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What is a good GPU for 200 dollars or less?

TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321
in Hardware

I have an Nvidia GTX 660 2gb but I think one of the video rams is bad or card is going out, because in WoW I get 30 FPS on average. And then my GPU dies after a certain amount of video ram is used. But that isn't the only issue...no matter how I (properly) uninstall drivers, get old drivers, get new drivers...the GPU drivers crash and then recovers. But then there is TONS of artifacts, colored lines everywhere, textures missing. And WoW isn't only game to do that. It isn't a heating issue either, because it can be cold with a fan blowing in...doesn't matter. No dust at all as I completely dusted it.

 

So, I'm just going buy a new GPU. I get complete FPS drop from 30 to 20 after drivers crash.

 

My card is under warranty, but they want 50 dollar proccessing fee...so what a huge complete rip off. My card isn't worth 50 dollars, so I'm just buying a new one. Nvidia has to have the worst customer service I've ever seen...FIFTY DOLLARS UNDER WARRANTY! RIP OFF

 

Kinda ticked, so I'll just move past that.

 

I was linked

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202049&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=12087162&PID=7596603&SID=skim66557X1509351X62d3babe5857eb2f70108a552c8eba75&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-Skimlinks

 

Which looks good. Is that a good upgrade to my GTX 660? I know 200 dollars is a tight budget to upgrade an 660 GTX 2gb. If I had the extra money...

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150697&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=12087162&PID=7596603&SID=skim66557X1509351X664439acaec2ff42c5ac94ae03912f3e&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-Skimlinks

 

Looks like a huge upgrade. But that might be beyond my budget, unless there is rebates out there that lower it to 250 or so?

Any other good cards to look for?

My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



Comments

  • TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321

    Thanks :)

     

    I should add, my main issue is actually also wanting more video ram. 960 looks good, but my Skyrim setup and also my tech demo I got of Witcher 3 (amazing game, glad I have a friend who works for them)...both require more than 2gb to play well.

     

    I want to play Witcher 3 on decent settings.

     

    My current GTX 660 can not play Skyrim at 60 fps, it can't even play it at 30 FPS. Witcher 3 only played at 15-20 FPS on LOW SETTINGS. I was told it was a lack of video ram AND not as good of a card.

     

    I do have a 600 wat power supply, so any GPU needs to be able to run on 600 watz as I can't afford a new GPU and a PSU at same time.

     

    As for Skyrim. Even with HD texture mod and no mods at all, it still is pretty well known to need AT LEAST 3 gb of video ram otherwise it starts loading from regular ram which slows it down a lot. And witcher 3 just needs 4gb to play decently lol

    My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

    https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



  • TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321
    I might just go for the

    XFX Double Dissipation

     

    that is in my 2nd link. The 960 I doubt I'd get much out of, and I'd already be out of date really quick.

     

    Can the XFX though run on a 600 power supply without any issue?

     

    And...is there any better alternatives?

     

    I guess maybe 200 dollar budget doesn't help at all if I want an upgrade for future gaming. I might just have to save up and live with my dying card till I get a bit extra cash.

    My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

    https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



  • TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321

    Thanks :) And on amazon its only 200 dollars! That looks like a great card, and a huge upgrade to mine at the same time.

     

    I'll probably actually get it at Frys Electronics, just because they match internet prices and also its VASTLY easier to take stuff back.

     

    Thanks again. :)

    My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

    https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



  • RidelynnRidelynn Member EpicPosts: 7,383

    A small slightly related comment:

    Amazon returns - I think the last few times I've returned stuff to Amazon they have paid shipping ~and~ scheduled doorside pickup. I just had to click a "return" link on the order status page.

    Newegg returns - Painless to get an RMA (click Return on order status, similar to Amazon), but I did have to pay return shipping and drop it off at UPS.

    Now if that beats going back to Frys and standing in the Customer Service line, I dunno - I hate returning stuff at the store but I am kinda funny like that. Amazon, I think they only way they could make it easier is if they had a drone come and repack the item for you and take it off.

  • TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321
    Well, I can replace my current GPU for free. But, it take a few weeks to get it back. To do an advanced RMA to get it a lot quicker, costs 50 dollars according to customer support.

    My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

    https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



  • QuizzicalQuizzical Member LegendaryPosts: 25,355

    So you see why warranties after the RMA period ends are worth less than a lot of people seem to think.  I would RMA your card even if you buy a replacement, though, as having a spare card that works can have uses, or you can sell it once you get the replacement.

    If you want to stay inside a $200 budget, this is the way to do it with adaptive sync support:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131595

    If you don't care about that, there's this:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150678

    But it doesn't take that much more money to get something considerably faster:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161459

    Any of those will be fine on a good quality 600 W power supply.  No modern GPU will be fine on a bad quality 600 W power supply.  Exactly what power supply do you have, anyway?  Give the exact brand name and model, not just the nominal wattage.

  • PrecusorPrecusor Member UncommonPosts: 3,589

    If your going to get a 960 be sure to grab EVGA SSC version.

    http://www.evga.com/articles/00895/EVGA-GeForce-GTX-960/

  • herculeshercules Member UncommonPosts: 4,924

    280x  like 10% faster but power hog and about 20% more expensive then 960.

    i have 280x  great card and had it since it launched  so no 960 then.

    personally i get the 960

  • HikaruShidouHikaruShidou Member UncommonPosts: 163

    I just bought this one yesterday.

    XFX Double D R9-280A-TDFD Radeon R9 280 3GB 384-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Video Card

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150706&cm_re=r9_280-_-14-150-706-_-Product

    It's 199.99 with 10% off promo code (expires tomorrow 19th) which takes off $20. Then it also has a $30 rebate card. So at the end, it's $149.99 for a R9 280

  • QuizzicalQuizzical Member LegendaryPosts: 25,355
    Originally posted by Precusor

    If your going to get a 960 be sure to grab EVGA SSC version.

    http://www.evga.com/articles/00895/EVGA-GeForce-GTX-960/

    Picking which particular SKU you're going to get without regard for the prices that day is crazy.  If two cards are nearly identical except that one costs $200 and the other $250, I'd prefer to get the $200 card over the $250 one.

  • TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321

    How is the Sapphire Radeon R9 280 ?

     

    I see it on sale for 160 or so dollars on amazon. And frys price matches on amazon (and I don't really like dealing with new egg, I like amazon because no shipping tax and then frys matches it so I can take it back easily. If I get it straight from amazon, its a lot harder to replace it if it doesn't work or I don't like it)

     

    But the sapphire one has a 20 dollar rebate, on top of the 180 or so dollars its going for...so that ends up being a lot less expensive.

     

    The other radeon one went up to close to 300 dollars last I looked. So I guess I missed out on that one.

     

    Though I notice price varies on amazon, look one hour and its a different price lol.

    My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

    https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



  • DullahanDullahan Member EpicPosts: 4,536
    Originally posted by Ridelynn

    A small slightly related comment:

    Amazon returns - I think the last few times I've returned stuff to Amazon they have paid shipping ~and~ scheduled doorside pickup. I just had to click a "return" link on the order status page.

    Newegg returns - Painless to get an RMA (click Return on order status, similar to Amazon), but I did have to pay return shipping and drop it off at UPS.

    Now if that beats going back to Frys and standing in the Customer Service line, I dunno - I hate returning stuff at the store but I am kinda funny like that. Amazon, I think they only way they could make it easier is if they had a drone come and repack the item for you and take it off.

    Not only do you have to pay for reshipping, but I've also had Newegg return my return to me claiming it was my fault it didn't work.  Newegg today is not the newegg of old.  I buy from Amazon now exclusively and its no surprise that they are actually able to provide better prices than Newegg which used to never happen.  Being a dick must of been bad for business.


  • TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321
    Originally posted by TheScavenger

    How is the Sapphire Radeon R9 280 ?

     

    I see it on sale for 160 or so dollars on amazon. And frys price matches on amazon (and I don't really like dealing with new egg, I like amazon because no shipping tax and then frys matches it so I can take it back easily. If I get it straight from amazon, its a lot harder to replace it if it doesn't work or I don't like it)

     

    But the sapphire one has a 20 dollar rebate, on top of the 180 or so dollars its going for...so that ends up being a lot less expensive.

     

    The other radeon one went up to close to 300 dollars last I looked. So I guess I missed out on that one.

     

    Though I notice price varies on amazon, look one hour and its a different price lol.

    I guess supposedly its a repacked version of a different card of an earlier version? Would this one still be an improvement to my 660GTX 2gb? Hard to find info on this sapphire one, but a lot of people look like they like it from what I read. Its a lot cheaper right now.

     

    But maybe price will change when I can buy it in the next week or two (hopefully sooner) and I end up going for another one :P amazon price changes so often lol.

     

    (edit)

     

    The HIS power one looks great. But for 4gb one is 300 dollars. So not good at all. But maybe when I'm fully ready to buy in the next week or two, it will go down in price

    My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

    https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



  • TheScavengerTheScavenger Member EpicPosts: 3,321

    My uncle is giving me his GTX 970 as he has two, but he said he'd give me one of them as he mostly moved to playing console games. Awesome :D

     

    A free higher end card :D Good thing to have family that is into gaming :P

    My Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starbound and WoW + other game mods at MODDB: 

    https://www.moddb.com/mods/skyrim-anime-overhaul



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