http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4683600&SRCCODE=JELLYFISH&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjC3wkkYubltCjCVqHCjCdwwp

will this card be able to run it.

If not, will it if i overclock it a bit

(its cheap there because it is refurbished)

Most likely yes, but it would probably be a better idea to wait till the system requirements come out.

i am willing to get a better card if need be, but i am on a budget, and if i get a much better card i will also have to upgrade the wattage in my PC

I have a Geforce 250 and can run Oblivion 60+ FPS. You are going to be fine.

It will be fine, and probably able to either max or nearly max the game.

Yeah, I wouldn't doubt that it'll be great.

It's similar to #36 on http://www.overclock.net/graphics-cards-general/502403-graphics-card-ranking-5th-time-last.html ranked list of graphics cards, which is quite high.



(whereas the card I've been running OB/FO3/FO:NV/ME2/etc on is #120..... )

Wow, i didnt expect it to be as good as you guys say it is, considering the price.

I am looking for cheap card because i want to get a new CPU as well

How can such a cheap video card be as good as you all are saying? I thought high end video cards were like..500 dollars?

I'm curious what the most important factors are regarding graphics cards and the performance of games such as Skyrim. Is it mainly the video memory amount? Or is it also the core clock speed?

yeah i was wondering that myself.

But it is a used card that i am buying, new it is like 220

top end video cards are way overpriced because they are "new", the gtx 260 used to be a top of the line about 8 months ago and was pretty darn pricey, No one needs something top end when it comes to computers because the game technology is usually built on pieces that are 2-3 years old, top end stuff is just for people who want a bigger e-peen and have money to throw around.

well thats reassuring, now i dont have to give my first born son away to play skyrim.

My graphics card is older then that, and that's a gtx 470 what is far far newer then a gtx 260. The gtx 260 dates back to almost 3 years ago... so in graphics card terms, it's middle aged and will be old within a years time... That said, I'd be surprised if it couldn't run skyrim.

The younger a graphics card, the more exponential the price goes up, capping at around $500-$600.

500-600 = Bleeding Edge
300-500 = Higher End
250-300 = High End
190-250 = Mid Range
190 and below = Low End*

* low end cards in the higher end of that price range are still very good considering, but are considered low end due to their age. Keeping in mind that age does not mean a card svcks. The nVidia 8800GT came out in 07, and could still play Skyrim.

Example: If they came out with a videocard rtomorrow that was better then the top of the line bleeding edge card, it would probably be ~$100 more then the top of the line. Minor differences in core speed and memory speed also ramp up the price exponentially.

Personally i never buy a card over the $200 (+- $20) mark and it lasts me 2-3 years. And even then I only upgrade cus I love pretty things, both hardware wise and screen visuals.

Technology has moved on much faster than gaming graphics, a generation old mid end card can still run everything maxxed out perfectly. Top end cards are stupidly expensive, but that goes for everything - for regular gaming you'd get little use out of a top end card. If you want to pay for tri-screen 3D, then you might need something like that, but for gaming at resolutions like 1920x1200, you simply don't need it.

I thought BFG left the graphics card business? I'd check the warranty information and such on that before buying...

Although a newer card might not be a bad idea either way. That card'll run Skyrim (at one setting or another), but if you're buying a card for Skyrim, I'd wait several more months to see what else is available.

Well I still use my GF9800 GT and I can turn teh graphics up all the way on most every game I play. Inc crysis.

Indeed. Hardware is best bought with a budget in mind at last possible moment, as it will ensure you get the best deal for your money at that given time. That is why it is highly recommended never to pick out hardware till you have the money for it, because you could probably get something better once you do have the money. An $800 gaming computer today won't be as good as an $800 computer 2 years from now.