Best graphics card to get?

JPS

Hey guys

Just built myself a nice shiny new PC. Basic spec:

AMD 8650 triple core cpu
Asus M3A78-CM m/b
4 GB dual channel ram

I want to add in a decent graphics card, but there are so many out there. I only want a budget-low mid range card (want to spend about 40-50 quid) as I use Xbox 360 to game. I have seen this which used to be top of the range (£300+!) - I appreciate it is quite old now but the price is excellent - but is it any good now?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/918183/-/Product.html?searchstring=graphics+7800&searchsource=0

Or would I be better with something newer like this?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/6184342/BFG-GeForce-9500-GT-1GB-DDR2-PCI-Express-2-0-Graphics-Card/Product.html

Thanks for your help.

Psychofly

No offence mate but your post makes no sense. Why do you want a graphics card if you use the 360 to game ? In that case pretty much any would do. What do you actually want your PC to do. Ignore the old price of the graphics card... they drop in price so quick as technology moves so quickly.

Jaffa.

The onboard graphics of the Asus M3A78-CM will do the trick

If you want to keep the graphics away from the processor and ram use, then get something like an ATI radeon HD 2400 pro (thats the one I use basically just get the cheapest one there, their all the same really. The one i've got is old so look on ebay - get it for like £5/10 )

Strider590

Best in normally the second most expensive lol

JPS

I do want to be able to play games on PC, just not going to be my main gaming machine so not looking to spend £100s on a graphics card. I've read some pretty decent reviews on ones that are under £50. So just wondering what is best?

-TangleFoot-

The sweet spot is closer to £100. Here's a good rule of thumb I use when choosing a graphics card: stick to either NVIDIA or ATI, pick a card with a number 6 (or greater) as the second digit in its name and - if appropriate - tack some motoring-related letters on the end.

At present, this means either a Radeon HD 4670 or a GeForce 9600 GT at minimum. Simples!

kippen_noedel

Depends on the games you want to play but I do like the
Asus ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB GDDR3

for a little above your quoted budget, the difference is well worth the extra.

banger9365

with that board i would stick with ATI ,you get more for your money
and you might be lucky and be able to us the Hybrid CrossFireX part if it supports the newer graphic card which i do not think it do's.

Rich44_2

Check out the Radeon 4770

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/9768510/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD-4770-512MB-DDR5-PCI-Express-2-0-Graphics-Card/Product.html

Latest product based on 40nm process meaning uses less power and generates less heat
Uses GDDR5
Dual DVI
HDCP (supports this for Blu-ray)

Not too far outside your budget either AND it matches that 4850 most of the time for over £30 less!!

jaydeeuk1

The 4850 is about £70, 4870 around £20 - £25 more. Or if you really want to stick to £50, then a 4670 (or 4770) will do you just fine.

Rich44_2

Where are you getting your 4850's from cheapest i've seen is around £90

scratch that scan have one for £70 but no stock actually they dont have much stock of anything lol