Best GPU under $150

Alright, so I have finally convinced one of my roomates to start playing PC games (he plays half-life 2 and wants to play BF Bad Company 2 and BF3 if possible). He only has ~$150 to buy a graphics card (he is using integrated right now) so anything will be a huge help. Also, he only has a 350w PSU with no PCI 6-pin plugs. Are there any decent cards that don't require extra power from the PSU or will he have to upgrade that as well?

Does he have PCI-E or AGP?

Silly question kind of but with a PSU that old figured I'd ask. Honestly though your buddy might be euchred by the PSU, not necessary the fact there is no 6 pin but I'd be curious whether he has the appropriate amperage on the 12v rail to support any decent GPU.

I'd check that first and get back to us.

Do you know the rest of his system's specs? Without upgrading the PSU, I would recommend a 5670.

For $150 he could upgrade his PSU and get a better GPU though. At a quick glance I came up with these-

GPU-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150528

That's a 5750, which can handle any game at decent detail settings at up to about 1680x1050

This PSU isn't the greatest, but it will do the job for him if using a 5750, or even a card like a 6850 if he upgrades down the road.

It's a PCI board. Stock HP motherboard and all I know about it is it is AM3 socket. He has a 4 core AMD processor, but doesn't know exactly which it is, i'll have to look later. 6gb DDR3 (dunno what speed)

Alright, so I have finally convinced one of my roomates to start playing PC games (he plays half-life 2 and wants to play BF Bad Company 2 and BF3 if possible). He only has ~$150 to buy a graphics card (he is using integrated right now) so anything will be a huge help. Also, he only has a 350w PSU with no PCI 6-pin plugs. Are there any decent cards that don't require extra power from the PSU or will he have to upgrade that as well?

Smoke89

Unless he wants to upgrade his PSU you can do much better than an HD 5670.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161334&cm_re=hd_5670-_-14-161-334-_-Product

$130 for HD5830 I have this and can attest its great. I can play shogun 2 with maxed settings crysis 2 and crysis1 its really amazing for the price. and this comes with shogun 2.

Alright, from the sounds of it upgrading the PSU should be step 1. So he is willing to do this PSU (same one linked above):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017

Which leaves the question of what is the best card he can get for around $100-120

I'd get this PSU (although that corsair is fine too):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256060

with this video card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102898&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-102-898-_-Product

here is a good one for $150 from si and is even cheaper after main-in rebat looks to have decent cooling to.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127519&cm_re=gtx_768mb-_-14-127-519-_-Product

edit: didn't see he needed a new psu as well for $150 best to go with the above 5770 + psu combo.