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Inexpensive upgrade for 7900GS?

M

Mloot

Diamond Member
I haven't gamed much recently, so I have not really kept up with video card advances. The pc I built for my boys (11 & 13) is currently running an AMD 5600+, 2gb DDR2, and a 7900GS card. The monitor is a standard, 4:3 19" LCD.

My boys are starting to enjoy pc gaming a bit more. Locally, I can get a used ATI 3850 for $60. Assuming I can sell the 7900GS for $10-20, is this a decent upgrade for the $, or can I get something better at a similar price? TIA.

 
Originally posted by: angry hampster
I could get a 4830 for $75. Check the hot deals forum. 🙂 Should be able 30-40% faster than the 3850.
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Thanks for the recommendation. Based on that, I looked at a couple of reviews, and it looks to be a decent buy. Hmm, it seems to be a little faster than my 3870, so maybe I'll snag one for me and give the 3870 to the kids. Their pc was built from my spare parts, anyway, and I can't have them running better gear than their old man.
 
Originally posted by: angry hampster
Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
What PSU do you have? You need something fairly decent to run that 4830.
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I can't imagine it'd use much more power than a 7900GS.
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4830 is about 85w full load
7900gs is about 45w full load
According to this link:
http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=264

So it would greatly help if we knew what PSU was being used and how old it is too.
 
Thanks for the input, guys. As far as the PSU goes, the system is running on an Antec Earthwatts 380 PSU. There is not too much else to the system, other than one optical drive, one HDD, an ATI tv tuner card, and a couple of case fans.
 
I have had a x1800xt (103w max) running on the same PSU, so you should be fine with the 85w 4830 GPU!!
 
I was going to get the 4830 based on the great advice you guys gave me, but I just snagged a used 3870 (locally) for $45. At that price, I couldn't pass it up. 🙂

Thanks again.
 
Originally posted by: Mloot
I was going to get the 4830 based on the great advice you guys gave me, but I just snagged a used 3870 (locally) for $45. At that price, I couldn't pass it up. 🙂

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

That's a good deal (and no rebate to worry about). At 1280 x 1024 resolution, the HD3870 should be good for a while. I think you would require at least an HD4830 if you go to a resolution of 1680 x 1050, but below that you should be good. The good thing about the HD4830 is that it overclocks really well, typically to HD4850 defaults speeds quite easily.

I've heard that ATI is coming out with a new card soon - basically a cheaper and lower power version of the HD4830. This looks like a very good bang-for-buck card in the near future.
 
Originally posted by: Lunyone
Originally posted by: angry hampster
Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
What PSU do you have? You need something fairly decent to run that 4830.
Click to expand...

I can't imagine it'd use much more power than a 7900GS.
Click to expand...

4830 is about 85w full load
7900gs is about 45w full load
According to this link:
http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=264

So it would greatly help if we knew what PSU was being used and how old it is too.
Click to expand...

how many systems have you built??? Sorry, but asking a question like that when the op is looking at a 4830 is kinda ridiculous.
 
Originally posted by: Mloot
I was going to get the 4830 based on the great advice you guys gave me, but I just snagged a used 3870 (locally) for $45. At that price, I couldn't pass it up. 🙂

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

that's the right move. the 3870 also has a much better cooling solution. :thumbsup:
 
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