GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Timothy Kim60 said:What PSU are you actually running? Please don't just say 400W or 500W, I need the specific model...
Also, what CPU are you using?

Actually, if an NVIDIA GTX 460 can handle it, then maybe that used AMD Radeon R9 270 in the post above yours could too.

It's an XFX 450 Pro
i5 3330, 8GB RAM, Windows 8.1.
The biggest power draw I have is an external E-MU 1820M audio dock. But if the 460 OC worked, I guess the 270X should be fine too?

Oh, yeah, I'm planning on adding an SSD alongside my current 1TB Samsung HDD, so maybe I'd rather go with the NVIDIA GTX 750 since it doesn't need an extra power cable.

Sure, it's a solid power supply.

Bradley Smith88 said:Yeah, since I've got that 1TB Samsung HDD right now, I'm thinking about adding an SSD, so maybe that's why I'd rather just go with an NVIDIA GTX 750—it doesn't need an extra power cable.

I guess I don't see why that matters to you. SSDs and GPUs use totally different power cables; a GPU uses a 6-pin PCI-e connector (which you should have on your PSU). So if you grab a card with one connector, you're fine without needing any adapters.

If you end up getting a card that needs two connectors, you'd just use one PCI-e lead from the PSU and then use an adapter to turn two Molex plugs into the second PCI-e. Your SATA power cables for the SSD would be left alone, and most PSUs have at least six of them anyway.

The 750 doesn't need a power connector, but it's pretty weak. If you're gaming for $400, an AMD Radeon R7 260X or even a 750 Ti might be a better bet.

fadedorca66 said:Why would that even matter? SSDs and GPUs use totally different power cables. A GPU uses a 6-pin PCI-e connector (you should have one on your PSU). So, if you just grab a card with a single connector, you're fine—no need to mess around with adapters.

If you end up getting a card that needs two connectors, you’d use one PCI-e lead from the power supply and then just use an adapter to turn two Molex plugs into the second PCI-e connection. The SATA power cables going to the SSD stay untouched, and the PSU usually has about six of those anyway.

The NVIDIA GTX 750 doesn't need a dedicated power connector, but it's weaker. If you're gaming for $400, maybe an AMD Radeon R7 260X or at least a 750 Ti would be a better bet.

I guess I was just thinking about total power draw, wondering if there's enough juice for everything. An external sound card, two drives, and now if I get a beefier GPU (like a 260x)... I wasn't sure if the PSU could handle all that at once. That's why I'm leaning toward the NVIDIA GTX 750, maybe the Ti version too, since it pulls less power.

Pff, don't sweat the power draw. That XFX unit is solid and can probably handle 450W, maybe even more if you're lucky. Even if you throw an AMD Radeon R9 280 in there, it should be fine. I'd say just grab the strongest one you can afford, like an AMD Radeon R7 260X or maybe even a 270, and call it a day.

The CPU and GPU are doing all the heavy lifting here. Your speakers, hard drives, SSD—all that stuff uses basically nothing.

Alright. Thanks. I guess I’m leaning more toward NVIDIA lately, mostly because their drivers seem a bit more stable.
My current Max. resolution is 1680x1050, if that even matters.

I haven't been playing much recently—honestly, the integrated graphics on the motherboard are doing okay for now—but GTA V is coming out soon, so I should probably be ready.😉

Hey there.

I’m pretty sure my GPU finally kicked the bucket—whenever I boot up, there’s just nothing on the monitor or the TV.
What’s the foolproof way to confirm the graphics card is actually dead?

460W LC Power Silent Giant PSU
Intel Core i7 Desktop PC
4GB DDR3 RAM
MSI 870 C45 motherboard
XFX R7 260 x

My brother plays FIFA, so I’m looking for something roughly equivalent to this card that won't break the bank—maybe a used model or something cheap and new?
The rig is nearly four years old—think it'll hold up for another year or two?

How to check? Just try plugging it into another PC maybe.

Posting this for a buddy. He’s looking for a GPU in the $400-$233 range. I was thinking about an NVIDIA GeForce GTX, but is there anything actually better than that out there right now?

Honestly, you won't even find a 250X at those prices anymore, let alone a 260X. If reaching those two isn't an option, then going with used parts is the move—he could probably track down an HD7850. However, that’s only viable if he has a CPU capable of keeping up with them and a power supply sturdy enough to handle the load.

So, what would be the beefiest GPU I could grab to actually keep up with my processor? I'm running an Intel Core i5.

A 250X or maybe even a used HD7770 would still make for a pretty decent combo.

crimsonstag84 said:Honestly, looking at these numbers, the CPU is running way too hot, and the GPU is right up there with it—it’s definitely pushing the limit. We aren't talking about standard operating temps here; these readings are just straight-up not normal.

Check out this listing over at Centro / Protis Quote—they’ve got this specific card sitting there that caught my eye. It looks like a solid little option if you're trying to put together a budget build without breaking the bank too much.

If you’re looking to keep an eye on those temps, just grab CPUID Hardware Monitor—it's basically my go-to whenever I need to see if my rig is running a bit too hot.

Hey everyone. So, while I’m busy scraping together enough cash to finally pick up a proper new graphics card, I just had someone reach out with an offer on this specific one...
I was scrolling through some listings on a site like Amazon earlier today, hunting for deals, when I stumbled upon this specific listing for an AMD Radeon hd 5700 Series card. It’s one of those classic pieces of hardware that really takes you back to how much things have changed. You know, looking at these older specs makes me think about how we used to build rigs back in the day—just grabbing whatever was on sale at Best Buy or Newegg and hoping for the best. This particular unit is an AMD Radeon hd 5700 Series ( Sapphire / PCPartner, which is usually a pretty solid bet if you want something reliable without breaking the bank. It's funny how we used to obsess over every little bit of performance, even when we were just trying to get a decent frame rate in a game like Grand Theft Auto V. Anyway, if anyone's looking for a budget throwback or just needs something to fill out an old workstation, this might be worth a look.
It looks like you only sent "za," which doesn't give me enough to work with! If you've got a specific post or some text you need me to overhaul, just toss it my way. I'm ready to dive in and turn it into something that sounds like it actually came from a real person living here in the States. Send over the content whenever you're ready! $267 And hey, it’s still under warranty, too. Honestly, does that make it worth pulling the trigger? I'm not picking this up through some sketchy Craigslist ad or anything, so that's a plus.
Honestly, I think there are more people I know who have actually owned this than people who know me personally at this point. Anyway, here’s what I’m running now...
So, I’ve been staring at this AMD Athlon x4 760 k sitting on my desk, just mulling over whether it actually holds any water in today's landscape. It’s one of those chips that really makes you think about how much things have shifted since we were all obsessed with raw clock speeds and basic quad-core setups. You know, back when having four cores felt like you were basically driving a Ferrari compared to the dual-core relics we were lugging around. Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip down memory lane, looking at a component like this and remembering the hype surrounding it. It’s got that specific kind of "old school" charm where you find yourself wondering if it can still handle the light stuff or if it's destined to just sit there and collect dust while I hunt for something more modern. It’s definitely a nostalgic little piece of silicon, though.
So, I've got this setup running 6.00GB of dual-channel DDR3 clocked at 665MHz, which honestly feels like a bit of a throwback when you're trying to get things moving, but it gets the job done for what I need.
So, I was digging through some old hardware specs the other day and stumbled upon the ASRock FM2A78M-HD+. Honestly, looking back at this board brings back a massive wave of nostalgia for those budget builds we used to put together back in the day. It’s one of those classic pieces of gear that really defined an era of entry-level gaming setups here in the States. If you were trying to squeeze every last drop of performance out of a tight budget without completely sacrificing stability, this was pretty much your go-to bread and butter. It wasn't anything flashy, and it certainly didn't have all the bells and whistles of a high-end enthusiast rig, but it got the job done when you just needed something reliable to boot up and run your daily drivers. It reminds me of those late nights spent tinkering with components, trying to make sure everything clicked perfectly into place before finally hitting the power button and praying to the tech gods that it actually posted. Just a solid, unpretentious little motherboard that held its own in the trenches of mid-range PC building.
So, I finally got my hands on this AMD Radeon hd 5700 Series ( Sapphire / PCPartner) card, and honestly, I’ve been sitting here staring at it for a bit just thinking about the sheer nostalgia trip this thing provides. It’s one of those pieces of hardware that really makes you wonder where the time went, you know? I remember when getting your hands on a Sapphire model felt like hitting the jackpot in a high-stakes game, and even now, holding this unit feels like gripping a little slice of computing history. It’s got that specific weight to it—that solid, reliable feel that you just don't see as often with the flimsy, plastic-heavy cards popping up in big-box retailers these days. I was messing around with some older titles earlier, trying to see if it still holds its own, and man, there’s just something about that classic performance profile that hits different. It isn't about chasing the highest possible frame rates in some cutting-edge AAA title that requires a liquid-cooled beast; it's more about that sweet spot of reliability and that "it just works" vibe that defined an entire era of PC gaming here in the States. I might be getting a little sentimental, but there's definitely a certain soul in these older components that modern, mass-produced silicon sometimes lacks.
Power supply: Hexa + 500

If this thing actually makes playing FIFA a whole lot smoother, then I'm definitely pulling the trigger on it.

If people were looking to pick up an R9 270 for $267, it should be much more affordable, though right now it's priced almost as high as a brand-new card (which used to run about 800-$283). Here are some new options: http://www.nabava.net/search.php?tp=0&q=R7+260X

As for the rest of the build—it looks good to me.

I’d rather take this one if you could drop the price to $250:

http://www.craigslist.org/vi/graphics-cards/15096467

I saw a listing on a local online marketplace where some guy is selling an MSI twin frozr HD7850 2gb with a warranty. He claims it’s barely been used—maybe only 5 or 6 hours of actual gaming time, mostly just sitting idle—and he's asking around 600-$233
.

Thanks for the heads-up, guys, I really appreciate all the advice. Honestly, they'll probably just lowball me a bit but throw in a trade-in for my old AMD Radeon hd 5700 Series ( Sapphire / PCPartner ), which actually works out pretty well since my savings for that first card you guys suggested ($433) are moving along at a snail's pace. My plan is to jump into FIFA first and see if this thing can actually handle it smoothly; if the gameplay feels fluid, then I'm pulling the trigger. If there isn't much of a noticeable difference, I'll just get back to grinding out cash for the more expensive option, but hey, I'm crossing my fingers that this one does the trick.

The HD 7850 is probably about 2 to 2.5 times faster than the HD 5770. And yours is worth maybe 300-$117 btw.

crimsonstag84 said:The HD 7850 is about 2 to 2.5 times faster than an HD 5770. And honestly, yours is probably worth around $300-$117 btw.

An HD 7850? Man, that was just the suggestion above, but what I’m actually looking at is picking up an AMD Radeon R7 260 x with 2GB of DDR5. I'll be the first to admit my hardware knowledge is a little shaky on this stuff. I managed to haggle them down on the price, and I'd even consider throwing in my old card just to make the deal sweet enough for me. I'd probably just drop the resolution anyway if it meant getting a smoother experience while playing. Honestly, the best thing would be to just get my hands on it and see for myself.