Question Graphics Card Recommendation For my Son

TheSiege

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2004
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This is what I have, according to Belarc

MB: Big Bang-Xpower MS-7666 Bus Clock 133mhz
CPU: 3.07 GHZ i7 950
RAM: 24GB 6x4 unregistered hynix 2Rx8-PC3-12800e
HDD: Micron 800GB SSD M500DC_MTFDDAK800MBB and 5 OCZ2 D2CSTK251M3T-240 in a Raid 5, the one windows creates
PSU: 850W
Current GPU: N/A

Let me know what video card I should get for gaming that wont be more powerful than this system can handle/use. Thanks
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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Seriously? That rig is still pretty beefy. Better talk to @aigomorla and @Burpo , about dropping in a 32nm hex-core CPU (6C/12T), and overclocking. (Is the i7-950 4C/8T, or 6C/12T already? I've forgotten about those older CPUs.)

Either way, consider an RX 580 8GB (there was one posted, an XFX XXX edition, for $189.99 @ Newegg, with some free games, no rebate needed), or a GTX 1060 6GB, or a GTX 1070 8GB (there's one on ShellShocker or DailyDeals on Newegg, for like 2 more hours.)

I'm sure you'll get some more comments. I'm not really GPU-partisan, but some people are. Does your Son have a preference for NVidia or AMD, by any chance? The RX 580 is an AMD GPU, and the GTX 1060 or 1070 are NVidia GPUs.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
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id still buy the 1070, crank the i7 950 to 4ghz and enjoy it on most games not being bottle-necked but the ones it does its ok. I recently purchased both a 1060 and 1070 to give away 150 zotac and 200 for the 1070 evga.
 

yepp

Senior member
Jul 30, 2006
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If you drop in a hex core and overclock it, I wouldn't hesitate to pair it up with a 1070 Ti or a even a 1080. Games are only going to get more GPU heavy.

If you overclock the i7 950, a 1070 would be a good match. A 4Ghz first gen i7 would hold 60fps in most games so you can crank up the graphic settings all you like.

If you intend to make no changes with the CPU and run it at stock go with a 1060 6GB, instead of the 580. Nvidia drivers has less CPU overhead so you'll get more out of a 1060 than a 580.
 
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TheSiege

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2004
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Maybe I will overclock the CPU, is the stock heatsink and fan ok? Its for my kid, and I am not sure how much he will really use it anyway
 

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 13, 2008
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No the stock heatsink likely will not due for OCing. I would update the bios, put in a Xeon X5660 or X5670, and then probably start looking at RX 590s, GTX 1070s and GTX 1070 Tis.