Built in HD graphics in the desktop i3 are impressive for what they are but not really good enough.

I only really run games that are a few years old (3x£10 type stuff) so I don't want to spend THAT much.

Needs to be from Amazon since I've a £25 voucher to use up.

Two I was looking at were -

Radeon HD 6850 - £88 (+ a DVI cable)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-Radeon-HD6850-Graphics-Memory/dp/B0047ZH7FU/ref=pd_ybh_4

GeForce GTX 550 Ti - £86

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-nVIDIA-GeForce-Graphics-Express/dp/B005G50ET6/ref=pd_ybh_1

An thoughts recommendations?

6850 at that price, will play modern games at reasonable levels too.

I'd say the two you have there are pretty good.

It's really just a question of whether you prefer nVidia or ATI. I personally prefer nVidia.

Got myself a 560 ti recently and very impressed with it!

One other thing to consider is if noise is an issue for you?

The card I got has a different cooler to stock with two fans that is much more efficient and quieter than the stock one.

Phil

Hmm they've both got similarly sized fans.

I know the 550 pulls about twice as much power as the ATI so is probably going to be the noisier card.

Google reviews of those models, bound to be some around. Or find a review of a similar brand and see what the noises are like.

I have two MSI HD 6850 and cant hear them.

I don't think it pulls twice the power.

They are roughly the same with the nVidia pulling just a few watts more.

My 560 ti runs very cool and makes barely any noise.

Some tests here:

http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_550_ti,4.html

The 6850 seems to get slightly better performance than the 550 ti.

Phil

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

should tell you all you need to know.

Thanks all.

In the end ordered a 6850 -

http://www.amazon.co...ils_o00_s00_i01

Slightly different than the other one but mainly because this one was being fulfilled by Amazon rather than a 3rd party.

Edited 5 July, 201214 yr by Aspman

Very good.

I'm sure it will be just fine for you and will no doubt be a hug improvement over the on-board graphics.

And I'm with you there... I always prefer getting things direct from Amazon rather than a third party seller.

Phil

I have 2 6850's

Awesome card. Very quiet. Sit at 42 deg whilst playing. Near silent.

Arrived early and put it in last night.

Point one. Bloody hell it's big. Reminds me of the old Voodoo cards

Point two. Bloody hell what a difference. It was Assassin's Creed 2 I put on, which is a few years old now, but it was pretty remarkable what this thing can put out.

Edited 10 July, 201214 yr by Aspman