Recommend a Video Card for Stacraft 2

[Mojonba]

Hey guys,

I tried running SC2 beta with my integrated GeForce 7050 Graphics and it is pretty bad. Whats my best option for around $70? My relevant system specs are below. I was looking at the Radeon 5670 but I dont really need the dx11 support and would prefer something comparable from nvidia. I just prefer their drivers. What is the nvidia equivalent? GT 240? Which one would you recommend?

Mobo w/ Nforce 610 Chipset w/ PCI x16 v1 slot
Core2Duo 2.5Ghz $ 2GB DDR2
Ultra LS350 Power Supply

 

[soccerballtux]

SC2 seems to use the WoW engine which is a heavily modified WC3 engine.

Point being single threaded performance is most important.
IOW, you're going to be CPU limited.
I would get a 4850 probably.

 

[Qbah]

Here's GPU performance comparison on the beta client and here's the CPU one. Read and decide

 

[TemjinGold]

Your best option is to save that $70 till the game comes out. Keep a keen eye out for mega sales between now and then and pounce if you see something.

 

[crisium]

Try to get a 9800GT. Faster than the GT 240 99% of the time, and faster than the 5670 95% of the time. Statistics made up on the spot, but IF you can find it for $70 it's the best value.

 

[RussianSensation]

Your best option is to save that $70 till the game comes out.

Seriously, SC2 has been first delayed from 2009 to June 1, 2010 and now to July 31, 2010. Who knows when it will actually released? I thought from HL2 fiasco everyone learned by now to NEVER upgrade before a game they want to play actually ships?

 

[Sylvanas]

SC2 seems to use the WoW engine which is a heavily modified WC3 engine.

Point being single threaded performance is most important.
IOW, you're going to be CPU limited.
I would get a 4850 probably.

It does not use the WoW engine and WoW is not WC3. Perhaps you mean the similar art styles between the Blizzard games, to some they look 'cartoony'. That is intentional and is the direction Blizzard envisaged best fit their respective genres. I can't remember if it was Tim Sweeny or John Carmack or someone that said a well executed art style makes flashy graphics irrelevant.

 

[toyota]

Seriously, SC2 has been first delayed from 2009 to June 1, 2010 and now to July 31, 2010. Who knows when it will actually released? I thought from HL2 fiasco everyone learned by now to NEVER upgrade before a game they want to play actually ships?

yeah no kidding. when Doom 4 development was announced a while back some guy on another forum started a thread on trying to put together a system to run it. lol

 

[Mojonba]

Regarding the timing to upgrade, the beta is available now. Graphic requirements are already set and it is more probable that the final version is more optimized to run on more hardware than the beta.

Regarding the 9800GT isnt it much more power hungry than the GT 240?

 

[soccerballtux]

It does not use the WoW engine and WoW is not WC3. Perhaps you mean the similar art styles between the Blizzard games, to some they look 'cartoony'. That is intentional and is the direction Blizzard envisaged best fit their respective genres. I can't remember if it was Tim Sweeny or John Carmack or someone that said a well executed art style makes flashy graphics irrelevant.

no I do not mean that.

 

[Ichigo]

ATI does better in SC2, from what I've read on TeamLiquid.

 

[Grinja]

Seriously, SC2 has been first delayed from 2009 to June 1, 2010 and now to July 31, 2010. Who knows when it will actually released? I thought from HL2 fiasco everyone learned by now to NEVER upgrade before a game they want to play actually ships?

The OP title says SC2 but in is first post he mentioned his playing the beta.

 

[Chiropteran]

I have been playing the beta on an ATI 5770 and it runs great. I think the 5770 is also a nice card in that it's not super power hungry or loud, and fairly cheap. If you don't plan to play anything more demanding than SC2, I think it's the best card to buy.

 

[capita]

Hey guys,

I tried running SC2 beta with my integrated GeForce 7050 Graphics and it is pretty bad. Whats my best option for around $70? My relevant system specs are below. I was looking at the Radeon 5670 but I dont really need the dx11 support and would prefer something comparable from nvidia. I just prefer their drivers. What is the nvidia equivalent? GT 240? Which one would you recommend?

Mobo w/ Nforce 610 Chipset w/ PCI x16 v1 slot
Core2Duo 2.5Ghz $ 2GB DDR2
400W Power Supply

First mention which resolution you will be playing and do you care about everything on high or not?

As for ATi drivers are concerned, SC 2 beta runs fine at 1920x1080 on highest settings with 5770. I don't think either ATi or nvidia will forsake this game with bad drivers.

 

[MisterDonut]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe $160 > $70. 4850 is your best bet, but in all honesty, I'd try to save/shell more for the 5770 (if you game sufficiently).

 

[cherrytwist]

I have been playing the beta on an ATI 5770 and it runs great. I think the 5770 is also a nice card in that it's not super power hungry or loud, and fairly cheap. If you don't plan to play anything more demanding than SC2, I think it's the best card to buy.

Glad to hear this as I bought mine today and will be getting it next week.

This cards seem to fit me perfectly in terms of capability and budget.

 

[x3sphere]

Seriously, SC2 has been first delayed from 2009 to June 1, 2010 and now to July 31, 2010. Who knows when it will actually released? I thought from HL2 fiasco everyone learned by now to NEVER upgrade before a game they want to play actually ships?

It's already in public beta, the requirements for SCII aren't changing at this point. It'll release this year for sure.

 

[swilli89]

If you are only going to play Starcraft II then anything more than a GTS 250 is overkill. Period!

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/blizzard-entertainment-starcraft-ii-benchmark,2611-6.html

I know its tom's..

Sure, you could spend an additional 200 dollars to get a 5850 and get THREE more frames per second :/

 

[Mojonba]

Ok I just found out that my psu is an ultra 350w. So I am sort of power limited. The contenders are the following.

9800gt green edition : $65

gt240 ddr5 : $58

90% think that the 9800gt is a better performer, but would my psu power it fine?

 

[x3sphere]

If you are only going to play Starcraft II then anything more than a GTS 250 is overkill. Period!

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/blizzard-entertainment-starcraft-ii-benchmark,2611-6.html

I know its tom's..

Sure, you could spend an additional 200 dollars to get a 5850 and get THREE more frames per second :/

Look at the min FPS mate. GTS 250 is fine for anything less than < 1920x1200. But for 1920x1200 and up I'd consider at least a 4870 or GTX 260. You will presumably need a extra bit of GPU grunt for applying AA as well.

 

[yottabit]

Don't trust those SC2 FPS benchmarks. Of course a GTS250 will run SC2 fine on anything less than ultra settings but getting something better is certainly not overkill.

I have a 5770 and with everything on ultra at 1080p I can get pretty awful framerates sometimes. Get 400 zerglings on the screen and you'll see what I mean. Also I'm pretty sure all those benchmarks are done in the overhead view. If you swing the camera down for a close up view of an action scene your FPS will go to crap. With all the mods and expansion packs that I'm sure will be released for SC2 I would recommend going for something better than a GTS250 if you want to feel really prepared. In fact I'd recommend something better than a 5770 that's what I consider just adequate for Ultra settings.

 

[yottabit]

I have to say it's pretty amazing how the game can scale though. It runs great on my Core 2 Duo / HD 3450 laptop with low settings, although it looks like Warcraft 3.

 

[swilli89]

Don't trust those SC2 FPS benchmarks. Of course a GTS250 will run SC2 fine on anything less than ultra settings but getting something better is certainly not overkill.

I have a 5770 and with everything on ultra at 1080p I can get pretty awful framerates sometimes. Get 400 zerglings on the screen and you'll see what I mean. Also I'm pretty sure all those benchmarks are done in the overhead view. If you swing the camera down for a close up view of an action scene your FPS will go to crap. With all the mods and expansion packs that I'm sure will be released for SC2 I would recommend going for something better than a GTS250 if you want to feel really prepared. In fact I'd recommend something better than a 5770 that's what I consider just adequate for Ultra settings.

Typical, I bet Tom's ran a loop that wasn't really indicative of a real battle/match. I would rather take the word of a fellow gamer with similar hardware.

I actually joined the beta today and was pleasantly surprised with my old X1950XT's performance at 1680X1050. I'm getting an average of 40 with dips into the 20's during larger battles. This with a e6600 at 3.0

I'm planning on a 5770 CF for hopefully around $250 for my SC2 upgrade haha so hopefully that should let me enjoy some massive battles with no lag.

 

[beginner99]

haven't tired out the beta yet but i would agree to rather have some headroom. No idea under what conditions they tested but I'm sure like 30 carriers (do they still exist in sc 2?) going at each other will need quite some gpu power...
Just like the 400 lings mentioned before.

I mean even in sc1 you needed much. much better hardware than actually stated to be able to play smoothly. (i think minium was a p1 90 mhz, but anything below a pII was unplayable with too many carriers).

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Don't trust those SC2 FPS benchmarks. Of course a GTS250 will run SC2 fine on anything less than ultra settings but getting something better is certainly not overkill.

I have a 5770 and with everything on ultra at 1080p I can get pretty awful framerates sometimes. Get 400 zerglings on the screen and you'll see what I mean. Also I'm pretty sure all those benchmarks are done in the overhead view. If you swing the camera down for a close up view of an action scene your FPS will go to crap. With all the mods and expansion packs that I'm sure will be released for SC2 I would recommend going for something better than a GTS250 if you want to feel really prepared. In fact I'd recommend something better than a 5770 that's what I consider just adequate for Ultra settings.

Lots of units killing the frame rate could just as easily be the CPU being the bottleneck.