Looking for a budget card

M

Misfate

Weaksauce
Joined
Oct 2, 2008
Messages
107
Specifications
C2D E7400 2.8Ghz
2 GB of RAM @ 800 Mhz
Gigabyte motherboard with 1 PCI-E 16x slot with intel x3100 GMA
350w PSU that came with this Foxconn chassis - Can't upgrade this due to budget

My budget is $100 (With tax)
Looking to play non-graphics intensive games such as Age of Mythology, Age of Empires 3, Warcraft III, Guild Wars, World of Warcraft, TF2 (None of that Fallout 3, Crysis, etc.) on 1280 x 1024 resolution at max settings (no Anti-aliasing).

I might get a 9500 GT, 9600 GSO, 9600 GT, 4650, 4670, 4770; not sure which though.
 
4770 due to power draw concerns.

When overclocked, it has great potential.

If you find a deal then get the 4850. I don't see why you should bother with the 4830.

The 4870-512 is another option if you find a deal, but power-draw may be a concern.

If the nextgen is going to be delayed due to yield issues: They should phase out the 4850/4830 and release a 4790 with the full 800 stream processors. Then update the 4890 to a 40nm 4890XT. - however if there are yield issues then that plan may be counter-intuitive... heh
 
4670 is his best choice because it does not require any additional 6 pin PCI-E power connector. Also, his Foxconn Chassis 350 PSU is probably a generic PSU with low amperage on the +12V rail. I would say it's 20A or less on the + 12V. I wouldn't install a 4770/4830/4850 video card with that PSU. Besides, the 4670 video card will already give him a huge gain in 3D performance vs Intel X3100 GMA graphics.
 
What about one of those 9600gso's for 30ish? That's a KILLER card for little dough.
 
Yup, plus the 9600GSO requires an additional 6 pin PCI-E power cable and it's older technology. The Radeon HD 4670 supports DX 10.1 and Shader Model 4.1. 9600GSO supports DX 10.0 and Shader Model 4.0
 
Edit: You could probably take a 4770 over a 4670...but not beyond a 4770...how many amps on the 12v rail?
image030.png
 
Last edited:
I think I'll go with Jeffredo's low-power 9600 GT or go with a 4670 over a 4770 due to PSU worries.

Thanks for the help.
 
Nice find on the low power 9600GT. This or the Radeon 4670 will do it. I did not mention a 4770 because I don't see it really being cheap at under $100. OP wants the video card for $100 w/tax included. So... the Radeon HD 4670 or the 9600GT that Jeffredo listed will do it.
 
HardwareGuru said:
Nice find on the low power 9600GT. This or the Radeon 4670 will do it. I did not mention a 4770 because I don't see it really being cheap at under $100. OP wants the video card for $100 w/tax included. So... the Radeon HD 4670 or the 9600GT that Jeffredo listed will do it.
Click to expand...

A guy in the WoW forums recently brought that to my attention. He link a review of the Galaxy low profile version and it was a bit faster than the HD 4670 (though slower than the stock 9600 GT with that lower clock and shader speed). Seems like Nvidia finally has a decent budget option for all the pre-built, low PS capacity boxes out there.
 
Yah, they needed to do that. The 9500GT is a low powered card and no additional PCI-E power cable needed. But, the 3D performance sucks though.
 
I wouldnt put a Galaxy gpu in my machine though you might want to find a better manufacturer. Im not being a snob or anything they just dont seem very popular and get ok to poor user reviews. eVGA has a version as well but, the 4670 has much more stream processors so you should be able to run higher aa/af settings.
 
hossdaddy said:
I wouldnt put a Galaxy gpu in my machine though you might want to find a better manufacturer. Im not being a snob or anything they just dont seem very popular and get ok to poor user reviews. eVGA has a version as well but, the 4670 has much more stream processors so you should be able to run higher aa/af settings.
Click to expand...

No, I linked a good deal on an EVGA for the O.P.. I was just saying I saw a review that used the Galaxy version (and it was considerable faster than the HD 4670 in every game but G.R.I.D.).
 
Another vote for the HD4670 because of low end powersupply included with case. And I wouldn't overclock your system with that powersupply unless you don't mind it failing/damage your system within 12 months.
 
Honestly is there a reason you dont spend 40-50 on a decent psu and get a cheap 50 dollar gpu and then you don't have to worry about the psu dying and taking your system with it, not sure on the quality of foxconn psus or who makes them. Then if you want to upgrade later on you can get whichever card you want without having to upgrade your psu as well.
Earthwatts 430w $55fs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006
His 4650 $40fs plus $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161262
total $95, not sure if you get charged tax, minus a ten dollar rebate, and the 4650 will play any game.
 
eastpetersen said:
Honestly is there a reason you dont spend 40-50 on a decent psu and get a cheap 50 dollar gpu and then you don't have to worry about the psu dying and taking your system with it, not sure on the quality of foxconn psus or who makes them. Then if you want to upgrade later on you can get whichever card you want without having to upgrade your psu as well.
Earthwatts 430w $55fs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006
His 4650 $40fs plus $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161262
total $95, not sure if you get charged tax, minus a ten dollar rebate, and the 4650 will play any game.
Click to expand...

This is advice the OP should consider.
 
Last edited:
I think I'll go with getting that Antec PSU and a 4650 for now.

I sent an email to Foxconn asking for the specifications of the PSU of my case and asking if it could support the low-power 9600 gt; if they don't respond, they probably don't know/know that it can't handle it. I've seen a picture of a Foxconn case with an Antec PSU in it and a review of various Foxconn cases saying that high-quality PSUs are put into the cases, but I don't trust that. :rolleyes:
 
Do you have the model of the foxconn case or a link to where you bought it, I'm sure someone could tell you whether the psu would fit.
 
Yeah a standard atx psu, like the antec, will fit fine. I wasn't sure if it was a standard case or small form factor from your original post. Definitely up the psu though, 350w is a bit light even with a good psu, and I would guess that the foxconn is at best mediocre, and for 55 bucks to upgrade it's not worth risking all of your other components.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top