Thread: Need a new GPU

So I have a 5770, I've had it for a couple years now, and I think it's finally dying, I'm having an overheating problem(it gets so hot it shuts off, I can't really play games for any length of time), and yesterday I started getting artifacting. It's my birthday coming up in August, and that might be my only chance to get a new card, what are some budget options you guys would recommend for me to look into?

I installed a GTX 650 ti Boost in the rig i just built, dont have any complaints on it yet, and it handles pretty much everything i throw at it. Going for 179 at neweeg right now.

Not sure how budget is budget, but I recently bought a GTX 650ti for a little mini-rig project I was working on and I've been really impressed with the performance for such a little gpu.

Geforce GTX 650ti it'll run you about $150 most places
EVGA SSC 01G-P4-3652-KR GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Newegg.com

and for only $10 more...is the same card with 2GB onboard memory instead of 1GB. This is the one I got and I've been really happy. For only $10 more, that's a fantastic price.
EVGA SSC 02G-P4-3653-KR GeForce GTX 650 Ti 2GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Newegg.com

For another $10-20 more, you can upgrade to the superclocked version of the 2GB card. This one will have better performance but doesn't come in the sweet little form-factor. But it's a great mid-range card for only $179.
Newegg.com - EVGA 02G-P4-3658-KR GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST SuperClocked 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card

I don't typically keep up with AMD cards so I'm not too sure of what the performance equivalent cards would be, but if you're willing to go with NVidia, You'll probably be pretty happy with one of these.

Edit: LOL, guess Duddy had the same idea while I was writing this

I've been running a 5850 since they were released and it still handles everything I play but if BF4 turns out worth a shit I'll probably move up to this Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-N770OC-2GD GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 HDCP Ready Video Card not exactly budget atm but in a few months I suspect the price will be right.

"Budget" in my opinion is any card under $200, but that's my own. But, if you want a recommendation from me, you can either look at a 2GB HD7850 right around the $200 mark, its competitor the GTX 660 also at $200, a 1GB HD7850 around $170, or the GTX 650Ti Boost for around $150.

I know the prices on Newegg don't match right now, but those prices are where they normally are aside from sales.

Both 7850s will have a fair amount of grunt, enough to match the 660 except in games that are optimized for Nvidia (ie. EA games, Source engine games), and the 1GB version is acceptable for a lot of purposes.

The 650Ti Boost is a pared down version of the 660: it gets slightly less performance, but runs a little hotter than the 660 to make up for fewer transistors.

I just can't recommend even the 2GB 650Ti's when the Boost version is just so much better.

But as an honorable mention, there's the HD7790. It's the same price as the 650Ti Boost (~$150), but doesn't perform as well. On the other hand, its efficiency is magnificent and stays very cool and very quiet even on AMD's stock coolers. If that's what you're going for.

Edit: Here's a quick hierarchy for reference
2GB 7850 = GTX 660
1GB 7850
650 Ti Boost (higher with Nvidia optimized games than 7850)
HD7790 = 650 Ti (non Boost)

For mid range cards, the pecking order is AMD 7850 -> GTX 660 -> AMD 7870 -> GTX660ti. The price of the cards also moves in this same order.

AMD is offering some great games if you go with the 7850 or 7870 cards with their "Never Settle" bundle. I have a GTX 660 in the HTPC in my living room and it plays games on 1080p just fine (Tomb Raider, Need For Speed: Most Wanted, Dirt Showdown, Arkham City, DMC, etc). At the $200 price point, it is pretty hard to beat, but if you throw in the free games being offered by upping to the 7870, it might be worth stepping up.

That being said, I was originally looking at a 650ti for a low power consumption gaming card, but everything was telling me I would be happier, as a gammer, by going with the more power hungry 660. I think I made a good choice, but I am sure the 650 is a step up from the 5770.