[SOLVED] Help MLD pick out a new graphics card for less than $125!

[Masterlegodude]

So here's how it is, we got a new computer case recently and used various parts from two old useless computers, it runs Windows 7 and uses the graphics card that was in my brother's old computer, problem is, that graphics card is in the process of dying like the ATI Radeon 5670 did in the Vista computer, without any other graphics cards lying around, we must search high and low for a new and better graphics card

The most we can afford is about $125, tops, these are a couple of graphics cards that we've found so far
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125411

We were concerned that the Sapphire wouldn't be compatible due to it being a PCI Express 3.0, we have a 2.0, but according to the Googles, PCI Express 3.0 is backwards compatible, but i just thought that i should mention that anyway

So you guys are pretty good at picking out computer parts, yes? Let me know which of the two cards above is best or if there's a better graphics card than both of those

[Ad Bot]

[snot2]

gtx 650 some are below 125

[devildogelite]

Go with the 7770, the 430 is stuff. A 7770 is also better than a 650.

[MackTheHunter]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161402

GHz edition, HIS is good quality.

Here's one with a vaguely better heatsink:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161414

As for NVIDIA,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187201

Never heard of "sparkle" but it's the cheapest and it's a 650 so, yeah.

Better 650s incoming:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121710 - ASUS is excellent
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127701 - MSI is good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125445 - Gigabyte is good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162124 - Galaxy is good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500272 - Zotac is pushing mediocrity, but like I said it's a 650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133471 - PNY is NVIDIA's reference so they're alright

here's where we forgetin' PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121630 - ASUS GTX 550 Ti. $124.99. That's an amazing buy for that budget.

EDIT: Go for this card right up here. This 550 Ti from ASUS. Ignore everything else I said. There's a $20 rebate on this card so it's $104. One hundred and four dollars for a 550 Ti. That's tasty. Real tasty.

[snot2]

my pny 650 is tiny

heh my little pny

[Masterlegodude]

Okay, so between the Asus (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121630) and the Sapphire (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011), which would be best?

The Sapphire has a lot more 5 eggs whereas the Asus is almost between 5 eggs and 4 and with less overall vote than the Sapphire

I don't know much when it comes to comparing system specs, but the Sapphire has a better Core Clock, better Memory Clock, but the Asus has a better Memory Interface, Sapphire has a .1 better difference in OpenGL, but it requires a 400 watt power supply

Also, my brother is wondering if any one has any experience with using either of these cards with games like Garry's Mod and such in the case that i do get the Asus but i can only run it on low settings or whatever

[MackTheHunter]

Okay, so between the Asus (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121630) and the Sapphire (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011), which would be best?

The Sapphire has a lot more 5 eggs whereas the Asus is almost between 5 eggs and 4 and with less overall vote than the Sapphire

I don't know much when it comes to comparing system specs, but the Sapphire has a better Core Clock, better Memory Clock, but the Asus has a better Memory Interface, Sapphire has a .1 better difference in OpenGL, but it requires a 400 watt power supply

Also, my brother is wondering if any one has any experience with using either of these cards with games like Garry's Mod and such in the case that i do get the Asus but i can only run it on low settings or whatever

I have experience with a 460, which is much worse than the 650 Ti, and I could run Gmod at maximum graphics no problem, so I assume it'll be better.

[Titanium Man]

id go with a 7770

[Flush535]

Are you gonna be playing Source games n stuff?

also I have the 7770, it's a fantastic card for the price you're paying.

[Masterlegodude]

Okay Round 3, i guess we're going toward the 7770, this is one my brother found
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121642

And wanted to compare to the previous one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011

Are you gonna be playing Source games n stuff?

also I have the 7770, it's a fantastic card for the price you're paying.

I intend on playing games like Blockland, Source games, Borderlands 2, Dead Island, CS:GO and Just Cause 2

[Flush535]

At 1336x768 I can max out JC2, Blockland, and any source games at 60+ FPS. Haven't played the others :x

[Elecro]

get 7770.

[devildogelite]

Okay, so between the Asus (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121630) and the Sapphire (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011), which would be best?

The Sapphire has a lot more 5 eggs whereas the Asus is almost between 5 eggs and 4 and with less overall vote than the Sapphire

I don't know much when it comes to comparing system specs, but the Sapphire has a better Core Clock, better Memory Clock, but the Asus has a better Memory Interface, Sapphire has a .1 better difference in OpenGL, but it requires a 400 watt power supply

Also, my brother is wondering if any one has any experience with using either of these cards with games like Garry's Mod and such in the case that i do get the Asus but i can only run it on low settings or whatever

Most of what you're comparing between the two cards doesn't matter at all. Benchmarks for the 7770 show it to be a better card. Go for the 7770.

[Masterlegodude]

Most of what you're comparing between the two cards doesn't matter at all.

Due to my lack of knowledge, i just assumed that most of that was important

Which 7770 though, the Asus or the Sapphire?

[devildogelite]

Due to my lack of knowledge, i just assumed that most of that was important

I guess they're important, but some times an increase in something doesn't actually equal an increase in real life performance. If you want to compare performance of a card go look at benchmarks. Most benchmarks I've seen show the 7770 to have an edge, and it is also quite a bit less.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127687

I would go for this one, MSI is a great company. They make some kickin' coolers too. Though I have a bit of a soft spot for MSI because I really like the coolers they use.