GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

The difference is there isn't some fan out there that can buzz and make that much noise. So I guess they're just 🙂

haha, but how does that actually manage to cool things down then? I mean, is it even capable of pulling enough heat away when things get intense? Honestly, the noise level isn't really a dealbreaker for me 😁

There’s this passive heatsink that doesn't even need a fan. If they're selling it that way, I guess it has to be able to handle the heat on its own, otherwise everyone would just be filing warranty claims, right? Maybe the only thing that would actually mess with the cooling is if you put it in a tiny, cramped case with zero airflow.

So, like the title says, I can snag an HD4650 (512MB DDR2, 64-bit, LP) for $33, and now I’m stuck. Should I grab that card or go for the pricier option ($90 is the starting price, and it might actually be slower)—an HD6450 (512MB, GDDR3)? From what I've seen in benchmarks, the HD4650 is clearly the better move, mostly just because it's only $33. I don't really care about whatever "new tech" the HD6450 claims to have; I just want to stop using integrated graphics.

What do you guys think?

I’d honestly go for a used 4650, provided you’re absolutely certain there isn't anything wrong with the card...

Also... even though it's an older series... I wouldn't touch a 6450 with a ten-foot pole because anything lower than an x500 is basically just scrap metal.

I’ve also got an older rig that runs just fine...
A few days ago I installed Windows 7 and things started stuttering a bit, so now I have a question about my GPU:

Will I see any actual improvement in graphics or performance if I swap out my current GeForce 5200 for something beefier? Maybe even the most powerful AGP card out there?

I'm not looking to buy a whole new PC yet, I just want to give this one a little boost.

What CPU and how much RAM are you running?

A 2.3 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM

I'm not looking to go back to Windows XP, and I don't play any heavy modern games anyway. I just want this thing to run a little smoother on Windows 7 without all the constant stuttering.

Hey there,

... So, I picked up a PC with integrated graphics about a month ago, and I'm wondering if I can upgrade it?

... Motherboard: Intel motherboard

... Looking to grab a GPU for around $333 (any suggestions in that range?) 🙂

... Also, my power supply is 400W... think that'll be enough juice?

Thread for graphics cards click 🙂

Hey there,

... I picked up a PC with integrated graphics about a month ago, and I'm wondering if I can upgrade it?

... motherboard: ASUS P5G41T-M LX3

... looking to grab a card for around $333 (any suggestions in that range?)

... also, my power supply is 400W... do you think that'll be enough juice?

Who's the PSU manufacturer and what's the specific model?

Also, yeah, you can probably throw just about any PCI-E card in there.

James Stewart94 said:Hey there,

... about a month ago I picked up a PC with integrated graphics, so I was wondering if an upgrade is actually doable?

... motherboard: ASUS P5G41T-M LX3

... looking to grab a GPU for around $333 (any suggestions in that price range?)

... oh, and one more thing—my power supply is 400W... would that be enough juice?

If I were in your shoes, for $333 I'd probably just scour Facebook Marketplace for an NVIDIA GTX 460 or maybe check out a local shop like Best Buy (I wasn't sure what the exact price was, so I just wrote it that way)—anyway, regarding that 400W unit... honestly, I'm not entirely sure if it could handle an NVIDIA GTX 460. Personally, I've been running an XFX 5770 with a 400W PSU and it’s been running smooth as silk, but then again, the NVIDIA GTX 460 is a bit more demanding, so who knows?

James Stewart94 said:Hey,

... I picked up a PC with integrated graphics about a month ago, just wondering if I can upgrade it?

... motherboard: ASUS P5G41T-M LX3

Yeah, you can. Any PCI-E card will work.

... looking to grab a card for around $333 (any suggestions at that price point?) 🙂

Check the linked thread.

... one more thing, the power supply is 400W... will that be enough?

Depends on whether it's some cheap junk or a decent brand.

fadedorca66 said:What’s the power supply brand and model?

Oh, and yeah, you can toss just about any PCI-E graphics card in there.

http://www.ms-start.com/bih/default....&articleId=857

... that's the PSU =)

You should be able to upgrade without any issues using a PCI Express graphics card.
The only thing that could trip you up here is the power supply. What brand and model are you running? You can check the sticker on the unit itself or look at your receipt.

Roger Miller8 said:You should be able to upgrade without any issues using a PCI Express card.
The only real bottleneck you might run into is your power supply. What brand and model is it? You can usually find the info on the sticker or the receipt.

Power supply: http://www.ms-start.com/bih/default....&articleId=857

I also tracked down two cards that look decent:

or

I’d go with the 560Ti if you can stretch your budget a little further. If not, grab a 6850
.
Performance-wise, they’re in the same ballpark, but the 6850 is the more economical choice.

As for your power supply, it isn't great. It might pull through 🙂for a while, but only up to a point.

If you pick the 6850, that’s 130 W right there.
You didn't mention your CPU... let's say 90 W?
The rest of the build probably pulls at least 50 W.

Bottom line: you need a decent 400 W unit, something like an XFX 450W$136 for
.
It’s always smarter to have some headroom in your power supply, so more is better.

If you really need to stick to a strict budget—saving a few bucks while dropping the wattage slightly—consider the 550Ti/6770. Just know that using your current power supply is your own risk.

Whichever one you choose, you'll still have some room to play around.🙂

mellowraven8 said:I'm down. Just thinking about that old 560Ti today. Man, those cards really held their own back in the day! If you can stretch it just a little bit more, that would be awesome. If not, maybe we could just go with something else? 6850

The performance levels on these cards are all over the place.Honestly, I think it’s about time we admit the 6850 is the better deal.

Regarding that power supply of yours—honestly, it’s not great. It might be holding its own for now, but don't count on it lasting much longer. 🙂

If you go with the 6850, you're looking at about 130 W.
Wait, you didn't mention which processor you're running... is it like a 90 W one?
Still got about 50W to spare.

You really need a solid power supply rated for at least 400W, something like an EVGA or Corsair. Thinking about picking up an XFX 450? $136

It’s always a smart move to have some extra headroom on your power supply—having that extra wattage definitely gives you more peace of mind.

If you're trying to stick strictly to a budget, you could save a few bucks and shave off a couple dozen watts in power consumption by looking at this instead. Thinking about running a 550Ti paired with a 6770. What do you guys think? Just a heads-up, using that current power supply is totally on you if anything goes sideways. Use it at your own risk!

Pick whatever you like—you'll have plenty of fun playing around with it! 🙂

Check out this 2MB box on Amazon—looks like exactly what I need for my setup!
Here's the CPU.

Thanks a ton, you were a huge help! =)