Need advice for purchasing graphics card

[Tmt97]

I am looking to buy a graphics card to upgrade my computer, and I have about a 100$ budget for it.

 

I'm not what you would necessarily call a hardcore gamer. I don't really keep up with the latest new games or anything like that. I do spend a fair amount of time gaming, but I only play a select few games such as minecraft, Spore, the occasional MMO(STO,DCUO) and Sid Meiers Civilization 4 and 5. Other than gaming I do some 3D modeling in blender as a hobby.

 

I honestly have no idea what kind of graphics card I need for this since I don't really fit in the category of a hardcore gamer, but I definitely need something better that what I have now.(Its some card I took from an old computer my neighbor threw out, I figured it was atleast better than onboard graphics.) I also have a 40$ budget to buy an SSD for a boot drive, but I could spend some of that on the graphics card if you guys think its worth it for my needs.

 

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

edit: Just fyi I have a 400 watt power supply in case that helps...

[OSBK]

3D rendering = Nvidia GPU  http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx750tioc2gd5

[OSBK]

3D rendering = Nvidia GPU  http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx750tioc2gd5

that's the cheapest one i could found

[ApolloX75]

A simple R7 250 or even an older GTX 650 would work fine. A $100 budget even in the US isn't easy to work with unfortunately.

A solid GTX 750 Ti is a good choice or an R7 260X.

[iamdarkbowser]

No graphics card will be able to play minecraft flawlessly but AMD cards seem to do better in minecraft. The Radeon HD 7970 would do well for $100 U.S

[Arc_Jester]

Try to get a 260X or get a 270/370 if you can save a bit more.

[Tmt97]

No graphics card will be able to play minecraft flawlessly but AMD cards seem to do better in minecraft. The Radeon HD 7970 would do well for $100 U.S

Yea, I didn't really expect this upgrade to effect minecraft much since its more reliant on processor power and ram, neither or which are very good in my system. I'll have to fix that next time I upgrade, for now I really would just settle for blender and civ 5 running moderately well.

[JimboJambo]

i would recomend GTX 750 ti because of the 3D modeling you do, here is zotac gtx 750 ti for 99 dollars

[GalacticRuler]

Try finding something used. You might be able to find an older but powerful GPU on Craigslist or eBay.

[JimboJambo]

i would recomend GTX 750 ti because of the 3D modeling you do, here is zotac gtx 750 ti for 99 dollars

You dont need any cables for it it is just plug in and go card and it barely uses electricity "400-watt power supply recommended 60-watt max power consumption".

[JimboJambo]

Many games you play are CPU intensive BTW, like civ 4 and 5, minecraft, MMO:s and even the rendering in 3D modelling. So mayby also look into your CPU.

[Tmt97]

Its there any advantage to buying the asus gtx 750 ti vs. the zotac geforce 750 ti(other than the price)? My PSU has a 6 pin connector so thats not a problem. Sorry, I'm a bit of a noob.

 

edit: 

Many games you play are CPU intensive BTW, like civ 4 and 5, minecraft, MMO:s and even the rendering in 3D modelling. So mayby also look into your CPU.

 

 

My current cpu is an old dual core 2.4ghz AMD. Do you think I should hold off on the graphics card/SSD and upgrade the cpu instead?

[iamdarkbowser]

Yea, I didn't really expect this upgrade to effect minecraft much since its more reliant on processor power and ram, neither or which are very good in my system. I'll have to fix that next time I upgrade, for now I really would just settle for blender and civ 5 running moderately well.

Well the 7970 would likely work, I am selling one.

[Tmt97]

Well the 7970 would likely work, I am selling one.

Well if your selling it for 100$ i'd consider it.

[A10-FTW]

R7 250

[Tmt97]

R7 250

Would that be better than the 7970? Your large font makes you seem very sure of this assertion.

[JimboJambo]

you can check gpu benchmarks here, yeah 7970 would be alot better than 750 ti.

 

7970 score: 5200

gtx 750 ti score: 3700

[Arc_Jester]

Would that be better than the 7970? Your large font makes you seem very sure of this assertion.

No, the 250 is very weak on it's own ( well below a 7970 in performance). The 250 is best used in dual graphics mode with an APU.

[Tmt97]

Yea, I'm leaning towards the 7970 if lamdarkbowser decides to sell it to me. On a side note, do you guys think its worth it to spend an extra 40$ on a SSD for faster boot time?, or should I just stick with my current hard drive and spend an extra 40$ on the graphics card? Or maybe forgo both and just spend all 140$ on a new cpu? I'm a bit of a noob, and now i'm starting to question what is the actual best use of my money...

[A10-FTW]

Would that be better than the 7970? Your large font makes you seem very sure of this assertion.

"100$" + 400w psu = R7 250

 

more than 100$ + new psu = 7970

[Tmt97]

"100$" + 400w psu = R7 250

 

more than 100$ + new psu = 7970

I have a second 200 watt psu that I scrapped from another computer. I've tested it and it works fine, so maybe I could just have that one dedicated to the 7970?

[A10-FTW]

I have a second 200 watt psu that I scrapped from another computer.

I've tested it and it works fine, so maybe I could just have that one dedicated to the 7970?

 

7970 is a great (awesome) card friend

 

but she need a "nice" psu (i don't say huge psu, i say nice psu)

 

this will help you to see the full picture

 

http://powersupplycalculator.net/

[Tmt97]

7970 is a great (awesome) card friend

 

but she need a "nice" psu (i don't say huge psu, i say nice psu)

 

this will help you to see the full picture

 

http://powersupplycalculator.net/

Thanks for the link. I filled out the form with my computers current specs plus the 7970. It looks like I would be well within the combined 600watts from the two power supplies, unless I filled it out wrong. I'm guessing its because the rest of my components are so bad that theres plenty of power left over for one good component maybe...

[A10-FTW]

Thanks for the link. I filled out the form with my computers current specs plus the 7970. It looks like I would be well within the combined 600watts from the two power supplies, unless I filled it out wrong. I'm guessing its because the rest of my components are so bad that theres plenty of power left over for one good component maybe...

 

yes, you need a 600w psu (i recommend you a 650w)

 

but... not two normal psu

 

you need "one" nice psu

 

how pick a "nice" psu ?

 

good marks psu are nice psu

 

nice psu have "at least" on the +12v 20w

[Tmt97]

Think I could get a "nice" psu for 40$? Unfortunately thats all I have in my budget... 100$ for the graphics card and an extra 40$ for either the boot drive I wanted to get or a psu for the graphics card. Otherwise I'm at a dead end...