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GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Started by Olivia Gonzalez3 · · 👁 43 views · 1.7K replies

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Participants Olivia Gonzalez3James Morris4nimbletrucker10Kyle Sanchez4Zachary Wilson30wiredmarlin5quietcyclist89Thomas Martin4coppercanyon6rustyangler7swiftfalcon14shadowjackal6Christian Mendoza60Roger Chavez91Karen Garcia5John James3Edward Morris40Eric Patel31urbandriver452Rachel Fox4swiftridge40Samuel Mitchell3Gerald Young8Sandra Garcia5 …
Alexander Moore67 Alexander Moore67 Active Member
137 messages
joined Jun 2013
#1441 ·
Bryan Evans77 said:thank goodness you realized the guy is running a 4650 with DDR2...

The HD5670 is just a budget gaming card, nothing more... and even then, it's pretty weak (not bad for basic tasks, but if you actually want to play games, it's junk).
But look at how much better it performs compared to the 46xx series.
http://static.techspot.com/articles-...STALKER_01.png

Most users I see are sticking to 17" or 19" monitors. I agree on looking toward the future, but for right now.....
Casey Long2 Casey Long2 Member
14 messages
joined Feb 2010
#1442 ·
Alexander Moore67 said:Most people I've personally shown a monitor to seem to be using 17" or 19" models—and hey, I totally agree regarding future-proofing, but right now...

I have to disagree there. Just because you happen to run into a lot of folks using those older screens doesn't necessarily mean they represent the standard. Steam Hardware Survey actually shows that 1680*1050 is currently leading the pack, though looking at what's hitting the shelves in big-box retailers today, 1920*1080 is going to take over that top spot before we know it.

On the flip side, you’ve got this huge crowd of self-proclaimed "gamers" who obsess over having 1, 2, or even 3 GB of VRAM and hitting some arbitrary 666 fps cap—all while completely ignoring the fact that they could be using a much better resolution on a decent display. It seems like a lot of people are just being incredibly cheap when it comes to their peripherals...
Alexander Moore67 Alexander Moore67 Active Member
137 messages
joined Jun 2013
#1443 ·
Casey Long2 said:I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. Just because a lot of people happen to own those monitors doesn't mean they're actually the most common ones out there. The latest Steam Hardware Survey just dropped. He claims that 1680*1050 is the most common resolution right now, but looking at the monitors hitting the shelves these days, 1920*1080 will probably take the top spot pretty soon.

On the other hand, you’ve got this crowd of "gamers" obsessed with having 1 or 2 GB of VRAM and hitting some arbitrary 666 FPS cap, while they couldn't care less about actually using a decent resolution on a high-quality monitor. They're just incredibly cheap when it comes to the essentials.

Which countries is this survey about? America and Canada. 🤣
Amy Gray8 Amy Gray8 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Aug 2011
#1444 ·
I'm trying to decide which GPU I should pick up right now. Over in Europe, the GTX 570 is running a bit cheaper, but things are priced differently here in the States. Just to be clear, I'm not some kind of fanboy; I just want to buy a card that won't leave me needing an upgrade anytime soon.
Amy Gray8 Amy Gray8 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Aug 2011
#1445 ·
Looks like this thread is blowing up 😁
stormywolf39 stormywolf39 Member
17 messages
joined Dec 2008
#1446 ·
The 6970 has a bit more kick to it. Honestly, it just comes down to what you're willing to shell out right now... ATI cards are still solid benchmarks, but if you can snag a GTX 570 in that MSI Twin Frozr edition, do it. I highly recommend that one.
Amy Gray8 Amy Gray8 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Aug 2011
#1447 ·
stormywolf39 said:The 6970 has a bit more punch, though it really comes down to whatever prices you're looking at. AMD cards are still pretty much the standard baseline, but you can snag a GTX 570 in that MSI Twin Frozr version, which I’d highly recommend.

Based on those charts, I think gaming will be smooth enough, so that's not my main concern. It's more about the cost. For example, over at Best Buy, the HD 6970 is sitting around $833, while the GTX 570 is up to $933!! Most other retailers are quoting similar numbers too. Does the GTX 570 actually justify paying $100 more? People claim Nvidia has a superior chip and better drivers, plus better optimization for newer titles... but honestly, everyone online just praises their own brand. Test results vary wildly depending on who you ask.
Alex Harris32 Alex Harris32 Newcomer
1 message
joined Dec 2010
#1448 ·
Dennis Miller58 said:Looking at those benchmarks, I don't think you'll have any trouble getting a smooth experience, so don't sweat it; for instance, if you check Best Buy, the HD 6970 is sitting around $833, while the GTX 570 is closer to $933!! Most other retailers are quoting similar numbers too!! I honestly question if the GTX 570 is actually worth that extra $100. I suppose people argue that Nvidia has the superior chip and such, or that their drivers are more stable and better optimized for the latest AAA titles... but you know how it goes on the internet—everyone just praises their own favorite brand, and you'll find conflicting test results everywhere...

Just grab the HD 6970; you won't be losing out—personally, I feel like paying $100 more for a GTX 570 just isn't worth the headache.

With ATI cards, driver quality is always a bit of a moving target, and the HD 6970 is certainly no exception.
One month they release a stellar update, and the next, they stumble over some bug, only to fix it again later—it’s a constant cycle.

Bottom line, you won't regret going with the HD 6970, that much is 😉
certain.
Sarah Turner98 Sarah Turner98 Member
15 messages
joined Jul 2010
#1449 ·
The HD6970 is stronger in some spots and weaker in others—it all depends on the game, right? Some titles just prefer Nvidia over ATI...
If you don't need CUDA and have zero intention of actually using it...
Just grab the ATI card and call it a day. Both graphics cards are solid; the difference is really just a few FPS depending on the game (assuming you're just gaming anyway)
And honestly, you won't even notice the gap. Is it 112fps or 115fps? Who cares? 😁 Just go with the cheaper option and $100 keep the extra cash in your pocket 🙂
Amy Gray8 Amy Gray8 Newcomer
7 messages
joined Aug 2011
#1450 ·
Thanks for the advice!! Honestly, those numbers are mostly just for people who love to brag 😛
boldcanyon3 boldcanyon3 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jun 2009
#1451 ·
Dennis Miller58 said:Thanks for the advice... Honestly, those numbers are mostly just for people who love to brag... 😛

Guys, I'm looking to pick up a new GPU... $233..
My pick was... 5670 1GB...

The specs are:

Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.8GHz...
The power supply that came bundled with the case is only 400W... 😁
Asrock A770DE+...
4GB of DDR2 800 RAM...

So, my GPU finally kicked the bucket. I know if I grab something that outclasses my entire current build, the whole thing is just going to choke... What I'm actually mulling over is picking up a decent, modern graphics card now—then down the road, I can swap out the power supply and the CPU since I'm stuck on this old AM2+ platform...
So, what's the verdict? My pick is that AMD Radeon HD 5670—what are you guys suggesting...
If you happen to have any better ideas... it would be great if you could share them with me...
crimsonstag84 crimsonstag84 Regular
518 messages
joined Jun 2010
#1452 ·
The AMD Radeon HD 5670 is a decent pick, but if I were in your shoes, I’d probably stretch $23 and grab the Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 instead. It’s significantly more powerful—maybe by 30%—but there's the little issue of the power supply. The Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 shouldn't be a massive power hog, so it should generally be fine, but once you've saved up about 300-$133, I'd suggest picking up an EVGA Power Supply from Links; honestly, it's probably the best value you can find for that price 🙂

If you're feeling a bit skeptical about the power supply, maybe save up a little extra... if you can afford to wait 😁, you could just buy both the card and the PSU at the same time 😉

If you're in a huge rush, go with the HD 5670, but the 512MB version is going to cost you less than $200 😉
Sandra Garcia5 Sandra Garcia5 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Sep 2010
#1453 ·
THIS

The AMD Radeon HD 5670 is listed in the specs for $170, but it only has 512 MB. It really depends on what resolution you're running on your monitor; if you aren't pushing Full HD, then 512 MB should be fine.

Otherwise, go with that Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 mentioned by crimsonstag84 above.
boldcanyon3 boldcanyon3 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jun 2009
#1454 ·
Thanks for the input—I was leaning in the same direction... My only real worry is whether the Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 can actually handle this power supply. If it manages to hold up for a few months, I’ll definitely pick up a decent unit later once I've got the cash...

By the way, just regarding the HD 5670—I'm stuck using a tiny 17" LCD monitor, unfortunately... an old Samsung SyncMaster 720n
image

That's why I was considering the 512MB DDR5 version... Not sure though...
So, that's the whole situation. It looks like it's down to a toss-up between the Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 and the HD 5670 512MB...
casualranger10 casualranger10 Member
18 messages
joined Jan 2010
#1455 ·
Hey guys... which one should I go with?

http://www.craigslist.com/video-card-listing-1
http://www.craigslist.com/video-card-listing-2
http://www.craigslist.com/video-card-listing-3
http://www.craigslist.com/video-card-listing-4
http://www.craigslist.com/video-card-listing-5
http://www.craigslist.com/video-card-listing-6

I haven't been keeping up with the market much lately—my current card is pretty much on its deathbed, so I need an upgrade. Looking at these options, what would you recommend and why? Or maybe there's a better third option out there that I'm missing?
p.s. This is mainly for gaming.
Alexander Moore67 Alexander Moore67 Active Member
137 messages
joined Jun 2013
#1456 ·
casualranger10 said:Guys... which one?

http://www.craigslist.com/video-cards-listing-1
http://www.craigslist.com/video-cards-listing-2
http://www.craigslist.com/video-cards-listing-3
http://www.craigslist.com/video-cards-listing-4
http://www.craigslist.com/video-cards-listing-5
http://www.craigslist.com/video-cards-listing-6

I haven't been checking much lately, but my current card is dying on me so I need an upgrade. Which of these would you recommend and why? Or should I look for something else entirely?
ps... it's for gaming

The forum rules regarding CPUs, GPUs, and everything else.....
casualranger10 casualranger10 Member
18 messages
joined Jan 2010
#1457 ·
Corsair 400w Asus P5B VM
Asus P5B VM SE
Intel Core 2 Duo E5300

Is there anything else worth noting? Don't worry about the power supply if it's a bit weak—I'm planning on swapping that out too if it turns out to be necessary.
boldcanyon14 boldcanyon14 Member
13 messages
joined Sep 2014
#1458 ·
It's fine if you're using the Corsair 400w Asus P5B VM; that should cut it. Honestly, though, I think your CPU is going to be the real bottleneck here—it'll struggle to keep up with any of those cards you mentioned. If you go with the Nvidia GeForce GTS 450, sure, that works.
You listed a pretty wild variety of GPUs up there. 😁 Out of that bunch, the 6850 is definitely the winner, but I have to reiterate: your processor is just too weak, even before we start worrying about the power supply.
Sandra Garcia5 Sandra Garcia5 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Sep 2010
#1459 ·
Monitor and resolution?

For 1920*1080, maybe an HD 6850 1GB

And for anything below that, a GTX 460 with 768MB

Though honestly, even a GTX 460 is overkill for that CPU. An Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 would be more balanced, but there isn't much of a price gap compared to the performance jump, so I’d personally go with the GTX 460. 🙂
Alexander Moore67 Alexander Moore67 Active Member
137 messages
joined Jun 2013
#1460 ·
casualranger10 said:Corsair 400W
Asus P5B VM SE
Intel Core 2 Duo E5300

Anything else worth mentioning? Don't worry about the power supply if it's weak; I'm planning on swapping that out too if necessary.

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