whats a decent used gfx card?

[bguile]

Hi,

I am currently working on building a new computer. Motherboard (asrock 970 extreme 4, memory and graphics card) are all thats left to buy. I will probably order the motherboard and memory in early march, which leaves me with just a graphics card to purchase after that. Probably will get a 7870 if the price/performance is ok, or maybe see what the new gk104 is like and what it does to current gpu prices. I like the new AMD cards, but the prices are just too high.

In the meantime I was thinking of getting some 30-50 dollar graphics as an interim card while I wait/save/watch. Something that can play semi-recent games comfortably (new vegas, mass effect, dragon age, etc) at 1600 res. I haven't really played many games since oblivion b/c my computer just doesn't have the horsepower (old pentium 3.0).

Looking on newegg i don't see much at that price point except 5450's and gt 210s and 220s and the like. So I am considering going on ebay and getting a used graphics card, but not sure what I should be looking for and what is a fair price. Reliablity is also a concern, since I will probably keep it around as a backup card. I really haven't paid much attention to graphics cards since 2003-4. Only other caveat is I don't want something that sounds like a jet engine either if I can help it.

thanks.

 

[Stuka87]

You may be able to find a 5770 in the 50-60 dollar range used. It should run what you want. Although running them at 1600 is going to require nocking down some of the settings most likely.

 

[Qbah]

1600 res - do you mean:

1) 2560x1600
2) 1600x1200
3) 1600x900

If it's the first one then even a (theoretical at this point) HD7870 will struggle in plenty of games. For now, a HD5770 with many settings lowered (and no AA) would do fine.

For the other two resolutions, a HD5770 will be fine for now - maybe not max everything, but smooth gameplay with reasonable settings.

 

[bguile]

1680x1050 resolution. (720p res I believe)

5770 would be nice, or a 460, but I don't think I can get them for under 50 right now.

I was thinking more along the lines of 9800 gt or gtx?, or a gt 240 or maybe 260.

Again, I'm not looking to play battlefield 3, or metro 2033 at that res. Think games more along the lines of fallout new vegas, half life 2, left 4 dead, bioshock, gta iv, mass effect etc.

 

[DominionSeraph]

There's a GTS 250 for $40 after $30 MIR on Tigerdirect. That's a pretty good deal since the 9800GT sells used in the $40-$50 range. (The GTS 250 is a die shrunk 9800 GTX+)

For used, you might luck out and find a 4870 or GTX 260 in the $50 range.

 

[SickBeast]

I recently sold one of my GTX 460s for $80. They're great cards.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Newegg has a 6850 for $120 after rebate. AMD will not beat that level of price/performance with the 7 series cards, period. Nvidia might but you'll be waiting a couple months minimum to find out and even then I highly doubt it. So basically the $120-$140 6850 is going to be as good as it gets no matter how long you're going to wait. Good part is that the 6850 will be powerful enough to play any game at 1680X1050 with pretty high settings.

 

[Rvenger]

1680x1050 resolution. (720p res I believe)

5770 would be nice, or a 460, but I don't think I can get them for under 50 right now.

I was thinking more along the lines of 9800 gt or gtx?, or a gt 240 or maybe 260.

Again, I'm not looking to play battlefield 3, or metro 2033 at that res. Think games more along the lines of fallout new vegas, half life 2, left 4 dead, bioshock, gta iv, mass effect etc.

A friend of mine wants to sell his 5770. Probably in the $60 range. He just replaced it with a GTX560ti

 

[bguile]

There's a GTS 250 for $40 after $30 MIR on Tigerdirect. That's a pretty good deal since the 9800GT sells used in the $40-$50 range. (The GTS 250 is a die shrunk 9800 GTX+)

For used, you might luck out and find a 4870 or GTX 260 in the $50 range.

Thanks, I ended up getting a new gts 250 for $60. Figured it was somewhat safer than buying used so I spent the extra 10 on it. Missed the rebate on tigerdirect, or else I probably would have done that.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Enjoy your GTS 250 ;-p

 

[Obsoleet]

A GTS250 is ok for $60. If I were in the used video card market though, I'd want a cheap used 5xxx card or 6xxxx. Either were great cards and hold up well over time, don't consume a ton of power, run cool.

They're such good cards I haven't bothered to upgrade my 5870, which I bought on launch day. The only worthy replacement I've seen is the 7970, which is more horsepower than League of Legends needs@1920x1200. Power consumption, is amazingly awesome though. But so are the 5 and 6 series. Can't go wrong with any of them, you can go wrong with assorted Geforce cards- really need to cherry pick there based on power consumption/price/performance in a lot of cases.

 

[dajeepster]

i wouldn't buy any used AMD 5xxx and above cards...
for one reason and one reason only.. Bitcoins

 

[T_Yamamoto]

i wouldn't buy any used AMD 5xxx and above cards...
for one reason and one reason only.. Bitcoins

mostly 5xxx series