Not sure of what card(s) to get to reach my performance target.

[Trottel]

I have an overclocked i3, 4GB of ram, and a motherboard with SLI/Crossfire capability. Basically I want to play Farcry2 at 1920x1200 with 4x AA and 8x AF (8x AA and 16x AF if possible, but not required) and with every other graphics setting at minimum with at least an average of 50fps, hopefully 60fps if I can.

I also don't have a lot of money left to spend on a video card at the moment and I want to get the minimum to play at the settings I listed. Buying new or used from ebay or somewhere doesn't matter to me. Any suggestions on what to get? I would also prefer a nvidia card for F@H, but I'm not set against getting an ATI card. I really have no idea for what I need because I can't find benchmarks for games at high res, minimum settings, and high AF and AA. Thanks for any ideas!

1) What are your system specifications? Give us full specs:

CPU = i3 @ 3.6Ghz
Motherboard = EVGA SLI
RAM = 4GB
PSU = 600 watt OCZ
Current Video Card = Nvidia 6200

2) What is your budget?
As little as possible, $90, maybe $100 tops.

3) For how long are you planning to have this new card?
A year.

4) What will the new Video Card be used for?
--- c) A cheap-o card on which I might be able to game sometimes, not much power needed.

5) If Gaming, please tells us the games you're planning to play. Please list as many as you'd love to play. If possible, please put them in the following sections:
- Direct3D Games = Farcry 2 and other FPS @ 1920x1200, minimum settings, 4x AA, 8x AF.

[||Console||]

You would prob be happy with a used 4870/4890 or a 260/275 . I play FC2 @ @ 1920x1080p Top 4 vid options on high then the bottom ones on low and have well over 60fps ( no aa or af though ) On a 4830 .

[Rinne]

would be nice if you could be more specific on the budget.

I could play FC2 on highest settings @ 1680x1050 with 16xAF, but no AA fluently (don't recall the exact fps, but it was always above 30). 2xAA was possible and it was still very playable. All that on a slightly OC'd 4850.

ATI had problems with FC2, though, but I think they were solved, and there was a workaround anyhow. Stopped playing the game 2 weeks after I got it, though.

[Trottel]

would be nice if you could be more specific on the budget.

I could play FC2 on highest settings @ 1680x1050 with 16xAF, but no AA fluently (don't recall the exact fps, but it was always above 30). 2xAA was possible and it was still very playable. All that on a slightly OC'd 4850.

ATI had problems with FC2, though, but I think they were solved, and there was a workaround anyhow. Stopped playing the game 2 weeks after I got it, though.


Shooting for under $90 shipped. $100 max.

[Rinne]

I don't know what got into their heads, but they are selling this one for less than half the usual price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131354

You should even be able playing on the Highest setting with 4xAA+8xAF if you OC it, it is currently out of stock, though.

Otherwise this is quite a good deal:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

And this is still acceptable (Not as good as the Other two cards, though. If you can get your hands on the 5750, that's the way to go):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130539

Here are Test results of different cards to give you an impression what is possible (All at highest settings, though, but that isn't necessarily bad, is it?)

http://ht4u.net/reviews/2009/amd_ati_radeon_hd_5970/index30.php

[Trottel]

Great, thank you!

[Trottel]

Wowee. Today I found out that a 384MB 9600GSO at stock clocks just barely meets my requirements!

[Rinne]

384MB?

I am fairly certain it will not be able to display your res +AA with that few memory.