hurrycane

Im trying to figure out which video card is good.

so, this is what im also trying to get with the card together.

ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z

i5-2500k

G.Skill Ripjaws Series (ddr3 1600)


I think i got pretty much all set with the parts,

and last thing i need is video card.

could anyone tell me which one is good?

i could spend about upto $150.

Thanks.

blibbax

1.) What resolution do you play at?
2.) Are you interested in multi-monitor gaming?
3.) Are you interested in 3D gaming?
4.) Are you interested in Physx?
5.) Do you fold?
6.) Do you use Adobe CS a lot?
7.) What games do you play?
8.) What PSU do you have?
9.) How large a card can your case accommodate and effectively cool?

Not knowing any of that, all I can do is recommend that you find a cheap (for example end of line) GTX460 and hope for the best.

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IvanV

Blibbax asked very god questions and you should definitely answer them before making a final decision. A 460 would be a good choice performance-wise, but it's got a high-ish power consumption and you should beware of the Green Editions, SE and OEM variants as they are significantly weaker. Apart from that, solely on the basis of raw performance per $, having taken a look at Newegg, I'd say that Radeon 6850 (or maybe 6870) would best fit the bill.

This 6850 can be had for exactly $150 and just $130 after rebate Newegg.com - PowerColor AX6850 1GBD5-DH Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
You can take a look at other similar cards as well to see if you can find another that you like better (some offer a free game that you might like in the bundle).

If you are willing to stretch your budget a little, for $175 (just $155 after rebate) you can get a 6870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102948

These cards are good performers and can offer you multi monitor gaming (at up to three monitors I believe). The 3D support on AMD is a bit sketchy, though and they don't do PhysX. You will need a decent PSU, but nothing crazy.

On Nvidia's side, a GF 560 would be a worthy competitor, but it's a little above your price limit, starting at $185 or $165 after rebate and unlike the other cards the shipping isn't free, but you get the upcoming Batman. Some of the others offer good games bundled as well.

A 560 would perform very well and it would support 3D (better than AMD cards) and PhysX, but it only allows gaming on a single monitor.

Below your price limit, there is the GF 550Ti, but it's weaker than the other cards.

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If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

niceguyrichy

i wouldn't touch a 550ti personally, but thats maybe just me...

6870 if you can stretch to one offers good value, especially as many retailers now are offering attractive bundles
an etailer here in the UK is doing a 6870 + Deus Ex + DiRT 3 for only £125 atm for example. stonking deal imo

ideally though, you want to answer a couple of the Q's blib posted first for us

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hurrycane

here is what i answered for questions from blibbax

1.) What resolution do you play at?

1280x720 or higher
(and/or i could use HDTV 32" with HDMI)

2.) Are you interested in multi-monitor gaming?

for me, single, becuase i don't have 2 monitors lol
(1 monitor and 1 tv is all i have)

3.) Are you interested in 3D gaming?

If i can, i want to have one.

4.) Are you interested in Physx?

yes if i could get one.

5.) Do you fold?

i don't get this question...

6.) Do you use Adobe CS a lot?

eh i don't have one. lol
(but i wish i could have one to use.)

7.) What games do you play?

I play anykind of games,
right now i have SC2,MOD, and other free online games in different sites.
(FPS is what i usually play the most)

8.) What PSU do you have?

i think i got enough power. 950w cosair.

9.) How large a card can your case accommodate and effectively cool?

i got LanboyAir case with 11 fans on
(for now, but could add 4 more + trying to get cosair h100 cooling)

IvanV

Well, for 1280*720, any of the cards will do, but I'd like to know what do you mean by "or higher". The power supply is more than good enough and so is the case (Maximum graphics card size: 16.0" / 406 mm ).

If you want PhysX then you want an Nvidia's card. The problem is a 560 is out of your price range and for the 550 Ti, I'm not sure it's really up to the task (it can play any game at the mentioned resolution just fine, but PhysX puts extra load on the card so I don't know how it would handle that).

Taking PhysX out of the equation, any of the other mentioned cards would allow you gaming at Full HD in pretty much every game for now if your TV and monitor support it.

So, if I were you, I'd either splurge for a 560 if PhysX is a major factor, or, if $150 is the limit, forget about PhysX and take one of the Radeons, 6850 or 6870. AMD simply delivers better performance at the $150 and, while 3D does work a little better on Nvidia's cards, it works on a few games on AMD's cards as well (list).

EDIT: Then you're not doing it. He means do you participate in the Folding@home project (see my sig).

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If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

niceguyrichy

so power and cooling aren't an issue, you considered buying used / open box / OEM ?

a GTX 470 is hungry and hot, but for the sort of money you can pick them up for these days (if you're sharp), they offer some proper raw grunt
then, next wage day, buy a 260 for physx. sorted

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hurrycane

yes, im thinking of buying like opened or used items for cheaper price.

hurrycane

im not going to buy the parts right away.

im still thinking if i should get the parts now, or later when new generation/upgraded parts comes out and older parts gets cheaper.

i got total price for about $1000 right now, but thinking if i should spend all the parts for $1k.

blibbax

A 260 as a dedicated physx card will probably be a bit of an expensive waste of electricity the rest of the time, but a nearly-new or ex-display 470 or 480 sounds like an awesome idea. Even a 295...

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