Budget gaming card ~$50...

H

Hercules

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 5, 2004
Messages
151
I wanted to add a card into my work PC so I can game with a few others at work... some have invested a few bucks more than I want to spend, but we all keep it less than $100. Any ideas for what I can spring for that is relatively cheap and does a decent job for WOW, CS:S, Starcraft and QuakeLive?

I'm running an X1300 right now, and QuakeLive is basically a slideshow.

That said -- the card needs to run with no modification on an HP business class machine. We have PCI-E slots, but that's about it.

Thanks!

EDIT: I don't mind buying used!
 
With no PCIe power connections you will be very limited in your selection. I would recommend a used 8800GT, but that requires additional power through a PEG 6-pin power plug. Maybe a Galaxy 9600GT/9800GT low power edition?
 
Mr. Bluntman said:
With no PCIe power connections you will be very limited in your selection. I would recommend a used 8800GT, but that requires additional power through a PEG 6-pin power plug. Maybe a Galaxy 9600GT/9800GT low power edition?
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You won't find a low power edition for under 100. 9600gt is a good option, but those business class GPUs are meant to handle whats in the case when it ships and thats about it.

My money would go to a 4650.
 
lloose said:
You won't find a low power edition for under 100. 9600gt is a good option, but those business class GPUs are meant to handle whats in the case when it ships and thats about it.

My money would go to a 4650.
Click to expand...

Which is a really lackluster card, TBH. I also forgot about the GT 240, which will not need auxillary power, is just under $100, and is comparable to the 9600GT. That doesn't mean the GT 240 is a "best bang for your buck" option, though.
 
Another 9600GT vote here. I've sold a couple of them lately for around $50-60 too. I imagined you can find one similarly priced in the FS forum. They're great cards for the money. Decently quick, quieter and lower power than the 8800GT, (while performing just under.) I ran a pair of them in SLI for a while in a 3rd or 4th gaming box for when I had a few people over, and they were running off of an Antec Earthwatts 380 supply just fine with Core 2 Duo, 1 HDD, and optical drive. Not too bad at all.
 
A used 9800GTX, 8800GT,8800GTS 512, which are all the same, whatevers cheaper 9800GTX being fastest.
 
Did a bunch of research on this just today trying to sneak a cheap, decent-performing card into my boss's budget that would still work safely with a stock Dell 300w psu. This BFG 220 is the card you want:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143210

Why:

BFG--Quality brand with lifetime warranty and 24/7, US-based tech support

$49.99 after MIR and free shipping

No aux. power connector, listed as requiring 300 watt PSU (only the lesser 210 series can match this low of a psu requirement)

128-bit memory interface

48 stream processors, compared to 32 for the 9500 GT and less for everything else (9400, 8500, 8400, 210, etc. etc.) Note: For ATi cards, divide the number of stream processors listed by 5 to get the equivalent number of nVidia stream processors in terms of gaming performance.

As for all midrange nVidia 8-9 series and ATi 4-series cards, check the power specs, the minimum recommendations are simply too high for the PSUs that come in bulk OEM workplace machines, whether or not you can use adapters to add the proper power connector.

And it nails your target price on the head. Perfect match for your needs if you ask me.
 
Commander Suzdal said:
Did a bunch of research on this just today trying to sneak a cheap, decent-performing card into my boss's budget that would still work safely with a stock Dell 300w psu. This BFG 220 is the card you want:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143210

Why:

BFG--Quality brand with lifetime warranty and 24/7, US-based tech support

$49.99 after MIR and free shipping

No aux. power connector, listed as requiring 300 watt PSU (only the lesser 210 series can match this low of a psu requirement)

128-bit memory interface

48 stream processors, compared to 32 for the 9500 GT and less for everything else (9400, 8500, 8400, 210, etc. etc.) Note: For ATi cards, divide the number of stream processors listed by 5 to get the equivalent number of nVidia stream processors in terms of gaming performance.

As for all midrange nVidia 8-9 series and ATi 4-series cards, check the power specs, the minimum recommendations are simply too high for the PSUs that come in bulk OEM workplace machines, whether or not you can use adapters to add the proper power connector.

And it nails your target price on the head. Perfect match for your needs if you ask me.
Click to expand...
This seems to be the right bet... I'm going with it, provided I can find it elsewhere as Newegg charges me tax :(

EDIT: Even with the tax, Newegg is by far the cheapest. Thanks a lot!
 
I have just ran into the same thing for a coworkers PC, no extra molex's and PCI-e. Ended up with a Zotac 9800GT with no external power adapter required. Runs perfect for TF2, source, wow, etc..........
$100 shipped on newegg
I would just pony up the other $50 over any 9500-9600gt setup to get that 9800gt. It has 256bit memory interface over the shoot your self in the face 128bit junk. Might as well get a 6800GT if your going to jump on a 128bit video card its that bad. ( I LOVED ALL 5 6800's I have had so no hatin on the old school cards :D)
 
By the way this card has 112 pixel shaders and 512mb DDR3 v-ram so it will definitly bend over a 9600/9500/220/240
 
Mr. Bluntman said:
Which is a really lackluster card, TBH. I also forgot about the GT 240, which will not need auxillary power, is just under $100, and is comparable to the 9600GT. That doesn't mean the GT 240 is a "best bang for your buck" option, though.
Click to expand...

Why is the 4650 a lackluster card? Just asking.
 
Koko56 said:
I see. Does it have much impact on the performance though?
Click to expand...
in most games no but the 4670 is already borderline acceptable in some demanding games already. usually the 4670 can be found for the same price as the 4650 so theres no reason to consider it in most cases.
 
I see, thanks. Though quite a few games out today are similar-ish in demands.
 
Yes, there are a lot of good price/performance options in the sub-$100 market, almost too many if you overthink it. But the big gotcha to watch out for when installing the card in a business-class system is the power requirement vs. the stock PSU in the machine. Check those minimum specs!

A retired friend of mine wanted the simplicity of a mass-market system from a local chain store, but he also wanted to play Flight Simulator 10 on it. We got him a nice "low-power" 9800GT, but it still required buying a better PSU to ensure that he had a margin of safety in terms of power draw. That was a viable solution at a price he was happy with, but it was his machine--most organizations frown on their users voiding their service contracts by swapping in a better PSU, especially if it's so they can play games at work. ;)
 
I'm upgrading my main box with a new board/CPU. Figured I should bump the gfx a little while I did it. I don't game on it much these days, besides Dragon Age. Took me about an hour of research to figure out what to get. Didn't want to spend much.

I wanted to upgrade my x1950xtx. Ended up with a Gigabyte hd4670 for $79 - $10 rebate card - $15 combo discount with my new MB. (I see it's now $69 - $10 on now, grrr). Seemed like the best bang/buck on the cheap end, at about $60.
 
Mr. Bluntman said:
With no PCIe power connections you will be very limited in your selection. I would recommend a used 8800GT, but that requires additional power through a PEG 6-pin power plug. Maybe a Galaxy 9600GT/9800GT low power edition?
Click to expand...

I also recommend a used 8800gt. I have one that I am replacing but it has lasted me well for the last couple years.
 
I am wondering what your coworkers are running if they are spending close to a $100 on their cards. I would assume these computer have PSUs without a lot of headroom. I still think a GT240 picked up from ebay is a great deal. No external connectors, and I have seen them on ebay for $65. Might be to power hungry, but a better option than an 8800GT as far as power consumption goes.
 
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