Need the best card for my setup without any additonal upgrades

slicksilver

Golden Member
Mar 14, 2000
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Just trying to make sure that I dont get an overkill and hence lose out on the value. My desktop has currently got a Q6600 2.4 Ghz CPU and 4 GB Ram. HDD is 7200 RPM and I have a very basic intel motherboard. Rest all is standard.

The video card upgrade is soley for gaming purpose.

Thank you all.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
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Originally posted by: EnzoLT
hd5870, you wont be upgrading for a while with that

If you overclock and get your chip over 3 ghz then it pays to get a 5800 series. If not overclocking.........well you better overclock that chip!:thumbsup:
 

slicksilver

Golden Member
Mar 14, 2000
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no overclocking for me. For the 5870, I wouldn't need any extra power PSU would I?

Thanks
 

betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
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Originally posted by: rajkanneganti
For the 5870, I wouldn't need any extra power PSU would I?

We can only guess because you haven't told us anything about your current PSU.

 

IlllI

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2002
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nobody has asked the important question about what resolution is your monitor

 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Originally posted by: rajkanneganti
no overclocking for me. For the 5870, I wouldn't need any extra power PSU would I?

Thanks

if you are not going to overclock that stock Q6600 then dont fool with the 5870 especially below 1920x1080. a 5870 is as fast as a 4870x2 and your stock cpu will not do that card justice. the 5850 makes much more sense as even that card will be held back a little bit with a stock Q6600, especially at lower resolutions, compared to faster cpus. even if you are at 1920x1080 then still get a 5850 over the 5870 especially since the 5850 is a better value. below 1920x1080 and especially below 1680x1050 I would get a 5770 if you arent going to overclock that Q6600. a 5770 will also be a much better if you dont have a decent psu. also you really need to give more detailed specs when asking for this type of advice.
 

crisium

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2001
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2560 = 5870 (overclock that CPU if mobo allows it!!)
1920 = 5850
1680 = 4890 1GB
lower = 4870 1GB (might as well have the extra memory)

Give us your PSU total watts and amps on the 12v (if known). Also what's your current card, in case you don't know all the PSU specs. If you have a really low PSU we may advise you to wait for the 5770, but otherwise I'm sticking with the recommendations above.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
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Originally posted by: Crisium
2560 = 5870 (overclock that CPU if mobo allows it!!)
1920 = 5850
1680 = 4890 1GB
lower = 4870 1GB (might as well have the extra memory)

Give us your PSU total watts and amps on the 12v (if known). Also what's your current card, in case you don't know all the PSU specs. If you have a really low PSU we may advise you to wait for the 5770, but otherwise I'm sticking with the recommendations above.

Finally someone with a brain! :thumbsup:
 

slicksilver

Golden Member
Mar 14, 2000
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The native resolution of my monitor is 1440*900 and do not plan on upgrading my screen anytime soon. Graphics is onboard i.e. Intel GMA 3100. I have no idea about the power supply and I remember well it was an elcheapo and I didn't spend much on it. I cant find a screwdriver to open the PC :|

Thank you all
 

crisium

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2001
2,643
615
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I'd check that PSU if I were you. Like I said, 4870 1GB would be a great card for that setting. But it uses a fair bit of power. You may prefer to wait for the 5750 or 5770, which should be out in the coming week. Anticipated performance ranges from: at worst 5750 in between 4850 and 4870 (pessimists) to at best 5770>=4890 (optimists). So either card would work well for you. With an el cheapo PSU you would want that, most likey (but give us the specs please).
 

nicnas

Junior Member
Sep 19, 2009
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Originally posted by: Crisium
2560 = 5870 (overclock that CPU if mobo allows it!!)
1920 = 5850
1680 = 4890 1GB
lower = 4870 1GB (might as well have the extra memory)

Give us your PSU total watts and amps on the 12v (if known). Also what's your current card, in case you don't know all the PSU specs. If you have a really low PSU we may advise you to wait for the 5770, but otherwise I'm sticking with the recommendations above.

+1 for that post!

With a 1440x900 monitor, 5770 or 5750 are your best choice and you can keep your power supply too! If you prefer nVidia, the 9600GT is a great card and it's not very power hungry, just make sure its not one of the cheap DDR2 models.
 
Aug 11, 2008
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Quote:
With a 1440x900 monitor, 5770 or 5750 are your best choice and you can keep your power supply too! If you prefer nVidia, the 9600GT is a great card and it's not very power hungry, just make sure its not one of the cheap DDR2 models.[/quote]



I just got a 9600GT, the "low power" model from Galaxy. I am very happy with its performance at 1440x900, and am running it on a very generic 300 watt power supply.

So if you power supply is weak, I would suggest an ATI 4670or 4770 or a 9600GT. Check the output of your power supply and whether it has an external six pin connector.
The 4770 and most 9600GTs require an external connector, while the 4670 does not.

These cards should all be cheap, but they would not support Dx11 of course.
If you are concerned about this, wait for the 57xx series or even the 56xx series from ATI, as suggested already.


 

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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If you have Vista (which supports DX11) I would definitely consider one of the newer Video cards (plus they use electricity more efficiently as well)
 

alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
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a 9600 GT isn't anywhere near in the same league as a 5770. it's not even as fast as a 4770. i would just wait a little while and get a 5750. they're going to be cheap.


what's your problem with overclocking? there is a lot of longevity you can get out of that processor.
 
Aug 11, 2008
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Originally posted by: alyarb
a 9600 GT isn't anywhere near in the same league as a 5770. it's not even as fast as a 4770. i would just wait a little while and get a 5750. they're going to be cheap.


what's your problem with overclocking? there is a lot of longevity you can get out of that processor.

I would not argue that the 9600GT anywhere near equal to what the 5770 will be. However, we do not know how much power the 5770 will require. I still do not see the power supply specs for the OP, but if his comp is an off the shelf model with integrated graphics, the power supply could be 300 watts or even 250 watts. I doubt he would be able to use a 5770 or even 5750 without upgrading the power supply, and he stated that he did not want to make other changes.

However, I would think that upgrading the power supply and getting a 5750 or 5770 would be an excellent option. I spent so much money upgrading one lower end card after another because of my power supply that it would have been less expensive and given better performance to upgrade the power supply and video card at the same time.
 

SolMiester

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2004
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Sound like the OP's pc is like a dell or some OEM...my bet is the PSU will only be 350w at best.....as for 96GT, I run most games fine @ 16x10, 14x9 will be a shoe in....