Cost-Efficient Graphics Cards?

[PallElendro]

I'm in the market for computers hardware to build my own PC. With the multitude of video games that exist in the world, I want to grow out of this lousy Intel HD Graphics 3000 shell and move to the class of GeForce, and not for the looks, but because I can actually get some solid FPS from them. If a single card can run a high-end game fine, I will. If not, I'd like to see about linking multiple cheap cards through Scalable Link Interface.
StarCraft II or Planetside 2 on Medium graphics is a good benchmark, in my opinion. What are the Playground's thoughts on a competitive but not hardcore GPU?

[Resasi]

You can swing a GTX 750 for around $120 (http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Dual-Link-Graphics-01G-P4-2751-KR/dp/B00IDG3NDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397784697&sr=8-1&keywords=GTX+750) these days. Planetside 2 is an odd game though, since a great deal of the graphical problems come from it being so CPU bound, rather than GPU. Still, you should be able to run PS2 on high or ultra with the card, assuming you have a decent processor. Huge battles might result in some FPS drop, but that happens even with my current i7/SLI setup, so it's just part of the game to a degree. If your processor is only passable, increasing graphical quality in PS2 can actually result in an increase in FPS in some cases.

The 750 should be able to run most other modern games on high or ultra at around 60 fps.

[factotum]

I usually check out the Tom's Hardware giude to the best value graphics cards if I'm in the market for a new one:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

[Unseenmal]

You can swing a GTX 750 for around $120 (http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Dual-Link-Graphics-01G-P4-2751-KR/dp/B00IDG3NDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397784697&sr=8-1&keywords=GTX+750) these days. Planetside 2 is an odd game though, since a great deal of the graphical problems come from it being so CPU bound, rather than GPU. Still, you should be able to run PS2 on high or ultra with the card, assuming you have a decent processor. Huge battles might result in some FPS drop, but that happens even with my current i7/SLI setup, so it's just part of the game to a degree. If your processor is only passable, increasing graphical quality in PS2 can actually result in an increase in FPS in some cases.

The 750 should be able to run most other modern games on high or ultra at around 60 fps.

I agree with Resasi. But I would recomment the GTX 750ti 2GB (it's $150 on Newegg.com). Compared to Video Cards that were 2-3x the price, it was so much better. Plus it is using the new Maxwell architecture which helps it perform better than higher priced cards on the old arch. I have thrown every game at it that I have in my arsenal and it handles them all with no issues. These are games that I used to play on medium graphics settings with an older Radeon 2gb video card. Now I play them all on the highest they can go.

I recommend PassMark benchmark site (http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/) for all of your benchmark needs.