Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart - Oct 2012

You can use this hierarchy to compare the pricing between two cards, to see which one is a better deal, and also to determine if an upgrade is worthwhile. I don’t recommend upgrading your graphics card unless the replacement card is at least three tiers higher. Otherwise, the upgrade is somewhat parallel and you may not notice a worthwhile difference in performance.

Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart
GeForce	Radeon	Intel
Discrete: GTX 690
Discrete: GTX 590	Discrete: HD 6990, 7970 GHz Ed.
Discrete: GTX 680	Discrete: HD 7970
Discrete: GTX 670	Discrete: HD 5970, 7950
Discrete: GTX 580, 660 Ti	Discrete: HD 7870
Discrete: GTX 295, 480, 570, 660 Go (mobile): 680M	Discrete: HD 4870 X2, 6970, 7850 Mobility: 7970M
Discrete: GTX 470, 560 Ti, 560 Ti 448 Core	Discrete: HD 4850 X2, HD 5870, HD 6950 Mobility: 7950M
Discrete: GTX 560, 650 Ti Go (mobile): 580M	Discrete: HD 5850, HD 6870 Mobility: 6990M
Discrete: 9800 GX2, 285, 460 256-bit, 465 Go (mobile): 675M	Discrete: HD 6850, HD 7770 Mobility: 6900M
Discrete: GTX 260, 275, 280, 460 192-bit, 460 SE, 550 Ti, 560 SE, 650 Go (mobile): 570M, 670M	Discrete: HD 4870, 5770, 4890, 5830, 6770,  6790, 7750 Mobility: HD 5870, 6800M
Discrete: 8800 Ultra, 9800 GTX, 9800 GTX+, GTS 250, GTS 450 Go (mobile): 560M, 660M	Discrete: HD 3870 X2, 4850, 5750, 6750 Mobility: HD 4850, 5850, 7870M
Discrete: 8800 GTX, 8800 GTS 512 MB, GT 545 (GDDR5) Go (mobile): GTX 280M, 285M, 555M (GDDR5)	Discrete: HD 4770 Mobility: HD 4860, 7770M, 7850M
Discrete: 8800 GT 512 MB, 9800 GT, GT 545 (DDR3), GT 640 (DDR3) Go (mobile): 9800M GTX, GTX 260M (112), GTS 360M (GDDR5), 555M (DDR3)	Discrete: HD 4830, HD 5670, HD 6670 (GDDR5) Mobility: HD 5770, HD 5750, 6600M/6700M (GDDR5), 7750M
Discrete: 8800 GTS 640 MB, 9600 GT, GT 240 (GDDR5) Go (mobile): 9800M GTS, GTX 160M	Discrete: HD 2900 XT, HD 3870, HD 5570 (GDDR5), HD 6570 (GDDR5) Mobility: 6500M (GDDR5), 6600M/6700M (DDR3), 7730M
Discrete: 8800 GS, 9600 GSO, GT 240 (DDR3) Go (mobile): GTX 260M (96), GTS 150M, GTS 360M (DDR3)	Discrete: HD 3850 512 MB, HD 4670, HD 5570 (DDR3), HD 6570 (DDR3), HD 6670 (DDR3) Mobility: HD 3870, HD 5730, HD 5650, 6500M (DDR3)
Discrete: 8800 GT 256 MB, 8800 GTS 320 MB, GT 440 GDDR5, GT 630 GDDR5 Go (mobile): 8800M	Discrete: HD 2900 PRO, HD 3850 256 MB, 5550 (GDDR5) Mobility: HD 3850
Discrete: 7950 GX2, GT 440 DDR3, GT 630 DDR3	Discrete: X1950 XTX, HD 4650 (DDR3), 5550 (DDR3)
Discrete: 7800 GTX 512, 7900 GTO, 7900 GTX, GT 430, GT 530 Go (mobile): 550M	Discrete: X1900 XT, X1950 XT, X1900 XTX
Discrete: 7800 GTX, 7900 GT, 7950 G, GT 220 (DDR3) Go (mobile): 525M, 540M	Discrete: X1800 XT, X1900 AIW, X1900 GT, X1950 PRO, HD 2900 GT, HD 5550 (DDR2)
Discrete: 7800 GT, 7900 GS, 8600 GTS, 9500 GT (GDDR3), GT 220 (DDR2) Go (mobile): 7950 GTX	Discrete: X1800 XL, X1950 GT, HD 4650 (DDR2), HD 6450 Mobility: X1800 XT, HD 4650, HD 5165, 6400M Integrated: 6620G, 6550D
Discrete: 6800 Ultra, 7600 GT, 7800 GS, 8600 GS, 8600 GT (GDDR3), 9500 GT (DDR2) Go (mobile): 7800 GTX, 7900 GTX	Discrete: X800 XT (& PE), X850 XT (& PE), X1650 XT, X1800 GTO, HD 2600 XT, HD 3650 (DDR3), HD 3670 Mobility: X1900, 3670 Integrated: 6520G, 6530D	Integrated: Intel HD Graphics 4000
Discrete: 6800 GT, 6800 GS (PCIe), 8600 GT (DDR2), GT 520 Go (mobile): 7800, Go 7900 GS, 520M, 520MX	Discrete: X800 XL, X800 GTO2/GTO16, HD 2600 PRO, HD 3650 (DDR2), Mobility: X800 XT, HD 2600 XT, 3650 Integrated: 6410D, 6480G
Discrete: 6800 GS (AGP) Go (mobile): 6800 Ultra, 7600 GT, 8600M GT, 8700M GT, 410M	Discrete: X800 GTO 256 MB, X800 PRO, X850 PRO, X1650 GT Mobility: HD 2600 Integrated: 6370D, 6380G
Discrete: 6800, 7300 GT GDDR3, 7600 GS, 8600M GS Go (mobile): 6800, 7700	Discrete: X800, X800 GTO 128 MB, X1600 XT, X1650 PRO Mobility: X1800, HD 5145, HD 5470 (GDDR5)
Discrete: 6600 GT, 6800LE, 6800 XT, 7300 GT (DDR2), 8500 GT, 9400 GT Go (mobile): 7600 (128-bit)	Discrete: 9800 XT, X700 PRO, X800 GT, X800 SE, X1300 XT, X1600 PRO, HD 2400 XT, HD 4350, HD 4550, HD 5450 Mobility: X800, 3470, HD 5470 (DDR3), HD 5450, HD 5430, 6300M Integrated: HD 6310, HD 6320	Integrated: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Discrete: FX 5900, FX 5900 Ultra, FX 5950 Ultra, 6600 (128-bit) Go (mobile): 6800 (128-bit) Integrated: 9300, 9400	Discrete: 9700, 9700 PRO, 9800, 9800 PRO, X700, X1300 PRO, X1550, HD 2400 PRO Mobility: X1450, X1600, X1700, 2400 XT, X2500, 3450 Integrated: HD 3200, HD 3300, HD 4200, HD 4250, HD 4290, HD 6250, HD 6290
Discrete: FX 5800 Ultra, FX 5900 XT Go (mobile): 6600, Go 7600 (64-bit)	Discrete: 9500 PRO, 9600 XT, 9800 PRO (128-bit), X600 XT, X1050 (128-bit) Mobility: 9800, X700, X1350, X1400, X2300, HD 2400	Integrated: Intel HD Graphics (Core i5-6x1), 2000
Discrete: 4 Ti 4600, 4 Ti 4800, FX 5700 Ultra, 6200, 8300, 8400 G, G 210, G 310 Go (mobile): 315M	Discrete: 9600 PRO, 9800 LE, X600 PRO, HD 2300 Mobility: 9700 (128-bit), X600, X1300 Integrated: Xpress 1250	Integrated: Intel HD Graphics (Core i3 5x0, Core i5-6x0)
Discrete: 4 Ti4200, 4 Ti4400, 4 Ti4800 SE, FX 5600 Ultra, FX 5700, 6600 (64-bit), 7300 GS, 8400M GS, 9300M G, 9300M GS	Discrete: 9500, 9550, 9600, X300, X1050 (64-bit) Mobility: 9600	Integrated: Intel HD Graphics (Pentium G)
Discrete: 3 Ti500, FX 5200 Ultra, FX 5600, FX 5700 LE, 6200 TC, 6600 LE, 7200 GS, 7300 LE Go (mobile): 5700, 8200M, 9200M GS, 9100 Integrated: 8200, 8300	Discrete: 8500, 9100, 9000 PRO, 9600 LE, X300 SE, X1150 Mobility 9700 (64-bit)	Integrated: GMA X4500
Discrete: 3, 3 Ti200, FX 5200 (128-bit), FX 5500, Go (mobile): 5600, 6200, 6400, 7200, 7300, 7400 (64-bit)	Discrete: 9000, 9200, 9250 Mobility: 9600 (64-bit), X300
Discrete: FX 5200 (64 bit) Go (mobile): 7200, 7400 (32-bit) Integrated: 6100, 6150, 7025, 7050	Discrete: 9200 SE Integrated: Xpress 200M, Xpress 1000, Xpress 1150	Integrated: GMA X3000, X3100, X3500
Discrete: 2 GTS, 4 MX 440, 2 Ultra, 2 Ti, 2 Ti 200	Discrete: 7500	Integrated: GMA 3000, 3100
Discrete: 256, 2 MX 200, 4 MX 420, 2 MX 400	Discrete: SDR, LE, DDR, 7000, 7200	Integrated: GMA 500, 900, 950
Discrete: Nvidia TNT	Discrete: Rage 128	Discrete: Intel 740

Summary

There you have it folks; the best cards for the money this month. Now all that’s left to do is to find and purchase them.

Don’t worry too much about which brand you choose, because all of the cards out there are close to Nvidia’s and ATI’s reference designs. Just pay attention to price, warranty, and the manufacturer’s reputation for honoring the warranty if something goes wrong.

Also remember that the stores don’t follow this list. Things will change over the course of the month and you’ll probably have to adapt your buying strategy to deal with fluctuating prices. Good luck!




Regards
Ram

Dishonored : PC Released

For Gamers who are itching for a good  stealth game , Dishonored has just hit the streets . Reviews from IGN and Gamespot are fairly good with gamespot giving it a rating of 4.8(must buy ). Go soon and grab a copy . Tested it yesterday , looked pretty good to me . Unreal Engine does have its flaws but it was smooth working as far as the two levels I saw ..Will get back to you with a review of the game as soon as I am done with it . cheers!!

Regards
Ram

Darksiders 2

THQ is back with an amazing sequel . This time with a more deadly and terrifying Protagonist DEATH . Even the sound of his name can cause fear in the very soul of his enemies , Pssh !!  atleast tats what Crowfather tells in the beginning of the game :D.. So coming back to the game  , You follow the story of Death a fellow brother of War ( protagonist of the First Darskiders ) which occurs parallel to the prequel too .When War is accused of the destruction of Mankind by Council , Death rushes in to find the truth  .

4 Horsemen - Strife, Fury, War and Death with dust on his shoulder

His quest takes him to Crowfather who gives hime the ultimate challenge ( i.e) to find the Well Of Souls which is capable of giving life again and therby resurrecting Mankind. Thus begins Death's journey through the Land of Dead ruled by demons and his meeting with the King of Bones , Land of Angels and finally comes face to face with  the heart of the corruption ABSALON ,who was once Death's second in command of the Nephelim. In order to restore order of humanity and to matain peace Death commits geonicide by killing his own people . And thus commits himself to a life of sin .


What impresses one as soon as you start playing the game is the agility of this guy . I mean he is almost as bulky as Kratos but moves like the Prince of Persia  :D. I mean it really is cool to look . The acrobatics do seem similar to POP series and gameplay to that of God of War  . But hey those games are the starting point of everything . So you can t make a game without it getting reflected here and there :D. But still Darksiders 2 has its own unique style . Like the way you summon Oblivion from the depths of the ground is so cool to look at . You have dust with you who shows you the way whenever you are stuck at some place . Dust is binded to Crowfather and Death and as a result has a unique connection.

Movement , likes of POP :D

Gameplay is extremely good in the game that it makes you wonder that if you are playin a game or watching a movie . Another thing which I noticed was the difficultly level in the game was literally so hard even while playing in Easy mode . I mean the boss fights were dead easy , If you have patience and can detect a routine in his attacks you can easily defeat those guys without not even having to use a life portion . But when it comes to minions tats where the game really rears its ugly head  . OMG , these guys made  a meal out of me most of the time . Damn!! 

They are divided into Five classes like Fodder , Soldier , Elite Champions, Brutes and Bosses. Fodder guys are easy . It only when u meet the Soldiers and Elite Champions u will start getting smashed . I mean these guys use a deadly combo that one dodge when they attack you, is not enough . You need to keep dodging if you ever need to escape unscathed from their attacks .I  was frustrated with them so much that I literally groaned whenever the elite champions appeared on the screen .Grrr !! and combine them with brutes and fodder u wont even know what hits you before you use all your Health portion or end up dead.

Weapons are a of a major variety . You have the primary Weapon which is usually a scythe which can be coimbined together to form a big blade while using special combos or While attaining the Reaper Form . The secondary is a slow and heavy attack which can be switched from a hammer , axe and arm anklets like gloves made of steel , blades and bones . This attack is sometimes very slow that even before you can attack once, the minions would have already beld you to death .

You also get a gun to fire at enemies from distance or shoot at things and stones which are out of reach . Especially usefull while attacking small enemies like insect swarm or flies or scarabs and souls of dead enemies where your Scythe literally becomes ineffective . No upgrades for this . And reloads are a little slow which can be a little pissing off.. But apart from that they are great .

Death on Oblivion

The puzzles are huge and refreshing in this game that you will absolutely love then in this . Especially the ones with the constructs . Man they are good . Like giant robots, And especially , one place where you have to smash the construct in order to get the ball from it :D .Quite innovative :D

Construct with Death on top Riding it.

You have a skill tree which you use to skill up whenever you level up and are awarded with a skill point. The skill tree is divided into two
1.Harbinger 
2. Necromancer

Harbinger :: 

Usually skills which makes death even more powerful like Reaping and Harvesting and Teleport Slash.

Necromancer ::

This involves Summoning dead beings from underworld , Aegis Shield around you , Crow attack , Lightning storm etc. Out of which I liked the summoning thing very much . Half of the bosses and in overwhelming situation I used them exclusively to get a breadth of air . My god without this power Darskiders 2 would have been even more tougher than hell.

Wrath ::

U get this when you land successful blows on your enemies . Necessary if you want to use your Harbinger or Necromancer Skill sets .

U get to upgrade your armor , hand gloves , shoulder plates and even your secondary weapon . But not your primary weapon . Which can be switched only when a new one comes in . Based upon the armor and Scythe u use ,ur basic strength and defense is calculated. This is very important if you are going to survive in this world . Without upgrading you have no chance of even standing up against the minions.

Apart from the above skill sets you also get unusual powers but which are compulsary to get so that you will be able to traverse the game . Like Devil's hand which glows Violet in your right hand and is used to pull yourself across chasms while holding onto a ring or pulling a small enemy towards you or pulling yourself towards a bigger enemy . An essential when you fight Azrael.

PhaseWalker : 

Realm of King of Bones 

Used while traversing throught the Realm of Dead/Bones. U summon the dead Lords to make them float past gates and stand on a plates that activates a door .And also an updgraded version of which is used while in Land of Dead and you go to get the Demon Key . U use this version to traverse in and out of Past and the Future.( POP : Warrior Within , huh ;-))

Soul Spiltter :: 

Another innovative power which splits Death into two persons (one in violet and one in green ). And a stone Reaper Statue will be created once you deploy  the soul splitter which acts as an anchor for you to return to once ur job is done .This power is so cool when you realise how to use it and is quite essential to crack through some really innovative ideas of the developers. Awesome to look to :D..

Reaper Form ::  

Reaper Form

This is the power which you can use when the meter above your health bar increases gradually. During Which Death will attain the cloaked Form with a Big Scythe .Quite cool to look and is used mostly while Executing finishing moves on Bosses .

Crowfather with Amulet of Nephelim on his neck

After a long time a game which engrossed me so much and took up about 16 hrs of my time to complete it fully . Thoroughly enjoyed it to core . Don t ever miss it . If you can , please buy the game ..

A small teaser of wat u see in the game :D

Rating : 9.8/10

Regards
Ram

Bioshock 2

Another awesome sequel to a Solid game , Bioshock 2 really takes us back to the beginning stages of how an FPS should be . Be it the difficulty levels or the inhuman ways in which enemies just storm us , It grasps the basic FPS standards nicely . Story takes place about 8yrs after the events of the prequel in the under water city of Rapture . Players  take the role of a big daddy who is a special prototype in big Daddies .

Your daughter Eleanor is cruelly snatched away from you by Sophia Lamb by her hypnotising u to commit suicide . But Eleanor's power grows with her as she becomes a teenager that she re awakens you with her power and physcic connection between you and her .From then your journey starts through the remains of what Rapture once was . U meet Sinclair who acts as ur aide and guides you through out the game .

Big Sister 

 Like the first part your morality is also calculated through out the game depending upon if you kill little sisters by harvesting them or just rescue them. Based on this the end of the game changes a little . But the story entirely revolves around you and Eleanor . I dont want to be a spoil sport and tell what would happen in the end . Play the game throughout and find out :D..

Big Daddy with Little Sister

You have the usual Plasmids which you fire from your left hand while on the right you start with the Drill . But later you can switch to your usual weapons like machine gun , double barrel shotgun , Hack tool gun , Camera , Rocket / grenade launcher , Rivet gun and Spear Gun . Out of which only Rivet gun and Spear gun .are the most powerful ones which u will find u will be using a lot . Rocket Launcher is good but will have limited ammo so u wont be able to use it often . Machine gun is useful only when u need to keep on firing with less reloads , when a swarm attacks you .

Game surely has its horror filled moments and creepy music etc. But still Bioshock2 stands for its unique Story and ambience. A great game . An expected sequel of the game Bisoshock infinite is expected to come next year . Don t miss it .

Rating : 9/10

Regards
Ram