Planning on upgrading video card and power supply ..any suggestions?

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S

s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
9,427
16
81
No, it's a bit slower than the 4770, but also cheaper. Much faster than the 4670. Doesn't need a power connector (i.e. less power draw than a 4770).

XFX famously has their double lifetime warranty which helps keep resale value up.

edit -- if you didn't know, there's a hot deal on the 9800GT right now
 
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
46
91
Originally posted by: s44
Split the difference: buy the low-power 9800GT and spend more on a quality (not OCZ!) PSU.
Click to expand...

OCZ doesn't make quality PSUs? This sounds like FUDGE. I'm not saying they are the absolute best (I'd put the Antec Earthwatts and Corsair units ahead of OCZ's units in the mainstream sector), but they are certainly quality and far from being bad units.

And I'm not totally sure why everyone is recommending a low power video card. He doesn't need to get a low power card because he will be upgrading his power supply anyway! So he should get the best performing card he can afford.
 
M

Malcolm3000g

Member
Sep 25, 2009
40
0
0
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
Originally posted by: s44
Split the difference: buy the low-power 9800GT and spend more on a quality (not OCZ!) PSU.
Click to expand...

OCZ doesn't make quality PSUs? This sounds like FUDGE. I'm not saying they are the absolute best (I'd put the Antec Earthwatts and Corsair units ahead of OCZ's units in the mainstream sector), but they are certainly quality and far from being bad units.

And I'm not totally sure why everyone is recommending a low power video card. He doesn't need to get a low power card because he will be upgrading his power supply anyway! So he should get the best performing card he can afford.
Click to expand...

how about this to go with a good supply you think my computer can handle it?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150351

(Specs)
asus a8n-sli deluxe Socket 939
Amd Athlon 64 x2 +4800 2.4 ghz
Ati Radeon x1600 Pro 512mb
4gb (pc3200) ram
350 gb hd Western digital

 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
dude they have the 4770 for 95$ shipped at newegg. Grab it. In fact the 4770's prices have dropped 15/20$.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102835

They have the 4850 for 99$ shipped but it's only a little faster and uses more power and runs hotter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102824

get your self a Antec earthwatts 500 watt for 70$ shipped. That baby can run a hd5870. you'll be set for a good while.
That's 165$ shipped for both.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371007
 
M

Malcolm3000g

Member
Sep 25, 2009
40
0
0
wow sick deal..defintely going to consider that deal....

how can i tell if my current power supply is good(downloaded asus pc probe)


Power Supply Voltages

Vcore is currently 1.31
+3.3 is currently 3.22
+5.0 is currently 4.95
12.0 is currently 12.03.

Are these bad levels? I know i plan to buy another psu but i was wondering if the current one was causing performance issues.
 
S

s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
9,427
16
81
Reported voltage levels won't really tell you much.

Also, you probably don't need to spend more than the price of this Seasonic.
 
cusideabelincoln

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
46
91
Originally posted by: Malcolm3000g
wow sick deal..defintely going to consider that deal....

how can i tell if my current power supply is good(downloaded asus pc probe)


Power Supply Voltages

Vcore is currently 1.31
+3.3 is currently 3.22
+5.0 is currently 4.95
12.0 is currently 12.03.

Are these bad levels? I know i plan to buy another psu but i was wondering if the current one was causing performance issues.
Click to expand...

Power supplies are dynamic. As such, those numbers only tell us that the PSU is operating within specifications at that point in time. But this will change with various loads.

We really need to know the make and model of the PSU. If you don't know it, then you need to open up your case and look at the label on the PSU.
 
bryanW1995

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
11,144
32
91
fsp is a good brand. that looks to only have 22a on the 12v rail, but if you stay with a 4770 then you should be fine. In fact, I would snag that newegg deal for $95 for the 4770 that happy medium linked and just call it a day. put aside the saved $75 for your next full system upgrade, you are going to be due soon for a mobo/cpu/ram/psu.

edit: regarding the gddr 5 vs gddr3 question: 4850 has a 256 bit bus but gddr 3 ram. 4770 has a 128 bit bus (so 1/2 the bus speed) but gddr5 ram (so about twice the ram spped). The bus and memory work together to give you your total memory bandwidth, which in the case of the 4850 and 4770 should be very close to identical since the two parts cancel each other out. BTW, using 128 bit bus with gddr5 is a cheaper solution so is likely to be used by most cards in the long run. ATI uses it in all their high end cards right now, too, becasuse it allows them to control costs while still keeping good memory throughput.
 
T

T2k

Golden Member
Feb 24, 2004
1,665
5
81
Originally posted by: happy medium
dude they have the 4770 for 95$ shipped at newegg. Grab it. In fact the 4770's prices have dropped 15/20$.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102835

They have the 4850 for 99$ shipped but it's only a little faster and uses more power and runs hotter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102824
Click to expand...

Another ignorant advice - and it's you again... 4850 is another class with its higher TMU etc counts plus it's 256-bit memory (and no, slower GDDR5 on 128-bit does not make it up) for that $5 - and he should rather go with 4850 1GB & mfr OC'd to 700MHz for $119.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125236

If he's OK with rebates then there's a regular 4850 1GB w/ HDMI & better cooling from Powercolor for $109.99 after MiR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131163

OTOH in this ~$120 category you can even get 4870 1GB for $124.99 after MiR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150436
even with STALKER (great game!) for $129.99 after MiR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131148
 
M

Malcolm3000g

Member
Sep 25, 2009
40
0
0
Originally posted by: T2k
Originally posted by: happy medium
dude they have the 4770 for 95$ shipped at newegg. Grab it. In fact the 4770's prices have dropped 15/20$.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102835

They have the 4850 for 99$ shipped but it's only a little faster and uses more power and runs hotter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102824
Click to expand...

Another ignorant advice - and it's you again... 4850 is another class with its higher TMU etc counts plus it's 256-bit memory (and no, slower GDDR5 on 128-bit does not make it up) for that $5 - and he should rather go with 4850 1GB & mfr OC'd to 700MHz for $119.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125236

If he's OK with rebates then there's a regular 4850 1GB w/ HDMI & better cooling from Powercolor for $109.99 after MiR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131163

OTOH in this ~$120 category you can even get 4870 1GB for $124.99 after MiR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150436
even with STALKER (great game!) for $129.99 after MiR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131148
Click to expand...


thats impressive

how about the xfx model(heard its the best company )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/..._-14-150-351-_-Product

and if i do end getting a 1gb card will it work on my current specs and what power supply is recommended for my computer since a 1gb card takes a lot of power

(Specs)
asus a8n-sli deluxe Socket 939
Amd Athlon 64 x2 +4800 2.4 ghz
Ati Radeon x1600 Pro 512mb
4gb (pc3200) ram
350 gb hd Western digital

hehe i think my budget is going to increase to $200 after looking at

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...6&ref=dynamitedata.com

just need a great power supply to go with it
 
S

s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
9,427
16
81
Just get the $62 500W Seasonic I linked earlier. They're one of the best PSU producers (OEM for both Corsair and Antec -- this is basically the Earthwatts 500 with a bigger, quieter fan setup), and you won't need more than 500W.
 
M

Malcolm3000g

Member
Sep 25, 2009
40
0
0
yeah this card require 2x 6-pin connectors ..and i see that the seasonic psu has it but do you think 500w is enough?
 
T

TemjinGold

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2006
3,050
65
91
Originally posted by: Malcolm3000g
yeah this card require 2x 6-pin connectors ..and i see that the seasonic psu has it but do you think 500w is enough?
Click to expand...

Your system will barely use half of that if even that much.
 
M

Malcolm3000g

Member
Sep 25, 2009
40
0
0
Originally posted by: TemjinGold
Originally posted by: Malcolm3000g
yeah this card require 2x 6-pin connectors ..and i see that the seasonic psu has it but do you think 500w is enough?
Click to expand...

Your system will barely use half of that if even that much.
Click to expand...

so the card will only use at least 250w?

 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Originally posted by: bryanW1995
fsp is a good brand. that looks to only have 22a on the 12v rail, but if you stay with a 4770 then you should be fine. In fact, I would snag that newegg deal for $95 for the 4770 that happy medium linked and just call it a day. put aside the saved $75 for your next full system upgrade, you are going to be due soon for a mobo/cpu/ram/psu.

edit: regarding the gddr 5 vs gddr3 question: 4850 has a 256 bit bus but gddr 3 ram. 4770 has a 128 bit bus (so 1/2 the bus speed) but gddr5 ram (so about twice the ram spped). The bus and memory work together to give you your total memory bandwidth, which in the case of the 4850 and 4770 should be very close to identical since the two parts cancel each other out. BTW, using 128 bit bus with gddr5 is a cheaper solution so is likely to be used by most cards in the long run. ATI uses it in all their high end cards right now, too, becasuse it allows them to control costs while still keeping good memory throughput.
Click to expand...

bryan said it best the 4850 is onlty about 5/10% faster.

 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Originally posted by: T2k
Originally posted by: happy medium
dude they have the 4770 for 95$ shipped at newegg. Grab it. In fact the 4770's prices have dropped 15/20$.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102835

They have the 4850 for 99$ shipped but it's only a little faster and uses more power and runs hotter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102824
Click to expand...

Another ignorant advice - and it's you again... 4850 is another class with its higher TMU etc counts plus it's 256-bit memory (and no, slower GDDR5 on 128-bit does not make it up) for that $5 - and he should rather go with 4850 1GB & mfr OC'd to 700MHz for $119.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125236

If he's OK with rebates then there's a regular 4850 1GB w/ HDMI & better cooling from Powercolor for $109.99 after MiR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131163

OTOH in this ~$120 category you can even get 4870 1GB for $124.99 after MiR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150436
even with STALKER (great game!) for $129.99 after MiR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131148
Click to expand...

The guy has a 4800+ cpu. A 4870 is way overkill unless he plans on upgrading his entire machine within a few weeks. If not he's wasting money on gpu power he won't use for months.

He's should just get a 4770 (his cpu will still not fully use it) save the money on the power supply and upgrade his entire system with it some time later.
The 4700 uses less power ,runs cooler and is 95% as fast as a 4850 and they overclock through the roof.

While the link to those 4870's are good deals , there just not needed in this case.

So for 95$ he wont have to get a power supply and his system will be the same speed as if he used a 4870 and bought a power supply for 200$. I think you are giving bad advise.

I hope you correct what you said so this guy dosen't go out and waste money for performance he won't see untill he upgrades his entire machine.

Benchmarks 4850 vs 4770.

http://www.tomshardware.com/re...on-hd-4770,2281-3.html

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3553&p=4

Are the 2 or 3 fps from the 4850 worth the price of the power supply you will need to run it? I'd say no.
Once again ,he will see absolutely no performance increase with the 4870 over a 4770.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
Originally posted by: Malcolm3000g
Thanks for all the replies. I've seen that someone told me to get the XFX 4770 instead of the Asus. 4770, what's the difference?


Edit: And another Q, how much of a perfomance boost will i get from upgrading my video card

and im also looking at this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/..._-14-150-337-_-Product

but its gddr3 while the 4770 is gddr5 strange...

(Current one is x1600 pro 512mb)
Click to expand...

A 4770 should net you about 4x the performance.
 
M

Malcolm3000g

Member
Sep 25, 2009
40
0
0
Originally posted by: happy medium
Originally posted by: Malcolm3000g
Thanks for all the replies. I've seen that someone told me to get the XFX 4770 instead of the Asus. 4770, what's the difference?


Edit: And another Q, how much of a perfomance boost will i get from upgrading my video card

and im also looking at this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/..._-14-150-337-_-Product

but its gddr3 while the 4770 is gddr5 strange...

(Current one is x1600 pro 512mb)
Click to expand...

A 4770 should net you about 4x the performance.
Click to expand...


Wow not bad..thought both cards had huge differences (4870 ,4770)..thanks

but i do want to buy another psu... just to be safe.
 
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