Best PCIe Card: Under $100
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$50:
Radeon HD 4650 DDR3
Good 1680x1050 performance in most games
| Radeon HD 4650 DDR3 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | RV730 |
| Process: | 55 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 320 |
| Texture Units: | 32 |
| ROPs: | 16 |
| Memory Bus: | 128-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 600 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 700 (1,400 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 10.1/SM 4.1 |
We've seen some DDR3-equipped Radeon HD 4650 cards approaching the $50 price point, and this makes for a card that packs a lot more punch than its DDR2-equipped cousins. Overclocking this card might bring it surprisingly close to Radeon HD 4670-class performance, so it's an especially good value for tweakers.
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$70:
Radeon HD 4670 (Check Prices)
Good 1680x1050 performance in most games
| Radeon HD 4670 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | RV730 |
| Process: | 55 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 320 |
| Texture Units: | 32 |
| ROPs: | 16 |
| Memory Bus: | 128-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 750 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 1,000 (4,000 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 10.1/SM 4.1 |
The Radeon HD 4670's price has fallen somewhat and now undercuts most GeForce 9600 GSOs with a $10 spread - too much to ignore at this price point. Spending $10 more on the 9600 GT is a viable option, but the Radeon HD 4670 retains the distinction by being the most powerful PCIe card that doesn't require a dedicated power connector.
Best PCIe Card For ~$80:
GeForce 9600 GT (Check Prices)
Good 1680x1050 performance in most games
| GeForce 9600 GT | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | G94 |
| Process: | 65 nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 64 |
| Texture Units: | 32 |
| ROPs: | 16 |
| Memory Bus: | 256-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 650 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 900 (1,800 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 10/SM 4.0 |
A recent price drop lets us recommend the GeForce 9600 GT, which is now within spitting distance of the Radeon HD 4670 and GeForce 9600 GSO. The GeForce 9600 GT is a great performer thanks, in part, to its high-end 256-bit memory interface and speedy DDR3 memory. It's a killer choice if $80 is your budgetary limit.
how can you even compare nvidia and ATi dual card setup's at that price point? with the 9.8 drivers the ATi cards are way ahead.
hei
I find this guide extremely unnecessary at the time. After sept. 22 the new ati cards will come out. You cannot recommend anyone to buy anything better than a 4870, with the prospect of these new cards. Their flagship will be around the 300 dollar range and there will probably be between 200 and 300. I want to bet my leg on the fact that those will easily outperform anything within its budget range.
This is not the time to buy a high end graphic solution. The 4870 will be fine for about any game and it in a sweetspot when it comes to its price. If this does not satisfy your needs, have patience and wait for the new cards to present themselves.