So, I bought my wife a gaming laptop so she could play Diablo with me (and so I could borrow it to play whatever I wanted when she wasn't using it :3 I also bought myself an upgraded monitor for my desktop but that's a different bragfest).

Everything arrived yesterday, got the laptop setup and all, and it's just sweet so no problems there ( Specs here btw).

Newegg, being awesome had a bundle with Crysis 3 for an extra $1

My current desktop build has an Nvidia GTX 260 card in it (people might see where this is going).

While I was waiting on updates and D3 game client download, I installed Crysis 3 on my box, and when I went to start it, it complained that my GPU was not DX11 (definitely isn't) and wouldn't run.

So, what model of DX11 gpu is a respectable upgrade from my GTX 260? There are several cheap DX11 cards, but I suspect some of them will actually be slower than my current one (don't want that).

Budget would be ~$150
I am not against buying 2 slightly slower ones for SLI if that would be better bang for the buck vs 1 beefy one.

Normally I wouldn't worry about it, but this is kind of an unplanned upgrade. Either that or I just don't worry about it and use the laptop (probably what I'll do short term anyway)

ETA:
Actually, so far I'm looking at the GTX 650 TI in 2GB form. It may only be a minor upgrade, but it's within target budget. Anybody have a used one (or two) around they don't need anymore?

[This message has been edited by squisher86SE (edited 02-26-2013).]

you should still be able to run it in DX9 mode.. might have to change it in the game options.. Most games iv played the graphic quality between DX9 and DX10/11 games isnt really much. The DX9 versions run quicker too.. DX10/11 seems to use alot of memory.

As for cards iv got a GF 560 GTX with 1.5gig ram... Only $250 when i bought it, and it came with a free copy of Batman - Arkham City. Performs great, even with my older processor (only a 3.2gig duel core) i can run all current games with full graphics.

[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 02-26-2013).]

Win7?

Win7 reports many DX11 cards as DX10 in "Windows Experience Index" etc. (Don't know why.)
Try dxdiag.exe or pcwizard

I have Radeon HD 6570 that spec says DX11 but Win7 said DX10

PCWizard Says:
General Information :
Manufacturer : ATI Techn
Model : AMD Radeon HD 6570

GPU Information :
DirectX Support : 11.0

But Win7 says:
Display adapter type: AMD Radeon HD 6570
DirectX version: DirectX 10

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

Yeah, Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit

The GTX 260 chipset does not support some of the more advanced features of DX11 in the hardware, as confirmed by Nvidia.

No chance for changing game options either that I know of, it doesn't even start up. And, knowing Crytek and their game engine, this being the latest and greatest it probably uses some (or all) of those spiffy DX11 only features.

ETA:
Actually, I feel kind of dumb. There is a new driver (314.something) from Nvidia I should try first before I go spending any money.
I will update again when I get home and try that.

[This message has been edited by squisher86SE (edited 02-26-2013).]

Whatta wanna play a crap game like Crysis for anyway? Get back on Diablo and kill some monsters with me! lol..

nah Crysis is pretty cool, i got the original and Warhead.

Even with the driver update, your video card will still only support DX9 software. But hopefully the driver update will allow your video card to play nicey-nice with Crysis 3's DX9 compatibility mode (if it has one).

Totally unrelated and un-helpful, but didnt you used to live in columbus?

You are almost on my door step.. if you ever see a beat up blue fastback with the 3/4 windows replaced with black sheetmetal, wave, that's me ( been meaning to swap the rear clip out, for one with windows... for years now.. i should just sell my 'spare' clip and be done with it., i think i like it better this way. )

quote Originally posted by squisher86SE: Everything arrived yesterday, got the laptop setup and all, and it's just sweet so no problems there ( Specs here btw). Budget would be ~$150

Go with a 7850. Could be had for $165 and will out gun the GTX 650. http://www.newegg.com/Produ...Sz1bUCFQ4GnQodpFEAWg
http://www.hwcompare.com/13...b-vs-radeon-hd-7850/

Also be careful with MSI, My last laptop was an MSI and the plastics would break, run hot, also in that chassis the connector for the power cord fails often, also had 2 hard drive failures.

[This message has been edited by Fiero_Fan_88 (edited 02-26-2013).]

quote Originally posted by Fiero_Fan_88: Go with a 7850. Could be had for $165 and will out gun the GTX 650. http://www.newegg.com/Produ...Sz1bUCFQ4GnQodpFEAWg http://www.hwcompare.com/13...b-vs-radeon-hd-7850/ Also be careful with MSI, My last laptop was an MSI and the plastics would break, run hot, also in that chassis the connector for the power cord fails often, also had 2 hard drive failures.

Nice card, not sure I want to jump over to ATI/AMD graphics at the moment, and for MSI build quality, we have an MSI netbook that has survived a surprising amount of abuse...(an old MSI Wind U100)

Initial impressions on this laptop seem quite good honestly. Time will tell I suppose.

Currently, the ATI / AMD cards have a small "bang for the buck" advantage over Nvidia. Don't let brand loyalty get in the way of a good upgrade.

quote Originally posted by squisher86SE: Nice card, not sure I want to jump over to ATI/AMD graphics at the moment, and for MSI build quality, we have an MSI netbook that has survived a surprising amount of abuse...(an old MSI Wind U100) Initial impressions on this laptop seem quite good honestly. Time will tell I suppose.

I was only telling you my experience in that specific chassis of laptop.
As far as not making the jump to AMD... Why? A more powerful "Future Proof" card for the same money? Sure the Nvidia draws a little less power but if your running a GTX 260 then your PSU should be handle the 7850. If you worried about driver issues AMD is on catalyst, 13.1 last I looked which is leaps and bounds ahead of previous drivers. The only thing the 650 has on the 7850 is Nvidia's PhysX which only stands out in Nvidia optimized games like the Batman series. Just saying, you want to upgrade, the 7850 would be the best bang in your price range, drivers are very well optimized, plus in Catalyst control you can set profiles for power usage of applications.

Here it is in action on the Crysis 3 BETA:

[This message has been edited by Fiero_Fan_88 (edited 02-27-2013).]