Need Help Choosing New Graphics Card

F

Frontline1944

Member
Apparently the Intel GMA 3100 (G31/G33 Family Express Chipset) is good for nothing except Office work. With luck, I may be able to get a card from my cousins soon, but I'm not counting on that, so...

I would like my computer to be able to handle fairly recent games. Age of Empires 3 (especially), Battlefield 2, Call of Duty 2, games like that. I'd like to be able to run from medium to maximum (best) settings. It seems like all I need to do that is get a good graphics card (hopefully the rest of my system is fine; look below to attachment).

So, I guess I'm looking for a graphics card that is, in short, very solid in its graphical capabilities in these times and able to handle the afore-mentioned games at their maximum settings but not too over-the-top and incredibly expensive (I'm not looking to play Crysis or FarCry 3). I'm hoping that the card can be bought new in a range of $100-200. The issue isn't so much the price (I hear TigerDirect.com and NewEgg.com carry fairly low prices, and Ebay.com is always a final choice) as much as which card suits my needs without going over the top.

Any suggestions?

As always, thanks in advance!
 

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My Computer

System One

Hello Frontline1944!


Just a thought... with this you can play Crysis!

Video Card


Later :shock: Ted
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    * BFK Customs *
    CPU
    Intel C2Q 9550 Yorkfield
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q Pro
    Memory
    8GB Dominator 8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX ATI 1GB 4870 XXX
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD 7-1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1x 47" LCD HDMI & 2x 26" LCD HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080P & 1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache WD Caviar Black
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX
    Case
    CM Cosmos RC-1000
    Cooling
    Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans
    Mouse
    Razer Diamondback 3G
    Keyboard
    HP Enhansed Multimedia
    Internet Speed
    18.6Mb/s
    Other Info
    My First Build ;)
Indeed, thank you! I actually was browsing Newegg this afternoon for 30 minutes and was surprised by the deals they offer. Cards able to play Crisis and CoD4 at max. details without a hitch for <$150?!

I suppose I should ask, though. I saw a certain card that interested me greatly - apparently, its only con is its lengthy size. Some of the reviewers shrugged this off, saying that their case managed to fit it. Aren't all cases supposed to fit all types of cards, motherboards, and the like? If my case doesn't manage to fit a certain graphics card, what should I do?

And I guess I should reiterate my original question: what graphics cards are "in the middle"? Cards that are more than the casual gamer only interested in late-90s and early-2000 games need but not quite enough to run incredibly detailed games like Crysis and Doom3. Cards that can run Age of Empires 3 and Battlefield 2 without a hitch. Are there any cards for that specific category; and if there are, what might be their price range?

You may think me crazy for not wanting a chance to play Crysis, but the truth is, within three months I shall be back at school with three A.P. and Honors classes, leaving me with little-to-no time to play games. I don't wish to pay $150-200 (however much of a good deal that might be) for a card that will be experienced for three months before being ignored in favor of school studies.

Again, thanks for the help!
 

My Computer

System One

Hello again!

Look at these two pages.

Video Card


Later :shock: Ted
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    * BFK Customs *
    CPU
    Intel C2Q 9550 Yorkfield
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q Pro
    Memory
    8GB Dominator 8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX ATI 1GB 4870 XXX
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD 7-1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1x 47" LCD HDMI & 2x 26" LCD HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080P & 1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache WD Caviar Black
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX
    Case
    CM Cosmos RC-1000
    Cooling
    Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans
    Mouse
    Razer Diamondback 3G
    Keyboard
    HP Enhansed Multimedia
    Internet Speed
    18.6Mb/s
    Other Info
    My First Build ;)
Yes, thank you! Exactly what I wanted to find. Now for the hard part: convincing my mother of the need to by a new graphics card (with my own money, I may add). :p I don't suppose you could help me out with that, too? Joking, of course, you've been extremely helpful. :D
 

My Computer

System One

Hello!

You are very welcome!


Later ;) Ted
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    * BFK Customs *
    CPU
    Intel C2Q 9550 Yorkfield
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q Pro
    Memory
    8GB Dominator 8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX ATI 1GB 4870 XXX
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD 7-1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1x 47" LCD HDMI & 2x 26" LCD HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080P & 1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache WD Caviar Black
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX
    Case
    CM Cosmos RC-1000
    Cooling
    Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans
    Mouse
    Razer Diamondback 3G
    Keyboard
    HP Enhansed Multimedia
    Internet Speed
    18.6Mb/s
    Other Info
    My First Build ;)
I catually recently got a XFX 8600GT and it could do everything your wanting.. and it could also play Crysis on Medium settings.. and that still looked amazing.. but if I was you.. Since they are sooo cheap. I'd just man up and get the 9600 like first idea was.. they are only a little more. and will for sure last you at least a few years.. thats probably the best choice..

even tho I got rid of it and built a new system with a 8800 GTS.. :)

see sig below. but good luck man!
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Q9650 E0 4.0 GHz @1.304v
    Motherboard
    eVGA 750i FTW
    Memory
    2x2GB Corsair Dominator PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA/MSI GTX 260 SLI
    Sound Card
    X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung T240 & 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200 & 1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Cuda 500GB 32mb Cache SATA 7200.(11) + 500GB Seagate Cuda External eSATA, USB, FW400
    PSU
    PC P&C 750w Silencer PSU
    Case
    CoolerMaster HAF 932 (Water-Cooled)
    Cooling
    Plenty of Fans, and a few 230mm Fans
    Mouse
    Logitech MX-518
    Keyboard
    Logitech G11
    Other Info
    ASUS 20x Optical, Bose Companion 3, ATH-AD500 Cans :), Patriot Xporter 16GB Flash Drive (Very Fast), & Sandisk Micro 8GB. Nikon D40 DSLR with 18-105mm VR & 55-200mm VR
I too built a new rig and went with the 8800GTS - because I was on a budget :P
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64 Insider Preview (Skip Ahead) latest build
    Manufacturer/Model
    The Beast Model V (homebrew)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 965 EE @ 3.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA X58 Classified 3 (141-GT-E770-A1)
    Memory
    3 * Mushkin 998981 Redline Enhanced triple channel DDR3 4 GB CL7 DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3-12800)
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 (04G-P4-3979-KB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio (onboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 * Lenovo LT2323pwA Widescreeen
    Screen Resolution
    2 * 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SanDisk Ultra SDSSDHII-960G-G25 960 GB SATA III SSD (System) Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 256GB SATA III SSD (User Tree) 2 * Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA II Mech. HD Seagate ST1500DL001-9VT15L Barracuda 7200.12 1.5 TB S
    PSU
    Thermaltake Black Widow TX TR2 850W 80+ Bronze Semi-Mod ATX
    Case
    ThermalTake Level 10 GT (Black)
    Cooling
    Corsair H100 (CPU, dual 140 mm fans on radiator) + Air (2 *
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared)
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (gen 2)
    Internet Speed
    AT&T Lightspeed Gigabit duplex
  • Operating System
    Sabayon Linux (current, weekly updates, 5.1.x kernel)
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad E545
    CPU
    AMD A6-5350M APU
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    8 GB
    Sound Card
    Conextant 20671 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo 15" Matte
    Screen Resolution
    1680 * 1050
    Hard Drives
    INTEL Cherryvill 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SSD
    PSU
    Lenovo
    Case
    Lenovo
    Cooling
    Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared) | Synaptics TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Lenovo
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex
What is the lowest-end card that will get 5.9 (highest score possible) on "Vista Experience" meter (in Home Premium), in both Aero and 3D graphics? PCIe, of course.

Luposian
 

My Computer

System One

Hello Luposian!

Probably any of these cards.

Video Cards

You ask a hard question to answer, without trying them.
I don't think I would go below a 8600.


Later :shock: Ted
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    * BFK Customs *
    CPU
    Intel C2Q 9550 Yorkfield
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q Pro
    Memory
    8GB Dominator 8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX ATI 1GB 4870 XXX
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD 7-1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1x 47" LCD HDMI & 2x 26" LCD HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080P & 1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    2x 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache WD Caviar Black
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX
    Case
    CM Cosmos RC-1000
    Cooling
    Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans
    Mouse
    Razer Diamondback 3G
    Keyboard
    HP Enhansed Multimedia
    Internet Speed
    18.6Mb/s
    Other Info
    My First Build ;)
8600 does not get a 5.9 Score.. only the 8800 GT and above.. If I was you I'd get the 8800 GT 512.. (G92) it is hands Down the BEST for the money. and will score 5.9

the 9600 GT will probably score 5.9 but I'm not sure.. I kno the 8800 GT will.. and now the new GTX 200 series is out.. Prices will soon be dropping.. :) then I can SLI..

Me happy! or me get a ATI 4870 cuz they are lookin like a FTW
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Q9650 E0 4.0 GHz @1.304v
    Motherboard
    eVGA 750i FTW
    Memory
    2x2GB Corsair Dominator PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA/MSI GTX 260 SLI
    Sound Card
    X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung T240 & 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200 & 1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Cuda 500GB 32mb Cache SATA 7200.(11) + 500GB Seagate Cuda External eSATA, USB, FW400
    PSU
    PC P&C 750w Silencer PSU
    Case
    CoolerMaster HAF 932 (Water-Cooled)
    Cooling
    Plenty of Fans, and a few 230mm Fans
    Mouse
    Logitech MX-518
    Keyboard
    Logitech G11
    Other Info
    ASUS 20x Optical, Bose Companion 3, ATH-AD500 Cans :), Patriot Xporter 16GB Flash Drive (Very Fast), & Sandisk Micro 8GB. Nikon D40 DSLR with 18-105mm VR & 55-200mm VR
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