Video card tailored to a Core2Quad 6600?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
81
Ok, christmas is coming and the in-law's brother has a busted video card... He played some oldschool games like Everquest, but I'm sure with a new video card he may play something newer.

His system has a Q6600 2.4ghz CPU. Let's assume the power supply can handle anything... (If it ends up not working, we'll get a new one)

What is a good video card tailored to this system? Budget is sub $100, sub $80 if possible.

Purchased in Canada :) newegg.ca or ncix.ca only!

Thanks!!
 
L

lavaheadache

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2005
6,893
14
81
Overclocking that cpu would net large gains if he has the rig and know how to do so. We would be able to recommend a much faster card.
 
D

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
> Budget is sub $100, sub $80 if possible

Used 5770 / 6770 from some Canadian in FS/FT would be the best choice.

If not, wait to see if the new low-end AMD 7xxx cards are released soon, then the 7670 might be as fast as the old 6770, or the old 6770 might be in some Hot Deals from closeouts.

In the US there have been Hot Deals on GTX 460s for under $100 but they don't last long.
 
L

LoneNinja

Senior member
Jan 5, 2009
825
0
0
DaveSimmons said:
> Budget is sub $100, sub $80 if possible

Used 5770 / 6770 from some Canadian in FS/FT would be the best choice.

If not, wait to see if the new low-end AMD 7xxx cards are released soon, then the 7670 might be as fast as the old 6770, or the old 6770 might be in some Hot Deals from closeouts.

In the US there have been Hot Deals on GTX 460s for under $100 but they don't last long.
Click to expand...

I doubt the 7670 will match a 5770/6770 in performance, it's rumored to be nothing but a die shrunk 6670. We'll see some performance gains due to higher clocks, but it's not a new chip. Reason for this being to maintain crossfire capabilities with Trinity.
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
81
Thanks for the help!

Just to make sure, these would all be an improvement from his GeForce 7950GT? According to Passmark, the 6670 will be twice as fast, and a 6750 would be 2.5x faster :)
 
dave_the_nerd

dave_the_nerd

Lifer
Feb 25, 2011
16,991
1,620
126
GoStumpy said:
Thanks for the help!

Just to make sure, these would all be an improvement from his GeForce 7950GT? According to Passmark, the 6670 will be twice as fast, and a 6750 would be 2.5x faster :)
Click to expand...

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/...uality/Sum-of-FPS-Benchmarks-Totals,2485.html

See all the way at the bottom where the 8800GTS gets a score of 684?

The 7950GT was half as powerful. Meanwhile, the GTX 460 comes in at around 2082.

Now look here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011-gaming-graphics-charts/3DMark11-Enthusiast,2660.html

The 460 768MB scores 18+, the overclocked 1GB 460 scores 21. So an un-OC'd 1GB model (the one that got 2082 on the previous chart) would probably come in around 20.5.

6670 is only 14.85 and 6750 is 13.62.

That 468-768 is $120 here.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162058

You can probably find a better deal with a little sleuthing.

Spraying a bottle of water at a cat will cause it to process pixels faster than a 7950GT.
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
81
Even a recertified (out of stock) 460 is $110+ shipping... Others are $140+ after rebates.

Definitely out of my price range.
 
M

mosox

Senior member
Oct 22, 2010
434
0
0
M

mosox

Senior member
Oct 22, 2010
434
0
0
That should be 10-15% faster than the HD 6750 but it consumes 150W. What PSU does he have? Also I don't know about Diamond.
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
GoStumpy said:
What about this? I know its a 4-series which is older, but it looks like a much beefier card?

Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16814103193

And it's $69.99 with free shipping, no rebates required :)
Click to expand...

That's by far the best value if he plays older games and lays off texture mods and AA. I am assuming that if he was gaming on a 7950GT, he is not running 1080P? Either way, an HD4870 512mb will be a massive upgrade over that videocard. The 4870 does run hotter at idle and consumes quite a bit of power for its performance. If you can stretch it, grab an HD6770 for $95. But if performance per dollar is more important, then it's hard to beat the value on the 4870 for $70 without going into the used market. Just make sure he doesn't play modern games because in that case the 512mb limitation will become huge. If he intends to keep this card for another 5 years, I'd definitely recommend spending $25 more for the HD6770 simply because over that period of time the energy consumption disadvantage of the 4870 at idle will erode all the savings.
 
Last edited:
D

darckhart

Senior member
Jul 6, 2004
517
2
81
do you want new? or can you do used? you could probably expand your range of choices then.

in any case, i gave my cousin my old gtx260 core 216 to pair with his q6600 and he's been happily playing sc2 and wow. you should be able to get one of those used for << $100. come to think of it, anything in that class and age should be going for sub 100 by now.
 
GoStumpy

GoStumpy

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,211
11
81
Purchased the 4870 today :) Considering it's a Christmas present, I wanted new (to wrap) and the 4870 has a decent 'wow' factor to it.

If he needs a new PSU, I have a spare 430W laying around I can also 'gift'.
 
toyota

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
0
GoStumpy said:
Purchased the 4870 today :) Considering it's a Christmas present, I wanted new (to wrap) and the 4870 has a decent 'wow' factor to it.

If he needs a new PSU, I have a spare 430W laying around I can also 'gift'.
Click to expand...
I hope thats a decent 430 watt psu as there are plenty of them out there with less than 20 amps on the 12v line.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom