YACT

[Ruptga]

System Specifications:

I. Processor/CPU:
i5 2300 @2.8Ghz

II. Current Graphics Card:
HD3850

III. Display Resolution:
Been using 1360x768, new monitor is 1920x1080

IV. Power Supply Unit Specification
Dell D460A D-00, 460W

V. Case Specifications
Full-size Dell XPS case


Purchase Details:

I. Budget?
Expecting ~$200.


II. Any particular preferences (Manufacturer[nV or AMD], Brand[XFX, Sapphire, EVGA, etc], Cooling Solutions)?
No preferences


III. Do you plan to have any Multi-GPU solutions such as Crossfire or SLI?
No


IV. Have you previously looked at a product(s) which you feel would fit your needs?
Started to look on my own, quickly realized my knowledge is (again) horribly out of date.


V. What are your needs for this GPU? Which games(If any)do you intend to play? If you have this information at hand, what are the desired detail levels?
I play Starcraft 2, World of Tanks, League of Legends, and X3AP. I'm also looking forward to X-Rebirth. Ideally I will be able to run all of this at 1920x1080 on medium settings, but I won't cry too much if I need to lower it to 1680x1050. I mean, I have survived on 1360x768 for a while now.


VI. Do you plan on overclocking the card you intend to purchase?
No, but I am not totally opposed to it.


Additional Notes
Does need to have at least one DP output. DP compatibility is actually the main reason I am upgrading.

 

[3DVagabond]

From other threads with similar needs, The Sapphire 6950 is $200 right now. The GTX 480 can be had for $220. Your PSU is too light for those cards, IMO though. The 7850 starts at $230 and sips power. All 3 of those cards are going to be very close together performance wise.

 

[Nizzzlle]

From other threads with similar needs, The Sapphire 6950 is $200 right now. The GTX 480 can be had for $220. Your PSU is too light for those cards, IMO though. The 7850 starts at $230 and sips power. All 3 of those cards are going to be very close together performance wise.

+1 for the 7850, probably best best on that power supply... unless you upgrade that too.

 

[WiseUp216]

FYI, a 600 series card will not work on that Dell motherboard. I am guessing you have an XPS 8300, judging from the i5-2300. I had the same setup.

I bought an EVGA GTX 670 on Saturday only to find that the card would not POST. After a few web searches I found that all the XPS owners are furious that the new cards aren't recognized by the Dell mobo. It doesn't look like they're in a hurry to update it either, if ever. Google it for yourself.

I saw instances of 7850s not working, as well, but I didn't look into that.

My solution, I went back to Microcenter on Sunday and bought a Z77 motherboard and Corsair case. Screw Dell for not supporting a motherboard with BIOS updates a year after it was sold.

Just a caveat. I actually liked the Dell with the upgraded power supply I bought with it, but I'm much better off now with a custom built system.

 

[Jaydip]

FYI, a 600 series card will not work on that Dell motherboard. I am guessing you have an XPS 8300, judging from the i5-2300. I had the same setup.

I bought an EVGA GTX 670 on Saturday only to find that the card would not POST. After a few web searches I found that all the XPS owners are furious that the new cards aren't recognized by the Dell mobo. It doesn't look like they're in a hurry to update it either, if ever. Google it for yourself.

I saw instances of 7850s not working, as well, but I didn't look into that.

My solution, I went back to Microcenter on Sunday and bought a Z77 motherboard and Corsair case. Screw Dell for not supporting a motherboard with BIOS updates a year after it was sold.

Just a caveat. I actually liked the Dell with the upgraded power supply I bought with it, but I'm much better off now with a custom built system.

Solid advice :thumbsup:
OP verify this before taking the plunge.If it works out I would recommend a 7850 for ur rig.

 

[WiseUp216]

Solid advice :thumbsup:
OP verify this before taking the plunge.If it works out I would recommend a 7850 for ur rig.

Yup, I agree about the 7850 ... if it works.

Dell's response to me (paraphrased): "You cannot expect all newer technology to be backward compatible with older technology."

Seriously? An H67 motherboard with a Sandy Bridge chip is older technology? I know it wasn't top of the line, but come on.

 

[Jaydip]

Dell,HP are very lazy regrading bios updates.I don't think it will change anytime soon.

 

[Ruptga]

I got this machine from Dell Outlet because of a tight budget. I can't afford to take a chance on a card that may or may not require a new motherboard, or on a motherboard that may or may not require a new case, or on a case ... etc.

Also, are cards in the $150-200 range good values, or do those extra fifty bucks hold all the magic?

 

[WiseUp216]

I think for playing those games listed at 1080 for ~$150, you would be perfectly fine picking up a 460 or 6850. You'll basically be able to run high settings with AA turned off.

Plus, you'll know for certain that it will work with your system.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Dell probably hasnt updated Bios, so maybe a 460?

 

[guskline]

If the BIOS hasn't been updated by Dell, I thought that a Radeon 5770 or GTX 460 should be supported and in your price range. Cards like the 6850 or 7770 make sense with an updated BIOS but that appears to be the problem. The PSU might be questionable with the GTX 460 (requires 2 6 pin connectors) but the 5770 does not.

I know both of these video cards are older but they are much more powerful than your HD3850, are within your budget (have to buy them from one of these forums, buy/sell) and most likely will work with the Dell H67 mb.

 

[WiseUp216]

Last BIOS update for that motherboard was November 2011. Version A06

I was using a GTX 460, but guskline makes a good point about the power connectors. I put in a Corsair PSU on the first day and sold the Dell PSU. I don't remember if it would even work.

 

[Jaydip]

It got two 6 pin connectors
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-XPS-8300-Power-Supply-Unit-PSU-460W-D460A-D-00-/300563497356
But from the look of the PSU its very cheap.I would recommend to buy a decent PSU first.

 

[Ruptga]

My 3850 is a 100W card, the 6850 is also a 100W card, and the 7770 is a 75W card. I've been running my 3850 for months now with no trouble, so I'm not all that concerned about my PSU.

Per AT's reviews 6850>460 and 6850>7770. I'm not finding the 460 with DP at all so that's out. I am leaning toward the 7770 because it is about 20% cheaper on Amazon and it isn't much slower than the 6850; also Google doesn't seem to know of the 7770 having bios issues with my motherboard. So, is there any reason I shouldn't get a 7770?

 

[guskline]

My 3850 is a 100W card, the 6850 is also a 100W card, and the 7770 is a 75W card. I've been running my 3850 for months now with no trouble, so I'm not all that concerned about my PSU.

Per AT's reviews 6850>460 and 6850>7770. I'm not finding the 460 with DP at all so that's out. I am leaning toward the 7770 because it is about 20% cheaper on Amazon and it isn't much slower than the 6850; also Google doesn't seem to know of the 7770 having bios issues with my motherboard. So, is there any reason I shouldn't get a 7770?

If it meets your needs, if it is compatible with that motherboard and is the right price, sounds like a winner. The trouble is that your setup is so specific with that Dell mb that unless someone elso on this forum has done it, it's tough to predict if you will have any problems.

 

[felang]

If it meets your needs, if it is compatible with that motherboard and is the right price, sounds like a winner. The trouble is that your setup is so specific with that Dell mb that unless someone elso on this forum has done it, it's tough to predict if you will have any problems.

How about a used 6870?