SC2 @ 1680x1050 need recommendations

[teatime0315]

Hey everyone. Just wondering what you guys would recommend for SC2. I'm planning on getting a video card for my family computer.

Specs
AMD X4 840 3.2GHZ
4GB ram
AMD 4250 (Onboard)
PSU thermaltake 430 watt?

I was thinking ATI 5770?

EDIT: I should have put a price. 100-ish

 

[Udgnim]

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_560_TOP_Direct_Cu_II/19.html

game doesn't really become GPU limited in the benchmarks until 25*16 res, but then again, they ran their benchmark with no AA

anyways I can't find any other recent video card reviews using SC2 as one of their review games

here is an old benchmark review that has the 5770 in it though

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/blizzard-entertainment-starcraft-ii-benchmark,2611-5.html

have to keep in mind you don't know what they actually used to benchmark SC2. it's obviously based off of a replay, but you don't know how graphics intensive the replay actually is.

 

[toyota]

if thats the cheap thermaltake 430 watt unit with the overrated 18 amp single 12v line then even a 5770 will be a little sketchy.

 

[teatime0315]

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_560_TOP_Direct_Cu_II/19.html

game doesn't really become GPU limited in the benchmarks until 25*16 res, but then again, they ran their benchmark with no AA

anyways I can't find any other recent video card reviews using SC2 as one of their review games

lol thanks for the recommendation but the 560 is a bit more than what i'd like to spend.

 

[teatime0315]

if thats the cheap thermaltake 430 watt unit with the overrated 18 amp single 12v line then even a 5770 will be a little sketchy.

i think its this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023

 

[crisium]

Radeon 5770 seems like a good call. SC2 hates Radeon 4000 series, but 5000 is good.

 

[toyota]

i think its this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023

well you need to be positive so take a look at the label on yours when you get a chance.

 

[teatime0315]

Radeon 5770 seems like a good call. SC2 hates Radeon 4000 series, but 5000 is good.

that explains why i get pretty crappy performance (4850) compared to my friends similiar setup that has a 5770.

 

[Phynaz]

Another vote for the 5770.

 

[Termie]

Benchmarks: http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/...dia-geforce-gtx-560/21/#abschnitt_starcraft_2

This is on an OC'd i7-965, though, and SC2 is CPU-limited, so you probably wouldn't get much more performance than a 5770 even if you doubled your budget.

Proof: http://techreport.com/articles.x/20486/4. Your CPU provides about half the framerate of an i7 at 1920x1200, using a ~$150 GTX460.

Verdict: 5770 is a great choice.

 

[teatime0315]

Benchmarks: http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/...dia-geforce-gtx-560/21/#abschnitt_starcraft_2

This is on an OC'd i7-965, though, and SC2 is CPU-limited, so you probably wouldn't get much more performance than a 5770 even if you doubled your budget.

Proof: http://techreport.com/articles.x/20486/4. Your CPU provides about half the framerate of an i7 at 1920x1200, using a ~$150 GTX460.

where would a q9550 (stock) rank now a days?

 

[Termie]

where would a q9550 (stock) rank now a days?

I'm guessing right in between your CPU and an i7.

 

[Arkadrel]

Get the 5770.... Overclock that ~900mhz core and ~1300mhz memory.
See if you can get your Athlon II x4 840 stable @3.8ghz or so.

Starcraft II should play very well.

where would a q9550 (stock) rank now a days?

A stock Athlon II x 4 645 (3.1ghz) is about equal/tiny bit faster to/than a Core 2 Quad Q8400.
When it comes to gameing.

Now your Athlon II x4 is abit faster than the Athlon II x4 645.... but then Again so is the Q9550.

 

[RyanGreener]

My old ATi 4850 with a slight overclock ran SC2 at this resolution with high settings almost perfectly all the time, even though SC2 seems to suck on the ATi 4000 series. I think the 5770 would perform great. If you want a GPU that'll perform great no matter what resolution, etc. then try the GTX 460. As for your power supply, I don't know if it'll handle any of the GPUs mentioned.

 

[Makaveli]

I ran SC2 on a 4890 and it was ok that game is cpu limited for sure.

 

[nenforcer]

My friend runs a 5770 those cards are great performance and power wise.

If you want to go the nVidia route this refurbished GTX 460 768MB card is ideal for your resolution

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130600

and may actually outperform any 5770.

 

[RussianSensation]

Galaxy GTX 460 768mb for $100. At your resolution, it is very fast as per Techspot.

 

[secretanchitman]

5770 will be fine for sc2. i use the 6750m 1GB for sc2 at 1680x1050 and it runs just fine at high settings.

 

[teatime0315]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I havent checked out the PSU yet.
My goal is to get a video card that draws the least amount of power and produces the least amount of heat, but still be able to handle SC2.

 

[MustangSVT]

sc2 works a tad bit better with nvidia cards. so, optimal would be something like gtx 460 but 5770 would be fine as well.

except sc2 is a cpu hog. you WILL get massive drop in fps (down to teens) in heavy battles. I guess it doesn't matter for lower levels and their A- click attack patterns