Graphics card air flow + Screws for GPU Problems! (Please read!)

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

Well I am getting a new GPU today 😀, I was so happy, I open my Desktop to remove 2 slots so I can fit my Dual-Slot Graphics card 😀 once its here in a few ours (still not here yet...) (Graphics Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127709)

So I open it up and I see that the air space that the GPU will have, seems concerning. Look at these 2 pictures and tell me your thoughts + its not over yet.

-Air Space Concern Pics-
#1 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/737bc832ggyexwj/CAM00285.jpg
#2 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/8h6r7zn4xjkv2e6/CAM00286.jpg

Then I look at the holes where the screws are going and they are like rounded covers? I am so confused? Do I hit them with a screwdriver to bang them out? Litterally? I dont know what to do! Please help!

Normal Screw Hole- https://www.dropbox.com/s/alrnlr5007s4ybm/CAM00287.jpg
Covered Screw Hole- https://www.dropbox.com/s/7plvkezvy6ipqky/CAM00288.jpg
All of them - https://www.dropbox.com/s/diwqv4xavlwcmx1/CAM00289.jpg

Please help, I cant wait to get my new graphics card (My Integrated GPU is horrible) and I just want to put it in, install drivers, and do all the normal stuff. Then use it! Please help! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE 😀

 

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

Can you help find a Motherboard for that certain case?

 

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

New Plan, and its gonna stay same case. But Mobo can change, I just like USBs and ports to have 'em. I prefer MSI (mostly) motherboards. if you know some good ATX case ones for that case, that would be great! With the ports on the Top Left of the back of the case.


-Case - $110 - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1454991&CatId=1510
-Mobo - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7632398&CatId=13 - $100
-PSU - 360W - SeaSonic - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151117 - $60
-8GB of Ram - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=833182&CatId=4534- $70
-DVD Drive - Current.
-CPU - $100- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113281
-GPU - Same one, unless upgrade after built.
-Hard Drive - Same one. Just transfer it.
-Keyboard - $30 - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ASPNYDM?psc=1
-Mouse - $10 - http://www.amazon.com/E-3lue-EMS109BK-Precision-Control-Counterfeit/dp/B005CPGHAA/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376184331&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=bluw+gaming+mouse+and+keyboard
-Monitor - Same 20" one.

 

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

Can my current GPU with the current air flow last a year or more? I still feel like...something might go wrong

 

[Maxx_Power]

New Plan, and its gonna stay same case. But Mobo can change, I just like USBs and ports to have 'em. I prefer MSI (mostly) motherboards. if you know some good ATX case ones for that case, that would be great! With the ports on the Top Left of the back of the case.


-Case - $110 - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1454991&CatId=1510
-Mobo - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7632398&CatId=13 - $100
-PSU - 360W - SeaSonic - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151117 - $60
-8GB of Ram - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=833182&CatId=4534- $70
-DVD Drive - Current.
-CPU - $100- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113281
-GPU - Same one, unless upgrade after built.
-Hard Drive - Same one. Just transfer it.
-Keyboard - $30 - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ASPNYDM?psc=1
-Mouse - $10 - http://www.amazon.com/E-3lue-EMS109BK-Precision-Control-Counterfeit/dp/B005CPGHAA/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376184331&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=bluw+gaming+mouse+and+keyboard
-Monitor - Same 20" one.

Be careful with the CPU and Mobo choices. The CPU is a FM2 socket CPU while the board is an AM3+ socket. The CPU won't fit on that board. If you are not in a rush to buy the CPU+board, I would wait on that part as long as you can. The FM2 platform is pretty much outdated at this point of time, because Kaveri (next gen APUs) will use FM2+ sockets that will not be (generally) backwards compatible with FM2. As for AM3+ platforms, the new Steamroller cores are just around the corner as well. Essentially, if you already have a GPU, don't go with the APUs. APUs = low to mid performance AMD CPU + low to mid performance AMD GPU. You are paying extra money for the useless GPU and getting an underwhelming CPU in the process as well. Go straight for the FX series and AM3+, since you have a much faster GPU already, you don't need the integrated GPU on the APUs.

If you are just looking to game, the AMD CPUs (AM3+ FX chips) will be fine. The upcoming (in a few months, this year) Steamroller will replace the current Piledriver FX chips soon, and you'll receive both a price reduction on the existing CPUs and a performance increase in the new chips. Then you get to choose what you want.

As for memory, these AMD FX chips supports 1866 Mhz RAM natively. You may want to wait until AMD releases the new Steamroller FX chips to see what kind of RAM is best for them.

Everything else, like PSU, case, SSD+HDD (whatever combo you want), keyboard+mouse, etc, you should be able to purchase as you see a good sale on something you want.

 

[Maxx_Power]

As for your GPU temperatures and longevity, what are you current idle and load GPU temperatures ?

 

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

Idle = 32-34 Celcius
Load (Heavy Gaming) = 43-45 Celcius. Haven't seen anything above that.

 

[Maxx_Power]

Those are fine temperatures. There is no need to worry then.

 

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

I have been noticing, when I first got the graphics card. I did perfect at 30-50 Frames on High settings on GTA IV, now I have lag sometimes and hit 15 Frames sometimes, even when the GPU is at its normal Load tempetures, now lowering to Medium doesn't do a difference really or low. Or change the resolution. They all go about the same Frame rate (which is kind of weird) for GTA IV. On other games, this problem is non existant, as I have no real issues with other games.

 

[Maxx_Power]

I have been noticing, when I first got the graphics card. I did perfect at 30-50 Frames on High settings on GTA IV, now I have lag sometimes and hit 15 Frames sometimes, even when the GPU is at its normal Load tempetures, now lowering to Medium doesn't do a difference really or low. Or change the resolution. They all go about the same Frame rate (which is kind of weird) for GTA IV. On other games, this problem is non existant, as I have no real issues with other games.

Check to see if your CPU temperatures are getting too high. If so, clean the heatsink (do it anyway) and fan assembly. Try going to power in the control panel and see if setting the option to high power solves anything. Other than that, it could be a perceptual thing, different scenes and areas tax the GPU/CPU differently and do not usually yield the same FPS.

 

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

Thank you for the last sentence (different scenes and areas tax the GPU/CPU differently) because I noticed on Singe Player, I have no problems reaching 40-60FPS on highest settings on GTA IV. But then when I play with friends on Multiplayer, I either have to play on High at 720p, or Medium at my native 1600x900 resolution to get a nice FPS 30-60.

 

[Maxx_Power]

Thank you for the last sentence (different scenes and areas tax the GPU/CPU differently) because I noticed on Singe Player, I have no problems reaching 40-60FPS on highest settings on GTA IV. But then when I play with friends on Multiplayer, I either have to play on High at 720p, or Medium at my native 1600x900 resolution to get a nice FPS 30-60.

You are welcome. Multiplayer modes usually have less FPS than single player modes for most games. One of the most notorious is BF3, where MP modes are vastly slower than SP modes, since the required CPU power is much higher. Another reason why to go with an AM3+ or Intel setup for CPU intensive games, AMD APUs and lower end AM3+ chips don't do so well in CPU intensive games.

 

[Rafi Santiago-1384906]

I put my settings nicer , but the GPU plays AC Brotherhood at Maxed Out on Multiplayer, and other games medium-high. GTA Episodes runs at 20-40FPS on medium at native resolution. And games like Skyrim (Maxed Out) or games like Blacklight Retribution (maxed) are perfect. This GPU fulfills all my needs (Even Saints Row the third on High at 30FPS)