new versus old

[monkey333]

running a amd x 4200 and an ati 800xl, 2 gig ram. want to upgrade to a blu ray and say a 2600 hd card. how will this fare for games? running UT3 as the latest.
suggestions?
thx.
J

 

[sgrinavi]

Is there some reason you want a 2600 series card? Wouldn't a SAPPHIRE 100255L Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit at $75 be a better choice?

 

[monkey333]

my only limitation is a 300 watt PS...
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh...aydVdQ?feat=directlink

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: monkey333
my only limitation is a 300 watt PS...
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh...aydVdQ?feat=directlink

a 4670 doesnt use any more power than a 2600. your cpu is pretty weak too but it will at least get the job done.

 

[monkey333]

so a 300 watt can handle a 4670 and 2 hd's?

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: monkey333
so a 300 watt can handle a 4670 and 2 hd's?

depends on how good it is. in general most 300 watt power supples are probably not very good and are unlikely to actually deliver 300 watts especially after months or years of usage.

 

[happy medium]

The 4670 uses 70 watts the 2600xt uses 49 watts, and the x800xl uses 49 watts.

http://archive.atomicmpc.com.a...ums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354

The 3650 uses 42 watts, works great with hd video, and will run Ut3 just fine.

http://www.overclock3d.net/rev..._extreme_pcs_edition/7

Your psu is a little weak for a 4670 in my opinion.

 

[monkey333]

i thought the model i bought is pretty decent, and it's .5 months old....
thoughts?

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: monkey333
i thought the model i bought is pretty decent, and it's .5 months old....
thoughts?

edit:

Yes it's a good 300 watt psu. 270 watt 12volt rail = 22amps.
It mabe ok with your setup and a 4670 but for how long?

The 3650 will give you the horsepower your asking for and will run fine with your psu.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: happy medium
The 4670 uses 70 watts the 2600xt uses 49 watts, and the x800xl uses 49 watts.

http://archive.atomicmpc.com.a...ums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354

The 3650 uses 42 watts, works great with hd video, and will run Ut3 just fine.

http://www.overclock3d.net/rev..._extreme_pcs_edition/7

Your psu is a little weak for a 4670 in my opinion.

well pretty much every review I have seen shows them the 2600xt within 5 watts of the 4670. the 4670 usually consumes LESS power than the 2600xt.

2600xt system load 200watts, 4670 system load 190watts http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=789&p=9

2600xt 48.6 watts http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...0xt-gddr4_5.html#sect0

4670 47.1 watts http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...670-512mb_5.html#sect0

 

[happy medium]

i didn't write the chart but the little % sign next to the 4670 it refers to manufacturer specs not reviews.

In any event if the most intensive game he is running is Ut3, he's fine with the 3650. Another plus is the 3650 is much cheaper.

I believe the 4670 might be bottlenecked a bit by the x2 4200 also.

 

[monkey333]

i pulled the trig on the 3650.. and a blu ray drive.

150 total..
not bad..

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: happy medium
i didn't write the chart but the little % sign next to the 4670 it refers to manufacturer specs not reviews.

In any event if the most intensive game he is running is Ut3, he's fine with the 3650. Another plus is the 3650 is much cheaper.

I believe the 4670 might be bottlenecked a bit by the x2 4200 also.

well the 4670 does use less power than the 2600xt according to every review. I remember that when i was researching on the 4670 last year.

yes the 4670 would be slightly bottlenecked in newer games and I know this for a fact becasue I had a 4670 with a 5000x2. the 4670 provided zero minimum framerate improvement over my 8600gt in most games. in fact it was slower in UT3 than the 8600gt was.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: monkey333
i pulled the trig on the 3650.. and a blu ray drive.

150 total..
not bad..

:thumbsup:
Nice prices!

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: toyota

Originally posted by: happy medium
i didn't write the chart but the little % sign next to the 4670 it refers to manufacturer specs not reviews.

In any event if the most intensive game he is running is Ut3, he's fine with the 3650. Another plus is the 3650 is much cheaper.

I believe the 4670 might be bottlenecked a bit by the x2 4200 also.

well the 4670 does use less power than the 2600xt according to every review. I remember that when i was researching on the 4670 last year.

yes the 4670 would be slightly bottlenecked in newer games and I know this for a fact becasue I had a 4670 with a 5000x2. the 4670 provided zero minimum framerate improvement over my 8600gt in most games. in fact it was slower in UT3 than the 8600gt was.

According to the article you linked the 4670 smokes a 8600gts ,so i'm sure it would kill a 8600gt.

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=789&p=7

Edit: They used a Q6600 @ 3.0. Seems your system was bottlenecked?

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: toyota

Originally posted by: happy medium
i didn't write the chart but the little % sign next to the 4670 it refers to manufacturer specs not reviews.

In any event if the most intensive game he is running is Ut3, he's fine with the 3650. Another plus is the 3650 is much cheaper.

I believe the 4670 might be bottlenecked a bit by the x2 4200 also.

well the 4670 does use less power than the 2600xt according to every review. I remember that when i was researching on the 4670 last year.

yes the 4670 would be slightly bottlenecked in newer games and I know this for a fact becasue I had a 4670 with a 5000x2. the 4670 provided zero minimum framerate improvement over my 8600gt in most games. in fact it was slower in UT3 than the 8600gt was.

According to the article you linked the 4670 smokes a 8600gts ,so i'm sure it would kill a 8600gt.

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=789&p=7

Edit: They used a Q6600 @ 3.0. Seems your system was bottlenecked?

yes the 4670 was bottlenecked in many games and minimum framerates were the same as on the 8600gt in pretty much all newer games. average and certainly max framerates were higher but the overall experience was basically the same. I had also tried an 8800gt and 9600gt and still couldnt get the overall playability that i knew those cards could provide because of my cpu. that whole experience is what lead me to to finally go ahead and just build an all new pc.

 

[s44]

4670 also does surround PCM over HDMI. Definitely worth it over 2600XT or 3650.