Best GPU setup under $500

1295 Views 23 Replies 18 Participants Last post by alawadhi3000, Mar 21, 2009

Kleric

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2009

I haven't really been keeping up with the market lately so I could use some help on picking my new GPU(s).

No preference of ATI or nVidia or SLI or single card. Whatever is the best setup under $500 right now

.

My setup:

i7 920 (to be OC'd)
ASUS P6T
OCZ Platinum 6GB 1600

Thanks!

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1 - 20 of 24 Posts

TEntel

· #2 · Mar 16, 2009

The 4870x2 or the gtx295.

The 295 is a tad over $500 though, but it is the absolute best.

The 4870x2 is still ridiculous though.

wildfire99

· #3 · Mar 16, 2009

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ce%20GTX%20295
10 dollars over but heh what you gona do ^_^

-iceblade^

· #4 · Mar 16, 2009

3 XFX GTX 260's

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150329

for $170 AR a piece. comes up to $510 after rebate.

darksideleader

· #5 · Mar 16, 2009

i say...

two of these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102813

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wildfire99

· #6 · Mar 16, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by darksideleader

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i say...

two of these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102813

while it will give you a slight performance increase over a gtx295 or a 4870x2 it leaves absolutely no room for upgrades. go with the gtx295.

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2

Kleric

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 16, 2009

Ok keep in mind, this is only going to hold me over until later this year when the new generation of cards come out. I'll most likely splurge then and get the top of the line. So I don't need the absolute best right now.

$500 for reference, if it can be below that with good performance I'll be more than happy.

Drakan290

· #8 · Mar 16, 2009

Honestly, if you aren't doing some crazy CAD or doing some intense CUDA rendering, a GTX260/GTX280/4870 1GB offers highly playable performance at 1920x1200.

If you plan on going to a 30" monitor (2560x1600), THEN get the GTX295. Otherwise, save your money. There is nothing on the horizon for this year that is going to become another 'Crysis' type game that has everyone rushing for hardware upgrades. Crysis is still the most demanding graphically, and a GTX260/280 or 4870 1gb is more than enough to play the game at excellent framerates and quality.

wildfire99

· #9 · Mar 16, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kleric

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Ok keep in mind, this is only going to hold me over until later this year when the new generation of cards come out. I'll most likely splurge then and get the top of the line. So I don't need the absolute best right now.

$500 for reference, if it can be below that with good performance I'll be more than happy.

i would go with a 4870x2 under those circumstances.

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Maddog7771

· #10 · Mar 16, 2009

either the 295 or two 260gtx core 216 55nm edition in sli

slothfish

· #11 · Mar 16, 2009

Get 2 GTX260s and be done with it. They have been shown to outperform the GTX295 in most tests, and are quite a bit cheaper.

GeforceGTS

· #12 · Mar 16, 2009

If it was me and I was planning on getting the next big thing when it is released i'd just go with a sinlge GTX 285

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150334

jeffries7

· #13 · Mar 16, 2009

Get a single GTX 285 or go SLI GTX 260 216 if you want a bigger e-peen.

Nvidia cards fold better they also have Physx support

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linskingdom

· #14 · Mar 16, 2009

Single GTX285 now and add another around late May when price drops.

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,6...eviews/?page=4

Crazydood

· #15 · Mar 16, 2009

gtx 295

then buy another one

overkill ftw.

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2

Kleric

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 16, 2009

Ok my options as of now are:

1 GTX 285
2 GTX 260 core 216's
1 4870 X2

I'm leaning toward the 260's as I'm guessing they offer the overall best performance.

Lyric

· #17 · Mar 16, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by slothfish

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Get 2 GTX260s and be done with it. They have been shown to outperform the GTX295 in most tests, and are quite a bit cheaper.

+1. $360 will get you a GTX260 SLI Setup.

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2

Robilar

· #18 · Mar 16, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEntel

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The 4870x2 or the gtx295.

The 295 is a tad over $500 though, but it is the absolute best.

The 4870x2 is still ridiculous though.

I disagree (owning both...)

Depends on your resolution. thus far my 4870X2 is faster in every test at 1920x1200 than my GTX295.

Lower resolutions my tell a different story but why would I run any lower?

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Diabolical999

· #19 · Mar 16, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kleric

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Ok my options as of now are:

1 GTX 285
2 GTX 260 core 216's
1 4870 X2

I'm leaning toward the 260's as I'm guessing they offer the overall best performance.

Yeah, just make sure you pick the right ones. There's like 500 different versions on the market.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130434

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Mccaula718

· #20 · Mar 16, 2009

I'm going on the assumption that you are runnign 1920x1200 on your monitor; i'm too lazy to research the native res. With that being said, i'd either sli 260s or crossfire 1gb 4870s. They will give you the best "bank for your buck" since you plan on upgrading within the year

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

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