Budget GPU for Dell Studio XPS 8100

[qwerty1358]

I'm looking to upgrade my old Dell Studio with a new graphics card. I have not changed it at all whatsoever. Specs:

CPU: Intel i5 650 @ 3.2 ghz (dual core)

GPU: Nvidia GT220

RAM: 8 gb

PSU: Not sure what model but it is a 350W

Mobo: ?

I would like a GPU that would work with the 350W psu and is around $150.

 

[ko888]

Personally, I think that if the OP was to choose between the 6850 and the 7770, I would say go with the 7770. The 7770 and the 6850 are generally around the same price, however the 6850 offers a bit more performance. Now, the performance is really insignificant and the 6850 uses 30watts more than the 7770. If the OP was to buy the 7770 and realize that it was not enough and he has power left, he can easily OC it to higher clock rates that will surpass the 6850 since the 7_ series scales significantly better than the 6_ series in terms of OC, and he won't be stretching his PSU that much.

How much of an overclock on the Radeon HD 7770 do you need before you exceed the performance of a Radeon HD 6850?

I.e. what Core Clock and what Memory Clock is required to achieve this performance level?

 

[delluser1]

Well wouldn't it go the other way? If the system needed 275w to run under heavy load then an 80% efficient PSU would have to generate more than 275w to make up for its inefficiency. I'm not trying to be a smart-arse I am actually confused. Because the way you put it, it actually seems like the less efficient the PSU the better it is. Please educate me.

The rating on the psu is it's DC output
The less efficient the psu , the more power that is drawn from the wall
( 350w DC / 80% = 437.5w AC ) ( 350w DC / 90% = ~ 389w AC )
When you're looking at most reviews they're giving you AC power numbers
275w AC * .8 = 220w DC
275w AC * .9 = 247.5w DC
You need to know what power supply was used in the review to get an idea of the actual load

 

[stickg1]

The rating on the psu is it's DC output
The less efficient the psu , the more power that is drawn from the wall
( 350w DC / 80% = 437.5w AC ) ( 350w DC / 90% = ~ 389w AC )
When you're looking at most reviews they're giving you AC power numbers
275w AC * .8 = 220w DC
275w AC * .9 = 247.5w DC
You need to know what power supply was used in the review to get an idea of the actual load

Ah I see, so efficiency is really just how much AC current is pulled from the wall in watts to achieve the rated output in watts of the PSU?

Good to know, thank you.

Yes the 7770s can overclock really well, but some don't. It goes the same with all cards, and I don't like the argument people make when they say "Oh well you can OC that card to the other cards level." Well what happens when you OC the other card that was already better? Then performance levels are beyond comparable.

I have a Sapphire HD 7770. This beautiful beast of a low end card OC'd to 1275/1400 and the performance gain I saw in Unigine Heaven 3.0 was around +25%. Not bad for a card I got 2nd hand for $90.

I had a MSI R7770 OC HD 7770. This card I didn't have as much luck with. I believe I had the voltage maxed out and the highest clocks I could get were 1125/1275. Still a nice card just wasn't a lottery winner like the Sapphire.

Actually the Sapphire 7870 I run in my main machine, happens to be gold plated and is rumored to have been forged on Mt. Olympus by Zeus himself, runs a 1300/1525 without even maxing the voltage. (I love Sapphire cards)

Anyway, it looks like you can benefit from the 6850, although I've seen reviews that give it similar frames for newer games like BF3. It is more powerful, make sure you get a single 6-pin model like the sapphire "ko888" linked in one of the first responses. Also, if I get one more person to buy a Sapphire they agreed to next day me a turkey burger.

 

[qwerty1358]

I ordered the 6850 and is waiting for its arrival. Thanks to everyone who helped.

 

[qwerty1358]

Best answer selected by qwerty1358.