Buying a new graphics card - (read first post)

Well, I have my doubts that you'll actually be able to get any real performance out of that Radeon 4670 with that specific setup...

The cheapest one?

Just a quick question for those of you who actually OWN a 4890 (specifically the standard Sapphire version)... I've been reading quite a bit about the noise levels, apparently it's pretty loud and pulls a decent amount of power... though the power draw doesn't bother me as much as the noise might. I guess I'm just worried about how loud this thing really gets. Is it actually that noisy??😁

grab the SAPPHIRE VAPOR-X
honestly, from what I know—and this is just my two cents—if you want something that isn't super noisy, go with an XFX card... the others are just okay, I guess. besides, most of these cards don't actually scream at you when they're hitting full load anyway 🙂
if even the Vapor-X doesn't cut it for you, then maybe just pick up a cheap but decent aftermarket cooler... or, hey, just keep your music playing while you're on the PC to drown it out 😁

Keith Hall43 said:Just one quick question for those who actually OWN a 4890 (specifically the standard Sapphire version)... I've heard quite a bit about the noise levels, implying it's pretty loud and draws a lot of power... though the power draw doesn't worry me as much as the noise. Is it really as loud as people say?😁

Regarding the noise, it isn't any louder than your average mid-to-high-end PC build.
The stock cooler is over excellent, but at auto settings, it shouldn't exceed 40% fan speed if you have decent airflow in your case. On auto, it does run a bit hot, though. Under full load, it sits around 80 degrees Celsius with the fan at roughly 40%, maybe even lower. If you crank the fan to 100%—which is about 4k RPM—temperatures wouldn't go above 65 degrees, but it becomes UNBEARABLY loud at 100%. It feels like having a jet engine running through your room.

When you're gaming on the stock cooler, the noise increases gradually, so you won't really notice the volume spike, but I definitely wouldn't recommend manually pushing it above 40% because of the noise level.

That issue is easily fixed if you pick up an Accelero Twin Turbo or a Scythe Musashi. 👍

wearygull, I know the Vapor-X is the better call here, but honestly, if we're going with a Sapphire, let's just stick to the standard model. I can probably snag it for a better price than the regular retail rate.😁

James Morris, looking at those cooler specs on the manufacturer's site, it seems like they claim compatibility with pretty much any card out there. However, I don't actually see the 4890 listed—the last one on their list is the 4870. Even though the 4890 is basically just a slightly overclocked 4870, I guess it should work fine, but maybe double-check just to be safe.😉

Look, if you've actually got decent airflow moving through your case, the fans won't need to spin at full blast just to keep things steady. But, if you're really craving a silent GPU experience—because let's face it, fan noise can be a real headache—then looking into an aftermarket cooler might be your best bet. Companies like AC and Scythe make heatsinks that handle the heat quite gracefully...

I have a basic Sapphireov 4890. You can easily install either a Musashi or a Twin Turbo on it, though I’d suggest keeping the stock shroud to ensure the VRM cooling stays efficient. Personally, I’m running the Scythe Musashi.
The 4870 and 4890 share the same screw layout around the core. Additionally, the 4890 features larger VRM areas, which makes cooling them a bit easier. You might run into some issues if you're planning on CFing, but if you aren't interested in CF, then it shouldn't be an issue.

What Casey Long2 mentioned is also worth noting—the stock fans help exhaust hot air out of the case rather than just recirculating the same hot air inside, which is a nice bonus for the rest of the components and the card itself. If you switch to an aftermarket cooler, you'll lose that benefit... but hey, you can't have it both ways.😁

So, I'm currently running an Nvidia chipset—specifically the Nvidia GF 6150SE—and I was wondering if an ATI Radeon would actually work in this rig? 😁😁 😁..Honestly, I'm pretty clueless about how this all works... I was eyeing this one.... 😁 😁 😁

Running ATI cards on an nVidia chipset—honestly, that’s just asking for trouble. That specific card is pretty much a disaster waiting to happen. This one is a significantly better choice if you want to actually enjoy your setup.
And seriously, give those "w"s a rest...

Hey everyone, I could really use some shopping advice here.

* Are you looking for an AGP or PCI-E card?
- PCI-E

* What does your current or upcoming setup look like, and what kind of power supply are you running?
- CPU = Intel Core 2 duo E7300
- socket = Socket 775 LGA
- clock speed = It constantly jumps between 1600 MHz and then suddenly spikes up to around 2600 MHz before dropping back down to 1600 MHz again.
- motherboard
- manufacturer = MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
- model = MS-7529

* What resolution are you playing at?
1680 x 1050
* What’s your budget?
- up to $533

* Which stores are you considering?
- Anywhere within New York City

* If you have any other specific requirements, let us know.
- I just want to be able to play newer games smoothly without everything constanty stuttering and lagging.

Here are some extra details from my "Everest" report:

Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista home Basic 6.0.6002 (Vista Retail)
System Type ACPI x86-based PC
Installed Service Pack service pack service pack 2
Processor DualCore Intel Core 2 duo E7300, 2666 MHz (10 x 267)
Motherboard Model MSI G31M3 V2 (MS-7529) (2 PCI, 1 PCI-E x16, 2 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Bearlake G31
System Memory 3328 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce 8500 gt (512 MB)
3D Accelerator Chip Nvidia GeForce 8500 gt
Monitor Nvidia GeForce 8500 gt monitor LG W2241 (Analog) [22" LCD] (1809434537)

The power supply??

I’d personally go for the 275GTX if you've got a solid PSU under the hood. Otherwise, stick with the HD4890 paired with a Corsair 400W CX if your current setup is a bit shaky.

The real headache here is that I have no clue where to actually check the power supply specs; I’ve looked everywhere, even through all my paperwork, and there’s just nothing listed... 😕

And honestly, I'm really hesitant to crack the case open since the whole rig is still under warranty for another year.😢

I’ll be honest, I’m a little out of my depth when it comes to these kinds of topics, which is why I’m reaching out to see if anyone can lend a hand.🤷🙂

If there isn't a specific power supply listed on the spec sheet, it's probably just one of those cheap units that comes bundled with the case. Those kinds of power supplies are basically junk; they might seem fine under a light load, but the second you actually try to pull that full 400W, they tend to fold under the pressure.

Kyle Sanchez4 said:an HD 4890 paired with a Corsair 400W CX

How exactly do you plan on swapping a GPU without opening the case?

Looking at those specs, it’s highly likely someone slapped a cheap power supply in there. I'd suggest looking into a different route instead.

Kyle Sanchez4 said:How on earth are you planning to swap out a graphics card without actually opening up the case?

Given how your build is set up, I honestly suspect someone might have cut corners with a cheap power supply, so if I were you, I’d look into a different solution entirely.

Well, if I'm going to swap the GPU, I'll just drop the whole rig off at an authorized service center so they can handle the installation for me—I still have the warranty, after all.
You mentioned recommending a different route, so what are your thoughts on this?

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1056/1/

Regarding that card I mentioned earlier... I'm running at 1920x1080 resolution. People have been telling me I should definitely go for something with more VRAM—is there any truth to that, or should I just stick with the one you recommended above?

2GB isn't even necessary at your resolution, @Walter James/">@@Walter James