Upgrading Video Card Need Some Help!

[CuriousGamer]

Okay, well hopefully I can get a response quickly!

Well, to start it off I really want to buy a new Video Card, and some sales on XFX Cards end on 3/31/11, So I want to know which I should get!

As of now I have a ATI Radeon HD 4550, thing is the Game Empire Total War crashes on LOW Settings!!!

I have:

 Memory: 4GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory
 Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 640 Processor, 3000 Mhz Quad Core
 Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4550 1GB DDR2
 Power Supply is a 450Watt

Well I was looking at a
XFX Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16
From Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150467

OR

XFX Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16
From Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150528

Money is Kind of tight so thinking of keeping within the $50-$100 range.

Please help folks! Any help at all is appreciated! Or If someone else finds these cards cheaper please do tell!

BTW: This is my first post around here so HI! to everyone!!

 

[atticus14]

people are going to want your resolution but you'll most likely get recommended a 5770 (the cheapest one was about 10 bucks more)

or if your willing to stretch your budget there was a gtx 460 768mb for 129 after rebate and its going to be quite a bit faster for the money. to put it into perspective i wouldnt upgrade from a 5770 to a 460 768mb but if i was like you and buying a card in your situation i would try to get that one.

also i know the waiting game sucks but a gtx460 768 can be had for near 100 dollars from time to time (usually at least once a month) which makes it hard for me to recommend a 5770, but if you cant wait thats pretty much your options.

And the 5670 isnt a bad card but the 5770 was always thought to be worth the extra money by most reviewers.

 

[CuriousGamer]

Okay, well the 5770 is $134.99 but it comes to be $109.99 w/Rebate!
Wow, well I'll have to see about that.

So you say the 5670 is good card right? I just want something that will be able to play Most modern PC games, i.e; the Total War Series on high or even "Ultra" w/out crashing or laggs!

My resoulution that I use most is 1440x900 (Which is the max on my monitor) I'm also unsure about the nVidia cards.
(I've grown up being more of a AMD and Radeon kinda guy.)

Well thanks for your quick reply! And If I could ask you, If it were you and kinda tight on extra cash which would you get?

 

[atticus14]

XFX 5670
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150504 65 bucks shipped
------------------------------------
or HIS 1gb for 10 more http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161334


im just throwing the 1gb version out there since its only 10 bucks more but at your resolution the xfx @ 512mb is fine and you also get the lifetime XFX warranty vs 2 or 3 years from the HIS

i think the 5670 will serve you well at your resolution if your on a budget...i looked at the next step up, ati 5750, and the prices on those are crappy when you can get a 5770 for like 10 more then those.

I do think you'll be pretty safe with the 5670 but the 5770 would offer you pretty much maxed out graphics on anything at your resolution.

----------------------------------

ok I hunted and hunted for a better deal and i think i found one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150482
this will be 77 after rebate and right under the 5770 in performance, dont forget to use the promo code if you decide to buy it

 

[CuriousGamer]

So wait the link you gave me was to the 512Mb version. So sorry If I sound kinda stupid but whats the diff between it and the 1GB? Also I am going to try to get the 5770, but if that doesn't work I will see about the 5670 for $65 or $80.

And, again thanks for all your help!

 

[atticus14]

some people would just like knowing they have the 1gb over the 512, but at low resolutions it just doesn't matter from what ive seen, so forget i even mentioned it.

but i highly recommend the 4850 @77(after rebate) over the 5670. If you can swing the 5770 thats even better.

and i was just made aware of a REALLY good deal if you want to blow your budget lol

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102908

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

164.99 -16.50 from 10% coupon code VG3TENOFF and then 15$ MIR and 10 dollar newegg gift card!

Ending price of 133.49 after MIR with 10 dollar gift card!

this is way more powerful then the 5770 and a heck of a good deal, but more money is more money :awe: this also beats the gtx 460 that was mentioned earlier as well (thats basically the same price). But i couldnt live with myself if i didnt at least make you aware of it, because this will future proof you till you upgrade your monitor and even then its going to play anything at near max @ 1080p

 

[CuriousGamer]

Wow. but upfront it would be almost $150!!! Well, sure looks nice. Man, if I had the extra cash I sure would do it, but got to spend a little and save a lot! (I don't want to spend too much)

Well I figure I'm going to try to get that 5770 and if that doesn't work out then go with the 5670 1GB.
(Don't see much of a difference in anything between the 512MB and 1GB might as well go with the better of the two though! Anyways thanks so much for all of your help! You have been so helpful, and It makes me glad to see that there still are some good people left in the world!

Again,
Thanks so much!

 

[atticus14]

any reason your not considering the 4850 that i mentioned?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...XFX-_-14150482

despite that it is a generation older 4xxx series its going to be a much better card then the 5670 and it will have 1gb as well, if your going to buy the 1gig 5670 you should get the 4850 instead (it has 1gb as well) I promise you its the right choice :>

107 upfront after the code with 30 rebate
($13 off with promo code XFX3113, limited offer)
$77

 

[nwo]

any reason your not considering the 4850 that i mentioned?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...XFX-_-14150482

107 upfront after the code with 30 rebate
($13 off with promo code XFX3113, limited offer)
$77

Probably because it's a little ovepriced (before all discounts) and doesn't have DX11 support. You can get a 5770 for only $100 after $30 MIR which is hands down the best bang for the buck card in the $100 range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-338-_-Product

 

[CuriousGamer]

So what is the difference between the brands of "XFX" and "HIS" they look like the same card but the HIS is only $130.....

And thanks for your replies! I am most likely getting the 5770 but now I'm unsure of which brand!!

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Do you have an adequate power supply for a 5770? I know it doesn't use much power but some guys have 300-400w power supplies sometimes.

 

[CuriousGamer]

Yes I have a 450W PSU. I used newegg's power supply "Calculator" and it estimated around 425W so I should be good. But Oilfieldtrash what is your suggestion on getting the 5770 from XFX or HIS? Could you explain the difference to me. (Other than its a diff brand)

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Sticker on the card is the only difference in cards. Xfx has a lifetime warranty and I'm not sure of HIS' warranty. If it was me I'd probably go with the little guy in HIS and give them a shot even if the warranty is only 3 years.

 

[CuriousGamer]

Okay, so theres no real difference. That's what I thought. Well I might just go with them, but I've used XFX with my other cards in the past, and they have been good so who knows! Thanks for everyones input! I started with a lot of cards and narrowed it down to 1 card but 2 brands! HA!!

 

[atticus14]

Probably because it's a little ovepriced (before all discounts) and doesn't have DX11 support. You can get a 5770 for only $100 after $30 MIR which is hands down the best bang for the buck card in the $100 range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-338-_-Product

considering the low amount of DX11 games in the first place and the fact that he would be DX11 gaming on a very low powered 5670, DX11 is only going to sink his framerates, i would rather just have the faster card then being able to have a feature thats pretty much useless at that level. The ATI 5xxx series lacks substantial tessellation power anyway /shrug

It somewhat reminds me of the SoCs? APUs that are coming out with the we have DX11 check-mark...compatible yes, but is it usable? no.

and wow that 5770 dropped price since in between us posting, unfortunatly it puts him in 130 upfront which he doesnt seem to want.

 

[RussianSensation]

HD5770 > HD5750 > HD4850 > HD5670.

I would just grab the HIS HD5770 for $100. Although that's dangerously close to the much faster GTX460 768mb which often can be found at $120.

You may also want to download Patch 1.3 for the game to provide better multi-core support. The game is very CPU intensive.

 

[MentalIlness]

Id go with XFX. I have read some bad complaints about HIS and their warranty. But XFX is great.

Top three brands for me is.....

ATI/AMD
1-XFX
2-Asus
3-Gigabyte

Nvidia
1-EVGA
2-Gigabyte
3-Asus

 

[CuriousGamer]

Well thanks everyone! I am going to get the XFX Radeon HD 5770! AndRussianSensation I have all the latest patches, thanks though!

 

[RussianSensation]

Well thanks everyone! I am going to get the XFX Radeon HD 5770!

How much is that card? Be careful since some GTX460 768mb are very close in price and are a lot faster.

 

[CuriousGamer]

It is 130 but only around 100 after rebates!

 

[Tattare]

The xfx is a Manufacturer Limited Warranty period looks like it has reference cooling.
Sapphire, MSI, and Gigabyte look like better cooling solutions and each carry a 2-3year warranty.

This MSI has a $10 off w/ promo code VGADSS564, ends 3/31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-476-_-Product
plus a rebate.

$134.99
-$10 w/ promo code VGADSS564
$124.99
-$30 Rebate
$94.99

 

[CuriousGamer]

So what is the big deal with cooling compared to a warranty? The XFX has a lifetime warranty, those have maybe a 3yr one. So I've read that cooling doesn't make too much of a difference as long as the card runs within operating temps shouldnt it be fine?
Also the MSI has only one DVI output not two like al the others.

 

[CuriousGamer]

Bump Please respond!!

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Better cooler usually means more overclocking potential.

 

[CuriousGamer]

But I just want it to play Empire total War and Napoleon Total and probally most future TotalWar games on Ultra settings w/out having it lag or crash or what not. Will it handle that w/out OverClocking?