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Best Inexpensive Video Card
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Cornwalace
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2011-09-27 23:26:34 UTC
I am looking at purchasing the necessary video card to allow me to get back into Eve without having to borrow someone else's computer that play's Eve. My computer does not have the Shader Model 3 requirements that Eve requires. Googling it just brought up old posts from thousands of different forums with the same Shader Model 3 question that had been asked years ago, making that hardware answer, possibly obselete today. If someone could point me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated.


Thank you.
Relicc
Hideaway Hunters
The Hideaway.
#2 - 2011-09-27 23:33:28 UTC  |  Edited by: Relicc
How much is inexpensive? You can get a Nvidia GT520 for around 50 dollars on Newegg.com.
Cornwalace
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#3 - 2011-09-27 23:35:01 UTC
Relicc wrote:
How much is inexpensive? I mean, you can get a Nvidia GT520 for around 50 dollars.


That's around what I was looking for. I just want the happy medium between price and necessity for the game. I don't wanna get a video card that's just about to get obselete, but, I'm not looking for some super-awesome video card that lets me see inside the window's of the ships.
Callic Veratar
#4 - 2011-09-28 15:44:43 UTC  |  Edited by: Callic Veratar
Depending on the age of your system, you're going to want to check the type of card you'll need. It's possible that you might still have an old AGP, instead of a PCI-E port.

If that's the case, you can still get AGP cards for ~$50. I'd recommend any of the GeForce 6200 card, since they're the best ones that're still available.

That being said, AGP *is* obsolete, so you might be better off saving up a few hundred dollars and getting a new low end system...
NeoShocker
The Dark Space Initiative
Scary Wormhole People
#5 - 2011-09-28 16:00:27 UTC  |  Edited by: NeoShocker
Callic Veratar wrote:
Depending on the age of your system, you're going to want to check the type of card you'll need. It's possible that you might still have an old AGP, instead of a PCI-E port.

If that's the case, you can still get AGP cards for ~$50. I'd recommend any of the GeForce 6200 card, since they're the best ones that're still available.

That being said, AGP *is* obsolete, so you might be better off saving up a few hundred dollars and getting a new low end system...


Agreed with what this guy said. Post like this belongs in OoPE btw. OP, it will help a lot if you post your current system specs, your actual price range you can spend on, etc. More details, the better we'll be able to help out. :-)
mechtech
Ice Liberation Army
#6 - 2011-09-28 18:17:30 UTC
AGP card: 4650 (best AGP card you can get?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125281

PCIE card: 6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161379

The 6750 is absolutely an amazing value or the price. It will max out eve, and will be sure to run whatever engine upgrades come to the game for some time to come.
Grimpak
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#7 - 2011-09-28 18:27:52 UTC  |  Edited by: Grimpak
mechtech wrote:
AGP card: 4650 (best AGP card you can get?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125281

PCIE card: 6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161379

The 6750 is absolutely an amazing value or the price. It will max out eve, and will be sure to run whatever engine upgrades come to the game for some time to come.



I would pick the 6770 instead the 6750. it's just a bit more expensive and well worth it.

sapphire does great cards. their vapor-X lineup is good too.

[img]http://eve-files.com/sig/grimpak[/img]

[quote]The more I know about humans, the more I love animals.[/quote] ain't that right
Orlacc
#8 - 2011-09-28 18:53:31 UTC  |  Edited by: Orlacc
For AGP I would recommend this if you can find one: HD3850


Tom's Hardware Comparison

"Measure Twice, Cut Once."
Cornwalace
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#9 - 2011-09-28 21:35:20 UTC
I decided on this. I'm unsure if it's a good choice or not, but, if I do find an alternative, I will definitely consider it.
Akita T
Caldari Navy Volunteer Task Force
#10 - 2011-09-28 23:31:30 UTC  |  Edited by: Akita T
Anyway, you might want to take a look at this first:
http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=1559734&page=1#7
That post in particular, but you might want to browse the entire thread before too.
It should give you an idea of the type of info you should add to your post so we can help you better.

Obviously, the table in that particular post is already slightly obsolete even if only about 2 months have passed, since prices change all the time, and new cards come up quite often - but you should have enough resources that would help you to recreate the same tables with current values.

...

The price/performance curve at any given time is usually quite close to exponential (not so much a graph as a scatter-plot, but you get the idea) - at very low prices, even a tiny bit of extra spent will get you a lot more performance, but as prices get higher, more and more cash buy you less and less power.
Also, when plotting the performance of cards of a certain price or the price of cards of a certain performance against time, that curve is also usually quite close to exponential.

Where exactly on any of those curves might be the "sweet spot", that differs from person to person, it's not an "universal truth".
Still, I would stay away both from very cheap and very expensive cards, try to pick something somewhere in the 70$-130$ region (or even a bit higher).

Akita T evewiki profile | | | Build your own EVE-ready PC
Cherry Nobyl
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#11 - 2011-09-28 23:36:54 UTC
Cornwalace wrote:
I decided on this. I'm unsure if it's a good choice or not, but, if I do find an alternative, I will definitely consider it.



without more information on the system you wish to apply it too, any back patting would be uninformed and unreasonable.

if you really want some help, tell us about your system. what are you putting this card into?
Akita T
Caldari Navy Volunteer Task Force
#12 - 2011-09-28 23:58:06 UTC  |  Edited by: Akita T
Cornwalace wrote:
I decided on this. I'm unsure if it's a good choice or not, but, if I do find an alternative, I will definitely consider it.

A Nvidia GT 520 should give you 35-40 FPS in space in a moderately busy undock grid for a single client at fullHD resolution and near-max graphic detail settings (everything on highest except AA which would be disabled) and about 10-15 FPS in CQ under similar conditions.

Obviously, lowering details (or display resolution) will improve FPS.
Disabling shadows gives the best overall performance boost, disabling post-processing (mainly bloom) will give the second-best performance boost, with minimal overall visual quality degradation.


The GT 520 costs about 50$ (give or take) for that "meh" performance of let's call it 38 FPS.
Alternatively, a GT 440 starting at about 80$ (*1.6 price) will give you roughly 86 FPS (~*2.2 FPS).
However, a 130$ GTX 550 Ti (*2.6 price vs 520 ; ~*1.6 vs 440) will offer you about 188 FPS (~*5 FPS vs 520 ; ~*2.1 vs 440).

Then again, the power needs are also radically different, so the latter cards will cost more in terms of electricity to operate (and if you do some heavy-duty gaming, that's not negligible, but at least it's spread out) and even maybe you will need a new power source to handle it (depends on the PSU you have now and what else you have in your machine).

So, you know... whatever floats your boat.

Akita T evewiki profile | | | Build your own EVE-ready PC
Mr Kidd
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#13 - 2011-09-29 00:45:26 UTC
Cornwalace wrote:
Relicc wrote:
How much is inexpensive? I mean, you can get a Nvidia GT520 for around 50 dollars.


That's around what I was looking for. I just want the happy medium between price and necessity for the game. I don't wanna get a video card that's just about to get obselete, but, I'm not looking for some super-awesome video card that lets me see inside the window's of the ships.


Then bump your budget to about $100 and you're golden.

Don't ban me, bro!
Grimpak
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#14 - 2011-09-29 01:48:24 UTC
Mr Kidd wrote:
Cornwalace wrote:
Relicc wrote:
How much is inexpensive? I mean, you can get a Nvidia GT520 for around 50 dollars.


That's around what I was looking for. I just want the happy medium between price and necessity for the game. I don't wanna get a video card that's just about to get obselete, but, I'm not looking for some super-awesome video card that lets me see inside the window's of the ships.


Then bump your budget to about $100 and you're golden.



indeed the 100$ bracket is full of great cards.

[img]http://eve-files.com/sig/grimpak[/img]

[quote]The more I know about humans, the more I love animals.[/quote] ain't that right
Cornwalace
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#15 - 2011-09-29 05:05:23 UTC
Akita T wrote:
Anyway, you might want to take a look at this first:
http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=1559734&page=1#7
That post in particular, but you might want to browse the entire thread before too.
It should give you an idea of the type of info you should add to your post so we can help you better.


Thank you. I've seen it before, and going over it again now. You've helped me alot with that guide in the past, and now.

Cherry Nobyl wrote:
Cornwalace wrote:
I decided on this. I'm unsure if it's a good choice or not, but, if I do find an alternative, I will definitely consider it.



without more information on the system you wish to apply it too, any back patting would be uninformed and unreasonable.

if you really want some help, tell us about your system. what are you putting this card into?


As far as specs for the computer I found a link to all the details - Here. The only significant change from the link is that I increased it to 2GB Ram about a year ago. I intend to build my own in the near future, but, I don't think this computer needs to be put to pasture just yet, although I fully intend to build a completely new one from scratch over the next few months.

If it's suggested that I simply get a better graphics card and aim for something approximately $100, or if the one I'm currently purchasing is too overpowered for my desktop, I will definitely return the one I linked earlier. I appreciate any further help.
Herping yourDerp
Tribal Liberation Force
Minmatar Republic
#16 - 2011-09-29 05:33:23 UTC
ATI 5770, 6770
Nvidia 550, 550TI, 560

IIRC the Nvidia 520 is terrible and i would avoid it at all cost..

your best bet in the end is to buy a new computer though
Cornwalace
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#17 - 2011-09-29 05:40:02 UTC
Herping yourDerp wrote:
ATI 5770, 6770
Nvidia 550, 550TI, 560

IIRC the Nvidia 520 is terrible and i would avoid it at all cost..

your best bet in the end is to buy a new computer though


I want this computer to allow me to take care of skill-training, marketing, dual-box if needed.

A new computer is in my future, but, until then, I want to be able to do those things.
Cherry Nobyl
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#18 - 2011-09-29 06:39:51 UTC
Cornwalace wrote:
Akita T wrote:
Anyway, you might want to take a look at this first:
http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=1559734&page=1#7
That post in particular, but you might want to browse the entire thread before too.
It should give you an idea of the type of info you should add to your post so we can help you better.


Thank you. I've seen it before, and going over it again now. You've helped me alot with that guide in the past, and now.

Cherry Nobyl wrote:
Cornwalace wrote:
I decided on this. I'm unsure if it's a good choice or not, but, if I do find an alternative, I will definitely consider it.



without more information on the system you wish to apply it too, any back patting would be uninformed and unreasonable.

if you really want some help, tell us about your system. what are you putting this card into?


As far as specs for the computer I found a link to all the details - Here. The only significant change from the link is that I increased it to 2GB Ram about a year ago. I intend to build my own in the near future, but, I don't think this computer needs to be put to pasture just yet, although I fully intend to build a completely new one from scratch over the next few months.

If it's suggested that I simply get a better graphics card and aim for something approximately $100, or if the one I'm currently purchasing is too overpowered for my desktop, I will definitely return the one I linked earlier. I appreciate any further help.


the thing that hits me is this : power supply -300 watts. on an o.e.m. machine like gateway, i wouldn't expect all that much from it either. you may find this to be a problem after installation, you may not.

rather than the 520, i'd suggest something like this : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121471
for only a few dollars more. a much heavier bang for the buck, that should still theoretically be in range for you.

/2 isk.
Ciar Meara
PIE Inc.
Khimi Harar
#19 - 2011-09-29 07:51:46 UTC  |  Edited by: Ciar Meara
If a new computer is in the works I'd go for the cheapest option and save the money for the final system.

It also bears considering that CCP and NVIDIA have a good relationship and that often NVIDIA cards run more smoothly then ATI's, sadly enough. I have an ATI myself (6970) which performs very well also with dual box on max settings, but if you buy a low end GPU I'd go for a NVIDIA to take advantage of this.

- [img]http://go-dl1.eve-files.com/media/corp/janus/ceosig.jpg[/img] [yellow]English only please. Zymurgist[/yellow]
tika te
Royal Amarr Institute
Amarr Empire
#20 - 2011-09-29 10:27:53 UTC  |  Edited by: tika te
consider:
-psu with only 300W output
-older chipset with pci-e 1.1 only (not really a problem here)

->
go for radeon HD 6750/ HD6670
or
geforce GT550Ti/ GT450
perhaps even a model with less power consuption.

be warned that the cards from this price segmet won't be able to handle newer games above resolutions of 1680x1050 well...


i'd say try to save some money for a up-to-date (low-end?) system rather than keeping a "half-dead" system alive...

ps. i'm not familiar with hardware prices in the US, jfyi...
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