Need advice on upgrading my gf's PC

[Geosurface]

So, my gf has a desktop which isn't great. Pretty bad actually. But, it does play Skyrim reasonably well. That's the main thing she likes to play.

I've been thinking about trying to make it play Skyrim better, and I'm looking for advice on what I could upgrade. The video card seems like the most likely candidate. Here are her current specs:

I know there are a lot of cards probably way better than what she's got which can be had these days for cheap, of course it's not a very large case she has and I wouldn't want to get some card that couldn't really spread it's wings with her other components holding it back.

So, I should probably get one of those budget model cards they have, I just don't know... advice would be awesome.

 

[NTMBK]

That CPU is pretty damn capable- definitely the graphics card that needs replacing. Do you know what the power supply is like in her PC? Is her case half-width, or full width?

If the PC would support it, I'd recommend a Radeon HD 7850, 2GB.

 

[taq8ojh]

All you need is a graphic card really. How about one of those cheaper 7xxx Radeons? They don't cost all THAT much, and are not huge monsters like 79xx ones.

 

[Geosurface]

I know that I remember getting her a better power supply when we bought that PC a couple years ago or whenever it was, the built in power supply was pretty lame.

I think a 7850 is probably way more than she needs, and too large for the case. The case is quite small. I also think it might tax even the better power supply I got her. I'll try to find out what the wattage is.

Any other suggestions for something not quite so beefy?

 

[NTMBK]

The next logical step down would be the HD 7790, or a Geforce 650Ti Boost.

 

[raghu78]

yeah the HD 7790 would be ideal. around 85w TDP. you could easily run that on a 350w PSU with just 24A on +12v rail.

 

[jaqie]

as a woman that games I would agree the 7770 or 7790 would be great. a few years ago I got an hd6850 and still love it, and that card is pretty similar.

 

[lagokc]

When you say it isn't a very large case what dimensions are you talking about?

If height it doesn't matter
If length it may matter
If width (low profile brackets) it absolutely will matter

 

[jaqie]

You didn't look up pics of the system, did you?

8 ball of common sense says "no."

 

[taq8ojh]

Pics? What pics? I don't see any.

 

[lagokc]

You didn't look up pics of the system, did you?

8 ball of common sense says "no."

Didn't even notice he listed the system model. XPS 8300, full height slots, looks like there's room for pretty much any single GPU card providing his power supply can handle it.

Depending on her budget all of these cards would work in order(ish) of increasing graphics quality:
Radeon 7750
Radeon 7770
Geforce 650ti
Radeon 7790
Geforce 650ti boost
Radeon 7850
Geforce 660

 

[NTMBK]

Okay, here's the inside of the XPS 8300:

Looks like it should be fine for space.

 

[frozentundra123456]

All you need is a graphic card really. How about one of those cheaper 7xxx Radeons? They don't cost all THAT much, and are not huge monsters like 79xx ones.

I have an xps 8300 with a 2320 which is the same CPU clocked slightly higher. My computer came with a 460 watt power supply. I think all xps comps have that same one. You did not really need to replace it for that card. I replaced the original card with a 7770 and can play skyrim on ultra at 1080p. I believe the7850 was a option in the highest end models so that should even work in that case with the stock power supply. However, I think a 7770 or 7790 would be enough.

 

[Geosurface]

Thanks all, I really appreciate the suggestions.

I'm looking around on Newegg a bit... ideally I'd like to get her something for $100ish, and am going to avoid exceeding the $150 zone. She's happy with what she's got, after all. I just feel like it'd be nice to get Skyrim running better for her. It runs reasonably well... but I'd like it to be smoother for her.

Anyone feel like making a recommendation given that price range?

I don't have too much loyalty to AMD or Nvidia, but at the moment I am using a 670 in my PC and I am feeling somewhat more positive toward Nvidia lately. It seems like you are all pushing the AMD stuff pretty hard so, I'm okay with that...

 

[SPBHM]

for around $100 I think the 7770 is an easy choice,

but if you want to use the HD textures, or some mods, I think the 650 Ti boost 2GB for $170 is a great choice, the same for the 7850 2GB.

 

[lagokc]

7750 and 7770 are both fine but be absolutely sure you get the GDDR5 version as the DDR3 version is much MUCH slower

If you want to get closer to $150 then the GeForce 650ti and Radeon 7790 are both a bit quicker.

 

[frozentundra123456]

7750 and 7770 are both fine but be absolutely sure you get the GDDR5 version as the DDR3 version is much MUCH slower

If you want to get closer to $150 then the GeForce 650ti and Radeon 7790 are both a bit quicker.

I got the 7770 because it was on sale for 90.00 AR at microcenter. When I bought it the 650ti was relatively new and expensive. The 7790 was not out yet. Any of those should be fine depending on price and how much you want to spend.

The only card mentioned so far I would avoid would be the HD7750. There is nothing wrong with it, but it has lower performance and is not that much cheaper than the 7770. Its main attraction is that most models do not need an external power connector, but that should not be an issue to you.

 

[daveybrat]

Here's what i'd get her, but the sale ends today so you need to hurry:

Galaxy 65IGH8DL7AXX GeForce GTX 650 Ti GC 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162127

It's on sale for $129.99 - promo code AFNJ0668 (13% off) = $113.10 - $20.00 mail-in-rebate

= $93.10 Total!

Can't really beat a GTX 650 Ti that is very small and short and powerful for only $93.10!

 

[Stuka87]

I think a 7790 would be the best card you could get for the PSU that the system has. Anything more and you really should upgrade the PSU.

 

[SPBHM]

I think a 7790 would be the best card you could get for the PSU that the system has. Anything more and you really should upgrade the PSU.

that's probably true, the 7790 is a great performer for the power it uses,
but

Here's what i'd get her, but the sale ends today so you need to hurry:

Galaxy 65IGH8DL7AXX GeForce GTX 650 Ti GC 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162127

It's on sale for $129.99 - promo code AFNJ0668 (13% off) = $113.10 - $20.00 mail-in-rebate

= $93.10 Total!

Can't really beat a GTX 650 Ti that is very small and short and powerful for only $93.10!

for this price this is a great deal, the 650 Ti is clearly better than the 7770, and for this price you can't go wrong.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Here's what i'd get her, but the sale ends today so you need to hurry:

Galaxy 65IGH8DL7AXX GeForce GTX 650 Ti GC 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162127

It's on sale for $129.99 - promo code AFNJ0668 (13% off) = $113.10 - $20.00 mail-in-rebate

= $93.10 Total!

Can't really beat a GTX 650 Ti that is very small and short and powerful for only $93.10!

That is a excellent deal.

 

[thtadthtshldntbe]

That's an odd looking amount of ram. 12288MB would be like 3 2GB sticks, but is that even likely to have shipped that way?

How much actual ram is in there? And not ram plus swapfile?

 

[jaqie]

looks like a pair of 4gb and a pair of 2gb to me.

Wait, is that video shared ram? if so, 4GB for video, looks like 4x 4GB ram.

 

[futurefields]

7770 all the way.

 

[SPBHM]

looks like a pair of 4gb and a pair of 2gb to me.

Wait, is that video shared ram? if so, 4GB for video, looks like 4x 4GB ram.

4650 is a discrete card, it probably have 512/1GB or even 2GB, but windows (Vista and higher) will always make some ram available for the graphics card.