What graphics card should I buy?

[Reloaded1337]

Here is the PC I have currently.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway...8644416142&skuId=5424601&st=gateway&cp=1&lp=1

I want to buy a decent/good graphics card. I know nothing about these kinds of things so what would be best? If needed I can upgrade the PSU aswell, but I would prefer to just order the card. Preferably something around $100, might go above if it looks very promising. Thanks!

 

[EvilJoker]

Depends on what you are wanting to do with you PC on what kind of video card.. The link you provided does not show the PSU specs? Can you take the side off and look?? SHould say it on the PSU its self, ( DONT DO IT WHILE PC IS POWERED UP) Unless you fell comfortable doing so

 

[Knufire]

If you upgrade the video card, you're probably going to have to upgrade the PSU.

 

[irrykuxeh]

I'd recommend the Radeon 7750 for the $100ish range. It just sips power, and is a decent entry-level card. Lets get the stats on your PSU first though.

 

[Reloaded1337]

Pretty sure my PSU is only 300w

 

[EvilJoker]

Thats not going to work for a decent video card,, What do you plain on doing with your PC? gameing, video editing? web/email?

 

[Reloaded1337]

Gaming. I can upgrade the PSU if needed. I would love if someone would link a PSU and a card that would fit in my system.

 

[Knufire]

What games, what resolution? What settings would you like to play at, and at what FPS?

 

[Reloaded1337]

Well I can run games like WoW on max, but I would like to play games such as BF3 or Skyrim on high-ish settings.

 

[Knufire]

What resolution? Are you fine with 30FPS or do you want 60FPS? (30FPS is what movies are at, that's where things seem "smooth", but you can usually tell the different until 60FPS)

 

[EvilJoker]

the 430 is made by Corsair if your wondering,, a great company ANd yea,, your need going to need some power to play bf3 on high/max settings.. Its not going to be around $100

 

[EvilJoker]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026


PSU^^^

 

[irrykuxeh]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Same model. But 500W for safety ^

 

[Knufire]

For a 95W CPU and a 130W GPU? Maybe 40W for everything else? Technically he could run on a 300W PSU but I wouldn't trust an OEM PSU to actually put out 300W.

 

[Reloaded1337]

Anywhere between 30 to 60 is fine, I just want a good card that is <$150 and can run higher-end games fine.

 

[Knufire]

I would squeeze a bit more for a 6870.

 

[Reloaded1337]

Could you link me one that is cheaper and would fit my system?

 

[irrykuxeh]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161402

^^Same reference card as mine. Radeon 7770. Runs all the games just fine (60+FPS on 1680x1050 on Skyrim after a moderate overclock)

 

[Knufire]

7770 doesn't do too well on BF3 though, barely 30FPS on high. You would probably get equal performance out of a used GTX460 (around $100), best value IMO below a 6870.

 

[irrykuxeh]

All of the 7xxx series cards got a significant boost in all games since the 12.6/12.7 drivers came out. Including BF3.
http://blogs.amd.com/play/2012/06/28/the-new-catalyst/

And even if the reference clocks can only pull 30fps on high, that's nothing a little overclocking can't fix