Best graphics card for less than $200?

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fidlstyx

23 posts

Geek

#173461 24-May-2015 12:00

$200 is the max I want to spend, no games in particular I want to play just wondering what the best I can get for my money is. It's a pci 2.0 x16 slot but I think 3.0 is backwards compatible anyway? Has CrossFireX comparability two x16 slots (@dual 8x speed), no graphics card currently. Large case.

Tzoi

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1310755 24-May-2015 12:39

Probably the R7 260X

shrub

775 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1310774 24-May-2015 12:52

Geforce 750ti same price as 260x but performs better and uses 1/2 the power

ludez

903 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1310920 24-May-2015 19:17

Buy a used gt 670 or 760

Tzoi

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1310935 24-May-2015 20:09

shrub: Geforce 750ti same price as 260x but performs better and uses 1/2 the power

It's about $20 more expensive, but yes it is faster

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13765 posts

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#1311062 25-May-2015 08:55

What CPU do you have ? Can hit bottlenecks which can give you worse performance that current setup....

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1311517 25-May-2015 19:10

shrub: Geforce 750ti same price as 260x but performs better and uses 1/2 the power

I second this my 750 handled nearly everything i threw at it, doesnt need external power connector and IMO looks pretty cool. I have a 970 now but I still have my 750 for the other monitor just because i was that impressed by it.

fidlstyx

23 posts

Geek

#1311648 25-May-2015 21:49

Tzoi:
shrub: Geforce 750ti same price as 260x but performs better and uses 1/2 the power

It's about $20 more expensive, but yes it is faster

What about the 660? From what I can tell it's older but gets better performance for the same price $230

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fidlstyx

23 posts

Geek

#1311650 25-May-2015 21:50

xpd: What CPU do you have ? Can hit bottlenecks which can give you worse performance that current setup....

Phenom 1055t 6 core

fidlstyx

23 posts

Geek

#1311670 25-May-2015 21:55

Also do I need any special power connectors if it needs external power, my 550w PSU should handle it right?

fidlstyx

23 posts

Geek

#1312380 26-May-2015 23:58

bump

Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1312482 27-May-2015 09:30

fidlstyx: Also do I need any special power connectors if it needs external power, my 550w PSU should handle it right?

Sorry dude I think we all just thought sum1 else would answer this.

The answer is, IT DEPENDS.

Some newer (& better) mid range GPUS's wont require any external connectors they will pull ALL the power from the Mboard.

Older and more powerful GPUS will. Now this is where it gets tricky, in an Ideal world your PSU should have some spare connectors for a GPU, they will be square ish one with 6 ports (2 rows of 3) and one with 8 (2 rows of 4) as long as you have these spare you can plug in a GPU. Some PSU's are so cheap that they dont have these spare and some PSU's are so different that you wont have these spare BUT you will have spare molex connectors, these are the flat wide connectors with about 6-8 circle plugs inside (not to be confused with the flat SATA connectors for HDD's. In this case some GPUS come with the adapter to go from Molex to the 6/pin but you can buy them easy enough. The biggest issue with powering from molex is that you need 2 molex to power one 6/8 plug. So if your GPU needs BOTH a 6 and an 8 pin plug then you will need 4 spare molex connectors.

This is why I recommend gettting something like a 750 SC as its so revolutionary it needs next to no power. Best bet would be jump on PB tech or COmputer lounge and look at the GPU's that cost between $100 - $250 these are all most likely powered off of the mboard or will need minimal external power.

FOr example these would be best: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=VGAAS64899&name=Asus-GTX-750-Overclocked-2GB-GDDR5-PCI-E3.0-VGA-DV or http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=VGASAP8250&name=Sapphire-R7-250-2G-DDR3-PCI-E-Video-card---HDMI+-D

Remember this is a cheap GPU so you wont be running many AAA games, so as long as your happy with that ie you want to play League and Minecraft then thats the route to go.

ech3lon

369 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#1312487 27-May-2015 09:53

I have a GTX 670 that was retired for a 970, was planning to keep it as backup but if you want you can have it for less. PM me if interested.

Ronsoak

202 posts

Master Geek

#1312488 27-May-2015 09:56

ech3lon: I have a GTX 670 that was retired for a 970, was planning to keep it as backup but if you want you can have it for less. PM me if interested.

Slightly off topic, how are you finding the 970, I got one and Im sooo impressed, Even got it on a safe OC and it smashes the witcher.