Hey everyone, so basically I want to upgrade my graphics card for sc2. I get like 25 - 40 FPS most of the time right now, and I don't want to sacrifice my graphics ingame. Basically what I'm looking for is a pwn graphics card that will get me highest settings and run very good FPS (not this low 25- 40 crap, more like 70 - 80 if possible). My budget is about $400

Here are my current settings:
[image loading]

Djzapz

Canada10681 Posts

July 08 2010 06:50 GMT

With your budget, you could get one of these. They're both sort of equivalent although at its current price I would argue that the GTX 470 is probably a better choice. I would pick any of those two models (HD5850 or GTX470) from any manufacturer you like. XFX and Zotac offer lifetime warranties.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150491&cm_re=5850-_-14-150-491-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500157&cm_re=zotac_gtx_470-_-14-500-157-_-Product

nineninja9

United States194 Posts

July 08 2010 06:50 GMT

I was under the impression that a 4870 could run SC2 just fine.

That being said, look into the 5850, 5870, and 470.

FragKrag

United States11552 Posts

July 08 2010 06:51 GMT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121370

Both 5850s work. The second is better for overclocking

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261073

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130550

GTX 470 for a bit better performance, but more heat, noise, and power consumption.

semantics

10040 Posts

July 08 2010 06:52 GMT

5850 or 470 is more then enough even at 1920x1080.

If it's less then that resolution a 5770 can do the trick pretty well.

On July 08 2010 15:50 nineninja9 wrote:
I was under the impression that a 4870 could run SC2 just fine.

That being said, look into the 5850, 5870, and 470.

he has the 512mb version which suffers if you increase the resolution i'm guessing his 22" is a 1920x1080/1200 so it could be sufferin

Subversion

South Africa3627 Posts

July 08 2010 06:53 GMT

best option by far for 400 bucks is this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150490&cm_re=radeon_5870-_-14-150-490-_-Product

Radeon 5870. Won't do better for that price.

mahnini

United States6862 Posts

July 08 2010 06:55 GMT

5770/4890/5830 should be plenty if you're running at 1680x1050 otherwise 5850/gtx470

oh post processing. i'm not sure but you'd probably be better off with the 5850/470 in that case.

Raydog

United States632 Posts

July 08 2010 06:58 GMT

oh yeah forgot to mention I won't be overclocking, I have nothing overclocked on this rig.

Also my resolution is 1680 x 1050

sorry that I didn't mention those in OP

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

July 08 2010 06:59 GMT

My 5770 runs everything beautifully, except I get small lag spikes when I move my screen while my texture quality is on Ultra. Perfect when it's on high though.

semantics

10040 Posts

July 08 2010 07:06 GMT

#10

at 1680x1050 you should be able to get away with a 5770 pretty dam well. 5770 tends to get drops in mid 20's at 1920 but from benches i've seen and done myself 5770 is pretty solid at 1650 if you're looking to save money.

else 5830/465(wouldn't get these poor performance/price)

5850/470 sure fire way to get +60fps

mahnini

United States6862 Posts

July 08 2010 07:14 GMT

#11

yeah, the more i think about it the more i think a 5770 should be able to handle it fine actually.

FragKrag

United States11552 Posts

July 08 2010 07:16 GMT

#12

You should wait until July 12th to see if the Nvidia GTX 460 is worth getting.

Raydog

United States632 Posts

July 08 2010 07:37 GMT

#13

On July 08 2010 16:06 semantics wrote:
at 1680x1050 you should be able to get away with a 5770 pretty dam well. 5770 tends to get drops in mid 20's at 1920 but from benches i've seen and done myself 5770 is pretty solid at 1650 if you're looking to save money.

else 5830/465(wouldn't get these poor performance/price)

5850/470 sure fire way to get +60fps

by 5850/470 you mean these? (The post by FragKrag)
+ Show Spoiler +

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121370
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261073
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130550

that 4th one seems pretty beastly, the EVGA one.

also whats the difference between pci express 2.1 and 2.0 slots? does it change anything or can a 2.1 fit in 2.0 and vice versa?

and maybe a link or two to a recommended 5770?

Also gotta remember if the card will fit in my case or not. My current one barely fits in there

Spiffeh

United States830 Posts

July 08 2010 07:38 GMT

#14

I'd definitely go with a 5850 just for the value. You can easily overclock it to run past the performance of a 5870.

There's one on ebay and you can find used ones on newegg sometimes.

FragKrag

United States11552 Posts

July 08 2010 07:43 GMT

#15

2.1 vs 2.0 is some small firmware change if I remember correctly. They will fit perfectly fine.

As for 5770, just get a cheap one if you aren't planning to overclock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363
3 year warranty should be ok

XFX has longer warranties though.

freshiie22

Canada132 Posts

July 08 2010 08:50 GMT

#16

On July 08 2010 15:44 Raydog wrote:
Hey everyone, so basically I want to upgrade my graphics card for sc2. I get like 25 - 40 FPS most of the time right now, and I don't want to sacrifice my graphics ingame. Basically what I'm looking for is a pwn graphics card that will get me highest settings and run very good FPS (not this low 25- 40 crap, more like 70 - 80 if possible). My budget is about $400

Here are my current settings:
[image loading]

so when you upgrade what you plane to do with old card, cuz i get lousy framrates off my 7600GT blehh,

Aberu

United States968 Posts

July 08 2010 09:02 GMT

#17

On July 08 2010 15:50 nineninja9 wrote:
I was under the impression that a 4870 could run SC2 just fine.

That being said, look into the 5850, 5870, and 470.

I have a 4870, I run it just fine, I'm only held back by my budget priced 60 dollar 2 year old processor, but I still get around 30-50 FPS on ultra all the way at 1280x720 no AA.

Technically his setting is much better than mine, he just may need to optimize certain things, turn off the AA, save your money, and put it towards a whole new computer later.

ffswowsucks

Greece2294 Posts

July 08 2010 09:05 GMT

#18

when the ATi 5870 first released in my country I bought it for 350euro, now the same card costs after 1 year 480euro. I mean I would never recommend to a friend right now seeing this is a rip off to buy such a card. 480e for a gfx is way too much, if you can find some better prices through the internet go for it.

Random()

Kyrgyz Republic1462 Posts

July 08 2010 11:12 GMT

#19

ATi 5850 or if you want to save money 5770 (it will run SC2 perfectly on high)

Don't bother with the new nVidia cards (470-480), they are unjustifiably power hungry, noisy, and heat up to 100C.

Boblion

France8043 Posts

July 08 2010 11:23 GMT

#20

He has a 4870... Why people tell him to buy a 5770 ?
Even the 1Gb version is barely more performant.

-> 5850 or higher. Buying a 5830/4890/5770 doesn't make sense when you have already a 4870.