Graphics card for $110?

T

Trio

New Member
Hello. So I just earned $100 and I want to spend it on a graphics card for my new computer. I was wondering, what would be the best for my setup?

I'm using a TF720 Biostar motherboard with GeForce 8100 intergrated graphics, so I can hybrid SLI. And I was wondering, what are the benefits of GeForce boost tech.? How much does it really boost performance?

And another question: will I have to worry about my GPU heat? I won't be doing any intense gaming or OCing. Thanks in advance.

Not sure if this has to be included, but I bought a new screen. The current (and maximum) resolution is 1920x1080
 
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Well, if you wait to get about 30-50 bucks more, you could afford a 9800 GTX+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

Or, if you don't want to wait, you could get a 9600-not nearly as good, but about 50 bucks cheaper. But if you get one that is already overclocked, it can run pretty much everything decently.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130445

I have a 9800 GTX, and it runs really cool- full load ~52C
And I can run Crysis Wars 1440*900 Very High AA 8x and get ~40 fps.

I don't know anything about Geforce boosting sorry.

And about overheating, if you use a program like Rivatuner or EVGA Precision, then you can increase the fan speed on your GPU.
 
Radeon HD4830, performs on par with the 9800GT and is cheaper. Sapphire, AFAIK, is one of the well-reputed manufacturers of ATi cards. If you absolutely want NVIDIA, the superclocked 9600GT by hillbilly is a great choice, not far behind the 9800GT at lower resolutions and EVGA is considered one of the beset manufacturers of NVIDIA cards.
 
Trio said:
I can SLI with an ATI card? What's the difference between a high and low profile card?
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No, you could not SLI your nVidia onboard graphics with the ATI card.

The low profile cards (sometimes also called "half-height") have a shorter PCB and bracket height. They are designed to go in smaller cases or tight spaces.
 
Zatharus said:
No, you could not SLI your nVidia onboard graphics with the ATI card.

The low profile cards (sometimes also called "half-height") have a shorter PCB and bracket height. They are designed to go in smaller cases or tight spaces.
Click to expand...

So there's no difference in performance? How would I know if I need a low profile? I'm using a mid-tower, so...

Sorry daisymtc, missread your post. I thought you said hybrid sli is only for low profile cards. The compatability list for hybrid sli shows 2 of the gtx 200 series; GeForce GTX 260 and GeForce GTX 280. That GTS 250 looks REALLY good, but it isn't on the list D: . I looked up those two, but they cost WAY too much. I'm wondering, would I get a better performance using a GeForce 9800gtx+ hybrid sli'd with my GeForce 8100 over the GeForce GTS 250?

Here's the 9800GTX+. Is it worth the price?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

$135
 
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So there's no difference in performance? How would I know if I need a low profile? I'm using a mid-tower, so...
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Between two cards of exact same model, if one is full-size and one is low-profile, there is no performance difference. However, low-profile cards usually have crappier cooling (though as long as you have the card at stock speeds, it doesn't really matter). Most cards fit a mid tower just fine, though; as long as you don't buy dual-GPU cards or something like the GTX280, you're fine. Any card that you can get for (or under) $110 will fit a mid tower.
 
I just read the tech. manual for hybrid sli. Cards above GeForce 8500 GT can only support HybridPower-- it only switches GPU's depending on what the computer is doing. I thought using a 9800GTX or higher would COMBINE with my mobo gpu. Since it doesn't, I'm considering two things:

Buy the GeForce 250 GTS that daisymtc posted:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468

or buy a GeForce 8500 GT, which IS capable of combining with my mobo GPU-- GeForce boost. The only problem with buying the 8500 GT is I won't know how much of a performance boost I will get. Will it be better than the 9800 GTX if I Hybrid SLI with GeForce 8100 and GeForce 8500GT?
 
Trio said:
I just read the tech. manual for hybrid sli. Cards above GeForce 8500 GT can only support HybridPower-- it only switches GPU's depending on what the computer is doing. I thought using a 9800GTX or higher would COMBINE with my mobo gpu. Since it doesn't, I'm considering two things:

Buy the GeForce 250 GTS that daisymtc posted:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468

or buy a GeForce 8500 GT, which IS capable of combining with my mobo GPU-- GeForce boost. The only problem with buying the 8500 GT is I won't know how much of a performance boost I will get. Will it be better than the 9800 GTX if I Hybrid SLI with GeForce 8100 and GeForce 8500GT?
Click to expand...

Don't set your heart on dual carding, for example i am kicking myself for blowing my money on 2 cards (not all at once, it was a matter of not having enough all at once, so had to upgrade cheaply) and not getting a single 8800GT or 9800GTX.

It waaaaay outperforms my 2 8600GTs and would have been a little cheaper.

For you, the 8500GT would be the cheaper option, however it would also give crappy performance, even if you hybrid SLi with your mobo.

Get whatever the best is that you can afford with the money you have. Look at comparison charts then, and also bear in mind that nvidia make the best top end cards, but price for price at mid to mid/top end cards, ATI give better performance (i think that has been mentioned up there in the post somewhere). You can run a single ATI card on your system if it has nvidia chip set and that will probably give much better performance than your onboard or your onboard with an 8500GT
 
Aastii said:
Don't set your heart on dual carding, for example i am kicking myself for blowing my money on 2 cards (not all at once, it was a matter of not having enough all at once, so had to upgrade cheaply) and not getting a single 8800GT or 9800GTX.

It waaaaay outperforms my 2 8600GTs and would have been a little cheaper.

For you, the 8500GT would be the cheaper option, however it would also give crappy performance, even if you hybrid SLi with your mobo.

Get whatever the best is that you can afford with the money you have. Look at comparison charts then, and also bear in mind that nvidia make the best top end cards, but price for price at mid to mid/top end cards, ATI give better performance (i think that has been mentioned up there in the post somewhere). You can run a single ATI card on your system if it has nvidia chip set and that will probably give much better performance than your onboard or your onboard with an 8500GT
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Alright! Than I've decided! I'll buy the GeForce 250 GTS, since it's cheaper and performs almost as well as the 9800 GTX+. Thanks a lot Aastii for helping me make my choice!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468

unless there's one that's cheaper than this EVGA one?

I have another question. What if a game requires more ram than the graphics card has? Will it barrow ram from the mobo?
 
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Trio said:
Alright! Than I've decided! I'll buy the GeForce 250 GTS, since it's cheaper and performs almost as well as the 9800 GTX+. Thanks a lot Aastii for helping me make my choice!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468

unless there's one that's cheaper than this EVGA one?

I have another question. What if a game requires more ram than the graphics card has? Will it barrow ram from the mobo?
Click to expand...

Quick note on the 250 GTS - It is the 9800GTX+ rebranded. They are pretty much identical.

That's a good card. Evga makes great cards, and the have a terrific upgrade program.

No, a dedicated graphics card has its own onboard RAM. You cannot combine it with main system memory...and why would you? You would suffer a performance loss compared to the card's RAM. The card you have listed there is a 512MB card. Unless you plan on using very high resolutions, the 512MB card will be plenty. But, if you must have a 1GB card, check out this link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130469

It's just a little more than the one you listed. The 1GB of memory won't hurt you at all, you just won't notice much of a performance increase (if any) at resolutions below 1080p.
 
Oh, I just read that Crysis needed 2GB of Graphics card memory, or something. I might of misread that for system memory.

So I have another question. These cards just add more pixels per inch, right? So, what if my monitor has a limited resolution and can't use the miximum resolution offered by the GeForce 250 GTS? My monitors maximum resolution is 1920 X 1080, and the 250 GTS can go up to 2560 x 1600. Will this mean that I won't see a HUGE difference graphically?
 
Trio said:
Oh, I just read that Crysis needed 2GB of Graphics card memory, or something. I might of misread that for system memory.
Click to expand...

Yes, that would be the recommended system memory.


So I have another question. These cards just add more pixels per inch, right? So, what if my monitor has a limited resolution and can't use the miximum resolution offered by the GeForce 250 GTS? My monitors maximum resolution is 1920 X 1080, and the 250 GTS can go up to 2560 x 1600. Will this mean that I won't see a HUGE difference graphically?
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The newer card may have a higher resolution then your old one, but it can process much more shader/texture/geometry information than your old one can each second. Say you ran your favorite game with all the eye candy enabled on your 8100. It would probably chug along at a very poor frame rate at your monitors maximum resolution, but it may be playable at a lower resolution. The 250 will allow you to run at a much higher frame rate and do so at a higher resolution.

Also the newer cards support the extra shader functions of DirectX 10. Your old card only supports DirectX 9. There are some graphical improvements there, too.
 
Zatharus said:
Yes, that would be the recommended system memory.


The newer card may have a higher resolution then your old one, but it can process much more shader/texture/geometry information than your old one can each second. Say you ran your favorite game with all the eye candy enabled on your 8100. It would probably chug along at a very poor frame rate at your monitors maximum resolution, but it may be playable at a lower resolution. The 250 will allow you to run at a much higher frame rate and do so at a higher resolution.

Also the newer cards support the extra shader functions of DirectX 10. Your old card only supports DirectX 9. There are some graphical improvements there, too.
Click to expand...

Oh I see. Alright, thanks a lot for answering my questions Zatharus.
 
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