Posts by Angela Richardson

2015, Battlefield, Call of Duty, GTA if it ever actually hits the streets...

Noise isn't really my main concern; I could live with the sound of an old 4870. So, what’s the move? I’m not strictly tied to these three options—I'm open to Nvidia or whatever else is out there. I just want something that won't break the bank and can handle games from the last few years.

I need some advice,
my current setup is:
Phenom II X4 965 @ 3.40GHz
8GB of RAM,
Fortron 550W PSU,
and this unfortunate old HD4870 that can't run anything because it lacks DX11 support.
I was torn between the Sapphire R7 265 Dual-X 2GB and the R9 270 Dual-X 2GB since they’re priced similarly, but now I'm reading on Bugsplat that both cards are incredibly loud. They're actually suggesting the Sapphire R7 260X 2GB OC as the better value buy.
What should my move be?
Thanks

Thanks everyone, that’s all there is to it, I'm done

Kingston 120GB SSD, specifically the SSDNow V300 SATA 3 SV300S37A/120G $150, is this a decent choice?
I completely fried my graphics card, threw in a DVD-ROM, and now I'm getting $1167.
What should be installed on an SSD, and is 120GB actually sufficient?

So, I'll leave this old desktop with an HDD and just pick up some kind of SSD.
I don't really follow this stuff, so I'm not particularly well-versed in SSD performance.
Is 128GB sufficient? My plan is to run Windows and my basic programs from there, while moving all the heavy video files over to the HDD. Am I thinking about this correctly?

It’s not my area of expertise, so I can't say for sure, but I’d wager it’s just CAD and other similar nonsense.

And everything else—is this build compatible? Does the processor, motherboard, and RAM all work together?

I was just looking at the numbers, and the AMD FX 6300 is barely $33 more expensive,
though generally speaking, the prices I'm seeing are from the local Best Buy

A friend needs a build for:
Primarily video editing and some graphic design software.
The budget is roughly $1000.
I put this list together; let me know if any corrections are needed or if anything doesn't align.

AMD FX-6100 processor with Gigabyte motherboard $233
Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P $187
Kingston DDR3 1600MHz $190
Seagate ST1000DM003 1TB 64MB 7200 SATA $158
Gigabyte Radeon R7 240 OC, 2GB $187
Hyper 600w power supply $162
Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler 1156/775/FM1 $37
LG optical drive and NaviaTec PC case $33
NaviaTec Mid Tower ATX PC Case $30

The total comes to $1217
.
Does anyone see where we could cut costs?

Thanks

I’ve been pushing my rig to the limit with the most demanding titles out there; I play just about everything that hits the market, from Call of Duty and FIFA to Battlefield and Need for Speed.
What should I go for then? It doesn't necessarily have to be an ATI card.

I’m currently running a Phenom II X4 965 with 4GB of 1600MHz RAM, a Fortron 550W PSU, and an HD4870. Since it lacks DirectX 11 support, the whole setup has to go. I need something capable of handling Watch Dogs, GTA V, and whatever else comes out over the next couple of years.
I’ve been eyeing the R9 270 X, assuming I can scrape the cash together, and obviously, I’ll be adding another 4GB of RAM to the mix.
My question is whether this GPU will actually be fully utilized with my current components, or if buying an R9 is a waste of money because it won't hit 100% performance. If it isn't worth it, what should I look for instead?
Hopefully, this makes sense; I've already polished off about six or seven beers.

The issue is resolved; there was simply insufficient thermal paste applied to the processor.

I applied new thermal paste to the GPU.
I honestly have no idea what’s wrong with this thing; I even took the card apart to redo everything, but nothing works. I'm running out of ideas.
Does it make any difference if I swap out those power adapter pins on the graphics card?

The PC was running fine until I decided to strip it down—removed the cooler to repaste the CPU and pulled the GPU (an HD4870) to blow out the dust and apply fresh thermal paste. Since then, the card has effectively ceased to exist; my frame rate has plummeted from a steady 60 down to a pathetic 5 or 10. Even though all the fans are spinning and the GPU temperature reads a reasonable 67.5°C, the card itself feels scorching to the touch.
I perform this maintenance every few months without issue, yet today was an anomaly.
Any advice on how to fix this? I have GTA and Battlefield waiting for me.

I have:
AMD Phenom II 965
Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3
4GB 1600 DDR3
Fortron 550W
HD 4870 (this is where the issue lies)
It lacks DirectX 11 support, which is the sole reason for an upgrade, given that everything else performs perfectly fine.
I am looking for a replacement that isn't a downgrade but does offer DirectX 11 support.
My budget is roughly $10-$15,$333 though cheaper options would be preferred if possible.
Thanks.

Don't force my hand into stripping it down again.
I definitely overdid it on this one; I spread the coating across the entire surface to ensure nothing peeked through, then just smoothed it out with my finger to keep it thin.

He applied a heavy dose of "fix-it" grease, and everything is back to normal
thanks again everyone, I don't have enough cash on hand for a second round

I didn't actually dismantle the fan; I simply used some tweezers and a vacuum to clear out the heatsink and the fan blades.
The temperature is sitting at 67°C under load. I haven't powered it back up yet, as my plan is to buy some thermal paste, strip it down, and reapply it before seeing how it performs.
Thanks, everyone.

in Canada