GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Wait, wouldn't I be able to run an Radeon HD 4850 on this power supply of mine too?

Honestly, I wouldn't do it if I were you... That power supply probably isn't even hitting its rated 400W, let alone being reliable. Personally, I wouldn't trust anything beefier than a Radeon HD 4670 with that thing, and even then, it's risky! If you're planning on upgrading your GPU, grab a decent PSU to go with it. You can always reuse a good one in your next build, so don't skimp here. When a cheap power supply dies (and let's face it, your motherboard is bottom-of-the-barrel stuff), it can easily take everything else down with it... then you'll be kicking yourself for trying to save a few bucks!

If those options feel too pricey, check out these decent ones:
Coolermaster 420W
Xilence 420W RedWing Edition

Michael Reed72 said:I wouldn't advise going down that road. Honestly, that power supply probably isn't even hitting its rated 400W—let alone providing stable power—and I won't even get started on the build quality. If we're talking strictly about wattage, I wouldn't trust anything beefier than a Radeon HD 4670 on that unit, and even then, the reliability is questionable. If you're planning to step up to a more powerful card, you really should pick up a decent power supply to match. Think of it as an investment; you can carry a good PSU over to your next build, so it's worth skipping the cheap stuff. When a low-end power supply fails (and given how bottom-of-the-barrel that MS age 2007 unit is, failure is almost a guarantee), it can easily take several other components down with it—and then you'll be left wondering why you tried to cut corners.

If the options I mentioned earlier feel a bit too pricey, here are some alternatives that aren't total junk:
Coolermaster 420W
Xilence 420W RedWing Edition

Signature. Also, while you're at it, check out the video link in my signature. It'll give you a pretty clear idea of what happens when those budget power supplies decide to call it quits. 😉

Alright, I've decided to go with the Radeon HD 4670. Thanks to everyone for the help! 👍

Alright, here's the deal. I'm thinking about upgrading my graphics setup.

This is what I'm running right now:
MSI NX8800 GTS 512mb

So, should I just slap another one of these identical cards in there, OR should I just bite the bullet and buy a single new card with 2GB of VRAM, maybe a newer Radeon?

My gut says to just link two cards like the one I have since they're both on the same bus, which sounds better—but I'd only have 1GB total. Now I'm second-guessing myself.

* It's a PCI-E card.

* My specs:
4GB RAM (2x DualTech -> 4x1gb)
Intel Core 2 quad 4 x 3.0
Not totally sure about the PSU, but I know it's 600w.

* Resolution: 1920×1200

* I've got up to $250 ready to go.$1000.

* Looking at any shops in San Diego.

Thanks.

600W, but what brand are we talking about?
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5870

So you've got two risers for two cards. That's fine, I guess? But it all comes down to the bandwidth. If one is running at 16x and the other is stuck at 4x... you're losing juice right there. If you're actually willing to drop that kind of cash, go for it,
maybe try borrowing an 8800GT from someone first just to see how it feels. If you love it, stick with it. If not? Move on to something newer..

Personally, I’d probably just grab a 5850. I mean, can your CPU even keep up with a 5870? You'd probably need an i7 for that, and since you're rocking a Intel Core 2 quad 4 x 3.0, a 5850 seems like a much smarter play..

@Timothy Rivera5/">@@Timothy Rivera5

Don't get hung up on how much VRAM you have. I guess there's really no need for more than 1 GB.

@Bryan Evans77/">@@Bryan Evans77 - If I was grabbing two, I'd get the exact same speeds, period. -.-

Timothy Rivera5 said:@Bryan Evans77 - If I were grabbing two, I'd just get the same speeds -.-

Not that. I mean, what motherboard are you running?..

Take this one, for example.

One slot runs at 16x, while the second is stuck at 4x....

So basically, while the first card gets that full 16x speed, the second one is throttled down to 4x...

I'm talking about the PCI-E bus speeds on the board itself, not the card.

Oh, so that's what you were getting at. Both drives are running at the exact same speed for me, clocked at 16x. I double-checked.

cosmicfox31 said:600W, but what brand?
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5870

Look, that card is decent, but it’s only 1GB. That’s basically like me trying to bridge two current cards together, except this one costs way more.

If I'm dropping cash on something brand new, it better have 2GB.

Timothy Rivera5 said:Sure, that one's decent—but it’s only 1GB. Honestly, it feels like paying a premium just to bridge the gap between two current cards.

If I were buying something brand new, I'd insist on at least 2GB.

Just grab the 5870; it's the best value you'll find. And don't get hung up on VRAM—anything over 1GB is mostly marketing fluff. You can run just about anything at standard settings in Full HD with 512MB, so 1GB is overkill. Just go with what cosmicfox31 suggested. 🙂

Jeffrey Hill5 said:Just grab the 5870, it’s the best bang for your buck. And don't even get me started on VRAM—anything over 1GB is a total scam. You can run basically any game on normal settings at 1080p with just 512MB, so 1GB is plenty. Just go with whatever Dead suggested. 🙂

But if I do that, I might as well just buy another one exactly like the one I already have. I'll probably just pick up that new Vapor-X 5850 instead. Looks solid to me, and the cooling system seems killer.

Timothy Rivera5 said:At that point, I might as well just grab another one of the same model I already own—it's redundant. I'll probably just go with the new Vapor-X 5850. It looks solid enough, and the cooling setup seems decent.

Right, I forgot to mention that, in my view, the 5870 is a terrible value. A decent overclock on a 5850 will match a 5870 easily—and it's about $700 cheaper--$267. Just get the reference 5850 and call it a day. You don't even really need the Vapor-X; those ATI 5XXX cards run pretty cool in general.

Timothy Rivera5 said:But at that point, I might as well just grab another one of the cards I already own. I’ll probably end up going with that new Vapor-x, the 5850—it looks like a solid choice, and the cooling setup seems top-notch.

Just a heads-up: you can't judge a GPU's actual horsepower simply by looking at how much VRAM it packs. The 5870 is an absolute beast of a chip, and honestly, having more than 1 GB of memory isn't really going to change your life unless you're trying to run three full HD monitors all at once.

Fine. I'm grabbing either a 5850 or some kind of Vapor-x.

I could really use some advice on a PC upgrade
My current setup is an AMD Athlon 64 x2 4000+ (2GHz), 2GB of RAM, an HD 2600XT, and some random budget power supply. It was pretty $33 cheap, but I guess it handles my current build without any major issues.
I’m looking to pick up a new graphics card. I’ve been eyeing the 4850, but I was wondering if there might be something else in that same performance bracket and price range that performs better or offers more value. I want something that fits my current rig because I don't want to change too much right now—whenever I finally do a full overhaul, I'll just replace everything at once.
I am planning on getting a Corsair HX450W for the power supply.

Let me know what you think. Does this plan seem solid, or should I consider changing something?

You don't really need a VX450W; a CX400W could probably handle both of your rigs, or maybe even a Fortron PNF400W if you're trying to keep costs down on this build. 🙂

Since your processor isn't exactly a powerhouse, I guess buying something high-end wouldn't make much sense. If I were you, I'd look at this one:

http://www.newegg.com/p/product_info.php?c...oducts_id=7952

Hmm, I can pick up this 4850 for $233, but then there's this other one sitting at 650..
What does it actually mean when people say my processor is too weak for the GPU? Is it just that it won't reach its full potential, or are there other side effects, like maybe getting lower performance than if I had used a weaker card?

Oh, while I'm asking, what would be a decent upgrade for my CPU that still fits my current motherboard (AM2)?