Well Rounded GFX Card Needed

[ScottAD]

Hello,

I am looking for a GFX card that can fulfill several needs. I am not opposed to AMD but would prefer NVIDIA so either is fine as long as I have good reason to go with AMD.

The things I will be doing include;

Some gaming (Mostly Diablo III when it lands)
Streaming Netflix, Youtube, etc.
Browsing and the normal daily computer stuff including office.
Recording video and rendering it at 720p but preferably 1080p.

Right now I use a Hauppauge but may switch to Aver once their 1080 card hits the street so PCI slots will be a consideration.

The case all this is going in is the Corsair Carbide 400R. There is 316mm of space for a card.

Price Range ~$150-200

Thank you for looking

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Whats your monitor size? (resolution)

and a 6870 will be your best GPU

 

[Arkadrel]

Some gaming (Mostly Diablo III when it lands)
Streaming Netflix, Youtube, etc.
Browsing and the normal daily computer stuff including office.
Recording video and rendering it at 720p but preferably 1080p.

You sure you *actually* need a discrete card?
because all that sounds like such low demands, they could probably run find off of say a Sandy Bridge HD3000 IGP or Llano IGP.

hell even something small like a 5570 or so should be able to do those things.

Blizzard has a 5750 in the middle of the recammended for high settings video card list, but a overclocked 5570 could probably give you decent fps at high settings (again Diablo III isnt really a demanding game graphics wise).

 

[ScottAD]

Monitor size will likely be 23" or so. I haven't picked that yet but I was eyeing the Asus VH242H. Resolution is 1920 x 1080.

I should spec out the rest of the system.

CPU: 2500k
RAM: 8GB G.Skill DDR3 1600
PSU: XFX 650W XXX Edition

The videos will be something running at 60FPS and I will be overlaying sound with it. I don't doubt the graphical capabilities of Sandybridge but I just want to get the best bang for buck on a discrete card. I may end up playing other games than Diablo III as well!

I appreciate all the help though truly.

 

[hectorsm]

If you are looking for a NVidia card between $150 -$200 and process video @1080p then this might be a good choice:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121466

 

[Arkadrel]

Thats a pretty beefy CPU....
And if your also thinking about other games.

I think something like a 6870 for ~140$ is great bang-4-buck.

Alternative ( ~7% faster) would be a nvidia 560 ti ~189$ on newegg.

I think the 6870 @ 140$ is a better buy than the 560 ti ~189, but if you like nvidia go that route.

@hectorsm

isnt there like a 10-15% differnce between the 560 and the 560 ti ?
That would mean the 6870 for 140$ would be a faster card for cheaper.

139$ and Dirt3 (a free game as a bonus too):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131378

 

[T_Yamamoto]

6870 is by far the best midrange GPU out there right now.

(i am not an AMD fanboy, its just the truth)

 

[ScottAD]

I probably won't be purchasing this until Feb or March. Would that affect your suggestions?

 

[RussianSensation]

I probably won't be purchasing this until Feb or March. Would that affect your suggestions?

Yes. With new generation of 28nm graphics cards expected from AMD and by March, perhaps from NV, current generation of cards might have some great sales, or new generation of cards will bring even more performance at current price levels. So if you aren't buying until Feb/March, there is no point in asking for advice now.

 

[mrjoltcola]

For your needs / price-range, I'd pick up a used card at the bottom end of the price range. You don't need a 560ti, it is probably overkill. But below that, the only card worth buying in the 500 series for a new build is really the 560. The 550ti is just too anemic for the price, and there are better deals, like a used 460. A used 560 can be had for $150-160, there are plenty now that the new 560Ti 448 core is launching, and the regular 560 1GB will easily push 1080p for your needs.

However, your actual needs aren't that high, you can easily find a card under $75, but you'll be limited to DirectX 10. Consider these used cards:
9800 1GB GT ($35-$40)
GTS 250 1GB ($45-50)
GTX 260 Core 216 896MB ($65-70)

I like the 560 over the older cards because it is better on power usage, but if power isn't an issue then you have a lot to pick from.