Oct 30 2009
There are a remarkable variety of graphics cards on the market aimed at gamers. While the very latest technology is always expensive, there are also solutions for those who don't have hundreds of dollars to spend. These video cards were selected because they are good values in their class, and they are ordered roughly from fastest (most expensive) to slowest (most affordable). I can't include every quality card, but I do update the list when I can, so your suggestions are welcome.
11. Nvidia GeForce GTX 250
The GTX 250 is essentially a rebranding of the GeForce 9800 GTX+ in order to bring it into Nvidia's GTX line of cards and reduce confusion for consumers over card names. Unlike the 9800 GTX+, the GTX 250 is available with either 512 MB or 1 GB of memory, and they've added support for Nvidia's CUDA and PhysX. Although they were meant to appeal to gamers on a budget, they haven't been able to compete with aggressive pricing on some of Radeon's HD 4000 series.
12. Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX
Similar in many ways to the GeForce 8800 GTS, the 9800 GTX is a step down from the GTX 200 series from Nvidia. The 9800 GTX typically comes with 512 MB of memory, and it's a decent single GPU solution on its way to the bargain bin. Although it isn't a dramatic leap ahead of GeForce 8800 cards, the price is hard to beat, and there is now a 9800 GTX+ that is clocked a little faster on the market. Note that these cards can be almost 27 cm long, so it could be difficult, if not impossible, to squeeze them into some computer cases.13. ATI Radeon HD 4830
The Radeon HD 4830 is the latest addition to the 4800 series, and as its designation suggests, it's a little slower than the HD 4850. The HD 4850 has 800 stream processors, while the HD 4830 has only 640, and the core speed of 575 MHz is 50 MHz less than the HD 4850. Like the HD 4850, the HD 4830 can be found with either 512 MB or 1 GB of GDDR3 memory. Comparable in performance to a GeForce 8800 GT, these are solid gaming cards for a reasonable price.14. Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT
The 9800 GT has quietly replaced the extremely popular GeForce 8800 GT, although there is very little difference between the two. There are 9800 GTs made with a 65nm process, but the most recent ones have be reduced to 55nm, meaning that they require less power and produce less heat. Manufacturers have thrown in a variety of extra features beyond the reference design, so compare a few brands to see what best suits your needs.15. Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT
The first GeForce 9 cards arrived in February 2008, beginning with the 9600 GT, which was designed for the mid-range market. Although it has only half as many stream processors as the 8800 GT, it is a powerful chipset for the money, and it's putting downward pressure on video card prices across the board. These cards typically have 512 MB of memory and a core clock speed of 650 MHz, but there are overclocked versions available. Down to as little as $75, they're also a good option for people considering an SLI setup.16. ATI Radeon HD 4670
Aimed at people on a budget, the Radeon HD 4670 is small enough to fit into even the tightest cases, but it still packs enough power to give Nvidia's 9600 GT some competition. 512 MB and 1 GB versions of these cards are available, but the memory bus is only 128-bit. You'll need to go down to medium settings if you want to play Crysis at 1280x1024, but less demanding games will run quite well on this card at that resolution.17. ATI Radeon HD 3870
ATI cards started to look a lot more attractive again with the release of the HD 3800 series, although the newer 4000 offerings are pushing them into the budget category. The HD 3870 has a core clock speed of 775 MHz and comes with 512 MB of DDR4 memory. Using a 55 nm process allowed them to produce a chip with performance that rivals their former champ, the HD 2900 XT, at a far lower cost. Although it's a little slower than the similarly priced GeForce 9600 GT, the Radeon HD 3870 is still worth a look.18. ATI Radeon HD 3850
Very similar to the HD 3870, the HD 3850 is clocked a little slower than its sibling, and it now comes with either 256 MB or 512 MB of memory. It's a respectable performer, falling only a few frames per second behind the GeForce 8800 GTS on some benchmarks. Recent price drops have brought this GPU within range of budget game systems, although the new HD 4000 cards are probably a better value at the moment.