Alright guys, I am getting my first pay check tomorrow and it's finally time to get my computer back up and running. I only need to replace my video card, so I am going to be spending a pretty good chunk of money on it. However, due to my gas station/student budget that will only be between $100-$150 haha. Basically I want to be able to run Starcraft II, and Counter-Strike:Source FLAWLESSLY and pretty much be able play any other video game out there. Here are my specs, so go ahead and start suggesting!

OS: Windows XP (Thinking about upgrading to windows 7, but I don't have the money ATM)
Motherboard: ASUS P5N-D
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo e6850 (3.00 GHz)
Memory: 2.00 GB
Hard Drive: Western Digital 640GB SATA
Video Card: TBA (lol)
Sound Card: USB Siberia v2 Sound Card
Headphones: Siberia v2's
Monitor: 19" LG Widescreen
Mouse: Logitech MX518
Mousepad: SteelSeries QcK Heavy
Keyboard: SteelSeries 7G

I just copied and pasted this off my profile from another site, so I thought I'd just leave everything up there (even though it's not all needed lol).

Thanks!!
-Logan

POWERCOLOR HD5770 , 512M-GDDR5, 128bit PCIe,DVI-I,HDMI,VGA$167.00

If you want to game, that would be the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM. Sorry if it breaks the bank, but even 5750's are too gimped to even bother with. Nvidia offers nothing in your price bracket for at least 3 months.

Alright, well I mean I guess I could spend a little more if I have to. Pretend price wasn't an issue (within reason lol) what would you recommend to game HARD on? Cause that's what happened to my other video card, had an over heating problem from over use lol.

<insert automobile analogy here>. If your card died before the warranty expired it's because there were defects in the card, not because you used it "too much". Unless you used it in a sauna.

I'm guessing your rez is 1680x1050...the 5770 would do fine. If you need more horsepower in the future you can get another 5770.

honestly for the games mentioned i have to say try and find a 4850, that will do more than enough, i have a 5770 and its a decent card, but for WOW and CSS a 4850 is more than enough..

This is the route I chose to go also. single 5770 for now then a 2nd in the near future

Is the 5770 better than a 4850 or 4870?

Because it's newer, yes it would be better. All things being equal the 4890 is faster, but has no DX11. Have no idea on the price of them 48x0's though. ATi has stopped making them a while ago so they would be increasingly hard to get new.

to ad to steve-o's comments, the 4890 is also a power hure.

There's a forum member letting a 5770 go in buy and sell so hit that up.

or if ya got the cash do up a 5850 they rock.