Gaming What graphics card should I get?

[Thanatos Telos]

Out of all of these, which is the best for just playing a few steam games/Prototype 2, coupled with an X4 processor?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0363818

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364500

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0363804

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0391185

If you have any alternatives, they have to be less than 50$ and in a retail store.

 

[Xoo00o0o0o]

First off I really don't see any of those playing prototype 2, I would see something like a GTX 550Ti playing it at a nice frame rate. I realize that the card is out of your price range, but the estimated requirements are these:

Minimum:

CPU: 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel or AMD processor
RAM: 1 GB system memory
Graphics: DirectX 9 compatible card with 512 MB RAM, Nvidia 200-series or Radeon 3000-series or better.
Operating system: Windows XP Service Pack 2
DirectX compatible sound card
12 GB of free hard disk space

Recommended:

CPU: 2.4 GHz Quad Core Intel or AMD processor
RAM: 2GB system memory
Graphics: DirectX 10 compatible 1 GB graphics card, Nvidia 400 series or AMD 5000 series or better.
Operating system: Windows 7
DirectX compatible sound card
12 GB of free hard disk space

Now I know they are very vauge but it also depends wether you care about the frames per second or fps. Imho you should wait until you can afford something a little better like the 550Ti I linked you.

Second of all, it depends what Steam games you want to play, One of those cards may reach the requirements of the games on steam although I don't see them playing Prototype 2.

If you have any questions, just ask in the thread/ PM me.

As jalaneme said, we will also need your PSU wattage, and full specs.

 

[jalaneme]

Out of all of these, which is the best for just playing a few steam games/Prototype 2, coupled with an X4 processor?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0363818

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364500

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0363804

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0391185

If you have any alternatives, they have to be less than 50$ and in a retail store.

what are your specs? what is your PSU? also you may get a better deal online like amazon or something?

 

[jalaneme]

you are best off getting this one if you are on a tight budget.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0363818

the HD 5450 is no good anymore with latest games, the HD 6450 is still decent enough depending on your specs, i've seen a few youtube vids with this card and it's ok.

 

[Originality]

Is there a reason (e.g. HP slimline case) why you're only looking at low profile passively cooled graphics cards? Or is it just the budget?

That would tell us a lot about what kind of system you're trying to play games on and what's your best upgrade path.

 

[Fishaman P]

X4's aren't really fit for playing modern games.

At the VERY LEAST you need an i3 and a Radeon HD 5670, but you'll want a modern i5 (or better) and either a Radeon HD (6/7)770 or GTX 550Ti, or better of course.

 

[yusuo]

Get all of them, then you can't go wrong, plus you can have a few monitors which is always nice

 

[Lanlan]

I'd say go for a 6670. It's a good card for the price I'd say. You can get em for less than 80 bucks, some come with a free Dirt 3 code or a rebate. Don't listen to the people saying you need a super expensive card, a game doesn't have to run at 60 frames per second on ultra in 1080p to be playable. I think it'll play Prototype 2 just fine with the cards you linked, but if you can go a little higher I think it'll be a much better investment.

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