Best PC Gaming Video Cards of 2011 - 2012

In best video cards 2011 we'll review and compare prices for the top GPU in the market for 2011. When building a computer the video card is second only to the processor when it comes to performance. Casual computer users may decide that an on-board or integrated graphics card is more than sufficient for their needs. Engineers, editors, photographers, and gamers all require a dedicated video card so that their system can handle the newest software and games available on the market.

Depending on the performance requirements of your software you may or may not need a high-end video card. Other good uses for dedicated video cards include media boxes which typically require an inexpensive GPU that features an HDMI connector that can easily allow you to hook your PC into your HDTV. If you'd like a video card made specifically for your media center build, then I recommend you check out my hub on inexpensive HDMI video cards.

For Gamers and high-performance users you should expect to allocate between $150-300 of your overall PC budget to your video card. You can have the most performance intense computer in the world, but if you don't have a decent video card, then your computer won't run games or software effectively. Since the market for video cards is constantly changing, gamers generally change their video card out every 12-24 months. At the $300 price point you can get a video card that will run any game and most software that you purchase at the highest settings. In my opinion, purchasing a video card beyond this price range just isn't worth the extra money for the additional performance you'll receive unless you use it professionally.

Update 4/16/2011 - Forunder $300 we recommend you go with Either the GTX 560 or the Radeon HD6950. Both of these cards give the stability and durability that you are looking for at an affordable price.

EVGA GeForce GTX560 Video Card

Manufacturer's Technical Details:

The great part about the GTX 560 is that it includes a Twin Frozr II design which features Dual 8cm PWM fans that gives you 50% more airflow efficiency. This is especially important for your video card as keeping your most important components cool can increase both their longevity and performance. With the GTX 560 you also get military class components with precise GPU voltage. Connectors include 2 x DVI and 1 Mini HDMI.

Price

The GTX 560 recently dropped in price (which forced me to update this article). You can generally get it around $250 at Amazon as of 4/16/2011.

Customer Reviews:

Here's what one customer had to say about the GTX 560 on Amazon:

"Superior performance- (It) smokes my games at the highest settings. Maxes out a 7.9 score on the Window Experience Rating for both the graphics Desktop performance for Windows Aero, and the 3D business and gaming graphics performance categories. Yes, 7.9 is the highest rating for Windows as of now. It does this for half the cost of the top of the line GTX580 cards. It runs very cool, 25C at idle in my case."

GTX 560 Video Card Warranty
The GTX 560 also comes with a 3 year parts and 2 year labor warranty.

Radeon HD 6950

As seen in "Techpowerup" the 6950 should be strongly considered as you can easily flash the bios to a HD6970 and save yourself around $70. Specifications include 2 GB DDR5 DL-DVI-I/SL-DVI-D/HDMI/Dual Mini DP/PCI-Express Graphics Card.

Customer Reviews:

"I bought this 6950 to replace a pair of crossfired 5770s. Not only does this card outperform the crossfired 5770s by a good margin, it also uses 50-60 watts less power, and is much more quiet.... Temperatures seem very reasonable, and it's nice to have a card with a rear exhaust again..."

About:

We hope you've enjoyed this price comparison and review of the best video cards of 2011. In the end you should purchase a video card that meets your needs. There are some high intensity software users that need a card that's in the $1,000 range or need to SLI the GTX 560 while others may find that a single HD 5770 is more than adequate.  

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