BEST GPU OF THE DATE


UNDER $50
ATI HD 4650
Great 1280x1024 performance in most games, 1680x1050 with lowered detail
Radeon HD 4650
Codename:
RV730
Process:
55 nm
Universal Shaders:
320
Texture Units:
32
ROPs:
16
Memory Bus:
128-bit
Core Speed MHz:
600
Memory Speed MHz:
400 (800 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 10.1/SM 4.1
                             You will not find a card that packs more punch than HD 4650 under the alluring $50 price point (at the time of writing, multiple models are available on Newegg for less than $50).
With solid stock performance and an overclockable GPU, this card is an excellent starting point for our list of recommendations, and a wholly worthwhile if you're currently stuck using a limited to integrated graphics.

TECH N MAYA RECOMMENDED

For $65

Radeon HD 4670

Good 1680x1050 performance in most games

Radeon HD 4670
Codename:
RV730
Process:
55 nm
Universal Shaders:
320
Texture Units:
32
ROPs:
16
Memory Bus:
128-bit
Core Speed MHz:
750
Memory Speed MHz:
1,000 (2,000 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 10.1/SM 4.1
The Radeon HD 4670 continues to offer modest performance and very low power usage, making this product a reasonable all-around value. Its accelerated clock rates and modestly-higher price tag are worth considering if you originally had your eye on the Radeon HD 4650.
It's worth noting that this card's closest competitor, the GeForce 9600 GSO, isn't making a very strong showing. The GeForce 9600 GSOs we could find for sale were crippled 48 shader/128-bit memory versions of the card. The models we'd want to see should be equipped with 48 shaders and a 256-bit memory bus, or alternatively 96 shaders and 128-bit memory bus.

TECH N MAYA BEST PRICE TO PERFORMER

For  $80

GeForce 9800 GT

Exceptional 1680x1050 performance in most games, 1920x1200 in most games with lowered detail
GeForce 9800 GT
Codename:
G92
Process:
55 nm
Universal Shaders:
112
Texture Units:
56
ROPs:
16
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core Speed MHz:
600
Memory Speed MHz:
900 (1,800 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 10/SM 4.0
The GeForce 9800 GT remains a powerful sub-$100 performer, and at $80 it has enough breathing room between it and the $100 Radeon HD 4850 and GeForce GTS 250 to garner a solid recommendation. It will outperform the Radeon HD 5670 by a notable margin in most games and remains a powerful choice despite the G92 graphics processor's age, which is another testament tooriginal GeForce 8800 architecture.

TECH N MAYA BEST PRICE TO PERFORMER


Radeon HD 5670

Exceptional 1680x1050 performance in most games, 1920x1200 in most games with lowered detail

Radeon HD 5670
Codename:
RV830
Process:
40 nm
Universal Shaders:
400
Texture Units:
40
ROPs:
8
Memory Bus:
128-bit
Core Speed MHz:
775
Memory Speed MHz:
  1,000 (4,000 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5.0
While the GeForce 9800 GT takes the official nod in the $80 price range, we can't totally ignore the Radeon HD 5670 now that the price has dropped. The GeForce has more raw power, true, but the Radeon HD 5670 isn't that much slower, and it offers DirectX 11 compatibility along with all of the other Radeon HD 5000-series goodies.

TECH N MAYA.DX11 BUT PRICE TO PERFORMANCE

WICE NOT SO GOOD

 

For  $105

HD 4850 512MB

 

Exceptional 1680x1050 performance in most games, 1920x1200 in most games with lowered detail
Radeon HD 4850
Codename:
RV770
Process:
55 nm
universal Shaders:
800
Texture Units:
40
ROPs:
16
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core Speed MHz:
625
Memory Speed MHz:
993 (1,986 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 10.1/SM 4.1


The Radeon HD 4850 can still be found at the ~$100 price point after a brief hiatus, and while we keep waiting for availability to dry up in the face of Radeon HD 5000-series successors, we hope it lasts. Availability is waning, and these products probably won't be around much longer now that the Radeon HD 5750 and even the 5770 are encroaching on their territory. Happily, the GTS 250 is still around to fight the 4850 to the last.

TECH N MAYA.GOOD PRICE TO PERFORMANCE
GTS 250
Exceptional 1680x1050 performance in most games, 1920x1200 in most games with lowered detail
GeForce GTS 250
Codename:
G92
Process:
65 nm
Universal Shaders:
128
Texture Units:
64
ROPs:
16
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core/Shader Speed MHz:
738 / 1,836
Memory Speed MHz:
1,100 (2,200 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 10/SM 4.0


As fast as the Radeon HD 4850 and new Radeon HD 5750 are, the GeForce GTS 250 remains a viable option.Bear in mind that going this route instead of the Radeon HD 5750 will cost you DirectX 11 support and Eyefinity. But in the context of gaming, you'll need to make other detail-oriented sacrifices long before trying to enjoy either value-add in the $100 range

TECH N MAYA BEST IN ITS CATEGORY



For $125

 

Radeon HD 5770 512MB
Great 1920x1200 performance in most games
Radeon HD 5770
Codename:
RV840 "Juniper"
Process:
40 nm
Universal Shaders:
800
Texture Units:
40
ROPs:
16
Memory Bus:
128-bit
Core Speed MHz:
850
Memory Speed MHz:
1,200 (4,800 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5.0

While AMD's new Radeon HD 5770 isn't any faster than the older Radeon HD 4870 (we've found that it's even slightly slower in many instances), it does have something the Radeon HD 4870 doesn't have: full DirectX 11 and Eyefinity support. Indeed, while the Radeon HD 5770 doesn't run away with any performance crowns in this category, it does look good from a longevity/value standpoint.

TECH N MAYA GOOD BECAUSE DX11BUT SLOWER THEN HD4870

For  $210-$230
2 x HD 4850 in CrossFire Configuration OR GF250 in SLI
Exceptional 1920x1200 performance, 2560x1600 in most games with lowered detail
Codename:
RV770
Process:
55 nm
Universal Shaders:
1,600 (2 x 800)
Texture Units:
80 (2 x 40)
ROPs:
32 (2 x 16)
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core Speed MHz:
625
Memory Speed MHz:
993 (1,986 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 10.1/SM 4.1

Two Radeon HD 4850s in CrossFire continue to offer a combination of high performance and reasonably low cost, making them a good choice for a gaming enthusiast on a budget. Two hundred dollars will get you a couple 512MB cards, while $230 should score a duo of 1GB models. You'll need a CrossFire-compatible motherboard of course, but that's not a problem for most folks with Intel- or AMD-based platforms. Just like the Radeon HD 4850s, two GeForce GTS 250 cards combined in SLI mode make a very powerful combination for a very reasonable price. The combination you choose will probably depend on your motherboard

TECH N MAYA RECOMENDED


Radeon HD 5830
Great 1920x1200 performance, 2560x1600 in most games with lowered detail
Radeon HD 5830
Codename:
RV870
Process:
40 nm
Universal Shaders:
1,120
Texture Units:
56
ROPs:
16
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core Speed MHz:
800
Memory Speed MHz:
1,000 (4,000 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5
The new Radeon HD 5830 delivers Radeon HD 4890-class performance for $240, but includes all of the Radeon HD 5000-series value-adds to go with it.
From a pure value standpoint, a pair of CrossFired Radeon HD 4850's are much faster, and so is a single Radeon HD 5850. However, with the disappearance of the Radeon HD 4890 and GeForce GTX 275 from the market, the Radeon HD 5830 is the only single card left standing at this price point. For this reason, it scores an honorable mention for users who don't have the luxury of a CrossFire-capable motherboard

TECH N MAYA SLOWER THEN 2x 4850 OR 250
NOT SO GOOD PRICE TO PERFORMANCE WISE
BUT DX11
Card For  $290
Radeon HD 5850
Exceptional 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance in most games

Radeon HD 5850
Codename:
RV870 "Cypress"
Process:
40nm
Universal Shaders:
1,440
Texture Units:
72
ROPs:
32
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core Speed MHz:
725
Memory Speed MHz:
1,000 (4,000 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5.0
Fortunately for value-seekers, the Radeon HD 5850 recently dropped back under the $300 price point. Despite competition from Nvidia's GeForce GTX 470, the Radeon HD 5850 remains a superb performer for the price. It doesn't need a CrossFire-compatible motherboard, it sips power at idle, and the card sports DirectX 11 and Eyefinity capabilities. If sub-$300 price tags fit your budget, the Radeon HD 5850 is an obvious recommendation.

TECH N MAYA RECOMMENDED

For  $350
GeForce GTX 470
Exceptional 1920x1200 performance, Good 2560x1600 performance in most games

GeForce GTX 470
Codename:
GF100
Process:
40 nm
Universal Shaders:
448
Texture Units:
56
ROPs:
40
Memory Bus:
320-bit
Core/Shader Speed MHz:
607 / 1,215
Memory Speed MHz:
837 (3,348 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5.0
Along with the GeForce GTX 480 flagship, the GeForce GTX 470 is one of Nvidia's next-generation DirectX 11 cards and performs (somewhat inconsistently) between the Radeon HD 5850 aHD 5870, on average. The projected price is $350, which puts it where the performance results suggest it should be. But we'll have to wait until the card is available and proves its price before making a more concrete recommendation one way or the other. As mentioned at the start of this piece, April 12th has come and gone, leaving little in the way of availability to show for Nvidia's projected production ramp-up.

TECH N MAYA NOT GREAT PRICE TO PERFORMANCE
ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS POWER HUNGER
For $400
Radeon HD 5870
Good 2560x1600 performance in most games
Radeon HD 5870
Codename:
RV870 "Cypress"
Process:
40 nm
Universal Shaders:
1,600
Texture Units:
80
ROPs:
32
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core Speed MHz:
850
Memory Speed MHz:
1,200 (4,800 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5.0

For $100 less than the price of this card, a couple of Radeon HD 5770s easily deliver exceptional performance in the games that matter today. From a raw price/performance standpoint, this makes the Radeon HD 5870 a hard sell. But that is not to say this card is underpowered: it is the fastest single-GPU Radeon option available, sporting relatively low power usage (remarkably low at idle), and the hardware prowess needed to accelerate DirectX 11-based games. For folks without a motherboard that supports CrossFire and a hefty power supply, the new Radeon HD 5870 is definitely a more-than-viable option. For those thinking at the other end of the performance spectrum, a pair of Radeon HD 5870s in CrossFire also make this an attractive card.

TECH N MAYA SLOWER THEN 480 BUT RECOMMENDED
For $500
Good 2560x1600 performance in most games
GeForce GTX 480
Codename:
GF100
Process:
40 nm
Universal Shaders:
480
Texture Units:
60
ROPs:
48
Memory Bus:
384-bit
Core/Shader Speed MHz:
700 / 1,401
Memory Speed MHz:
  924 (3,696 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5.0
Nvidia is a competitive company. And while the Radeon HD 5970 maintains its title of fastest video card in the world, Nvidia has, on paper, reclaimed the honor of selling the fastest single-GPU graphics card. This is, of course, the GeForce GTX 480, which performs notably faster than the Radeon HD 5870, on average. It's hard to justify the $100 price premium over AMD's Radeon HD 5870, but it's pretty easy to justify a $200 savings compared to the Radeon HD 5970, so I suppose the card is positioned correctly, assuming it will actually materialize at this price point. As with the GeForce GTX 470, we have to wait until this card is actually available in order to make a solid recommendation one way or the other.

TECH N MAYA NOT GREAT PRICE TO PERFORMANCE
ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS POWER HUNGER

For $700

Radeon HD 5970

 

Radeon HD 5970
Codename:
2 x RV870 "Cypress"
Process:
40 nm
Universal Shaders:
3,200 (2 x 1,600)
Texture Units:
160 (2 x 80)
ROPs:
64 (2 x 32)
Memory Bus:
256-bit
Core Speed MHz:
725
Memory Speed MHz:
1,000 (4,000 effective)
DirectX/Shader Model:
DX 11/SM 5.0
3,200 shader processors. There isn't much more we need to say about the brutal rendering muscle that characterizes the world's fastest graphics card, the Radeon HD 5970. With two Radeon HD 5870 GPUs onboard, the only things we can complain about are scant availability and an extremely high price tag. Availability should improve over time; the price has actually increased over the last month! But if you're in the market for this card, price probably isn't an issue.

TECH N MAYA GREAT CARD BUT HARD TO FIND

THIS IS NOT THE FINAL LIST IT WILL UPDATED TIME TO TIME.
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