Time for a new video card

Evilmp · 2011-08-19, 04:01 AM

Well, as the title suggests:

I'm looking at getting a new video card. I've been running with the 512mb x1950 since 07 now, and am in dire need of an upgrade.

I have two slots available, so SLI / Crossfire is an option if it's worth it.

My PC runs windows 7 64 bit, with a 700w power supply.

Price range is under $400, with no preference towards ATI or Nvidia. I will not be overclocking, and I don't mind loud cards.

What would you suggest I get?

I am thinking about this after a short google:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...VGA-_-14130687

Goku · 2011-08-19, 07:00 AM

What resolution play on and specific PSU do you have? You can have a $400 budget, but if you are on say 1280x1024 you will see a difference between 6850 or 6970 at that resolution really as it isn't hard on video cards.

Don't bother with that EVGA GTX 570 that has extra ram. You will not notice a difference unless you are doing SLI at maybe 2560x1600 or multi monitor.

Evilmp · 2011-08-19, 02:06 PM

My power supply:

http://www.oemliquidators.com/search...079,%206501080

I suppose I should upgrade this as well? The whole thing came from Gateway.

FX530XT:

http://reviews.cnet.com/Gateway_FX53...-32136323.html

My resolution usually sits at default, 1024x768 for any games I run. The card must support multi-monitors, as I have a 32" HD TV and a 24" LCD monitor, running desktop at 1920x1080 and 1920x1200 respectively.

Is there a benefit to going higher? The only difference I ever notice is the UI scale.

I've also just remembered that discussion about Nvidia PhysX running a hell of a lot better on Nvidia cards. How do you think the 4870s would handle that? It sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Thanks for reading!

Goku · 2011-08-19, 03:33 PM

4870 is a bad choice way too old of a card. I'll get you a recommedation when I get home.

EDIT: I am home now. First off what CPU is in that Gateway? You linked a review with the QX6700, but according to Gateway there was quite a few processors for that computer brand. If you have a lower end C2D in there you should consider getting a new computer probably as it will hold back any new Video card.

Second the PSU I am a bit worried about, but it is the BTX form factor case so that may have issues with an ATX powersupply. BTX is a dead form factor and no one makes PSUs for it anymore. Let me see what I an find out, worse case just stick with a non power hug Video card and you should be fine.

Concerning what video card to get really depends on this CPU and PSU issue first. To give you some idea of what card to get I would either do a 6850 or 6870 (either is at least 4-5 times more powerful then the x1950), since each is low cost and forgiving on power consumption.

Concerning your resolution. You should be playing at 1920x1200 on that monitor of yours. There is much more then just a HUD expansion. You see much more environment then using 1024x768. Let me put to you this way there could be a guy with the 1920x1200 monitor and sees you then kills you due you having the lower resolution. You have way more blind spots due to not having your resolution to the fullest, so he sees you before you see him. I am shocked you even play at that resolution on that monitor, wow. Anyway lets get the CPU/PSU issue figured out first.

Evilmp · 2011-08-20, 12:44 AM

I wish I could tell you exactly which one I had, but I'm too lazy to check tonight.

I can tell you that it's an Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme Quad or whatever the shit naming convention they have. I've got four cores, no HT and each core clocks at 2.66GHz I assume. One of these:

http://ark.intel.com/products/family...ktop-Processor

I had no idea the processor was that important!

Anyways, I appreciate the help! Budget is still firm at $400, but that can be split between the card and a new PSU if required.

Goku · 2011-08-20, 12:51 AM

That QX6700 is still good enough to keep up with current gen cards at least then. Next problem is the PSU. I am going to have to look more into it and I can tomorrow quite late right now, so I am ready for bed. Depending on whether or not you can get a new PSU you will not be able to run any $400 card as they suck too much juice.

EDIT:

Ok well I looked into this more. I had no idea, but people are saying that PSU you have is good qualtity so you are good to go without needing a new PSU. Now do you plan on running at your native 1920x1200 resolution or sticking with 1024x768 (eww lol). I can give you recommendations for 1920x1200 at least for now.

XFX HD 6870 - $184.99 w/ coupon HARDOCPX817B ($30 MIR) - Comes with free Dirt3, Shogun 2, and Deus Ex Human Revolution
EVGA GTX 560 Ti - $249.99 ($30 MIR) - No free games
XFX HD 6950 2GB - $274.99 ($30 MIR) - Free Deus Ex Human Revolution

For performance it goes 6870 -> GTX 560 Ti -> 6950 2GB. All these are good cards only limitation is how much you want to spend. If PS2 is going to be the only game you are playing you will likely get the best performance with that GTX 560 Ti due to SOE developing the game on Nvidia graphics. If you are going to be playing a bunch of games and keeping this card for as long as your x1950 I recommend that 6950 2GB. The extra performance and vRAM will make the card last longer likely. All these cards have a lifetime warranty, so you will not have issues if your card dies after a couple years. Don't worry about PhysX either as I do not think at this point it will be the kind on the GPU. If you want more info click the link in my sig area.

Evilmp · 2011-08-20, 04:29 PM

You guys have been awesome!

I was just about to ask about Eyefinity being available until I saw it on the 6950. I saw it in another thread in here and immediately wanted it

There are most definitely other games I will be playing, and I have already switched all of my games to max res. I am not sure of a difference, but I trust that it's there.

Do you think ATITool will work with the 6950? Would it even need it? I don't overclock, but I have ramped up the fan speeds on the card(s) I have now to keep them cool.

Thanks a ton for the info!

Goku · 2011-08-20, 04:46 PM

Yes AMD has the advantage for multi monitor due to only needing one card instead of SLI/XFire. Really left made Nvidia fall of their chair when it was released.

I wouldn't worry about using ATI Tool that program is ancient history. Programs like MSI's Afterburner is much better. You can overclock, control fan speed with profiles to messing with the voltage. That can be used on any AMD or Nvidia card from any brand it does not have to be a MSI one.

Concerning how much more you see. Check this image out. The 1024x768 is smaller then the 720P res (1280x720), but even with the 720P res the 1080P (similar to 1920x1200) is way bigger for being to see stuff.

Evilmp · 2011-08-21, 12:53 AM

I'll have to check that out - right now I have to hit F8 every boot to disable Windows 7's driver signature enforcement. It's a serious pain - and even then it doesn't always do it.

Man I'm so behind on this stuff! Just curious, what do you do for a living? I wouldn't be surprised if you designed the damn things!

You should toss that picture in your recommended parts thread for sure.

Goku · 2011-08-21, 10:26 AM

Yeah I remember that is why I never used ATI Tool due to that stupid issue. MSI Afterburner is nice though I cannot say 100% that it supports x1950 series though it does for 2000 series and above.

No I am just a Economic major in college. I just have lurked around tech forums for a good amount of time lol.

I will do that to with the pic. I need to edit the builds sometime today too.

Evilmp · 2011-09-09, 11:43 PM

Final update:

Happiness! The HD 6950 arrived today. The box looks sweet, and the card is nearly the same size as my old x1950. I had a lot of trouble installing both the card and the drivers, but as of right now I can finally play Deus Ex: Human Revolution. TF2 looks better, too!

My old card was slightly smaller, and when I attempted to insert the new one I found it wouldn't fit because part of the motherboard's power connectors were blocking it. My heart sank, but I quickly realized through the power of muscles that I could solve this issue by jamming it in there hard enough that the wires compacted. Unfortunately, my audio card had to switch slots as to not block the cooling of the card. Then came the power issue. My cables aren't long enough to reach the other side of the box. This was fixed by unscrewing the power supply and simply moving it closer.

Once those scares were put to rest, then came driver installation. I attempted to install the drivers, and succeeded. Reboot. Catalyst control center doesn't work and Windows tells me it can't verify the drivers, so it won't allow them to load. I uninstalled them, figuring a bad install was the case, and realized the CD was either unreadable or my drive was going out.

When a download of the drivers from the website also failed, I came to the sad conclusion:

I must disable digital driver authentication at boot by pressing F8.

Part of the reason I upgraded my card was to avoid having to do that. I guess the drivers aren't signed, and that's STILL a major hassle.

The only problem I have, is that 3dmark 11 tells me my performance is poor compared to what my hardware should be able to do.

I have no idea how to fix that, though I suspect (from what a buddy of mine told me) is that since my card is running through the secondary AGP slot, performance is limited.

All of these issues aside, I am still pretty happy with the card. Deus Ex running at nearly full with no lag is exactly what I wanted.

Thanks again Goku, and may others who purchase this card be a little more informed about the drivers!

Goku · 2011-09-10, 08:39 AM

No problem happy to help.

I never have that driver issue you mention (I run an ATI card). That is kinda odd. When is the last time you did a fresh install and is your Windows up to date? That is something to do with your system not the drivers.

Ignore the 3DMark11 rating. That is likely just due to the fact you are running a QX6700. A lot people submitting scores have a 2500K or higher clocked Phenom II CPUs. That will cause their score to be higher as such 3DMark11 says you have a lower score.

You do not have AGP either that was dead in about 2004 for the most part. Are you running the card in the x16 or x4 slot? I am only asking this, since you said the secondary slot. Reading on your motherboard specs there are both the x16 and x4 slot is all. Though you need a adapter to run the x4 with that video card yours. Having it in the x4 may bottleneck the card in certain areas.

Traak · 2011-09-10, 09:32 AM

I have never heard anyone say "wow, I sure regret getting that high-zoot video card."

Bags · 2011-09-11, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Traak

I have never heard anyone say "wow, I sure regret getting that high-zoot video card."

Of course not. We go to any length after wasting money to justify wasting that money so we don't feel like an idiot.

Note: I'm not saying buying a high end video card is a waste of money, but even if someone felt that way after buying one they're not likely to admit they wasted money.

Traak · 2011-09-11, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Bags

Of course not. We go to any length after wasting money to justify wasting that money so we don't feel like an idiot.

Note: I'm not saying buying a high end video card is a waste of money, but even if someone felt that way after buying one they're not likely to admit they wasted money.

And, let's face it. Our hobby is so inexpensive compared to other hobbies (Thus it doesn't attract gold diggers to us) a high-zoot video card is unbelievably inexpensive compared to the hours of time we spend on it. Try getting the same fun per buck level with a hot rod, a hot bike, or a hot girlfriend.

Yeah, gaming rules. And if you can find a hot gaming girl to be your teammate, sell one of the video cards and buy a ring, pronto.