Looking for a "Best Bang for Your Buck" GPU for Skyrim

[fuctfuct]

I would like to play Skyrim (and possibly start playing other games) on my PC instead of my 360. I don't have a lot of extra cash to burn at the moment. Even if i did i'm not sure i will like PC gaming so i'm not looking to spend a lot. I want something that will never dip below 30 FPS at 1080p in high detail.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sky ... 074-5.html

^Right now i'm looking at the Radeon 5770 which is about 125 CAD before shipping. Love to spend less if i could get away with it. Or possibly a bit more if there is a significant jump in performance for just a little bit of money. Been working with computers for pretty much ever just never kept up to date with GPUs since i don't plays games on the PC other then the odd emulator.

Current Specs
E8400 @ 3.6 (4.0 if i want.. but i don't)
4GB RAM
Neo Power 550
Radeon 5550

An super happy extra bonus would be a passive card since my rig is pretty much silent at the moment. 5v modded fans, suspended hard drives, and so on. heh

[J T]

You should browse through some the links in this thread:
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 49&t=34859

[fuctfuct]

awesome links! Thanks

[emwearz]

I think a big bottleneck you will find is your CPU, I am using a E7300 @ 3.6ghz and I played through Skyrim (With my GTX280) and I was bottlenecked by the way the shadows use the CPU, I turned the shadows down and my FPS sky rocketed. (Though increasing/decreasing the level of AA did nothing to my FPS).

[fuctfuct]

Yea, I figured my CPU might be a problem. I just don't have the funds to upgrade my mobo, CPU, RAM, and GPU right now. It looks like it will be doable though, no?

[isiolia]

I'd wait a teensy bit. The new round of GPUs is coming very soon, and will likely mean some good deals on existing cards. IMO, try to get a 6850 or 6870, as either can get some pretty solid deals on them at times.

[fuctfuct]

Bought a 6850 for 140 CAD shipped last night

[Niode]

HD6850 or 6950 depending on your budget. 6950s will (mostly) unlock to a 6970. Even still, the stock card is pretty damn good. The only game I've come across that makes it sweat on the highest settings is Skyrim but that engine is seriously the worst piece of shit I've ever played. Bogged down in WAY too much middleware it's a joke. It doesn't even look good, it looks like 2008 game, with awful interface. Skyrim sucks.

[s1mplehumar]

Skyrim sucks.

Screw you buddy! I put about 90 hours into the game in a very short period of time. Loved every minute of it.

I too can vouch for the 6850, especially in Xfire.

Enjoy!

[fuctfuct]

I eventually settled on a 6770.. but then bought a used 5770 for $30. It played it perfectly fine on high.. With a few small tweaks. My girlfriend bought it for 360 and the old "chillin on the couch" took over and i am playing it on that lol