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Thread: Graphics Card for light gaming

  1. #1
    Pancake
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    Graphics Card for light gaming

    My HTPC server atm is just used for Watching films and storing my many TB of crap on.

    I have been playing some light games lately such as NFS: Underground and CSS and stuff like that when im bored on my Thinkpad T400 with the Switchable ATI 3470 that i have overclock to death. My desktop is plugged into my via HDMI and is only 1366 x 768 so it should do games alright. I will be using a 360 controller

    However my desktop only has the onboard graphics from the i3 2100, so i need a card. I have a Corsair 500w and a spare PCI-E slot so i am good to go


    Should i get something like a used GTX 460 or use my spare 8800GTS 320? would it be good enough for light gaming?

  2. #2
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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    Budget??

    The 8800GTS 320MB should be fine for older games though.

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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    My htpc uses the HD4200 IGP and plays a lot of casual games fine at 1080p with lower settings. The IGP in the i3 2100 is better than that, and if you're only playing at 1366x768 I don't really see why you'd need a discreet card. Have you tried playing games on it yet? The IGP in an i3 2100 is probably roughly as good as a mobile 3470...

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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    8800GTS 320MB is still quite a capable card for gaming. Have one in my machine back home and it's hardly let me down.
    I've stuck a Radeon HD 5670 in my machine here in my halls. Which, from what I've read, has comparable ability to an 8800/9800 card but with the added benefit of having DirectX 11, being much quieter and less power hungry. Considerations to take on board if using it in an HTPC. Not a bad card at all for ~£50.

    Can't vouch for the onboard gfx, but no harm in giving that a go first.

  5. #5
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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    430's are pretty good at medium quality
    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-a...ink-dvi-i-hdmi

    very low power use too, one of all three outputs (VGA, DVI and HDMI) and no extra power cable needed.

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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    For £60 you can get a single slot ASUS Radeon 6670, should give you some decent 720p (1280x720) gaming. Medium / high settings should be achievable with this card in that resolution.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-a...-dl-dvi-i-hdmi

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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    gt 430: i second this recommendation It's very good with very very low power draw so you don't have to worry about your leccy bill. Also, it's pretty quiet too

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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    The best modern graphics cards for gaming under £70 are the HD5670 GDDR5 and the HD6670 GDDR5. The HD5670 GDDR5 is around 10% to 15% faster overall than a GT440 GDDR5 and can be had for around £51:

    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/512mb...-dl-dvi-i-hdmi

  9. #9
    Pancake
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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    Cheers for all the help! how would a GTX 450 do at 1366 x 768? even for games like BF3? im really pushing it now

  10. #10
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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    I don't get the gtx450. It is only 30 quid less than the gtx460 which has twice the shaders so just seems awful value.

    I went for the MSI 6770 card for the wife's pc largely for the fairly low power draw.

  11. #11
    Pancake
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    Re: Graphics Card for light gaming

    Im thinking i might just get a new 6770, any objections?

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