Looking for options, upgrading from HD 6850 to ...

[mrc_northeast]

Hi,

I am looking for ideas on upgrading my GPU:

My current pc setup is:
Asrock z68 pro3 gen3 @ stock settings
I5 2500K @ stock settings
Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1Gb GDDR5 GPU
16 Gigs Ram 4x4 Gigs @ stock settings
2 HDD's (one WD and one Seagate)
1 is win 7 32 bit OS
1 is win 10 64 bit OS
Samsung 955DF 19" CRT (VGA)
Seasonic 650w Gold PS

I use this pc for both gaming and some photo editing with Lightroom and Photoshop, with a custom color calibration.

I am looking to upgrade my Video card right now (max $250 upgrade). Reason is that one of the games I am starting to play SWBF crashes every time I launch the game unless I add -novid -noborder -windowed, under the game launch options. Now that works, but the 6850 is only 1Gb ram and is 5 years old or so, also is below the minimum recommended GPU's for that game, so out with the old and in with the new.

Sounds simple until I noticed that all the latest GPU's only having DVI-D instead of DVI-I ports. So my choices are buy an older gen video card with DVI-I (like the GeForce GTX 950) or go for a newer 1050 Ti, or 470, and a DVI to VGA active converter, like a Gofanco or Star from Amazon. If I do that 1080p gaming at 60Hz is the max, I am not sure what that converter will do the colors, seems like a potential issue to me. Nevermind being limited to 60Hz. Right now my monitor settings are 1280x1024@75 Mhz.

I could get a new monitor as well (max $300 upgrade), but I do not see an affordable monitor that has good color and is good on games. Not great at either, just good at both. Seems like the newer monitors are either good at games or good with colors, whites, blacks, etc, but not both. The desk my pc is at doesn’t have room for two monitors.

I am leanings towards saving my $$$ right now and just get the gtx 950 2gb gpu. It is only 2 tiers higher than my current GPU, but it is above the minimum for Swbf, and has the DVI-I port, so no converter needed. The $$$ I save will go towards a newer pc in the future.

Or I could get a 1050 Ti 4gb, or a 470 4gb and be set on a video card for a little while, but I would have to use the DVI-D to Vga converter until I get a new monitor. Have you used one of those converters? If so what do you think of them?

Or I lighten the wallet more than I want and get a new GPU and a new monitor, but I need to find a monitor that is good on color gamut and good on games. Do you know of any monitors good at games and that has decent colors?

So what would you do? What do you recommend?


Thanks for reading all that! -Mrc_northeast

PS I will post this on one other www forum, to get other opinions as well.

 

[crisium]

Overclock the 2500k. A lot. If you need better cooling include that in your costs. This will allow you to get much more mileage out of whatever GPU you buy.

Buy a modern monitor. Sorry, I have no recommendations for which.

Buy the best card you can afford after that. RX 480 8GB = GTX 1060 6GB > RX 480 4GB > RX 470 > GTX 1050 Ti > GTX 1050 > RX 460 4GB = GTX 950 2GB > RX 460 2GB*

The Radeon 6850 is a 1x6pin card though, so check your PSU. If you only have 1x6pin you will be limited to GTX 1050 Ti at the most (check models, some have more than 1x6pin).

*If you are interested in the used market and have the PSU to hanlde it, there are faster and older less energy efficient cards that smash the 460 and 950 (and even edge out the 1050 at times). Used Radeons 7950, 7970, 280, 280X, for example.

 

[Bacon1]

I could get a new monitor as well (max $300 upgrade), but I do not see an affordable monitor that has good color and is good on games. Not great at either, just good at both. Seems like the newer monitors are either good at games or good with colors, whites, blacks, etc, but not both. The desk my pc is at doesn’t have room for two monitors.

Monitors these days are very good. Even TN panels are much better than they were before.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZW50M9169

There is a 144hz 1080p for $230.

If you are worried though you can always go for an IPS/VA, though its more expensive to get them over 60hz.

Or I could get a 1050 Ti 4gb, or a 470 4gb and be set on a video card for a little while, but I would have to use the DVI-D to Vga converter until I get a new monitor. Have you used one of those converters? If so what do you think of them?

I'd recommend the 470 over the 1050 Ti. It is much faster for not very much more money.'

http://www.hardwareunboxed.com/the-best-sub-200-graphics-card-gtx-1050-ti-vs-rx-470-rx-460-4gb/

If your PSU only has 1 6 pin and not an 8pin (or 6+2) you could go reference:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202230

$164 + $10 MIR and comes with Hitman

If it does have a 8 or 6+2 (8) you could get a better cooler for a few bucks more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137050

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125896&cm_re=470-_-14-125-896-_-Product

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150776&cm_re=470-_-14-150-776-_-Product

and many others as well. Those come with hitman and few even have MIR so under $170 total

Pretty sure your Seasonic 650w has multiple 6+2 pins but just make sure

So $170 + $230 = $400 total for a huge improvement. 1920x1080 is 50% more pixels than what you are running now, and that monitor supports freesync 30-144hz.

 

[crisium]

Freesync + 470 is actually a very smart idea for the money.

 

[happy medium]

Save your money and buy a used EVGA GTX 950 SC 2GB for $75.
https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...lg-bluray-burner-gigabyte-990fxa-ud3.2495926/

Easily 2x faster than your current gpu.
Max out most any game @ 1280x1024 res.
Low power, less heat.
No converter needed.

Or a used Gigabyte G1 gamer gtx970 for $150 shipped.
3x faster than your current gpu
Runs most games with high settings even at 1080p if you upgrade.
overclocks to gtx980, rx480 speeds.
No converter needed.
https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/fs-intel-i7-5820k-970-gtx.2494989/

 

[Bacon1]

Save your money and buy a used EVGA GTX 950 SC 2GB for $75.
https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...lg-bluray-burner-gigabyte-990fxa-ud3.2495926/

Easily 2x faster than your current gpu.
Max out most any game @ 1280x1024 res.
Low power, less heat.
No converter needed.

That card doesn't support VGA so he'd still need a converter.

Its also half or less as fast as a 470:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RtTzsUhwxY

So not really that great of a deal for the money

 

[happy medium]

So my choices are buy an older gen video card with DVI-I (

That card doesn't support VGA so he'd still need a converter.

Its also half or less as fast as a 470:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RtTzsUhwxY

So not really that great of a deal for the money

He needs Dvi-i not VGA , and both cards I suggested have it.
See?!
Save your money and buy a used EVGA GTX 950 SC 2GB for $75.
https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...lg-bluray-burner-gigabyte-990fxa-ud3.2495926/

Easily 2x faster than your current gpu.
Max out most any game @ 1280x1024 res.
Low power, less heat.
No converter needed.

Or a used Gigabyte G1 gamer gtx970 for $150 shipped.
3x faster than your current gpu
Runs most games with high settings even at 1080p if you upgrade.
overclocks to gtx980, rx480 speeds.
No converter needed.
https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/fs-intel-i7-5820k-970-gtx.2494989/

 

[Shmee]

I would agree it is time for a new monitor first. And OC the 2500k

 

[frozentundra123456]

Yea, my first upgrade would be a new monitor. Even a hundred dollar-ish 23 or 24 inch 1080p TN one would be a huge upgrade over what you have, and would give you a better experience in everyday use as well as gaming. You will also even more need to upgrade the video card with a higher res monitor, but trust me it will be worth it. Right now I think the RX 470 is probably the best buy available for midrange gaming. This one XFX RX470 is a 165.00 after rebate with a free Hitman game code. If you wanted to go 200.00 to 250.00 for the gpu, an 8gb 480 or 6 gb 1060 would probably have more longevity, but for the price, that 470 is a great deal.

 

[Bigbadwu]

newegg has a msi rx 480 4gb for about 155 after rebate and android pay

 

[ElFenix]

Are these cheapy TN LCDs going to deliver anywhere near the accurate color that the old CRT does?

 

[Bacon1]

He needs Dvi-i not VGA , and both cards I suggested have it.
See?!

He'd still have to use a DVI-VGA adapter, he clearly stated the monitor was VGA.

Or a used Gigabyte G1 gamer gtx970 for $150 shipped.

Why are you trying to push old used parts for the same price as a new 470 that also comes with a game and freesync support? Not to mention the 470 will be faster out of the box and can be OC'd as well, and has more VRAM.

 

[Shmee]

A 470, 480 or 1060 would all be a good upgrade as far as a video card I think. But monitor should come first, and you will likely be CPU bottle necked with the 2500k at stock.

 

[vissarix]

Hi,

I am looking for ideas on upgrading my GPU:

A gtx1060 or rx480 would be both good upgrades, as someone suggested $150 gtx970 would be the best choice...especially considering that is faster then an rx470 and has huge oc capability...

just buy an adapter dvi-? to vga is cheap anyway...i bought a crt lately and to be fair is way better then any tn monitor will ever be...no ghosting, no input lag, way better colours, high refresh rate..in my case 170hz althought at low resolutions..

i would also recommend selling your i5 2500k and get an i7 2600k and overclock it...you might spend $50 in the process but its worth it..

 

[AtenRa]

XFX RX 480 8GB for just $210 AR

 

[happy medium]

I am leanings towards saving my $$$ right now and just get the gtx 950 2gb gpu. It is only 2 tiers higher than my current GPU, but it is above the minimum for Swbf, and has the DVI-I port, so no converter needed. The $$$ I save will go towards a newer pc in the future.

Smart move. that's what I would do.

 

[Bacon1]

bought a crt lately and to be fair is way better then any tn monitor will ever be...no ghosting, no input lag, way better colours, high refresh rate..in my case 170hz althought at low resolutions..

OP is only getting 75hz @ 1280x1024 on a 19". Getting a good freesync monitor and a 470/480 would be a massive improvement.

 

[happy medium]

OP is only getting 75hz @ 1280x1024 on a 19". Getting a good freesync monitor and a 470/480 would be a massive improvement.

He needs a monitor for color reproduction not so much a gaming monitor.

Read his original post

 

[Bacon1]

He needs a monitor for color reproduction not so much a gaming monitor.

Read his original post

Which is yet another reason that >19" and 1280x1024 is huge upgrade. There are tons of IPS screens he can choose from as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824260488

Dell SE2717Hx 27" 1920x1080 IPS 75hz almost no bezel (compared to massive bezel on his CRT)

$159.99

Edit:

And for ultrawide:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222227024791

LG Electronics 29 Inch Ultra Wide IPS 75hz 2560x1080 for $240

 

[happy medium]

There are tons of IPS screens he can choose from as well.

We all know that but..........
How many of them produce excellent color reproduction at a decent price?

You really need to read his post thoroughly.

 

[Bacon1]

We all know that but..........
How many of them produce excellent color reproduction at a decent price?

You really need to read his post thoroughly.

The only one that needs to read posts is you. I've listed options and just searching newegg or amazon for IPS screens under $300 is simple. You were trying to sell him on old bad parts which would have required him to use an adapter for very little actual gain. If you aren't going to read my posts, stop responding to them.

 

[happy medium]

The only one that needs to read posts is you. I've listed options and just searching newegg or amazon for IPS screens under $300 is simple. You were trying to sell him on old bad parts which would have required him to use an adapter for very little actual gain. If you aren't going to read my posts, stop responding to them.

No I was trying to save the guy a few bucks.
An adapter ($5) costs way way less than a converter, there is a difference.
You can link 1,000 IPS monitors, it won't change the fact many of those monitors are not good for COLOR REPRODUCTION. That's what the OP wants, not any old gaming monitor with a fast refresh rate.

He plays SWBF , with a 6850, I think a gtx950 or a used gtx970 are great options considering his 2500k STOCK cpu vs a gtx950 or gtx970 with a overclocked 2500k.

Should he look for a better monitor, sure, but mabe a simple $75 gtx950 upgrade with (5$ adapter) with his current monitor is good for now. He should save the money and update the whole system including the monitor later.

 

[Bacon1]

You can link 1,000 IPS monitors, it won't change the fact many of those monitors are not good for COLOR REPRODUCTION. T

Except this is completely wrong. IPS monitors have excellent color reproduction. That's why you'd buy an IPS not TN panels.

No I was trying to save the guy a few bucks.

Or a used Gigabyte G1 gamer gtx970 for $150 shipped.

I'm trying to get him the best upgrade for his money, and that would last him a very long time and improve his general usage a ton over his old 19" CRT. He is specifically asking for monitor upgrades in the OP:

Or I lighten the wallet more than I want and get a new GPU and a new monitor, but I need to find a monitor that is good on color gamut and good on games. Do you know of any monitors good at games and that has decent colors?

If I was him and going to upgrade anything, I wouldn't just buy a used old GPU that isn't that big of a gain over current. I'd go for a whole new experience and make my money fell well spent.

 

[happy medium]

IPS monitors have excellent color reproduction

That's like saying all video cards are fast.
IPS monitor generally are better than TN monitors but does that make them ALL good for color reproduction? NO

 

[happy medium]

If I was him and going to upgrade anything, I wouldn't just buy a used old GPU that isn't that big of a gain over current. I'd go for a whole new experience and make my money fell well spent.

You just repeated what I was telling you.
Buy a $75 gtx950 now and do a full upgrade.