What Graphics card do i NEED

[java33]

Hi,

Based on another members thread and following suggestions, I am working towards this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-418-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=567
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-391-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2261
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-123-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-055-OC&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

However with all the unforeseen extras like cd drives, hard drives, speakers etc it seems too expensive (can get it all in about 6 weeks). My monitor is Resolution: 1920x1080.

I currently have a radeon x850 on very old computer, and a laptop with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 256MB. In fact, I am playing skyrim on this laptop. I am used to slightly blocky low or medium game settings, no aa, no shadows etc, and lots of performance tweaking in a games .ini file.

The above card i wish to get seems to be an exellent card thats good on power, and will run all current games on max settings based on www.anandtech.com.

Can anyone suggest a cheaper overclockable card that would meet my needs, say £100-£150, that would run current games on high or very high settings, on a lower AA eg 4x, and low quality shadows or no shadows, at a frame rate above 30?. (I had read on many forums a long time ago that any frame rate over 30 is pointless as the human eye cant detect it).

My other option is to not buy the graphics card, set up and overclock new comp (using integrated cpu graphics) and get the card at a later point. I would prefer not to though, as I dont want extra unneeded drivers or to start taking computer apart again and the card increasing heat in the case and having to redo any cpu overclocks etc.

Thanks for reading and hope you can help.

 

[psychodil]

A 6850/6870 is excellent in that price range and will run the games at low/medium settings fine. Would be better to stretch a little further if you can though, possibly to a 7850 for around £180. Shame to have that nice processor and not have a good GPU to match.

 

[kharma45]

This is what I'd go for if you could stretch to it

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-100-GI

The 7850 is a great card for overclocking. As for that bit about "that any frame rate over 30 is pointless as the human eye cant detect it," that's nonsense

 

[java33]

A 6850/6870 is excellent in that price range and will run the games at low/medium settings fine, assuming the rest of your PC isn't going to hold it back too much. What's your processor and speed?

It will be i5-3570k which ill overclock as much as it allows (assume 4.4), 8gb ram

 

[java33]

This is what I'd go for if you could stretch to it

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-100-GI

The 7850 is a great card for overclocking. As for that bit about "that any frame rate over 30 is pointless as the human eye cant detect it," that's nonsense

yeah that 7850 was an alternative to my orginal one. Wasnt sure if it would use more power than the 6970 and thus more spent on psu. Its good price but still around the £200 quid mark (before discount).

Thanks for info about 30fps, good to know

 

[kharma45]

yeah that 7850 was an alternative to my orginal one. Wasnt sure if it would use more power than the 6970 and thus more spent on psu. Its good price but still around the £200 quid mark (before discount).

Thanks for info about 30fps, good to know

The 7850 will use less power than the 6970 They're pretty efficient cards.

 

[java33]

What about option of using cpu for graphics for a couple of weeks and save for card? Any possible issues?

 

[Something Else]

you could use the onboard graphics but dont expect anything great. i can vouch for the 7850, even at stock with a few mods running on skyrim is holds 60fps no matter what, also while running fraps

 

[java33]

I think Ill get a new 7850 at same time as building computer then, means only opening the case at the very start and it can sit and idle for all eternity Of course there may be some great OC offer on in the nxt 4 weeks, or a price drop so you never know.