you think a card with significantly less than 1/4 the processing power will do on DX11 titles in a few years?

The 240 is not a hot card. It's a 9600GT on a 40nm process. It doesn't even require a PCIe connector. In all reviews it's right there with the coolest running cards at load and idle. The 220 is, as already stated, an extreme budget card from 3 years ago reborn on 40nm. Don't pay more for much, much, MUCH less. $40 AR for a 240 and call it a day.