I Need help on choosing a graphics card (ASAP would be nice)

[d3fu5i0n]

Hey guys,

Well to start, I have to stay around my grandparents a lot of the time (lol) and y'know, you get a bit bored from time-to-time, so you game in these situations (if there's nothing else to do, and/or your grandparents are a bit silly as being over-protective and you can't really go out).

So my grandparents current comp (which I built) consists of the following:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ (@ Stock 3.0GHz)
2X1GB Crucial DDR2-800MHZ CAS5 RAM.
XFX 4550 512MB GDDR2 Fansink stock 625/500 OC'd to 650/550
ASUS M3A76-CM Motherboard (BIOS 2101 / Latest)

The resolution of the monitor [which I also gave them, lol] is 1280x1024

Even at the lowest game settings (aside from the res. being native) with the GPU OC'd, framerates will be beyond dramatically poor.


There are forum threads out there discussing the best GPU for the 6000, although they have never come to a conclusion. I am planning to go ATi for this rig anyway, best price wins, and I'm finicky about keeping everything one branded. xD


Now, VRAM isn't much of an issue at this resolution, and 512MB GDDR5 should do it (if I go for something in the 5K series). Arvutihull on YouTube told me that a 5670 would be the best match.

I don't want ANY power of the GPU wasted. I feel that if I spend 'wasted' money, that it's pointless, especially in the situation of trying to get the best price.


What would be the best choice?

And if I were to run some Anti-Aliasing; say... MW2 maxed at 1280x1024 with 4xAA, would 512MB still cut it, or would I need the higher VRAM buffer to use AA at this res with high game settings?

I'd also be looking for 60FPS+ on games like that. Some games such as Crysis are an exception. BTW, does the original Crysis have a key 'limit' (Not referring to Warhead with it's revoke tool)? I've heard yes and no. Would like to know that as well.

[I can grab a HyperMemory version of the 512MB GDDR5 5670. So if the card wants more VRAM, it can more-or-less, temporarily "eat off of" the system memory. I could also go for one of those 'Green' 5750s, as I'd need to change the PSU which would also cost money. and a 'Green' edition would normally be a little weaker than the reference card and come without a power adapter, and being a little weaker might make it the right speed for the CPU.]

Hope you guys can help me ASAP.

Thanks

I need true experience here, as too many people are saying different things.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

512MB is pretty much enough for 1280x1024 with AA.

Now to best give you an answer we need to know exactly what games you will be playing. Some games are simply going to be limited by your processor. Other games aren't going to as limited. When AA is thrown into the mix this also increases the load on the GPU, and from my own experience at least 4xAA is what I would desire for every game.

You probably don't want to go higher than a 5770 (or 5750) from a performance standpoint. Beyond that and you will see more and more wasted power. But even in some games a 5770 will have some wasted performance; in other games not so much.

The only reason you would want to go with a more expensive video card would be to get added features. For example the 6000 and 5800 cards can do MLAA, and MLAA can make an IQ difference in games that don't normally have AA. Two examples of these games are GTA4 and Borderlands, so if you intend to play these games it may be a consideration to spend more for this added feature, despite the fact you will be wasting performance.

Then again that is a huge tradeoff in price. It would be wiser to also invest in a better CPU if you plan to spend more than $100.

edit:

Actually your board can support some newer processors. Pending on what you're playing you might need one.

edit 2:

So you're looking at a 5670 and 5750? Is that your price target and also your power budget? Those are fine choices if so. The 5670 is a good match for your 6000+, but like I said in some games its performance will be wasted. However in other games you could use the extra speed of the 5750 to enable higher levels of AA and better IQ. But you don't want to go beyond these choices, because you will run into wasted performance.

 

[Sephire]

^

For that specs 5700 series from AMD will be fine.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

512MB is pretty much enough for 1280x1024 with AA.

Now to best give you an answer we need to know exactly what games you will be playing. Some games are simply going to be limited by your processor. Other games aren't going to as limited. When AA is thrown into the mix this also increases the load on the GPU, and from my own experience at least 4xAA is what I would desire for every game.

You probably don't want to go higher than a 5770 (or 5750) from a performance standpoint. Beyond that and you will see more and more wasted power. But even in some games a 5770 will have some wasted performance; in other games not so much.

The only reason you would want to go with a more expensive video card would be to get added features. For example the 6000 and 5800 cards can do MLAA, and MLAA can make an IQ difference in games that don't normally have AA. Two examples of these games are GTA4 and Borderlands, so if you intend to play these games it may be a consideration to spend more for this added feature, despite the fact you will be wasting performance.

Then again that is a huge tradeoff in price. It would be wiser to also invest in a better CPU if you plan to spend more than $100.

edit:

Actually your board can support some newer processors. Pending on what you're playing you might need one.

edit 2:

So you're looking at a 5670 and 5750? Is that your price target and also your power budget? Those are fine choices if so. The 5670 is a good match for your 6000+, but like I said in some games its performance will be wasted. However in other games you could use the extra speed of the 5750 to enable higher levels of AA and better IQ. But you don't want to go beyond these choices, because you will run into wasted performance.

I know that some games are more GPU and others more CPU dependant. I know my stuff, it's just that I haven't built enough rigs to know what should go with what very well. Especially since I know near to nothing about the old K8 architecture.
I won't be using MLAA, hate it xD Obvious reasons. (My rig is pretty decent:
Q6700 @3.6GHz, 2X2GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR2-800MHz @ 865MHz 4-4-4-12-3T 2.0V, 2x5770 @ Stock 850/1200 Non-Ref in CrossFireX, P5Q Premium (BIOS 2406 / Latest), CM Hyper N520, XFX 650W XXX PSU, Antec 900 with 120mm side panel fan). So when I basically cannot game at all from a decent system, it's hell.

The games I will definitely be playing are:

MW2,
HL2,
TM NationsForever (CPU dependant, but it doesn't do too bad, it's actually the best playing game out of all of these on my grandparents comp.),
FEAR2,
Assassin's Creed (1),
L4D2,
GRID.

Price is a "biggy", so I'm not looking to upgrade the CPU. I live in the UK, I'd buy from Play, Amazon, eBuyer or BT Shop.

I need to know what is RIGHT for that CPU before I say - I've got a target price. I'm trying to see if I can order one tonight as I've got to stay at my grandparents for over a week from tonight.
I can grab a 5670 512MB GDDR5 for £58, and for £59 I can get the same model but with HyperMemory functionality, so the GPU can eat off of the system memory. (The 4550 at the moment, is in fact a HyperMemory model). A 5750 seems too pricey at the moment. Some people have said anything above a 5550 will be a bottleneck, I know that's not true myself. -See what I mean by everyone is saying vastly different things~.

 

[titan131]

I think a 5670 would be a good idea, there is no performance difference between a 512gb 5670 or a 1gb 5670 so i cant see hypermemory being advantageous. I would get this one http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190138 because its sapphire (good make) and free delivery.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

I think a 5670 would be a good idea, there is no performance difference between a 512gb 5670 or a 1gb 5670 so i cant see hypermemory being advantageous. I would get this one http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190138 because its sapphire (good make) and free delivery.

That's the £58 I was talking about.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

These are the options I'm punting for.
But at the same time, no one has made a TRUE conclusion for the right GPU...

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190138 - Sapphire HD 5670 512MB GDDR5
£58.89
On Amazon UK however, this is £54.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAPPHIRE-HD.../dp/B0032W414O/ref=dp_cp_ob_computers_title_0

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190139 - Sapphire HD 5670 512MB GDDR5 Hyper Memory
£59.93

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179468 - Inno3D GT 240 512MB GDDR3
£50.93

Or has anyone yet come to a TRUE conclusion?
As long as MW2 can be played by one of these at 1280x1024 maxed out plus 4xAA can average 60FPS+ or more, then I'd like to know...

DX11 isn't a must, but DX10 would be nice (AC1) - Of course, all of these can handle the DX10 API.

 

[MentalIlness]

Totally forget the GT 240. And the benches below, are the GDDR5 card.

 

[MentalIlness]

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=623&card2=620

 

[titan131]

On Amazon UK however, this is £54.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAPPHIRE-HD5...puters_title_0

that's a sweet deal, the 5670 must have gone down in price recently. I thought 58 was a good price.

Edit: that 240 is gddr3 which makes it very slow, not worth £50

 

[flexcore]

IMHO, get the Sapphire 5670. It's a great match for your system and really good price.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

IMHO, get the Sapphire 5670. It's a great match for your system and really good price.

Haha, it's funny as I explained it's my grandparents system at the start... xD

Anyway, I've had a long chat with Arvutihull he still recommends the 5670.

I think I'm gonna snap for the 5670 512MB GDDR5 Standard (Non-HyperMemory) off of Amazon for £55

Thanks for your decision maker...

(Is there a 'solved' box I have to do for this thread?)

 

[cusideabelincoln]

For the games you listed a 5670 is a good option. Those aren't particularly demanding games for the GPU, and they aren't too bad on the CPU either. A 5670 is a good match. The hypermemory... is just a gimmick. It really won't add any performance benefits. Since that system only has 2GB of RAM it definitely wouldn't be worth it to have the video card steal system RAM. You'll be dipping into the page file a lot with only 1.5GB of available RAM.

And I see how you can be confused with people saying an HD 5550 is more than enough. Those people don't know what they are talking about.

 

[amenx]

1280x1024 is too underwhelming for good gaming nowadays. I would upgrade to a larger widescreen monitor.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

1280x1024 is too underwhelming for good gaming nowadays. I would upgrade to a larger widescreen monitor.

Have you not read anything that I've said (don't take me sounding angrily, I can't find a nice way to say it :\). It's my grandparent's computer, it's not like they need a 30" 2560x1600 monitor.
I used to game on this 1280x1024, 1280x1024 is okay, I prefer 4:3 on some games anyway. Even though it uses VGA, I think it's one in a million as it looks as good as my LG W2261VP 1920x1080 2ms 22" screen on DVI.

I've ordered the card anyway

 

[d3fu5i0n]

A: You'll be dipping into the page file a lot with only 1.5GB of available RAM.

B: And I see how you can be confused with people saying an HD 5550 is more than enough. Those people don't know what they are talking about.

A: That's exactly what I was thinking, and shared memory is like ReadyBoost, it's not the real thing and is slower as algorithms have to be re-addressed.

B: I know those people don't know what they're talking about
By the way what do you mean 'I see how you (me) can be confused with people saying an HD 5550 is more than enough'? I wasn't confused, I know they don't know what they're talking about [we all have to learn]. I know my stuff with a 5570, and even that with GDDR3 at 1280x1024 struggles to run GRID at medium fluidly.

 

[flexcore]

Haha, it's funny as I explained it's my grandparents system at the start... xD

Anyway, I've had a long chat with Arvutihull he still recommends the 5670.

I think I'm gonna snap for the 5670 512MB GDDR5 Standard (Non-HyperMemory) off of Amazon for £55

Thanks for your decision maker...

(Is there a 'solved' box I have to do for this thread?)

Actually I did read it. You built it and you will be the one playing games on it. Sure it may be at their place but, come on. I don't think they need an upgrade, it's for you to play games. I gave you my best opinion, so did others. Now go choose your card and enjoy gaming.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

Actually I did read it. You built it and you will be the one playing games on it. Sure it may be at their place but, come on. I don't think they need an upgrade, it's for you to play games. I gave you my best opinion, so did others. Now go choose your card and enjoy gaming.

Yes, fair point.
Well I did order the 5670.

 

[Mopetar]

What you're going to want to do is find a really good deal for a 580. Then when you're checking out, make sure to change the 1 in your cart to a 2 because we're going to SLI those bad-asses. Because we want to unleash their maximum potential we're going to need water-cooling. I'm guessing your board doesn't have SLI support so you're going to need to get a new one of those too. It'll probably be incompatible with your CPU so you might as well just upgrade that as well. The i7 990X just came out and that would be a great chip to pair with the 580s. Going to need some new RAM since 2 GB of DDR2 is really going to hold the rest of that system back. Don't be afraid to get too much.

Guessing you'll need a new case and power supply as well since the old one probably can't contain the shear awesome that your upgrade is becoming. 1000W should be able to handle it. Making the transition to solid state drives is also advisable. I'd get at least two so that you can RAID them, but depending on what kind of RAID setting you want to use you may want 4 or more drives. If you're worried about data integrity you can stick with the SLC drives. In 40 years you'll be glad that your Sim Farm game saves are still around. Trust me on that one.

Using this rig at 1280 x 1024 would probably produce frame rates that would melt your eyes so I suggesting getting a more appropriate monitor. 2560 x 1600 should be able to handle it. Get two of those as well since multi-monitor gaming is way more awesome. You can also use the extra monitor for increased productivity if the gaming ever gets tiring. That reminds me, you should grab a Blu-ray drive for this thing so you can watch high-def movies on this thing as well and since you have two monitors you can get some work done while watching the movie. Told you it would come in handy.

Some people think they're a waste of money, but I'd recommend a dedicated sound card as well. 5.1 surround will make the games and movies way more enjoyable.

Yes, fair point.
Well I did order the 5670.

Oh, in that case never mind.

 

[badb0y]

What you're going to want to do is find a really good deal for a 580. Then when you're checking out, make sure to change the 1 in your cart to a 2 because we're going to SLI those bad-asses. Because we want to unleash their maximum potential we're going to need water-cooling. I'm guessing your board doesn't have SLI support so you're going to need to get a new one of those too. It'll probably be incompatible with your CPU so you might as well just upgrade that as well. The i7 990X just came out and that would be a great chip to pair with the 580s. Going to need some new RAM since 2 GB of DDR2 is really going to hold the rest of that system back. Don't be afraid to get too much.

Guessing you'll need a new case and power supply as well since the old one probably can't contain the shear awesome that your upgrade is becoming. 1000W should be able to handle it. Making the transition to solid state drives is also advisable. I'd get at least two so that you can RAID them, but depending on what kind of RAID setting you want to use you may want 4 or more drives. If you're worried about data integrity you can stick with the SLC drives. In 40 years you'll be glad that your Sim Farm game saves are still around. Trust me on that one.

Using this rig at 1280 x 1024 would probably produce frame rates that would melt your eyes so I suggesting getting a more appropriate monitor. 2560 x 1600 should be able to handle it. Get two of those as well since multi-monitor gaming is way more awesome. You can also use the extra monitor for increased productivity if the gaming ever gets tiring. That reminds me, you should grab a Blu-ray drive for this thing so you can watch high-def movies on this thing as well and since you have two monitors you can get some work done while watching the movie. Told you it would come in handy.

Some people think they're a waste of money, but I'd recommend a dedicated sound card as well. 5.1 surround will make the games and movies way more enjoyable.



Oh, in that case never mind.

lol'd

 

[d3fu5i0n]

lol'd

Same

Even my rig at home isn't that good
I mainly laughed as a 990x isn't out. The 980X is a 1366 chip. We're on Sandy Bridge now, and Ivy Bridge will most likely be the new X(treme) series replacement.

 

[badb0y]

Same

Even my rig at home isn't that good
I mainly laughed as a 990x isn't out. The 980X is a 1366 chip. We're on Sandy Bridge now, and Ivy Bridge will most likely be the new X(treme) series replacement.

You are eyes will melt
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Intel_Starts_Selling_Core_i7-990X_Officially/551-114516-581.html

 

[d3fu5i0n]

:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O

Oh, and the 5670 arrived early, turns out it's a HyperMemory model, good thing though as the added/shared buffer was being used. I realised even on MW2 at 1280x1024 that 2GB of RAM wasn't enough, the game was eating around 1.1-1.2GB itself, and needed more.
I realised I had a spare 800MHz 1GB DIMM around at my grandparents (as I'm having to stay for a fortnight round my grandparents xD), so now 3GB just about cuts it

Good system now: WEI in W7 HP x86 is - CPU 6.0, RAM 6.0, GPU 7.0, Gaming GPU 7.0, HDD 5.9