Need help picking a gaming video card

A.Nonymous · July 10th, 2012, 08:57 AM

I'm thinking of updating my video card. The one I've got is 5 years old and was fine until I started using my computer for more and more gaming. Now it's just not adequate IMO. Things constantly look artifacty from time to time. It's a Geforce 8600 GTS if that makes any difference. Has only 256 mb of RAM on it. The thing is I have no clue when it comes to video cards and have no idea what I'm looking for. I can install them in my sleep, but picking one always puzzles me as the models change so frequently and I never have any clue what specs are meaningful and which one's aren't. If it matters I've got 3 PCI-E slots on my mobo and one PCI-E X16. I've got a budget of around $200 for this. Any suggestions?

This is my current mobo if it helps - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4354118

Atma · July 11th, 2012, 07:20 AM

I only use a laptop now and haven't bought a video card in a long time. The best advice I can give is to pay attention to the card's power supply requirement. A lot of them now require at least a 400 watt PS.

Also, if you see one you like, check Newegg and see if they carry it and read the user reviews.

A.Nonymous · July 11th, 2012, 08:35 AM

Power supply isn't an issue for me. I have like a 700 or 800 w. I can't recall for certain. It was the one thing I didn't scrimp on as I have had issues in the past with not being able to expand for lack of juice.

OutofDate1980 · September 19th, 2012, 08:39 PM

If this is of any use now, have found this site to be useful, Search for video cards

NYCHitman1 · September 20th, 2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.Nonymous

I'm thinking of updating my video card. The one I've got is 5 years old and was fine until I started using my computer for more and more gaming. Now it's just not adequate IMO. Things constantly look artifacty from time to time. It's a Geforce 8600 GTS if that makes any difference. Has only 256 mb of RAM on it. The thing is I have no clue when it comes to video cards and have no idea what I'm looking for. I can install them in my sleep, but picking one always puzzles me as the models change so frequently and I never have any clue what specs are meaningful and which one's aren't. If it matters I've got 3 PCI-E slots on my mobo and one PCI-E X16. I've got a budget of around $200 for this. Any suggestions?

This is my current mobo if it helps - Intel DP43TF Motherboard - Intel P43, Socket 775, ATX, Audio, PCI Express, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, Serial ATA at TigerDirect.com

Assuming that the port is a PCI-E 2.0 then:

Newegg.com - EVGA 01G-P3-1466-KR GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) DS SSC 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

johnlgalt · September 20th, 2012, 11:55 PM

If you can get a hold of one of these (they are in hot demand, no refurbs currently available, and it is a beast of a card but at a good value price) - Newegg.com - Refurbished: EVGA 012-P3-2068-RX GeForce GTX 560 Ti - 448 Cores (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

New prices are running well over the $300 I bought mine for since very few stores have them and more than a few want them.....

They basically took the 580 core and pithed several cores off of it to perform at sub 580 standards, instead of using the old 560 base, meaning not only does it have 1/3 more number of cores, but the cores themselves are all way more powerful than the cores in a standard 560 Ti....

johnlgalt · September 20th, 2012, 11:56 PM

Also, I do have a spare 260 lying around here that I am not using, if you want something that overpowers what you got now for decently cheap. But you're better off going with new, as these are almost 4 years old lol....I bought tone to replace my 8800GTS and then bought a second to SLI