Posts by swiftfalcon89

Sean Gomez8 said:Hey everyone, looks like my graphics card finally kicked the bucket. I’m likely looking at a replacement, and honestly, I need to hunt for something used since a brand-new card just isn't in the budget right now. My old setup was running an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 with 1GB of GDDR5. What would you guys suggest if I'm looking for something used that matches that performance—or ideally, gives me a bit of a boost? I'm trying to keep the spend under $400.$167Not exactly great, to be honest. For context, here’s my current PC setup:
XFX NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 1GB DDR5
So, I’ve been looking at this setup: an Intel Core i7-920 running at 3.2 GHz with 8.0 MB total Cache on an LGA 1366 socket.
So, I've been looking into the Asrock 870 EXTREME3 based on the AMD 870 chipset. It’s an interesting little board. If you're planning a build around this, there are definitely some things to weigh before you pull the trigger.
I’ve been looking at the Corsair CX 600 lately. It’s one of those power supplies that just sits there doing its job without making a massive scene about it. If you aren't trying to run a NASA supercomputer in your bedroom, it's a pretty solid choice for a standard build. It's reliable enough for everyday gaming without breaking the bank, which is usually where most of us end up anyway.
Western Digital 1TB SATA III, featuring 32 MB total Cache.
I've got a pair of 4GB sticks of Corsair DDR3 running at 1333MHz.

Thanks!

You’d pick this up for... $183 I found this listing for a graphics card on a local marketplace site. It looks like a decent option if you're looking to pick up some hardware without breaking the bank. Check it out if you have a second.

briskhound13 said:So, let's look at the second option. I'd love some help picking out a configuration up to $1000, excluding the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Right now, I've got a mid-tower ATX case with an MS 350W ATX P4 power supply—dimensions are 410mm H x 440mm D x 190mm W—and a micro ATX motherboard. If the case and PSU can be reused, that would be great. I mainly want to play SC2 and a few other games that aren't too heavy on the system. Thanks in advance.

Look, if you aren't exactly a hardcore pro gamer and you're trying not to blow all your $1000 money, you could grab something like this http://www.craigslist.com/listing/pc-computers/i...-ad-8271916 and throw another 400-$167 on a used graphics card (like an HD7750 http://www.ebay.com/itm/graphics-cards-ad-8081707). That would give you more than enough juice for the types of games you're looking at, leaving you some extra cash for 😁 something else... or, you could see if your buddies can put together a fresh build for the same amount 🙂

ruggedbadger said:I haven't really looked into this, but could you recommend a good program for checking things?

Well, you can just pull up Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL) to keep an eye on your CPU usage, and then use GPU-Z—or whatever utility you've got installed—to track your GPU load. The best way to do it is to run a benchmark or a heavy game and watch the numbers closely. That’s usually the easiest way to spot if you're dealing with a bottleneck...

ruggedbadger said:Prices for third-gen gear will definitely drop once the fourth generation hits the shelves.😁

From what I can tell, the performance jump is only about 5 to 10%.
And before anyone starts a whole new thread over this, I just have one quick question. While I'm gaming, my GPU usage fluctuates quite a bit, anywhere from 50% up to 80%. I'm wondering if my AMD FX 6100 might be acting as a bottleneck. I've got V-Sync turned off because I heard that could lower the load.

If your CPU is sitting at 100% while the GPU stays under 80%, you've definitely got a bottleneck.

Timothy Kim60 said:Well, obviously. For that kind of money, you could just buy a whole high-end rig instead. All I'm saying is that they're available here in the States.

Look, I wasn't attacking you. I know you're just pointing out that 😬 exists. I’m just giving you my two cents—it feels like throwing money down the drain. Even you admitted you could build a killer PC for that price, and let's face it, the cost of that card will probably drop by half within a year anyway....

Timothy Kim60 said:he's got
just an FYI, they have 3 $267, but here we have 5 $267 ☕

From what I can tell, this new generation isn't actually bringing anything new to the table. It’s just the classic rebranding trick
like how the NVIDIA GTX 680 is now the NVIDIA GTX 770, and the NVIDIA GTX 670 = NVIDIA GTX 760Ti

Honestly, it’s a waste of money. In six months to a year, those cards will be significantly cheaper...

Andrew Miller102 said:Didn't one of the guys on this forum say he was looking for a power supply rated up to $100? So what's the deal with $117 now? Either you're having some trouble with the math or I'm missing something here. Honestly, he can just grab that Fortron unit listed below and call it a day. That Corsair is definitely overpriced for what it is—in the real world, it isn't any better than the Fortron option.☕

http://www.newegg.com/products/detail...ive12-cm/58764

http://www.amazon.com/product_info.php?c...oducts_id=3798

It's not like 350 is the only option out there; there are cheaper ones too. Besides, I don't think it's a huge stretch to chip in an extra $17 to get a decent unit. Plus, you were running a CX430 before, so you already know firsthand that those units aren't all that much better than what you've got on your list.

Zachary Young4 said:Hey, I'm running this setup

EVGA GeForce GTX460

Corsair 8GB, 2x4GB, 1600MHz DDR3, XMS3-1600, DDR3,

Phenom II X4 955 Processor (3.2GHz, 8MB, 125W) box 36 unit

Asrock AM3 770 EXTREME3 Motherboard - AMD 770, AMD
SB710, ATX, FSB 2600, Dual Channel DDR3,

I WANT A NEW GPU, AGAIN NVIDIA UP TO $1500, $533, ANYONE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS? NEED IT FOR RENDERING VISUALS... THANKS.

GTX 660

http://www.nabava.net/trazilica.php?tp=0&q=gtx+660

brightcrane28 said:I'm looking for some power supply recommendations. Nothing crazy expensive—keep it under $100 since money is a bit tight right now—but I don't want some cheap junk either. It’s just for gaming and browsing, so nothing fancy is needed. Also, I'd rather skip the online stores; I prefer walking into a local shop and picking one up myself. 🙂

Here's the build: Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2HP
GPU - Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti
CPU - AMD A8-3850
RAM - 8GB
HDD - WD 500GB, SATA
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

Corsair CX430

http://www.google.com/search?q=80%2B+bronze+power+supply

ruggedeagle40 said:I’d cap it at around $1,700 or $1,800 max. Honestly, I wouldn't push past that. I don't think I really need more than that, and it feels pretty irrational to blow extra cash on anything higher given how things are looking right now.

Look, I honestly think some of you guys on this forum are more than capable of putting together a killer new PC build for anyone looking to upgrade. $667 If you aren't worried about the graphics side of things, I'd say go ahead and pick up a used GPU while you can—provided you find one that still has some warranty left. Aim for somewhere in the $500 range.$233 If you're looking at options like the HD7750, the HD7770, or even the GTX 550—honestly, those might actually be worth considering... $233 If you can swing that kind of cash, try to snag an HD6850 or maybe a GTX 460 while they're still under warranty. Of course, that's only if your budget allows for it. 😬

ruggedeagle40 said:Hey everyone, I could use some advice. Are these computers actually worth the asking price? If not, what’s a fair offer? I'm looking for something decent enough for light gaming—just something to decompress after work. Most of the time, I'll just be using it for Word, browsing forums, or streaming movies and shows.

Link 1

Link 2 - I asked him for screenshots of the specs since his description was pretty vague. 🤷

Right now, I'm struggling with this ancient laptop (emachines e442) that basically chokes if I try to run anything more intense than a calculator app. Even having five or six browser tabs open alongside Word is a massive struggle for it. 😬 Moving to either of these would be a huge step up for me. 🙂 I'd probably just keep the old laptop strictly for typing up documents. 🙂

What's the absolute most you're looking to spend?

Timothy Kim60 said:plus, if you're still rocking DDR2 and you find a Quad-core at a decent price, then yeah, go for it. You could probably ride that setup for quite a while depending on how picky you are with your settings.

Look, I wouldn't call myself "picky." It's not like I'm obsessed with having everything set to Very High or cranking AA up to 16x or 32x just because some game title suggests it 😬 . For me, it’s pretty simple: I just want to be able to run whatever I'm playing at Med/High settings at 1024x768 with a smooth, playable frame rate...

Andrew Fox74 said:I doubt you’ll find anything worth picking up below a $200. Honestly, I don't think it makes much sense to dump money into a dead socket. You're better off grabbing a decent budget build for around a hundred bucks and moving over to Ivy Bridge—those Celerons actually hold their own—or just going with an AMD chip. Especially if you're already on DDR3, you could potentially reuse your RAM, though that's the least of your worries since you can find $50 4GB sticks on eBay
easily enough.
Timothy Kim60 was faster on the draw here and gave you a better answer. Chasing those old Quad-cores just isn't worth the headache.

I get that, I really do. It's just that I don't have the cash right now—and I don't see it coming anytime soon—to jump to a newer platform. I just dropped about $200 into this rig recently (Sapphire HD6850 $250, Corsair CX 430 $117, and 2GB of DDR2 800 MHz RAM $40), so sinking more money into a random Quad-core feels wrong. I did see one for about $133 a while back, but my wallet said no. If I can make this work, I figure it'll carry me through for a while until I can slowly save up for a completely new setup. My plan is to keep this power supply and GPU, as they should be solid enough to pair with a future i5 build and 8GB of DDR3 memory...

Andrew Fox74 said:I believe you. Honestly, if your processor is sitting around the level of an HD3650, you’re really going to feel the difference once you upgrade him or even try some overclocking. Right now, you're almost certainly bottlenecking that GPU. That said, I still think the 6850 is a fantastic card—especially considering what you can pick up used these days. Personally, I’m not planning on swapping mine out until an 8850 hits that same price point.

Yeah, I know the CPU is bottlenecking the card. I'm actually looking into picking up a Quad Core (Socket 775) or maybe an E8xxx; from what I've read, those should let me tap into about 80-90% of the card's potential, at least according to the folks online... I grabbed my own $250 Sapphire HD6850 with the Vapor-X cooler—the full bundle with 1.5 years of warranty from Best Buy...

Andrew Fox74 said:Back in its prime, the 9800gt went for about $200 new, and it was Nvidia’s absolute standout offer at the time. So don't be shocked if it still holds its own in most games today. That said, you can't expect to swap it out for $100 and suddenly find yourself with twice the performance. I do think if you picked up something like a 6850 used for maybe $60, you’d really feel the jump, just like people suggested. I made the leap from an 8800gt—which is basically the same tier as what you're running—to a 6850, and man, the difference was night and day.

And honestly, you have no idea the massive boost I felt when I finally moved from an HD3650 to an HD6850 😬

Jesse Brown90 said:Look, you're looking at a bucket from 2008. It’ll run just about anything, except for...
Crysis 3 is such a pain because of that damn DirectX 11 requirement. Honestly, here I am...
I honestly thought that graphics card market was a lot more saturated than it actually is, given how things were looking.
A few generations actually passed during that timeframe.
Honestly, I’m just looking to grab something cheap for the hell of it—maybe even something better than what I've got now, just to see if I can pull off a steal.
You can grab a GT 9800 for next to nothing these days. It’s basically a relic from 2010 or 2011, but honestly, you get what you pay for.
Prices have finally dropped, which is honestly a damn shame because I was actually looking to grab one. That said, you can't deny this Nvidia card is solid.
It’s honestly driving me insane—that constant, low-frequency buzzing that rings in your ears the second you shut down the computer. It’s like the silence isn't actually silent.

You’re really going to screw up the translation just to make sure it doesn't land, aren't you? 😬 I mean, seriously, what were you actually thinking? You really thought you could snag a high-end card from 2010 for like 150 bucks?$67 What else is actually decent enough to handle modern games? Honestly, you're overthinking it. If you want to run new titles without everything turning into a slideshow, you have to invest. Anything worth buying today holds its value, too. If you want to play the latest stuff smoothly, man, just put the money into something better. Don't settle for less. $167 Don't even bother looking at used graphics cards. You can find the truth elsewhere if you actually put in the work. $100 I could grab a card that’s a bit more powerful than what I’m running right now, but let's be honest—it wouldn't even be a massive leap forward. It's just not worth the headache. $167 You can usually find some decent used deals on an HD7750, a GTX 550 Ti, or something similar if you're looking to spend around $600.$233 You could track down a more powerful HD6850 or maybe a GTX460—though you wouldn't be getting a warranty on those. Alternatively, there’s always the option of picking up a slightly weaker HD7770 that actually comes with a warranty.

Jesse Brown90 said:Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Memory: 2048MB (800MHz)?😲
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co.
Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2
Installed on February 9, 2012.
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Video Adapter: Nvidia GeForce 9800 gt
Mouse: Logitech USB WheelMouse Keyboard
Keyboard: Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Hard Drive: WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B2 ATA Device (596GB, IDE)
Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22NS30 ATA Device

I have no idea why my system is reporting only 2048MB of memory when I definitely have 4 gigabytes installed. It’s driving me a little crazy. I was poking around using Glary Utilities to see if I could find anything, but no luck so far.😲

Look, the case itself is actually pretty solid. You could easily tuck an HD7750, an HD7770, or even a GTS250 or GTS450 inside without any issues.

Look, if you can swing a decent amount of cash right now, my advice is to just sell what you've got and build something entirely new. You’re working with an old platform here—we're talking a 775 socket. Your motherboard tops out at 4GB of RAM, which isn't exactly cutting it these days. There really isn't any meaningful room left to upgrade this setup. If you can scrape together maybe $300, you'll be in a much better spot. $0.00 You can put together a really solid rig if you know what you're looking for. I've laid out a few different options here to get you started. I finally sat down to look at my old rig, thinking about how much things have changed since I first put this machine together. It’s funny how quickly hardware becomes "vintage." Looking back, I was pretty happy with what I had, even if it feels like a relic now. My setup used to be built around an Intel dual Core E5700 3.00. At the time, it felt snappy enough for everything I needed. I paired it with a Gigabyte Technology Co. motherboard and ran it on Windows Vista. I remember spending way too many hours tweaking settings just to get things running smoothly. For graphics, I was rocking an ASUS Radeon HD3850 HD. It served me well through the early days of DirectX 9 and DirectX 10, though moving toward DirectX 11 always felt like a massive hurdle for older cards. I eventually upgraded to an Nvidia gtx 650, which felt like a huge jump in performance at the time. Looking at the specs again, it’s a bit of a trip. I’ve gone from struggling with basic tasks on an older Celeron g5xx to dealing with much more demanding software. Even the peripherals feel different—I still have my old Logitech USB WheelMouse Keyboard sitting in a drawer somewhere. It’s strange how we get attached to these pieces of plastic and silicon. Anyway, just a bit of nostalgia hitting me today. It makes you realize how fast the tech cycle moves. One day you're celebrating a new upgrade, and the next, you're wondering where the years went.

Timothy Kim60 said:Look, if you're actually rocking an Nvidia GeForce 9800 gt like they told you, then honestly? Don't even bother looking at anything lower than that. Just stay above that line. 7750 Just 1GB. Honestly, looking back, it’s almost funny how little that used to be. It feels like a lifetime ago. So, I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter lately about DDR5. It feels like we're finally standing on the edge of a massive shift in how we handle memory, and honestly, it's about time. If you've been sticking with DDR4 for the last few years, the jump to this new standard isn't just a minor tweak—it's a fundamental overhaul. We're looking at much higher bandwidth and significantly improved power efficiency. On paper, the numbers look great, but what I really care about is the real-world application. When you're pushing high-end builds, that extra speed can actually make a dent in latency and overall system responsiveness. It's one of those things where you might not notice it while browsing Reddit or checking emails, but once you get into heavy multitasking or demanding workloads, the difference starts to show its face. Of course, there's always the "is it worth it right now?" question. Moving to DDR5 means committing to a new platform, which usually implies upgrading your motherboard and potentially your processor too. It’s a bit of an investment. For most people currently running solid mid-range setups, staying put might be the smarter move for a little longer. But if you're planning a build from scratch today and want to future-proof yourself against whatever comes next, the transition is pretty hard to ignore. It’s a bit like moving from an old reliable sedan to something with a serious turbocharger; it's more expensive upfront, but man, does it change the drive. Honestly, upgrading to an Nvidia gtx 650 wouldn't even count as a real step up.

If you aren't running a newer Intel chip—something like a Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge, or even just a basic Celeron g5xx or a similar Pentium—you’re probably leaving a lot of performance on the table with a card like that. It won't be fully utilized, especially if you're jumping into modern multiplayer titles. Honestly, my advice? Just stick with what you've got for now. Ride that setup until it gives up the ghost, and start tucking some money away so you can upgrade the whole platform down the road.

Look, if you're really dead set on getting your hands on DirectX 11, I guess the only way is to sell what you've got now and scrape together a bit of extra cash for an upgrade. I was looking at some specs for a 6670 DDR5 setup earlier. Just one of those things that sticks in your head when you're trying to figure out if a specific build is actually worth the headache. Honestly, I’m not seeing any real jump in performance here. If you ask me, the only things actually worth noting are the support for DirectX 11 and the fact that power consumption is basically cut in half.

Look, an upgrade to a DX11 card isn't going to do him any favors if it just eats up his precious FPS. Honestly, I wouldn't even suggest running anything on DirectX 10. With a processor like that, once you pair it with any decent graphics card, you’re basically asking for trouble. In my experience, sticking to DirectX 9 is the only way to go to keep things smooth because the CPU is going to be the bottleneck no matter what. I learned that the hard way myself.

Jesse Brown90 said:3.0 Intel dual Core
4GB
550W Gigatech

Look, you should probably list the rest of your specs clearly, like this:

PROCESSOR: Intel dual Core E5700 3.00 GHz
MOTHERBOARD: Asus P5KPL-AM
RAM: 4GB (2x2) DDR2 800 MHz
PSU: Gigatech PSB-550W
GPU: ASUS Radeon HD3850
HDD: 500 GB

And what's the actual goal here? Are you looking to pick up a new graphics card or something?

Jesse Brown90 said:I’m trying to play Crysis 3 but I'm stuck because of DirectX 11 issues, or whatever.
I don't get why they haven't released a patch for this yet. This Radeon card supposedly has
DirectX 11 support, if I recall correctly. It feels like manufacturers just pump out these weak cards instead
of making ones that can actually handle everything at lower resolutions like they used to.
Games aren't even evolving that fast or getting that demanding, yet these hardware companies
act like they're in a race to see who can release the most outdated card possible.

So, what's your actual question here?