affordable GPU to overclock? to learn on...

[giantbucket]

I'm bringing an old machine back to life, and going to learn to overclock on it. the processor is an A6-3650 which will be where i'll learn the first few things. assuming I don't blow it up, I'd like to then overclock a graphics card as well.

but I want a cheap one that CAN be overclocked. I don't care if it's AMD of NVIDIA though maybe I'd prefer ATI/AMD since the processor is AMD. but if there's an NVIDIA that can be pushed way more, then i'll buy that. and, what program would I use to push the card?? the APU would be done in BIOS, but the GPU??

I'm in Canada, so I'm looking at Newegg.ca right now and could also buy on eBay.ca if I can trust the seller. what would you suggest? something cheap, please, so if I do melt it, I won't be out $300. at the same time, not something SO cheap that it'll be utterly useless and outclassed by the A6 APU anyways.

suggestions?

 

[PCBuilderProbs]

for overclocking GPU, I would go Nvidia, specifically EVGA. The new 750ti 2-fan models are built for overclocking and should be able to do it well. However, it is $50 cheaper on the american Newegg site, think about international shipping.

American Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487028&cm_re=evga_gtx_750_ti-_-14-487-028-_-Product

Canadian Newegg:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487028&cm_re=evga_gtx_750_ti-_-14-487-028-_-Product

 

[andy_Man]

I am in BC, I like to use NCIX they will price match any online price. There warehouse is in BC so it ships fast, and they have good customer support.

 

[giantbucket]

I'm in Ottawa and there's an NCIX here so I can get free ship-to-store, which is handy. I first looked at newegg cuz I figured they'd have a way larger selection.

 

[PCBuilderProbs]

I'm in Ottawa and there's an NCIX here so I can get free ship-to-store, which is handy. I first looked at newegg cuz I figured they'd have a way larger selection.

so, what do you think then? Is $150 in your price range? It definitely overclocks too

 

[andy_Man]

Overclocking is pretty safe if you use your brain. Voltage is what can kill a gpu/cpu when overclocking. You do your research about what is a safe voltage, and you don't go past that. A lot of times you can get a good overclock without increasing voltage at all. As for heat, cards are very good at throttling down to keep from overheating that will cause damage. Heat is also one of the things you watch for.

It's a lot safer than it used to be to overclock.

 

[giantbucket]

$150 is an ok price. it'll be a month before I grab something, but it's doable I think. need to buy a power supply first, so this kind of lets me know how much power I should buy right now. 430W might be thin, and if that's the type of card I should look at then 650W to 850W is probably what I'd have to pick up to "plan ahead"

I stumbled across a 6970 on newegg.ca for around that same price. looks... interesting?