Video card for BF3

[bdizzle28]

Hi, I'm considering buying Battlefield 3 but my current video card, 9800 gtx, won't be able to handle it and I'm wondering what's the best video card for under $200 (preferably $150) for my system? I wanna be able to play at 1680 x 1050 without any lag.


I have an Intel core 2 duo E3110 @ 3.50 ghz
4gb ram
windows 7 64 bit

 

[Chinoman]

A radeon 6870.

 

[bdizzle28]

A radeon 6870.

I found a couple 6870's but I don't know what the difference's are, which one would you recommend me?

Gigabyte Radeon HD 6870 Windforce 915MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI HDMI Display Port PCI-E Video Card $159.99

Visiontek Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5 2XDVI 2XMINIDP HDMI PCI-E DIRECTX11 Video Card $199.99

XFX Radeon HD 6870 900MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI HDMI 2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-E Video Card $149.99

 

[Chinoman]

I'd say either the Gigabyte or XFX model. I just noticed your processor and wanted to advise upgrading that as well. Quad cores are recommended for BF3.

 

[Termie]

I'd say either the Gigabyte or XFX model. I just noticed your processor and wanted to advise upgrading that as well. Quad cores are recommended for BF3.

Indeed - you will be bottlenecked by your CPU. That being said, a $150CN HD6870 is still a good value. You could spend a bit less for a lot less performance, but this will hold you over until you upgrade the CPU. I'd get the XFX - it's the cheapest and has a nice warranty.

 

[jwright30]

If that is in fact a Xeon 3110, I don't see how that will cause a bottleneck. In my limited research I have found that the high end C2Ds with a bit of overclocking are still competent little processors. I am pretty sure that you don't bottleneck with something like that till you get into higher end CF or SLI setups.

 

[toyota]

If that is in fact a Xeon 3110, I don't see how that will cause a bottleneck. In my limited research I have found that the high end C2Ds with a bit of overclocking are still competent little processors. I am pretty sure that you don't bottleneck with something like that till you get into higher end CF or SLI setups.

you need to do way more research.

although is not much of a bottleneck for any single gpu, it is one nonetheless. the BF 3 Alpha numbers do not look good for Core 2 duos at all so it looks to be quite a massive limitation just in general for BF 3 at this point.

 

[Capt Caveman]

you need to do way more research.

although is not much of a bottleneck for any single gpu, it is one nonetheless. the BF 3 Alpha numbers do not look good for Core 2 duos at all so it looks to be quite a massive limitation just in general for BF 3 at this point.

Yep, you need a Quad.

 

[jwright30]

Very true, I had not looked much into BF3 and c2ds. It was just that up till recently that most games still did fine on a hot clocked C2D.

you need to do way more research.

although is not much of a bottleneck for any single gpu, it is one nonetheless. the BF 3 Alpha numbers do not look good for Core 2 duos at all so it looks to be quite a massive limitation just in general for BF 3 at this point.

 

[bdizzle28]

Darn. Looks like I won't be playing bf3 =[. If I end up buyin another CPU and video card I will probably need another mb and then an entire new computer. Just don't have the money right now. Thanks guys I appreciate the help.

 

[Crap Daddy]

So that's a 2 core xeon overclocked, I'd say it will work on BF3 but lag is included. Quad is the way to go. As for the GPU the 6870 or the 460GTX 1G would get you playable framerates. We don't know the recommended requirements yet but all that we saw until now, demos and multiplayer was done on GTX580 or SLi GTX580. So...

 

[bdizzle28]

Yah I guess I was expecting too much from my duo core. I'll save up a bit and I'll have to buy an entire new system but just kinda hesitant to buy an entire new system for a game.

 

[Crap Daddy]

Well get a new GPU. That will definitely help. See what you get with BF3 and if you have the cash, spend it.

 

[Spjut]

If your motherboard supports it you could look around for a cheap Core 2 Quad

 

[Vdubchaos]

Don't speculate/assume.

Wait until the darn game comes out.

a) read reviews/make sure it's worth buying
b) see reviews on CPU/GPU
c) upgrade/buy hardware as needed

 

[SickBeast]

OP wait until the game comes out. GPU prices typically drop like a rock.

I'm personally hoping my GTX 460 SLI setup can handle BF3 when it comes out. I have a feeling 768mb of vram will not be enough.

 

[bdizzle28]

how is this compared to the 6870? Which one would you get?

ZOTAC ZT-50701-10M GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $128.99 + tax. Free shipping.

vs

XFX Radeon HD 6870 900MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI HDMI 2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-E Video Card $150

 

[happy medium]

how is this compared to the 6870? Which one would you get?

ZOTAC ZT-50701-10M GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $128.99 + tax. Free shipping.

vs

XFX Radeon HD 6870 900MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI HDMI 2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-E Video Card $150

Thats 140$AR for the gtx560.

You are better off with a factory overclocked gtx560ti for 184$AR
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...GB-DDR5-2DVI-Mini-HDMI-PCI-Express-Video-Card

Edit: With your cpu just grab a gtx560 for 140$AR .
There will be no difference between a gtx560 and a 6870 with your cpu.

 

[timma]

Gigabyte GTX 560 GSO+1 new dual 100mm fan,looks great~

 

[BladeVenom]

Wait till the game comes out before you decide. See how it does in benchmarks, and see what the new Radeon cards are like. At least the old video cards will likely be cheaper then.

I'm guessing your current CPU will be good enough.

 

[conlan]

Darn. Looks like I won't be playing bf3 =[. If I end up buyin another CPU and video card I will probably need another mb and then an entire new computer. Just don't have the money right now. Thanks guys I appreciate the help.

Naw, I was in the same boat and upgraded to a Q9450 and R6870. It will run BF3 fine @ reasonable resolution till i'm able to upgrade.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

lol. just upgrade to SB

 

[skipsneeky2]

I bet a 9800gtx will do low on 1680x1050 i would wait for the beta and go from there.

There is videos on youtube of people playing it at 1920x1080 with a 5770 which isn't worlds better then a 9800gtx.

Op i got a old 9800gtx sitting around around beta i will personally test it find the best playable settings and make a thread with my results.

Edit: Will test it with a stock e8200 and 4gb and a 2500k stock and overclocked to 4.3hzs