Help Selecting New GFX Card


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Hi, I need a new GFX card, what would you guys recommend?

I currently had a 8600GTS 256MB which is now dead :(

I mainly play COD online & PES2012 and the 8600GTS handled these with ease.

But games like Battlefield 3 or NFS: The Run were unplayable.

A HDMI port would be handy too.

Mobo: P5N-E SLI

PSU: Corsair HX520W

RAM: 6GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2

CPU: Core 2 Quad Q6600

HDD: Samsung F3 1TB

Budget is around ?80.

Many Thanks.

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Ok, I'll be connected to a Samsung 20" LCD, with a resolution of 1680x1050 anyway.

Looking at the cards you guys suggested, I'm willing to increase the budget to ?100 MAX, no more.

My mobo has a nVidia chipset, and would getting a gtx 550 ti benefit it in any way compared to a 6770?

The 6770 looks like a good card, but I'm leaning towards the 550 ti.

What do you guys think?

You could also get the 5770 with is basically the 6770 (same gpu) but cheaper. THere is something like a 3% increase with the 6770 and the only actual difference other than clock speed (like 50mhz more) is the fact the 6770 supports HDMI 1.4. However, the 6770 isn't that expensive anyway:

6770 1GB ?80.34 -> http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/AMD/AMD+6770+Series/PowerColor+AMD+Radeon+HD+6770+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=48170

You could also look at the 6790:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/AMD/AMD+6770+Series/MSI+AMD+Radeon+HD+6790+OC+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=47971

Well ?100 is the absolute MAX. I can't find the GTX460 or 6850 near the ?100 range. Just to point out, I'm buying from either ebuyer.com or amazon.co.uk.

I'm not too familiar with the other sites posted...

It'll be a single GPU setup, so no SLI/Crossfire etc.

Now it looks like it's between gtx 550 ti and 6790 ???

ive been looking for a new card too was looking at the 6670 and 6770 (would do me) this thread has been imformative so glad ive spotted it thansk to all!

Also to the original poster scan.co.uk is ok so i would check there prices too but im mainly a ebay buyer though i have also used overclockers.co.uk in the past only because they are local though.

i was looking at overclockers.co.uk for prices.

6850 - http://www.overclock...=56&subcat=1866 - ?95.99

GTX460 - http://www.overclock...914&subcat=1830 - ?95.99

shipping is around 8 quid which i forgot to take into account as i don't have to pay it as a long term forum member. although it ends up a few quid over budget, it's well worth it compared to those other cards.

obviously all this is irrelevant if you MUST stick to ebuyer or amazon but i don't really see why....

Ok, thank you all for your suggestions. Let's break this down.

The reason why I prefer ebuyer/amazon is because I already have accounts with them, I need to choose and order a card by today evening and I didn't want to spend time creating/verifying new accounts. I am aware of OcUK, as I know people who have used their services, and if there is a better deal there then I'll just have to get it from them.

With that a side, I'm just worried whether my PSU can handle these newer more powerful cards? I have the Corsair HX520W btw.

Ok, you guys are really helpful.

I've finally narrowed it down to either a GTX 460 1GB or a HD 6850 1GB.

The 6850 has 960 Processing Cores compared to the 336 on the GTX 460.

I don't know how much of a difference this makes, can someone elaborate on this?

Ok, you guys are really helpful.

I've finally narrowed it down to either a GTX 460 1GB or a HD 6850 1GB.

The 6850 has 960 Processing Cores compared to the 336 on the GTX 460.

I don't know how much of a difference this makes, can someone elaborate on this?

Good.

Here' a graph that shows the performance summary for the two at 1680x1050

perfrel_1680.gif

And at 1920x1200

perfrel_1920.gif

As you can see the difference is minor. So get the one, which is cheaper :p

@Muhammad Ok, so basically both perform the same, thanks for the comparison charts. :)

As far as the prices go...

GTX 460 - Overclockers - ?95.99 + ?7.25 (P&P) = ?104.69 - Suggested by marc2003

XFX 6850 - Overclockers - ?95.99 + ?7.25 (P&P) = ?104.69 - Suggested by marc2003

Sapphire 6850 - Amazon UK - ?110.48 Free P&P - Suggested by Muhammad

To me it looks like the 6850 has a slight edge plus the HDMI 1.4 output.

Now... XFX or Sapphire for ?6 more ???

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