20 replies to this topic

[Rot]

I was going to post this on the announcement thread but figured it could get lost.

I was doing a little research using http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

The minimum requirement GPU is the GeForce 8800 GT, and looking on the benchmark test there are several cards that are 59.99 and up that out perform that card.

The Recommended Card is a GeForce GTX 285 or Radeon HD 5830. If you look between those cards I am sure you can find a card within your budget.

I recommend using that chart and reference the prices listed on http://www.pricewatch.com/ I found several cards that will fit the bill in the 59.99 - 89.99 range.

If you are looking at cards you will need to know what kind of card your motherboard can use. Almost all of these cards are PCI-E 2.0 and higher.

I think I may go with the GTX 260 for 89.99 or GTX 275 @ 129.99.

Do some research using those two resources and I am sure we can come up with something to meet the needs of the engine.

Edited by Rot, 17 June 2012 - 06:20 AM.

[Alkazar]

Honestly, I would suggest spending a little more to get something that exceeds the recommended specs. a 6850 or 6870, for example, can often be found on very good sales for ~125 or so for a 6850 and ~150 for a 6870. These would probably serve you a little better. For those with a decent amount of cash to spare, the GTX 570 seems to be a sweet spot for price/performance as long as you find a good sale price. Check out NCIX or newegg, watch for sales.

[Rot]

I totally agree Alkazar that it would be better off going for something that will exceed the recommend specs. I have posted the reference links so the people that seem to be pawning everything they own to play could find something in their range.

The GTX 570 looks like it is going for 269.99 currently with used ones on ebay in the 180.00 range.

[Nikoliy]

Get the 560 ti insisted. The 570 GTX are actually 580 GTX that failed to run at full speed during QA. I have one and I have had problems with high end games like BF3. I actually have to underclock the GPU to get it to run stable.

[Steelo]

check out vulpes thread on gpu's in off topic/harware discussion

http://mwomercs.com/...eral-gpu-guide/

[NinjaCool]

I would say a mid range card among these would likely be a good option: ATI 7770 - ATI 7850 - Nvidia GTX 560 TI - Nvidia GTX 570.

[Alkazar]

Nikoliy, on 17 June 2012 - 06:43 AM, said:

Get the 560 ti insisted. The 570 GTX are actually 580 GTX that failed to run at full speed during QA. I have one and I have had problems with high end games like BF3. I actually have to underclock the GPU to get it to run stable.

My only problem with the 560 ti is that it doesnt tend to be on the same sort of sales the 6870 is found on. You end up paying around 50 dollars more for the 560 ti without really getting 50 dollars worth of performance increase. Not that it isn't a great card as well, just that the prices don't tend to be as good.

Also, the problems with your 570 seem very abnormal. I would suspect that the individual card itself is faulty if you have to clock it down to keep it steady.

[Schrecken]

well i have 3 GTX670's in triple SLI with x16 x16 x8 configuration with PCIE3.0 670x3 is only 2010 thats alot less then 8800 I guess i cant play.

[CCC Dober]

Gents, I wouldn't go totally overboard on this one. CryEngine4 is basically around the corner and gonna make your pockets bleed again LOL
I'm saving the real bleeding for later ^^
Rec specs should do for now =)

[Arzachel]

There are four cards on the market these days that are worth your time.

HD6850/70 130-150$ Best bang for the buck in the low-mid range. They Beat the GTX460 1gb 256bit/GTX560 respectivly and cost less. What makes it even less of a choice is that you can't get a full 256bit GTX460 anymore, most are crippled 192bit versions and, although some have more shaders, they still lose out.
HD7850 ~250$ Overclocks like a dream(which is about as hard as dragging a slider if you don't go into overvolting) and sips power. Makes the GTX560ti 448 and GTX570 moot.
GTX670 ~400$ Beats/ties the 7970 stock and costs less, comes within 5% of the GTX680 at times. While a heavily overclocked 7970 would beat a similarly overclocked 670 and 680, It would also pull much more power.

[Vanity]

Had a gtx260, but it fried, so because i needed a card fast i got myself a gtx550 ti. Almost the same power as the gtx260, maybe even better. Has low power requirements, does not get that hot as 260. All in all a nice card. But with a bigger budget id go for a gtx 560 ti or 570.

[Diomed]

If you can't afford a 680 then go with a 560 ti.

[Rot]

While those are great cards and if you have the cash to build for the future they are great options. The original purpose of the post was a listing of cards that will get you above min spec as cheap as possible. Some of us have to hide change from the wife to sneak in a new card lol.

[Aegis Kleais]

I just got SLi'd GTX 570's and my old card that I'm trying to sell now is the card they slated as the recommended video card (a BFG GTX 285 OC) She's a workhorse of a card, I'll tell you that!

[CCC Dober]

For those interested in a GTX 260:
I got a GTX 260 Black Edition on the table next to me, which was a gift from a well meaning friend. I've swapped it out for my old 9800 GTX+ for a while, but was forced to hold back for now. It's a solid card, no doubt about it, but it has a couple ... problems.

1. Clunky - ginormous and a heavy mug
2. Hot - draws a lot of dust and power too
3. Noisy - when it starts to deal with excess heat

Now I wouldn't mind a nice heater when we hit winter again, definitely not. But we're hitting summer and if the CryEngine3 lives up to expectations it will be my CPU that is gonna do the heavy lifting. The 260 would just make it sweat more (excess heat). So yeah, let's see how that goes LOL

Edited by CCC Dober, 17 June 2012 - 08:23 AM.

[Vanity]

So the alternative to gtx260 = gtx550 ti and its cheap too. As i could compare them both - almost the same performance, but with less heat and power. If you want to save, its not a bad card, but i would not recommend to save money on vital components like these.

[AdamBaines]

<-------Proud new owner of GTX 660m

[Mech Wrench]

Rot, on 17 June 2012 - 07:10 AM, said:

While those are great cards and if you have the cash to build for the future they are great options. The original purpose of the post was a listing of cards that will get you above min spec as cheap as possible. Some of us have to hide change from the wife to sneak in a new card lol.

HAHA!! Thats me! been building a new computer slowly (trying to sneek things by the wife).. only the GPU is left, been holding off until the recommendations were announced. I think i'm gunna go for the 6870. thanks for all the good information everyone!

[Gremlich Johns]

Rot, on 17 June 2012 - 06:19 AM, said:

I was going to post this on the announcement thread but figured it could get lost.

this should be in the hardware thread. Seriously, look sometimes and save yourself some trouble.

[Gremlich Johns]

Arzachel, on 17 June 2012 - 07:02 AM, said:

There are four cards on the market these days that are worth your time.

HD6850/70 130-150$ Best bang for the buck in the low-mid range. They Beat the GTX460 1gb 256bit/GTX560 respectivly and cost less. What makes it even less of a choice is that you can't get a full 256bit GTX460 anymore, most are crippled 192bit versions and, although some have more shaders, they still lose out.

I OC my GTX460 SE to 751 MHz @ 950mv (stock voltage!) (the 24/7 OC for everyday use) and it works just fine for anything that I play (MW:LL atm). That is the great thing about that card, you can wicked overclock it. Plus, I use an Arctic Cooling cooler on it and get great temps at load (usually ~42 deg C)