Best PCIe Card: Under $90
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$50:
Radeon HD 4650 (Check Prices)
Great 1280x1024 performance in most games, 1680x1050 with lowered detail
| Radeon HD 4650 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | RV730 |
| Process: | 55nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 320 |
| Texture Units: | 32 |
| ROPs: | 16 |
| Memory Bus: | 128-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 600 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 400 (800 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 10.1/SM 4.1 |
You will not find a card that packs more punch than ATI's Radeon HD 4650 under the alluring $50 price point. With solid stock performance and an overclockable GPU, this card is an excellent starting point for our list of recommendations, and a wholly worthwhile upgrade if you're currently stuck using a motherboard limited to integrated graphics.
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$65:
Radeon HD 4670 (Check Prices)
Good 1680x1050 performance in most games
| Radeon HD 4670 | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | RV730 |
| Process: | 55nm |
| Universal Shaders: | 320 |
| Texture Units: | 32 |
| ROPs: | 16 |
| Memory Bus: | 128-bit |
| Core Speed MHz: | 750 |
| Memory Speed MHz: | 1,000 (2,000 effective) |
| DirectX/Shader Model: | DX 10.1/SM 4.1 |
The Radeon HD 4670 continues to offer modest performance and very low power usage, making this product a reasonable all-around value. Its accelerated clock rates and modestly-higher price tag are worth considering if you originally had your eye on the Radeon HD 4650.
It's worth noting that this card's closest competitor, the GeForce 9600 GSO, isn't making a very strong showing. The GeForce 9600 GSOs we could find for sale were crippled 48 shader/128-bit memory versions of the card. The models we'd want to see should be equipped with 48 shaders and a 256-bit memory bus, or alternatively 96 shaders and 128-bit memory bus.
Unfortunately, it seems that the low-priced Radeon HD 4670 cards with 512MB of RAM are getting harder to find. instead there are a lot of 1GB cards on the market. But at $75, the price is too close to the superior GeForce 9600 GT. Though this might be a temporary situation, we do expect the 4600-series to disappear entirely once the new Radeon HD 5570 becomes widely available.
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$80:
GeForce 9600 GT (Check Prices)
Great 1680x1050 performance in most games, 1920x1200 in most games with lowered detail
| GeForce 9600 GT | |
|---|---|
| Codename: | G94 |
| Process: | 65nm |
| 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 |
The GeForce 9600 GT is still a great entry-level performer, thanks in part to its high-end 256-bit memory interface and speedy DDR3 memory. It's a solid choice on an $80 budget, even if the architecture on which it centers is showing its age.
While the GeForce GT 240 is beginning to encroach on this card's price territory, the 9600 GT remains a bit faster than even the GDDR5 version of the newer card, and its recommendation remains secure for the time being. It remains to be seen whether the new Radeon HD 5670 will drop in price to give the 9600 GT some real competition.
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Thanks for this useful review. Once again AMD seems to be doing a grand job, right across the board.
However, the cheapest Radeon HD 4850 I could find in the UK was (including tax), $145..a 45% markup on what the American's are paying. I know I'm preaching to the converted so to speak, but this really grinds my teeth to see such a huge variation in price. It's not so bad with other items, but this is obviously a major component in any decent gaming rig - what I have to do is dongrade the CPU spec and I really don't like doing that unless the client intends to do a bit of overclocking.
I also spoke to a contact and he said that there's gonna be some discounting on this card in the next few weeks, so it might be worth waiting a bit. Will update this if the price comes down a bit
Not finished, just out of the game this time around.
Not finished, just out of the game this time around.
why do people say utter rubbish like that.. on both parts for nvid or ati.. they made a mistake get over it
omg sory wrong quote!!! the guy ABOVE Silverblue.... Rabid-BDGR!!! im sory silver..
Take my post in context. I was trying to point out that even if Fermi fails, nVidia won't collapse because of it.
no no im totally backing what your saying i clicked the wrong quote box sorry.. i was dis agreeing with Rab1d-BDGR.. apologies
Nah it's fine mate, I had an inkling but I'm a bit snappy right now...
so my 9800gtx+ after all is awesome
ahhh im happy with my 5870 no issues up to date and thats what we want isnt it
Thanks for this useful review. Once again AMD seems to be doing a grand job, right across the board.
However, the cheapest Radeon HD 4850 I could find in the UK was (including tax), $145..a 45% markup on what the American's are paying. I know I'm preaching to the converted so to speak, but this really grinds my teeth to see such a huge variation in price. It's not so bad with other items, but this is obviously a major component in any decent gaming rig - what I have to do is dongrade the CPU spec and I really don't like doing that unless the client intends to do a bit of overclocking.
Wild9, you're just not a very good shopper are you? lmao!!!
1024Mb ATi Radeon HD 4850 PCI-Express2 VGA Card - £68.75+VAT (£80.78)
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/pr [...] GC-XR485H1
£68.75 = $102.69
Don't be whining about taxes, you should be on your knees thanking God that you pay those taxes. You have no idea what the health care situation is in the USA. If you did you wouldn't be moaning about the VAT. Jeez, some people have it so good and they still moan and whine!
'Tis a sad day when an uncouth colonial like me can find better prices in the UK than a proper Brit. I do hope this saves your teeth from further grinding though...lol
I always use Eclipse Computers when helping the British on Yahoo! Answers. They have literally the best prices in the UK!
In fact, I'll show all the cards they have for good prices:
ATi:
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/pr [...] 23&brand=2
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/pr [...] d=2&page=2
nVidia:
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/pr [...] 25&brand=2
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/pr [...] d=2&page=2
Sickened with the GPU market right now. nVidia's crime isn't in failing miserably with Fermi, its because they gave up on the 55nm cards too early and left the market completely unbalanced. The result is that retailers jack the prices up through the roof then promptly look all surprised and get offended when predictably everyone and their dog simply STOP BUYING.
The mid-range is risible right now, with the 55nm cards gone, no 40nm nVidia cards to fill the gap and ATi's offerings being inferior to their last-gen counterparts while being considerably more expensive in Europe. The HD5770s lack of bandwidth and the utterly retarded intentional crippling of the HD5830 means that anyone looking to upgrade is forced to sit on their hands if they failed to get a HD5850 at launch (which is much cheaper than a HD5830 is currently!) and wait this entire generation out. Ironically, a lot of those affected will be those who got caught by the same problem a few years back with DX10 and had to sit out the HD2***/86** generation until someone relased something worthwhile. So we all know we're not realistically going to see ANYTHING worth buying until the generation AFTER Fermi, nVidia's answer to the late and unlamented HD2900. Only then will the prices start to come down.
Great list - managed to get myself a 1GB HD5750 for $140 USD - it blazes through all my new games, GTA4, Arkham Asylum and MW2. Love it! Waiting for the GTA4 DLC now (^-^)
Avro Arrow, So what you're basically trying to say, is wild9, you may have made an oversight with the price of that particular hardware, right?
To which I'd say "Yes, I realised that. My bad. Still, graphics cards have historically cost more here".
Alas..
No I hate shopping..that's why I come here to listen to smart-arse's?
£68.75 = $102.69
You've excluded the VAT, after which it comes out at $120.65. That's still more than the ~$100 price range mentioned here, as I mentioned earlier.
Further, let's look at say, the 1GB Radeon 5750:
Your source: $191.74
Tom's: ~$165
I simply emphasised the retail price, which is what most people pay. It's an important distinction, after all.
What's graphics cards got to do with health care, or my knowledge of the American health care system, or even where I live? You only know what I've said about the cards dude..
Brits have historically paid more for certain hardware, including graphics cards. I've also been to trade fairs and bought them in volume..still, at comparatively higher prices..and I have also said that what we lose out on in terms of GPU's..we don't do too bad in other areas..
Seriously, in what way do I have "it" so good..you barely know me, and if it's that bad where you are, why don't you move?
Also please note, the only reason I don't paste links regarding my source is in case it's classified as spam.
Have a nice day.
How reliable or trustworthy are Eclipse computers? Thats important to me when internet shopping. I got burned by another cheap but popular company once with really bad showmanship.
Wild9: here you go mate, a 4850 for less than 80 quid including VAT and free delivery:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/168023
or a 5750 for £89.
I've use ebuyer many times before. IMO they're fine.
Forgot to post the link to the 5750:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179681
I happen to agree with avro arrow. The tax in the UK is higher but then we don't have to spend on health insurance. That is a fair trade methinks. To compare apple with apples, remove the VAT and the prices here aren't too dissimilar. It's certainly not worth the hassle of flying products over from America.
Unless you're buying a decent amount of them...
Wild9 et all. www.aria.co.uk I normally find them the cheapest, loads of deals for today and supersavers for you to wait for and buy a system when everything is on sale. £76.36 inc VAT $116 and as I think these prices for the US don't include tax (aren't they different depending on the state?) you should be comparing them to the £64.99 price $99!!!!
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Com [...] ctId=38671