£150 to spend on a used graphics card?

[MT01XP]

After waiting for the 5830 to come out and being dissapointed with its high price and then the subsequent price hike of the 5850 I've decided to look at buying a used graphics card in the £150 region.

What should I be looking for?

Thanks

 

[d_brennen]

Whatcha got already?

 

[MT01XP]

Nowt.

Just bought this used rig without a graphics card:

Mobo: Abit IP35 Pro
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHZ (overclocked to 2.7GHz)
CPU Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra-90 Heatsink
CPU Fan: Scythe Kama PWM 92mm Fan - 4-Pin PWM
Memory: Corsair Dominator 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 XMS2 PC2-8500C5 TwinX Dual Channel
HDD: Segate 500Gb
Case: Lian Li PC-A05B Aluminium Midi-Tower
PSU: Enermax Modular 620W Power Supply

 

[Greebo]

GTX 275 or a 4890. Take your pick.

 

[Clairvoyant]

4890 £100 tops.

Very good card. Sometimes been thinking why did I sell mine for a 5850.

 

[rolypolyman]

If you are considering 4890\275 then you might as well get a vapor-x 5770 and clock it to 4890 speeds. Then you have a brand new card with a warranty. Seemples.

 

[MT01XP]

If you are considering 4890\275 then you might as well get a vapor-x 5770 and clock it to 4890 speeds. Then you have a brand new card with a warranty. Seemples.

This might be a daft question but doesn't OCing a card invalidate the warranty?

 

[Clairvoyant]

there is one in the MM XFX and warranty is transferable.

 

[4T5]

If you are considering 4890\275 then you might as well get a vapor-x 5770 and clock it to 4890 speeds. Then you have a brand new card with a warranty. Seemples.

This might be a daft question but doesn't OCing a card invalidate the warranty?

Not a Daft question mate more like a Daft statement.

I run a 4890 & it's a Gorgeous Gaming card & it runs COH on my 40 inch Sammy like silk & anything else I throw at it.
Mine cost less than a hundred quid around 6 months ago so you'll Easily get one for less than a ton now.

 

[d_brennen]

Some mfrs like Asus supply overclocking/voltage tweaking tools with their cards. I have an Asus EAH4890 though I can't say I have read the T&C's tbh

I'd say a used 4890 or a cheap 5770. The 4890 is hot, loud (most of em) but a touch quicker in DX9/10 than the 5770. Not too much in it

 

[Marine-RX179]

Considering you are buying fresh without having to sell the existing card, for that budget I would say 5770 is still your best option.

Just buy one and overclock it close to 4890 performance like lots of people do, that way you would have a reasonably fast graphic card (probably as fast as 5830 at stock speed) that can run games in dx 11 mode. You might have to do some research on the overclocking part if you don't know how to.

Oh, and also try to overclock your Q6600 more too.

 

[Phatzy]

or try the members market if you want a used card

 

[dlknight]

I was recently in the same boat as you, I bought a used XFX 4890 which turned out to be from a faulty batch (http://www.overclock.net/ati/634248-xfx-4890-bad-batch-discussion.html).

My budget was around £100 and I had picked the 4890 up for just over that. Luckily the seller could see the problem and refunded me so I then bit the bullet and went for a 5850.

There are still some sellers around with the previous generation cards but in my opinion the price doesn't justify them against the newer generation cards. Your better off trying to save up the extra £50-70 and getting a 5850 card. I don't think you'd be happy with a 5770 unless you plan on adding a second for crossfire.

Go on you know you want to - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-010-C3

 

[MT01XP]

So it seems if I go down the used route I should be looking for a 4890 for £100 otherwise I should buy a 5770 new and overclock it?

On the new 5770 front The Sapphire Vapor-X seems a popular choice as does the Asus CuCore. Will overclocking invalidate the warranty of the Sapphire Vapor-X?

Going back to a used card, looking at the chart below, should I be considering looking for a GTX 280, 275, 285 or do they offer little value for money as used cards compared to a new overclocked 5770 or a used 4890?

With regards to saving up for a 5850, I just can't justify shelling out £220+ on a graphics card for the amount of use it's going to get.

Thanks for your advice so far!

 

[C64]

4890 1gb £90-£95 don't pay more than that the 5770 might get close to a 4890 when clocked to its limits but the 4890 overclocks like a dream too.
5770 is worth getting for the right price though but I wouldn't pay more than £110 for one.

 

[Chris1712]

4870X2 have been going for under £150, insane value for money if you've got the space and power for one.

 

[Marine-RX179]

This is what I would do if I was in your shoes...go 5770 if planning on gaming in dx 11 mode; and if dx 11 or not don't matter, I'd go 4890.

 

[C64]

what is bothering me about the 5770 is just how is it going to perform in dx11 cant wait to see frame rates in bad company 2 dx11 on high details.Hoping it will be good but have a worry it will be very poor.

 

[lcg]

I'd go for a 5770. If you want a used one, I suggest making a thread in the Wanted forum in Member's Market.

 

[MT01XP]

On the new 5770 front The Sapphire Vapor-X seems a popular choice as does the Asus CuCore. Will overclocking invalidate the warranty of the Sapphire Vapor-X?

Bump.