Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart
What about this other card that’s not on the list? How do I know if it’s a good deal or not?
This will happen. In fact, it’s guaranteed to happen, because inventory levels and prices change quickly. So how do you know if that card you’ve got your eye on is a good buy in its price range?
Here are two resources to help you judge if a card is a good buy or not. The first is the graphics card hierarchy chart, which groups graphics cards with similar overall performance levels into tiers. The top tier contains the highest-performing cards available and performance decreases as you go down the tiers from there.
You can use this hierarchy to compare the pricing between two cards, to see which one is a better deal, and also to determine if an upgrade is worthwhile. I don’t recommend upgrading your graphics card unless the replacement card is at least three tiers higher. Otherwise, the upgrade is somewhat parallel and you may not notice a worthwhile difference in performance.
At the request of readers, I have added mobile graphics and integrated chipsets to the hierarchy chart. I want to make it clear that there is very little performance data available for these graphics solutions. While the discrete video cards in the chart are placed in tiers based on a lot of information, many of the mobile and integrated devices in the chart are guesstimates based on their specifications. At worst, I don’t think they’re more than one tier away from their actual performance, but this is something to keep in mind when considering mobile graphics chipsets.
| Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart | ||
|---|---|---|
| GeForce | Radeon | Intel |
| Discrete: HD 5970 | ||
| Discrete: GTX 295 | Discrete: HD 4870 X2, HD 5870 | |
| Discrete: GTX 280, GTX 285 | Discrete: HD 4850 X2, HD 5850 | |
| Discrete: 9800 GX2, GTX 260, GTX 275 | Discrete: HD 4870, HD 4890, HD 5770, HD 5830 Mobility: HD 5870 | |
| Discrete: 8800 Ultra, 9800 GTX, 9800 GTX+, GTS 250 | Discrete: HD 3870 X2, HD 4850, HD 5750 Mobility: HD 4850, HD 5850 | |
| Discrete: 8800 GTX, 8800 GTS 512 MB Go (mobile): GTX 280M, GTX 285M | Discrete: HD 4770 Mobility: HD 4860 | |
| Discrete: 8800 GT 512 MB, 9800 GT Go (mobile): 9800M GTX, GTX 260M (112), GTS 360M (GDDR5) | Discrete: HD 4830, HD 5670 Mobility: HD 5770, HD 5750 | |
| Discrete: 8800 GTS 640 MB, 9600 GT, GT 240 (GDDR5) Go (mobile): 9800M GTS, GTX 160M | Discrete: HD 2900 XT, HD 3870 | |
| Discrete: 8800 GS, 9600 GSO, GT 240 (DDR3) Go (mobile): GTX 260M (96), GTS 150M, GTS 360M (DDR3) | Discrete: HD 3850 512 MB, HD 4670, HD 5570 Mobility: HD 3870, HD 5730, HD 5650 | |
| Discrete: 8800 GT 256 MB, 8800 GTS 320 MB, GT 220 Go (mobile): 8800M | Discrete: HD 2900 PRO, HD 3850 256 MB Mobility: HD 3850 | |
| Discrete: 7950 GX2 | Discrete: X1950 XTX, HD 4650 (DDR3) | |
| Discrete: 7800 GTX 512, 7900 GTO, 7900 GTX | Discrete: X1900 XT, X1950 XT, X1900 XTX | |
| Discrete: 7800 GTX, 7900 GT, 7950 GT | Discrete: X1800 XT, X1900 AIW, X1900 GT, X1950 PRO, HD 2900 GT | |
| Discrete: 7800 GT, 7900 GS, 8600 GTS, 9500 GT (GDDR3) Go (mobile): 7950 GTX | Discrete: X1800 XL, X1950 GT, HD 4650 (DDR2) Mobility X1800 XT, HD 4650, HD 5165 | |
| Discrete: 6800 Ultra, 7600 GT, 7800 GS, 8600 GT (GDDR3), 9500 GT (DDR2) Go (mobile): 7800 GTX, 7900 GTX | Discrete: X800 XT (& PE), X850 XT (& PE), X1650 XT, X1800 GTO, HD 2600 XT, HD 3650 (DDR3), HD 3670, Mobility: X1900, 3670 | |
| Discrete: 6800 GT, 6800 GS (PCIe), 8600 GT (DDR2) Go (mobile): 7800, Go 7900 GS | Discrete: X800 XL, X800 GTO2/GTO16, HD 2600 PRO, HD 3650 (DDR2), Mobility: X800 XT, HD 2600 XT, 3650 | |
| Discrete: 6800 GS (AGP) Go (mobile): 6800 Ultra, 7600 GT, 8600M GT, 8700M GT | Discrete: X800 GTO 256 MB, X800 PRO, X850 PRO, X1650 GT Mobility: HD 2600 | |
| Discrete: 6800, 7300 GT GDDR3, 7600 GS, 8600M GS Go (mobile): 6800, 7700 | Discrete: X800, X800 GTO 128 MB, X1600 XT, X1650 PRO Mobility: X1800, HD 5145, HD 5470 (GDDR5), HD 5450, | |
| Discrete: 6600 GT, 6800LE, 6800 XT, 7300 GT (DDR2), 8500 GT, 9400 GT Go (mobile): 7600 (128-bit) | Discrete: 9800 XT, X700 PRO, X800 GT, X800 SE, X1300 XT, X1600 PRO, HD 2400 XT, HD 4350, HD 4550, HD 5550 Mobility: X800, 3470, HD 5470 (DDR3), HD 5430 Integrated: HD 3300 | |
| Discrete: FX 5900, FX 5900 Ultra, FX 5950 Ultra, 6600 (128-bit) Go (mobile): 6800 (128-bit) Integrated: 9300, 9400 | Discrete: 9700, 9700 PRO, 9800, 9800 PRO, X700, X1300 PRO, X1550, HD 2400 PRO Mobility: X1450, X1600, X1700, 2400 XT, X2500, 3450 Integrated: HD 3200, HD 4200 | |
| Discrete: FX 5800 Ultra, FX 5900 XT Go (mobile): 6600, Go 7600 (64-bit) | Discrete: 9500 PRO, 9600 XT, 9800 PRO (128-bit), X600 XT, X1050 (128-bit) Mobility: 9800, X700, X1350, X1400, X2300, HD 2400 | |
| Discrete: 4 Ti 4600, 4 Ti 4800, FX 5700 Ultra, 6200, 8300, 8400 G, G 210, G 310 | Discrete: 9600 PRO, 9800 LE, X600 PRO, HD 2300 Mobility: 9700 (128-bit), X600, X1300 Integrated: Xpress 1250 | |
| Discrete: 4 Ti4200, 4 Ti4400, 4 Ti4800 SE, FX 5600 Ultra, FX 5700, 6600 (64-bit), 7300 GS, 8400M GS, 9300M G, 9300M GS | Discrete: 9500, 9550, 9600, X300, X1050 (64-bit) Mobility: 9600 | |
| Discrete: 3 Ti500, FX 5200 Ultra, FX 5600, FX 5700 LE, 6200 TC, 6600 LE, 7200 GS, 7300 LE Go (mobile): 5700, 8200M, 9200M GS, 9100 Integrated: 8200, 8300 | Discrete: 8500, 9100, 9000 PRO, 9600 LE, X300 SE, X1150 Mobility 9700 (64-bit) | GMA X4500 |
| Discrete: 3, 3 Ti200, FX 5200 (128-bit), FX 5500, Go (mobile): 5600, 6200, 6400, 7200, 7300, 7400 (64-bit) | Discrete: 9000, 9200, 9250 Mobility: 9600 (64-bit), X300 | |
| Discrete: FX 5200 (64 bit) Go (mobile): 7200, 7400 (32-bit) Integrated: 6100, 6150 | Discrete: 9200 SE Integrated: Xpress 200M, Xpress 1000, Xpress 1150 | GMA X3000, X3100, X3500 |
| Discrete: 2 GTS, 4 MX 440, 2 Ultra, 2 Ti, 2 Ti 200 | Discrete: 7500 | GMA 3000, 3100 |
| Discrete: 256, 2 MX 200, 4 MX 420, 2 MX 400 | Discrete: SDR, LE, DDR, 7000, 7200 | GMA 500, 900, 950 |
| Discrete: Nvidia TNT | Discrete: Rage 128 | Intel 740 |
Summary
There you have it folks; the best cards for the money this month. Now all that’s left to do is to find and purchase them.
Don’t worry too much about which brand you choose, because all of the cards out there are close to Nvidia’s and ATI’s reference designs. Just pay attention to price, warranty, and the manufacturer’s reputation for honoring the warranty if something goes wrong.
Also remember that the stores don’t follow this list. Things will change over the course of the month and you’ll probably have to adapt your buying strategy to deal with fluctuating prices. Good luck!
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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