Still using a 5850 - what is the best upgrade for around $100?

Admiral-Awesome

Admiral-Awesome

Weaksauce
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
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105
My 5850 is starting to sound like a jet engine even after being cleaned. I've had it since 2010 or so and I think it's about time for an upgrade. Money is a bit of an issue at the moment, so I'm looking for a second-hand card in the $100 sweet spot. Also, I have a 550 that I could buy a second of a SLI, but I've always been wary of using SLI on low-end cards.
 
I picked up a lightly used 280x (or at least well-cleaned!) for not much more than your $100 mark. The 770 is a bit more $$ for similar performance.

Stick with single cards, especially, especially at these price ranges. Newer cards with newer software may scale better (we'll see how DX12 plays), but buying a $100ish card to speculate on the future sounds, um, like a bad idea.
 
Derfnofred said:
I picked up a lightly used 280x (or at least well-cleaned!) for not much more than your $100 mark. The 770 is a bit more $$ for similar performance.

Stick with single cards, especially, especially at these price ranges. Newer cards with newer software may scale better (we'll see how DX12 plays), but buying a $100ish card to speculate on the future sounds, um, like a bad idea.
Click to expand...

^ This..
 
$100 is a little low for the 280x or 7970. I think $125 would be more likely, but still be a great solution.
 
Used 7950/280 would also do it. I went from a 5850 to a 7950 in late 2012 and it was, and still is, one hell of an upgrade
 
^ Agreed. I spent $130 with shipping. Might have been able to find one a few $'s cheaper, but my 5770 was BSOD'ing regularly so I needed something sooner rather than later.

The 280x/7970 seems a sweeter spot than a 750ti or 270x from a performance/$ metric. Perhaps I was a little too liberal (and sharing the tendency towards wanting to spend someone else's money) with "around $100". :D
 
If you can't find a 7970 look for a 7950 and oc it. My 7950 oced like crazy 1150 core) on air not voltage bump (power at 20%)
 
7950 is going to be your card . the 770GTX still preforms as fast as the 960GTX and is always going be a $150+ card.. good luck
 
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