Need a new graphics card

Zeon

So ive been playing a lot of starcraft 2 lately, and ive come to realise i "need" a new video card. Right now ive got an ATI 4670, and its ok, it runs SC2 well, but its loud. Its not supposed to be though, i bought it mainly because all the reviews talked about how quiet it was. I got it open box, and it looked like the box was kicked down the stairs and left out in the rain for a few days, but it was like 35 dollars when this card first came out, so it was a killer deal. It works ok as a graphics card, but the fan has always been garbage, forcing me to manually control the fans and leave the side of my case off, and the breaking point was when my roommate came home and asked "Hey, are you vacuuming?" in all seriousness.

So basically, i want a new ATI card, not too expensive (hopefully under 150 bucks), preferably able to run games as medium to high settings at 1900x1200 (because im also looking for a new monitor...). I tried looking at toms hardware but that site is basically unnavigatable now, and once i found the charts i couldnt figure out wtf they mean.

So someone, just tell me, whats the best, most reasonably priced ATI card at the moment?

fightinfilipino

any particular reason you're not considering nVidia cards?

Sir Headless VII

This is the page you were looking for at toms hardware

Zeon

I dunno, i just always liked ATI cards better. Always owned them, only had problems with the really, really early ones (Like, back in 1998 or so?). Other than that, smooth sailing until this fan problem.

And thanks, that was the page i was looking for! So after reading it, is there a compelling reason to go for the 5770 over the 4870 if im not going to be running 3 monitors? If one is significantly quieter, that would be compelling for me as my PC is about 2 feet away from my bed and i leave it on overnight for music. Or if DX11 is poised to become an absolutely must have feature (i havent really been following PC gaming lately). Otherwise, i think i know what card im gonna go try and find this weekend.

theclam

If you are getting a new card because your current one is too loud, then you should probably just change the fan on your current card, rather than buying an entirely new card. Anything you get that's better than a 4670 is probably going to be just as loud.

fightinfilipino

actually, the new GeForce GTX 460 cards are fast, quiet, and (relatively) moderately priced!

but seriously tho, consider the 460s as an option, even tho they're not Radeons.

Zeon

theclam wrote: »

If you are getting a new card because your current one is too loud, then you should probably just change the fan on your current card, rather than buying an entirely new card. Anything you get that's better than a 4670 is probably going to be just as loud.

I looked into that. Its not replacable as far as i can tell. Its a Sapphire version, the fan is pretty well built into the shroud. The money id spend replacing the entire set up would probably be like half the price of a decent new card, or more.

And the 4670s are generally quiet, as far as any review has ever mentioned (theyre recommended for HTPCs), i think mine is just broken. I was not exadgerating at all when i said my roommate asked me if i was vaccuuming. It is the loudest card in ALL circumstances that ive ever had (it makes noise at complete idle, 50 degress and 35% fan speed, according to CCC) So i think any card i get will most likely be quieter.

Plus its a good reason to upgrade.

Barrakketh

Zeon wrote: »

ISo after reading it, is there a compelling reason to go for the 5770 over the 4870 if im not going to be running 3 monitors? If one is significantly quieter, that would be compelling for me as my PC is about 2 feet away from my bed and i leave it on overnight for music. Or if DX11 is poised to become an absolutely must have feature (i havent really been following PC gaming lately). Otherwise, i think i know what card im gonna go try and find this weekend.

The 5770 should be quiter and will run cooler and use less power (those all tie in together) than the 4870.

Dehumanized

To give a good recommendation we probably need to know a bit about your power supply.

Lykouragh

DX11 isn't going to be absolutely necessary, but it will be supported in most games, and some games will require it. I would probably go 5770.

I have a buddy who claims that antialiasing doesn't work right on some of the new ATI cards in SC2 though. Totally anecdotal, mind you.

Zeon

Power supply is fine, it can handle any new card.

I think i am going to go with the 5770, only because i can get it tomorrow for like 140 bucks, where as the only place in town with the 4870 in stock wants 224 dollars for it... The fact the 5770 uses less power and should run quieter is only a bonus at this point.

I heard about the ATI cards not working well in SC2 as well, but it seems (and has been acknowledged by blizzard) that its only when youre using them in crossfire. I wont be using crossfire in the foreseeable future.

Sir Headless VII

Lykouragh wrote: »

I have a buddy who claims that antialiasing doesn't work right on some of the new ATI cards in SC2 though. Totally anecdotal, mind you.

I also don't have an ATI card so my information may be wrong but I was under the impression ATI released new drivers to address that.