GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

It’s actually a solid option if you can snag it for a better price than the ones I mentioned above.

Here is a rough breakdown of the hierarchy if you're picking something specifically for gaming:
http://www.bitsandchips.it/9-hardwar...-oland?start=7

Will my MS-7529 ver 1.6 motherboard actually handle an Asus HD7750-1GD5-V2? I'm currently running a 520W power supply along with a Pentium Dual-Core E6300 2.80GHz and 4 GB of RAM.

sure

I guess I could use some expert eyes on these builds listed below. Are they actually decent enough for gaming, if we aren't talking about hardcore stuff? I'm wondering if I'll be able to get somewhat solid FPS running things on medium settings, maybe.

LINK
LINK

You should probably look for something better. (By the way, you always get more bang for your buck if you just build a custom rig component by component). This listing doesn't even specify what you're actually getting.
Since they announced Watch Dogs requires at least an older quad-core CPU, the real question is how it’s going to handle a dual-core setup.

Minimum specs:
OS: Windows Vista SP2 64, Windows 7 SP1 64, Windows 8 64
Processor: Intel Core 2 quad Q8400 @ 2.66Ghz or AMD Phenom ii x4 940 @ 3.0Ghz
RAM: 6 GB
Graphics: 1024 VRAM DirectX 11 with shader model 5.0
Sound card: DirectX 9 compatible sound card

Recommended specs:
Processor: Core i7 3770 @ 3.5Ghz or AMD FX-8350 @ 4.0Ghz
RAM: 8 GB
Graphics: 2048 VRAM DirectX 11 with shader model 5.0 or higher
Sound card: Surround sound 5.1 capable sound card

Supported graphics cards at launch:
Nvidia GeForce GTX460 or Better, GT500, GT600, GT700 series
AMD Radeon HD5850 or Better, HD6000, HD7000, R7 and R9 series
Intel Iris Pro hd 5200.

Judging by that GTX 460, I’d suggest aiming for at least an HD7770 if you want to run next-gen games at a decent level.

Those aren't great. You might want to grab this one instead for about the same price:

Timothy Kim60 said:you should probably aim for something better. (honestly, you’re probably better off just building it yourself from parts). this listing doesn't even specify what you actually get.
Since they said Watch Dogs needs at least an older quad core CPU, I guess it's hard to say how it'll even handle things on a dual core.

If we're judging by that GTX 460, I'd say you really need at least an HD7770 if you want any kind of decent experience with next-gen games

That's kind of out of my budget, honestly. I was thinking of grabbing a setup for around 329 miles and then just upgrading later.

crimsonstag84 said:Those aren't great, maybe try this one instead for a similar price:

You probably won't believe me, but that was basically the exact build I had in my head. I went down to the local computer shop, gave the guy the same specs, and he told me 336 miles. And he only included 4 gigs of RAM in that 75 miles. Like, wtf, I can find 4 gigs—even if it's just half a stick—for 37 miles. So, yeah, half the price. ☕

Gerald Campbell65 said:That’s a bit outside my budget right now. My plan was to pick up a build around 329 miles and then upgrade it later.

Think about grabbing something with integrated graphics (like a quad) and 4GB of RAM, then just drop in a decent graphics card and some extra RAM whenever you have the cash.

Timothy Kim60 said:I guess you could maybe look for something with integrated graphics—like some kind of quad—along with 4GB of RAM, and then just grab a decent GPU whenever you get the chance, plus more RAM if things start getting sluggish.

Got anything specific in mind?

Check out this build:

plus this GPU:

And you could probably just grab a Fortron Hexa 500W or an XFX 450W power supply.

crimsonstag84 said:So, here's the build I'm looking at... I guess.
I guess I was looking at this old hardware list, and honestly, it’s kind of depressing how fast everything just becomes obsolete, though maybe I'm just getting old. It looks like someone was trying to put together a build around an Intel Core 2 quad Q8400, which I suppose was decent enough back in the day if you weren't trying to run anything too heavy. They were eyeing things like the Nvidia GeForce GTX460 or Better or maybe even an AMD Radeon HD5850 or Better if they felt like spending the extra cash, but who knows if any of that even matters anymore. Everything feels pretty much ancient history now, I guess.
And this graphics card:
So, I finally got my hands on this GTX 560 ti, and honestly, I’m not sure if I’m even feeling it yet, I guess. It’s just one of those things where you wonder if all the hype was actually worth the effort, maybe.

I guess you’d probably just end up picking up a Fortron 400 w or maybe an XFX unit, if you really had to.

That's just way too pricey. I'm sitting here crunching the numbers now, and I guess if I skip out on the XFX, it comes out to about... 357 milesI guess this Fortron thing is pretty much brand new, maybe. 81 milesLike I mentioned before, I guess my budget is sitting right around... 342 milesI mean, I could probably try to track down a used one somewhere, but honestly, I haven't had any luck finding anything at all.

Any other suggestions, I guess?

+ power supply

This build uses a Fortron 400 w, which I guess might handle the Q6600 and the GTX 560 ti, but it's missing the 2x6pin connectors needed for the graphics card.

What kind of usable parts do you have on hand right now (like a case or maybe a SATA HDD)? We could potentially mix and match some of those with new and used components... Also, what other budget-friendly shops are available around here in the States?

For instance, if you're planning to drop in a graphics card later that pulls about 75-100W, you don't need an overkill power supply—just something that isn't total junk.

crimsonstag84 said:plus the power supply

I guess this build has a Fortron 400 w, which might handle a Q6600 and a GTX 560 ti, but I don't think it has those 2x6pin connectors needed for the card.

That looks like some overkill power supply to me, I suppose. This setup seems fine, it's just that PSU that's an issue. Is there anything a bit cheaper or less intense out there?

Timothy Kim60 said:What kind of usable gear do you have sitting around right now (like a case or a SATA HDD?)—maybe we could mix some old stuff with new parts... What other cheap shops are around here in the States?

I mean, if I end up putting in cards later that only pull maybe 75-100w, I probably don't need some massive power supply, just something that isn't total junk.

I've got a mouse, keyboard, webcam, headphones, and an 18-inch LCD. 🤣

This is what showed up on the site. In my city, there are three shops; one is way too expensive, the second one is a total rip-off, and the third is okay but I don't really trust them. For instance, they're offering a C2D 2.93, 4GB of RAM, and an R6670 1GB DDR5 for 280 miles. The case is pretty terrible, and I don't know much about power supplies, but I suspect it was some low-end crap.

So, I figured I'd ask for suggestions here. 😉

Gerald Campbell65 said:That looks like an overkill power supply. The build is fine, but that PSU is the issue. Is there anything smaller or cheaper?

I've got a mouse, keyboard, webcam, headset, and an 18-inch LCD. 🤣

This is what I found on Best Buy. In my town, there are three shops: one is overpriced, the second is a scam, and the third is okay, but I don't really trust them. For example, a C2D 2.93, 4GB of RAM, and an R6670 1GB DDR5 would cost me 280 miles. The case is garbage, and I don't know much about power supplies, but I think it's some cheap junk.

That’s why I’m asking here for suggestions. 😉

Look, since your monitor isn't even Full HD, I'd suggest just going with something all new. New means you actually get a warranty, and this setup I put together will run games perfectly fine on your current screen, plus it's easy to upgrade later.🙂

a) http://www.zaslike.com/viewer.php?fi...u8nuo5ryxh.jpg

The pricier version—it has 2x2GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM because, in this setup, dual channel gives a nice little boost to the integrated graphics (which is plenty for what we talked about).

b) http://www.zaslike.com/viewer.php?fi...6rbiyr6pfg.jpg
A slightly cheaper option, since it uses 1x4GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM instead; everything else is the same.

Both builds can be upgraded with a decent GPU down the road if you want to play better games.🙂

Also, if you have a buddy over in Canada, just have them order it and you can bring it back across the border like it's your own PC. You shouldn't have any issues as long as you don't carry it in the original retail packaging; if you just carry the case with the parts inside, nobody's going to care.🙂

In my opinion, this is a better deal than that used stuff where you have no clue if there's a warranty or when it's going to die.

Both options fit within your 342 miles budget. 🙂

Robert Rodriguez2 said:...

So, I guess if you know someone back in America, maybe they could just order it and you could bring it over like it's your own rig crossing the border, which probably wouldn't be an issue as long as you don't show up with the original packaging, because if it's just the case filled with components, I doubt anyone would care much about 🙂

That sounds like a solid plan, but I don't really have any connections over there. 👍

Now, I actually have some relatives in Italy. I wonder what the prices are like over there... is it cheaper? At the end of the day, I guess the real question is whether it's even worth buying stuff there if I already have everything I need here. 🤷

Hey everyone!
Just like the title says, I'm on the hunt for a GPU that can handle both video editing and some gaming.
My last card finally gave up the ghost on me this past Friday...
So, I've been crunching the numbers and looking at my budget, and these are the options currently on my radar:
Either one of the Radeon 7770 6850 7850 cards, or
one of the Nvidia 550 ti or 560 ti models...

I'm fully aware that none of these five choices are exactly top-tier, but I have to work with what I've got.
Basically, I need something reliable for gaming and video editing in Sony Vegas.
Out of this specific list, which one would you recommend as the best pick? Thanks a million in advance!

What's left over from your build? CPU and PSU are the real deal when you're picking out a GPU. What kind of budget are we talking about here?

Guys, forget the benchmarks for a second. If you were in my shoes, would you actually jump from an AMD Radeon HD 7870 to an NVIDIA GTX 760? I know I'd have to shell out a significant amount of extra cash to make the switch... Is that kind of $167 extra cost even worth it?

The rest of my rig: i5 750, Intel dp55wb, Corsair CX500, 8GB of RAM...

I’ve got an ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series card that I’m looking to offload. I'm not entirely sure what the going rate is these days, so if anyone could give me a ballpark figure on its value, I’d appreciate it. My plan is to use the cash to pick up a newer card—something closer to $267—that can actually handle modern titles. Right now, I can’t even run Crysis 2, though Battlefield 3 still holds up okay on high settings.
It’s becoming a bit of a bottleneck, honestly. I picked up a bunch of games through Humble Bundle recently, and now they’re just sitting there unplayable. Everyone I talk to insists my GPU is the culprit, especially since I'm running 4GB of RAM, an Intel Pentium 2.8, and a 64-bit system. So, if anyone is looking for a budget upgrade:

ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series

It’s in great shape and would be a solid entry-level option for someone starting out.

Feel free to drop a comment below or reach out to me via the Craigslist ad I’ll be posting shortly.

Best, Jesse Lopez83