GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

It’s ridiculous—you can't find this anywhere else. They had the exact same card listed under $533, then I send them an inquiry and suddenly everything changes. Just a bunch of thieves, honestly. It’s like how Best Buy used to hold $500... you ask a question and they flip the script. I just don't get these online retailers. On top of that, it claimed there was an 18-month warranty, but then look at this VTX...

http://www.amazon.com/graphics-card...2dhev2/0901889 Since it's a VTX, I guess the cheap price isn't a shocker, but for that kind of money, I'd much rather grab a Sapphire 😁

Is this the Sapphire one?

Under "manufacturer," it says EVGA 🙂

Yeah, it’s all just a bit of a scam, really...

Andrew Peterson2 said:I'm running an Intel i3 3.30 with an Nvidia gt640 2gb ram graphics card and 4GB of RAM. I have a question for you all—I'm not really a gamer and rarely play anything, but I am wondering what might speed up my graphic processing in programs like Photoshop or Illustrator. For instance, if
I select a 3D model within Illustrator, I find myself waiting at least 30 seconds, or even longer depending on my settings, just for the changes to process.
What component needs more power to make this rendering faster? Is it a matter of needing more RAM, a better processor, or something else entirely?

You should aim for at least 8GB of RAM, though 16GB is highly recommended for design work. Additionally, a modern processor should definitely be at least a quad-core model.

I've got an Nvidia GeForce GS card in here, though I can't tell you the exact model since I'm typing this on my laptop,
my motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-MA770-DS3, and if I remember correctly, this rig was put together back in 2009.
I'm trying to hook this thing up to my TV, but I'm getting absolutely nothing on the screen through this current card. I figured I might just grab something cheap specifically for watching movies and streaming...
Any suggestions on which graphics card I should pick up?
I don't want to spend more than $67, so I'm perfectly fine with something used.

So $67 check this out—it’s a used one listed on Craigslist by someone based in Washington, D.C. Since you didn't mention where you're located, I wasn't sure if the drive would be worth it for you, but there's a passive heatsink, which means it runs silent. Plus, it has HDMI ports, which is exactly what you're looking for...

http://www.craigslist.org/listing/graphics-card-ad-11345787

I'm hunting for an S-Video cable because I'm still rocking one of those old-school TVs.

Thanks

pozz

- looking for a PCI-E card
- motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA770-DS3
- specs: AMD Athlon 64 x2 dual core 6000+ 3.1GHz
500w power supply (generic)
- Mem: 6GB RAM
- Current GPU: Ati Radeon HD 4670 512Mb
- res: 1280x1024

I've been browsing through some old threads and the Sapphire radeon HD7770 1 GB DDR5 caught my eye. I
realize my current CPU might struggle to keep up with it, though. Let me know if I've got that wrong.
- It looks like there's an upgrade path for
Phenoma x4 and
Phenoma ii x4 if I update the Bios.
Can we actually get those CPUs easily, and is it worth the money?
- Another option is just swapping the motherboard. Since I've stuck with AMD my whole life without any headaches,
I’d probably stay with AMD.
Which socket would you recommend so I have room to upgrade again down the road?
(Assuming a board without integrated graphics)

I mainly use this rig for photo editing and some casual gaming (just World of Tanks and War Thunder)

Thanks

That GPU should be totally fine for that resolution. If you're hunting for a new one, look for the 250X—it’s basically the exact same card, just rebranded.

The CPU is pretty weak, though, so it probably won't let the card really stretch its legs. Plus, your motherboard doesn't support any newer chips that would actually make sense to upgrade to. Your only real move is grabbing a new motherboard, RAM, and a processor (and yeah, you'll need new RAM since you're on DDR2 and modern boards only take DDR3). If you're actually planning to pull the trigger on that, just let me know what kind of budget you're working with and maybe we can put something together for you.

@fadedorca66/">@@fadedorca66 That changes everything. For now, I’ll pass—I’ve got car registration and service stuff to deal with anyway. Regarding that Sapphire radeon HD7770 1 GB DDR5, I might find one, but if I can't actually use its full potential, I'm not wasting the money before autumn hits. I'd much rather save up for something new than just patch up an old rig.
Basically, is there any real point in upgrading just the GPU on this specific build right now?

Look, you can definitely grab it. It’s definitely a step up from the 4670—by quite a bit, actually—but I guess I'm not sure how much of a difference you'll actually notice in real use. If money is tight, maybe just hold off; if not, go ahead and get it, since it'll be easy enough to swap into your next build.

Yeah, I'll definitely check the prices first. That seems like the smartest move.
Thanks for the heads-up, I'll reach out once I actually dive into this "project."
pozz

Maybe go grab some cash first, then hit me up. 🙂 In the meantime, you might want to double-check if those drives are ATA or SATA, and see what kind of power supply you're running (brand and model).

Campari

Beyond the fact that your CPU won't even be able to utilize the full potential, you're looking at a serious bottleneck if you're running a generic, off-brand power supply. Between a high-draw CPU and a GPU demanding its own dedicated power rail, things can get dicey. For context, the 4670 pulls about 70W TDP, the 7770 sits at 80W, and the 250X is rated at 95W. If you want to avoid swapping out your PSU entirely, you could potentially opt for a 250 (roughly 50-60W). While that CPU isn't the perfect match for it during more intensive gaming sessions, you should still see a noticeable performance bump and hit a much more realistic ceiling for your setup. Honestly, though? Your best bet is to either save up for a complete platform overhaul or just upgrade everything at once.

EDIT
Check out the videos from this creator; they use a CPU very similar to yours (just slightly beefier)

i5, 8 GB RAM, 600 W Chieftec PSU, 6950 2 GB, 22" monitor (1680 X 1050). Alright, I'm looking to swap out my GPU. Main use: gaming (BF4).

Give me your best buy suggestions by 1 PM $267, ideally something from the Rolling Stone shop.

Here's what caught my eye:

1. R9 270X 2GB VAPOR-X OC (http://goo.gl/AEUvKw)
2. R9 280X (http://goo.gl/gjvoEu) - price seems suspiciously low, right?
3. R9 270X 4GB (http://goo.gl/ybPY5T)

Let's hear it.

Oh, and one more thing; I'm selling my 6950 2GB in a few days, so if anyone's interested... I'll let it go for $233.

Which i5 are we talking about?

Regarding the graphics card, you really need to verify if it’s actually a 280X or just a standard 280. There’s some conflicting info out there. If it turns out to be the base 280, I’d suggest going with the Sapphire model; personally, I'd steer clear of the VTX. However, if it truly is a 280X, then that's a fantastic deal.
Now, here is the thing: if you're playing Battlefield 4 MP with an i5-750, buying a 280 or even a 280X doesn't make much sense. You're going to run into a massive bottleneck. Even a newer entry-level locked i5, like a 2400 or a 3350p, would struggle. Look, head over to Bug—there's a whole thread dedicated to GPU bottlenecking. It's full of enthusiasts who are obsessed with Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4 MP, and running benchmark tests, but they can give you the exact percentages you can expect. In my opinion, if you're stuck on the LGA 1156 platform, upgrading for this specific game isn't worth your money.

Timothy Kim60 said:Which i5 are we talking about?

Regarding the GPU, you really need to double-check if it's actually an NVIDIA GTX 970 or just a standard 280. People are saying different things. If it turns out to be a basic 280, go with the Sapphire card—in my book, I’d steer clear of the EVGA GTX 970. But if it really is a 970, that's a killer deal.
Now, if you're trying to play Battlefield 4 Multiplayer with an i5-750, honestly, grabbing a 280 or even an NVIDIA GTX 970 is a waste of money because you're going to hit a massive bottleneck. Even those newer entry-level locked i5s like the 2400 or 3350p will struggle. Look, just head over to BUGS and check the thread on GPU bottlenecking. You'll find a bunch of nerds obsessed with Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4 Multiplayer, and constant benchmarking, but they can tell you exactly what kind of performance drops to expect. Personally, if you're stuck on an LGA 1156 i5, there's zero point upgrading for this specific game.

i5 2500K, overclocked to @3300 MHz.

NVIDIA GTX 970 is a solid choice... I guess you could even try an overclock; it feels like a waste not to push that processor a bit 😬

Alright then, go ahead and pick whichever one you want. If you decide on the NVIDIA GTX 970, you'll definitely see some gains from overclocking—just make sure to grab an aftermarket cooler if you don't already have one (something like a Cooler Master 212 evo) and crank it up. Honestly, it might be smarter to skip those overpriced 270X cards; for nearly the same price, you could snag an R9 280 (or maybe even an R9 280X).

EDIT

And what kind of power supply are we talking about here? An NVIDIA GTX 970 isn't exactly going to run on some cheap, no-name junk or a low-end unit from a brand like generic off-brand retailers.

Timothy Kim60 said:Alright then, just pick whichever one you want. If you go with the NVIDIA GTX 970, you’re definitely gonna want to overclock it—just grab an aftermarket cooler if yours sucks (like a Cooler Master 212 evo) and crank it up. Honestly, skip those overpriced 270Xs; for basically the same cash, you can snag an r9 280 (or maybe even the 280X).

EDIT

And what kind of power supply are we talking about here? Because the NVIDIA GTX 970 isn't some cheap toy, and I'm guessing it's not some top-tier unit either.

My bad, lied earlier; here's the PSU:

EVGA Core edition 80 650 w pas - EasyRail technology