Best video card for <$250 CAD

[Schmitty]

Hello all!

I am upgrading my computer to play diablo 3. I know a lot about computers in general but I wanted some advice on the video card.

I will likely be getting an i5-2500K to overclock (maybe an i3 depending on how cheap prices are), decent Z77 or H77 mobo...(may wait until IB is out and probably get a better deal), 8GB RAM..and that is all I need (i ahve everything else).

What video card would you recommend for $250 MAX Canadian? Preferably around $200. In that range I have been thinking about the GTX 560 Ti, Radeon 6870, 7850, 6950 (great deals on this for like $220...

What do you think is my best bet for longevity? I tend to use my components for as long as possible...I am still using a 320MB 8800GTS that still runs all new games decently (giving it to my fiance so she can play diablo 3 with me! :-)

Thanks in advance!

[JosePerez]

Well between all of those i'll recommend the 7850... Just because it's newer, hence cooler, less power hungry... It's on par with the 560 ti and the 6950 performance wise...

[ben314]

I was going to say take a 6950 and flash it into a 6970, but turns out you'd get more for less power, noise, heat, and money by getting a 7850 and putting a slight OC on it. At that point, it passes the 6970 performance wise, and uses far less power, along with all the new things GCN adds.

[Pitabred]

I was going to say take a 6950 and flash it into a 6970, but turns out you'd get more for less power, noise, heat, and money by getting a 7850 and putting a slight OC on it. At that point, it passes the 6970 performance wise, and uses far less power, along with all the new things GCN adds.

Yeah. Upgrading the 6950 is also a little bit sketchy any more, most newer models don't flash as well as some of the earlier ones.

It's safer go the 7850 route like you suggest.