Need GPU upgrade suggestions

[846studios]

I'm looking to upgrade my GPU, but there are so many out there that it's just confusing trying to pick one. My current GPU is the Nvidia GeForce 7300SE/7200GS and as you already know it is very limited in what it will handle but it was part of a budget build PC that cost $75 for the whole build. The case is a mid tower so I have some space but it can't be huge. I'm not a hard core gamer but I like it to work when I do play. Far Cry 2 runs fine on what I have now but games like The Saboteur and I Am Alive don't stand a chance. I am also a Freelance Photographer so it must be friendly with Photoshop CS5 Extended.
Here are some specs to consider-

PSU- OCZ 520ADJSLI http://www.ocztechnology.com/ocz-powerstream-power-supply-nvidia-sli-ready-eol.html

Summary-
MSI MS-7350 Intel Core 2 CPU 6400 @2.13 GHz

My good monitor died so I had to pick up a cheapie to get me by. In doing so I lost my DVI connector, so it's just D-sub for now.

Supported resolution-
1024 x 768
1366 x 768 16:9
1360 x 768
1280 x 720 16:9
640 x 400 16:10

I am not opposed to a good used GPU and in fact it's probably more in my budget. I would like to not exceed about $100 but I know this may not be realistic, so just throw your suggestions out there.

Thanx in advance!

~Tim

 

[brandonwh64]

You could get a decent GPU for 100$ used. Check the FS threads here and over at anandtech/Hardforums

You may luck up on a 6850/70 or 560TI

 

[Jetster]

You didn't mention a budget?

 

[846studios]

You didn't mention a budget?

It's at the bottom, about $100.

 

[brandonwh64]

You didn't mention a budget?

This is what I based it off of

I would like to not exceed about $100 but I know this may not be realistic, so just throw your suggestions out there.

 

[Jetster]

Ok, my bad. I hope to learn to read someday

 

[846studios]

Ok, my bad. I hope to learn to read someday

 

[OneMoar]

this is pretty much as good as you are gonna get on that Budget
MSI N550GTX-Ti-M2D1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Ferm...

and for 135.00
Galaxy 65IGH8DL7AXX GeForce GTX 650 Ti GC 1GB 128-...
Honestly if you intend todo any kind of gaming id save up and spend the extra on a 150-170 dollar card you have a lot more Options in that price bracket

 

[846studios]

this is pretty much as good as you are gonna get on that Budget
MSI N550GTX-Ti-M2D1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Ferm...

and for 135.00
Galaxy 65IGH8DL7AXX GeForce GTX 650 Ti GC 1GB 128-...
Honestly if you intend todo any kind of gaming id save up and spend the extra on a 150-170 dollar card you have a lot more Options in that price bracket

I appreciate the suggestion and input.

You could get a decent GPU for 100$ used. Check the FS threads here and over at anandtech/Hardforums

You may luck up on a 6850/70 or 560TI

Thanks for the suggestion!

Found someone with a used but guaranteed working 8800GT for $50. I know it's been a good GPU in the past but would it even be worth it?

 

[OneMoar]

Found someone with a used but guaranteed working 8800GT for $50. I know it's been a good GPU in the past but would it even be worth it?

not for a 8800gt not for any kind of gaming

I should add that your CPU will also be a Major Limiting factor with ANY recent gpu right now your onboard video is hurting you good but adding a gpu is just gonna shift the problem to the cpu

 

[846studios]

not for a 8800gt not for any kind of gaming

Kinda what I thought, thanks for the second opinion

 

[brandonwh64]

Also can you please goto userCP and put in your system specs for us please?

 

[OneMoar]

Also can you please goto userCP and put in your system specs for us please?

hes got a 2.3 C2D anything more then a 6770/7770 or a GTX 540/630 is gonna be bottled necked to death

Honestly with that setup there is no point in dumping any money into it
time to start thinking about a full system upgrade

 

[846studios]

Honestly with that setup there is no point in dumping any money into it
time to start thinking about a full system upgrade

This was my other concern as well. At least I only have like $75 invested in this current setup. This replaced a Compaq Presario SR1638 with an AMD64.

 

[brandonwh64]

If you can salvage the money, A nice AM3+ or APU (A10-5800K) would be a good setup.

 

[Fourstaff]

Multiposts purged, may I highlight this great feature called edit the next time you guys feel like multiposting.

 

[Rei86]

hes got a 2.3 C2D anything more then a 6770/7770 or a GTX 540/630 is gonna be bottled necked to death

Honestly with that setup there is no point in dumping any money into it
time to start thinking about a full system upgrade

Have to agree with this post.

Not only do you have a very odd monitor as a place holder, spending 100 bucks now is just a bad investment. I mean really spend up to 100 bucks now for a card you really don't want or save up later for a class of card will actually suit your purpose.

 

[GSquadron]

I was in an even worse situation, but I think I made one of the most difficult bets out there, unlocking a Phenom II x2 550 to a Phenom II x4 B50 with a 55$ mobo and I was told on this forum it won't unlock. That was a big lie, cuz unlock is the same with all mobos, it is the cpu who gets it, so you will depend on it. This is my throw on your new system for the money you have:

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3/M4N68TM_LE/
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz...
Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM...

And I got an even worse combination of ram, so you will certainly win, either if you cpu will or won't unlock. As for GPU, it will surely handle a 7850, only if you can unlock all cores. You can get better cpu and mobo nowdays though.

 

[allen337]

lol the cd2 ran crysis just fine and now its junk? My hd 2900 ran crysis fine with a e6600 and 4 gigs of ram I would sugest u buy a 8800 gt that would do the games your interested in

 

[2V3X]

buy gtx650

i will suggest gtx650 video card,performance is same as gtx550ti or hd7750/hd6770 but consumes half power of this and it didn't need extra power cables http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00965J8JY/?tag=tec06d-20

 

[Rei86]

lol the cd2 ran crysis just fine and now its junk? My hd 2900 ran crysis fine with a e6600 and 4 gigs of ram I would sugest u buy a 8800 gt that would do the games your interested in

umm yes when its bottlenecking your shiny new GPU that you spent over 150~1k bucks on.

 

[Jetster]

It gives him something to look forward to when he upgrades his board and CPU

Really you should always do this when you upgrade. Go a little further then what you need. Its not like you ever stop upgrading