Video Card Upgrade - Best Bang for $

Sasqui · Oct 14, 2011

So, like many posts out there, I'm looking to upgrade the video card my secondary machine. Specs are virtually identical to what is listed in my sys specs, but the PSU is an HX650, CPU is a Conroe C2Duo @ 3.4 Ghz (Air cooled with OCZ Vendetta), and current video cards is an 850XT :laugh:

Currently looking at a 5770, for about $120, it'll handle just about everything thrown at it and seems to always be at the top of the perf/$ charts.

What else should I consider at that price range... other cards, brands?

I've always leaned towards ATI

Wrigleyvillain · Oct 14, 2011

That display is 1920x1080? I think you want to go more powerful and why not DX11 like a 6850 perhaps? And I sure wouldn't say a $120 card "can handle anything thrown at it" at least not on your 24".

Were I you I'd start with looking at 6870s.

Ah the good ol' 850XT. What a kickass card in it's day. I had the AIW and freaking LOVED it.

AhokZYashA · Oct 14, 2011

GTX460 should enough

Inioch · Oct 14, 2011

AhokZYashA said:
GTX460 should enough

This.

JrRacinFan · Oct 14, 2011

See if you can find a 2nd hand HD6850?

Batou1986 · Oct 14, 2011

6850/70 = mind blown for $180

Zen_ · Oct 14, 2011

Right now newegg has the Sapphire 6870 for $180, minus a $10 promo code until the 21st, and with a $20 mail in rebate (Sapphire does honor them if you actually send it it). I think that's the best value available right now in the lower end range.

SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR...

Sasqui · Oct 14, 2011

I beleive 5xxx series is DX11 capable :confused:

Other than some power consumption advantages with the 6xxx series, what's the difference?

This is price/$ driven, and I would like to stick near the $100 - $125 range.

Monitor being used is only 1280x1024! Sorry, forgot that "little" detail.

Wrigleyvillain said:
Ah the good ol' 850XT. What a kickass card in it's day. I had the AIW and freaking LOVED it.

2nd one I've owned. This one isn't VIVO though.

INSTG8R · Oct 14, 2011

Sasqui said:
I beleive 5xxx series is DX11 capable Other than some power consumption advantages with the 6xxx series, what's the difference?

This is price/$ driven, and I would like to stick near the $100 - $125 range.

Monitor being used is only 1280x1024! Sorry, forgot that "little" detail.

2nd one I've owned. This one isn't VIVO though.

Yeah if you can get yourself a decent 5xxx series for a good price you can't really go wrong. I mean I am hanging on to my 5870 because there isn't that big jump in the 6xxx series other than better tessellation and a bit better on the power consumption.

STCNE · Oct 14, 2011

$120 for a 5770? I got mine brand new from the egg for $90 over a year ago, and sold it for $90 this year. Try to find a used card if you can. 6850 would be a good option, maybe 6790?

Sasqui · Oct 14, 2011

INSTG8R said:
Yeah if you can get yourself a decent 5xxx series for a good price you can't really go wrong. I mean I am hanging on to my 5870 because there isn't that big jump in the 6xxx series other than better tessellation and a bit better on the power consumption.

Im still totally happy with my 5870 too. I don't see myself upgrading that until next year maybe, the 6xxx series just didn't give me any reason to.

STCNE said:
$120 for a 5770? I got mine brand new from the egg for $90 over a year ago, and sold it for $90 this year. Try to find a used card if you can. 6850 would be a good option, maybe 6790?

I did a quick shopping look on Google and $120 seems to be the ballpark. If I could get one for less than $100, I'd jump on it.

Crap Daddy · Oct 14, 2011

Make an efort and get the 6850 if you want to go AMD. Don't know were you live but newegg has them for as low as 135$. It smokes the 5770.
Or this GTX460, on par with the 6850:

MSI N460GTX Hawk GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-b...

the 5770 is not worth it for more than 90$

GSquadron · Oct 14, 2011

For me stay where you are

Sasqui · Oct 14, 2011

Aleksander Dishnica said:
For me stay where you are

LOL, with an 850xt?

GSquadron · Oct 14, 2011

DarkOCean · Oct 14, 2011

6850 and 6870 seems to bee the most bang for $ right now.

Crap Daddy said:
Make an efort and get the 6850 if you want to go AMD. Don't know were you live but newegg has them for as low as 135$. It smokes the 5770.
Or this GTX460, on par with the 6850:

MSI N460GTX Hawk GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-b...

the 5770 is not worth it for more than 90$

Gtx 460 its eol and the prices have gone up in the past mounth they are to expensive for what they are.

CrackerJack · Oct 14, 2011

6870... But the 6870/6850 is a nice setup too. I just tested a 6870/6850 CrossfireX. On my system, if you would like to see screenshots. Actually thinking about picking up a 6850 for myself

* I also had a GTX460, didn't care for it.. Long story, Wife has it now

Here's the screenshots, for anyone else that may want to see them

All stock settings! Expect for CPU
Single XFX 6870

XFX 6870/ HIS 6850

Only tested Battlefield Bad Company 2: ~15-20fps increase

MilkyWay · Oct 14, 2011

6850 and overclock it, its lower power using one 6 pin pci ex, overclocks decent, isn't hot and thus is quiet.
Ive got mine at 850mhz and 1150mhz mem just using the catalyst control centre.
Unless you can get a 6870 for close to the price of a 6850.

EDIT: I used to have a x800gto nice card good performance but it never had shader model 3.0

Sasqui · Oct 14, 2011

DarkOCean said:
6850 and 6870 seems to bee the most bang for $ right now.

Gtx 460 its eol and the prices have gone up in the past mounth they are to expensive for what they are.

CrackerJack said:
6870... But the 6870/6850 is a nice setup too. I just tested a 6870/6850 CrossfireX. On my system, if you would like to see screenshots. Actually thinking about picking up a 6850 for myself

* I also had a GTX460, didn't care for it.. Long story, Wife has it now

Wouldn't do anything more than a 6850... this is a budget build/ressurection. Looks like $160 is about the going price? That's out of my range, and shit the 5850's are like $200!

CrackerJack · Oct 14, 2011

Sasqui said:
Wouldn't do anything more than a 6850... this is a budget build/ressurection. Looks like $160 is about the going price? That's out of my range, and shit the 5850's are like $200!

Well in that case, Yeah a 6850 is your best bet. Here's the 6850 I was using Link $164.99

JrRacinFan · Oct 14, 2011

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150208
SLI hacked?

jasper1605 · Oct 14, 2011

Sasqui said:
I've always leaned towards ATI

AhokZYashA said:
GTX460 should enough

Inioch said:
This.

This. 5770 is a pretty solid card still but I like the suggestions of a 6850 if at all possible

borden5 · Oct 14, 2011

you should get hd 6870 since it's only $150 AR , and i saw lot of deals lately with that price

techtard · Oct 14, 2011

Yeah just hunt for the best price on a 6850 or 6870.
Maybe you can even get a good deal on a used 5850 or 5870.

ZakkWylde · Oct 14, 2011

6850, best price/performance

System Name	Senile
Processor	I7-4790K@4.8 GHz 24/7
Motherboard	MSI Z97-G45 Gaming
Cooling	Be Quiet Pure Rock Air
Memory	16GB 4x4 G.Skill CAS9 2133 Sniper
Video Card(s)	GIGABYTE Vega 64
Storage	Samsung EVO 500GB / 8 Different WDs / QNAP TS-253 8GB NAS with 2x10Tb WD Blue
Display(s)	34" LG 34CB88-P 21:9 Curved UltraWide QHD (34401440) FREE_SYNC*
Case	Rosewill
Audio Device(s)	Onboard + HD HDMI
Power Supply	Corsair HX750
Mouse	Logitech G5
Keyboard	Corsair Strafe RGB & G610 Orion Red
Software	Win 10

System Name	DarkStar
Processor	i5 3570K 4.4Ghz
Motherboard	Asrock Z77 Extreme 3
Cooling	Apogee HD White/XSPC Razer blocks
Memory	8GB Samsung Green 1600
Video Card(s)	2 x GTX 670 4GB
Storage	2 x 120GB Samsung 830
Display(s)	27" QNIX
Case	Enthoo Pro
Power Supply	Seasonic Platinum 760
Mouse	Steelseries Sensei
Keyboard	Ducky Pro MX Black
Software	Windows 8.1 x64

System Name	Hakase
Processor	Ryzen 7 3700X @ Stock
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix B450-F
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12S
Memory	2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 @ 3000MHz 18-18-18
Video Card(s)	Asus GTX1070 Dual
Storage	250GB 860EVO - 2x600GB Cheetah 15k7 - 2x2TB Constellation ES - 2+3TB Green - 500GB Deskstar
Display(s)	Viewsonic VX2476-smhd
Case	Fractal Design Define R5
Audio Device(s)	Fostex PC100USB > Altec Lansing ATP-3
Power Supply	Corsair CX750M
Mouse	Logitech G Pro X Superlight - Razer ExactMat Control
Keyboard	Leopold FC750R, MX Blue
Software	Win 10 Pro 64-bit
Benchmark Scores	not benching anymore...

System Name	I can't believe I bought that / HTPC
Processor	i5-750 @ 3.5GHz 1.27v / P II 705e @ stock
Motherboard	Asus P7P55D-E Evo / Asus M4A785D-M PRO
Cooling	Corsair H100i / Air
Memory	4x2 Geil DDR3-2133 @ 1755 / 2x2 DDR2-800
Video Card(s)	Asus GTX660 TI / Asus HD6670
Storage	Crucial MX100 512GB + Spinpoint F1 750GB / Crucial m4 128GB + WD Green 1TB
Display(s)	HP w2408h / Samsung 55" HDTV
Case	CM 690 II Advanced / Silverstone GD02
Audio Device(s)	Integrated
Power Supply	Corsair AX850 / OCZ ModXstream 500W
Software	Win 7 / Win 7

System Name	Dual Build Streamer
Processor	Ryzen 7900x3d : Ryzen 4600G
Motherboard	AsRock B650E Steel Legend : Giga B450i Aorus
Cooling	Custom Water 1x420 : Stock
Memory	32GB T-Force Deltas : 16GB Dominator Platinums
Video Card(s)	PowerColor 7900 XTX Liquid Devil: iGPU
Storage	20+ TB
Display(s)	Sammy 49" 5k Ultrawide
Case	Custom White Painted Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2
Audio Device(s)	Onboard : Onboard
Power Supply	EVGA 1200W P2
Mouse	Corsair M65 RGB Elite White
Keyboard	Hyperx Origins 65
Software	Windows 10

Video Card Upgrade - Best Bang for $

Sasqui

Wrigleyvillain

PTFO or GTFO

AhokZYashA

Inioch

JrRacinFan

Served 5k and counting ...

Batou1986

Zen_

Sasqui

INSTG8R

Vanguard Beta Tester

STCNE

New Member

Sasqui

Crap Daddy

GSquadron

Sasqui

GSquadron

DarkOCean

CrackerJack

MilkyWay

Sasqui

CrackerJack

JrRacinFan

Served 5k and counting ...

jasper1605

borden5

New Member

techtard

ZakkWylde

Processor	Ryzen 5900X
Motherboard	ASUS Prime X470 Pro
Cooling	Arctic liquid freezer II 240
Memory	2 x 16 Gb Gskill Trident Z 3600 Mhz
Video Card(s)	MSI Ventus 3060 Ti OC
Storage	Samsung 960 EVO 500 Gb / 860 EVO 1 Tb
Display(s)	Dell S2719DGF
Case	Lian Li Lancool II Mesh
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Z
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x
Mouse	Logitech G703
Keyboard	Logitech G513
Software	Win 11

System Name	Hellbox 5.1(same case new guts)
Processor	Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard	MSI X570S MAG Torpedo Max
Cooling	TT Kandalf L.C.S.(Water/Air)EK Velocity CPU Block/Noctua EK Quantum DDC Pump/Res
Memory	2x16GB Gskill Trident Neo Z 3600 CL16
Video Card(s)	Powercolor Hellhound 7900XTX
Storage	970 Evo Plus 500GB 2xSamsung 850 Evo 500GB RAID 0 1TB WD Blue Corsair MP600 Core 2TB
Display(s)	Alienware QD-OLED 34” 3440x1440 144hz 10Bit VESA HDR 400
Case	TT Kandalf L.C.S.
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster ZX/Logitech Z906 5.1
Power Supply	Seasonic TX~’850 Platinum
Mouse	G502 Hero
Keyboard	G19s
VR HMD	Oculus Quest 2
Software	Win 10 Pro x64

System Name	Lycanthropy
Processor	i5 2500K
Motherboard	ECS p67-h2a2
Memory	8GB Muskin Radioactive Series
Video Card(s)	MSI R7770
Case	Lancool K62
Audio Device(s)	Ultra-Fi Dac41, Vintage Sherwood amp, STAX SR-5 Headphones
Power Supply	XFX 850W
Software	Win 7 64-Bit(Tried Win8 and never going back)
Benchmark Scores	Reboots in 35 seconds flat, with a standard HDD. I'm a bit of an OCD tweaker. Using less than 100GB

System Name	Old Fart / Young Dude
Processor	2500K / 6600K
Motherboard	ASRock P67Extreme4 / Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 DDR3
Cooling	CM Hyper TX3 / CM Hyper 212 EVO
Memory	16 GB Kingston HyperX / 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws X
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti / INNO3D RTX 2060
Storage	SSD, some WD and lots of Samsungs
Display(s)	BenQ GW2470 / LG UHD 43" TV
Case	Cooler Master CM690 II Advanced / Thermaltake Core v31
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar D1/Denon PMA500AE/Wharfedale D 10.1/ FiiO D03K/ JBL LSR 305
Power Supply	Corsair TX650 / Corsair TX650M
Mouse	Steelseries Rival 100 / Rival 110
Keyboard	Sidewinder/ Steelseries Apex 150
Software	Windows 10 / Windows 10 Pro

System Name	Dark Stealth
Processor	Ryzen 5 5600x
Motherboard	Gigabyte B450M Gaming rev 1.0
Cooling	Snowman, arctic p12 x2 fans
Memory	16x2 DDR4 Corsair Dominator Pro
Video Card(s)	3080 10gb
Storage	2TB NVME PCIE 4.0 Crucial P3 Plus, 1TB Crucial MX500 SSD, 4TB WD RED HDD
Display(s)	HP Omen 34c (34" monitor 3440x1440 165Hz VA panel)
Case	Zalman S2
Power Supply	Corsair 750TX
Mouse	Logitech pro superlight, mx mouse s3, Razer Basiliskx with battery
Keyboard	Custom mechanical keyboard tm680
Software	Windows 11
Benchmark Scores	70-80 fps 3440x1440 on cyberpunk 2077 max settings

System Name	Vegnagun
Processor	Ryzen 5950x
Motherboard	Asus B550 Gaming-E
Cooling	Noctua NH-U14
Memory	4x8 G. Skill 3800mhz CL14
Video Card(s)	EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3
Storage	WD SN850 2tb
Display(s)	Viotek 1080p 120hz
Case	Fractal Design Define 7
Power Supply	Corsair AX850
Mouse	Logitech
Keyboard	Logitech 815 tactile
Software	Windows 10 Education
Benchmark Scores	top 1% in the world for weekly score in Killzone 2 :)

System Name	Grond
Processor	Ryen 5 3600x PBO ~ 4.4GHz / fabric at 1900
Motherboard	MSI b550 Tomahawk
Cooling	XSPC Raystorm CPU w/ am4 mounting bracket+ 2 RX360 radiator + xspc Razor R9-290 w/ backplate
Memory	32gb Crucial Ballistix @ 3800
Video Card(s)	XFX R9 290 w/ XSPC Razor full cover block and backplate
Storage	WD SN850 1tb-OS, SN750 1tb, Samsung 860 Evo 1tb, WD blue hdd 4tb
Display(s)	Samsung 23" 120hz 3d LCD w/ 3d glasses, using 'lightboost' trick
Case	NZXT H630 white watercooling case
Audio Device(s)	Onboard realtek ALC 1200+ Sennheiser HD 598
Power Supply	XFX Pro 850 XXX semi-modular
Mouse	Logitech G703 Wireless
Keyboard	Steelseries 6 v2
Software	Windows 10 Pro (Had some mystery error on Win7 and decided to go W10)

System Name	The (Modified) Futureshop Deal/The Machine
Processor	Q6600 @ 2.4 (stock, see mobo)/ I5 3570k @ 4.3
Motherboard	Generic Foxconn/ Asus P8z77-v lk
Cooling	stock/ Antec Kuhler 620
Memory	4Gb@800/ 16gb Mushkin Enhanced Blackline Frostbyte@1600
Video Card(s)	Sapphire 4850/ Gigabyte 7950
Storage	Hitachi 500GB, WD Blue 500gb/ Kingston Hyperx 3K 120gb, WD green 2tb
Display(s)	Acer 24" 1920x1080/ Benq VA 24" 1920x1080 and HP 24" 1920x1200
Case	Acer/ Antec 302
Audio Device(s)	On Board for both
Power Supply	500w OCZ Modxstream-pro/ Antec Truepower new 750w
Software	W7 Home Premium 64bit for both