Graphics card for M3A78-CM/AMD Phenom II X4

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
M

microflt

Distinguished
Jan 13, 2010
5
0
18,510
I have the following computer:

ASUS M3A78-CM motherboard
AMD Phenom II X4 processor
8 GB RAM

I'm ready to add a graphics card and willing to spend up to $175 or so. Thinking about ATI Radeon 4850 vs. 5750 vs. 5770 (single card configuration). Also, is a 450W power supply adequate for this setup and these cards?

Thanks for the help!
 
Solution
T
If you narrow the choices between the 5770 or 4850, I would go with the 5770.... despite the current ~$50 price difference.

The 5770 uses less power (lower electricity bill), runs cooler (due to less power usage), & is more future proof due to have DX11 capabilities. (If you decide to use 2 monitors in the future it could even drive a 2 monitor conjoined resolution with lower graphics quality in certain games using EyeFinity.)

However, either way you choose, if you look at today's prices of the 2 models:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=2010380048&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=3055%3A20549&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A40677&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A50041...
Sort by date Sort by votes


If you want pure performance, get a 4870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161292&cm_re=4870-_-14-161-292-_-Product

Otherwise get the 5770 for slightly less performance, but better features like dx11 (which is supposedly going to include performance enhancements) and GPGPU.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I think you should go for a 5770.....the Dx11 factor makes it a better choice over any other 4xxx series as majority of the games releasing this year would use DX11...Besides at lower resolutions it is an ideal card for gaming and also consumes less power than a 4870/4890
 
Upvote 0 Downvote


what is the resolution of your monitor?
And about the PSU, what brand? model?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The monitor resolution is 1920 x 1200. I'm not a hardcore gamer, but I'd like to be confident that I could run most games that are out there at "high" or better settings with out any annoying jumpiness at 1920 x 1200.

The computer just has a no-name 300 watt power supply. I think all of the graphics cards I'm looking at call for a 450 watt power supply.

Another consideration is that the motherboard documentation just states that it supports Direct X 10. This leads me to believe that even if I get a graphics card that can do Direct X 11, I may never see any benefit from it with this motherboard...Is this correct?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The no name 300w PSU is going to be a problem with any of your potential video card upgrades. (Because, I severaly doubt your PSU has a 6 pin PCI-E power output... required for any of the cards.) This leaves you with 2 choices:

1. Buy a card that doesn't require a separate power input. (Not recommended, as your graphics performance will suffer greatly. Check today's ATI 5670 review on this website as well as a few others for frame rate comparisons.)

2. You have to buy a new PSU as well.

For option 2, the best option, in my opinion, would be to buy one of the lower wattage Corsair models listed in this link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090058%2050001459&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=PRICE

I would personally recommend buying the:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 (650 watt TX model)

Where you will have the capability to use it in this system with any potential single video card upgrade for now... and in the near future. (It has 2 6+2 PCI-E power outputs and is of a high quality.)
-----------------------
As for the video card, my recommended order would be the following at the present time:

1. ATI 4890
2. ATI 5850
3. ATI 4870
4. ATI 5770
5. ATI 4850
6. Nvidia 260
7. ATI 5750
8. Nvidia 250

If possible, with your 1920 x 1200 resolution, opt for the "slightly larger ram size" if possible. (Example: If a card comes with 512 MB, 1 GB, or 2 GB, buy the card with 1 GB.) This is due to your resolution being at the "bottom end" for some games where extra graphics ram will show an improvement.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Good info. I'm definitely planning on getting a PSU. I like the Corsair models you recommended...thank you.

I think I have it narrowed down to the ATI 5770 or the ATI 4850. It sounds like the 5770 would perform quite a bit better, but not being a real hardcore gamer, I trying to decide if I'd notice the differences?

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Yes!

Corsair 400cx + ATI 5770 for $180ish is a great option.

(if you arent on a tight budget the Corsair 450vx offers a little more energy efficiency--but either would run the system just fine)

This option will be very cool and energy efficient, and keep your case pretty quiet too. For a non-hardcore gamer this is the best option because DX 11 will keep the card usable for longer. (and probably what I will do when I can afford a new 5770 to go with my 400cx)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If you narrow the choices between the 5770 or 4850, I would go with the 5770.... despite the current ~$50 price difference.

The 5770 uses less power (lower electricity bill), runs cooler (due to less power usage), & is more future proof due to have DX11 capabilities. (If you decide to use 2 monitors in the future it could even drive a 2 monitor conjoined resolution with lower graphics quality in certain games using EyeFinity.)

However, either way you choose, if you look at today's prices of the 2 models:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=2010380048&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=3055%3A20549&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A40677&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A50041

I would choose one of the following 2 models:

4850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150351
5770: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864

The 4850 has a 2 slot cooler (hot air exhaust out the back) and is from XFX. (Lifetime warranty for you... and the person you give/sell it to in the future.)

The 5770 has the Revision 2 cooler (better than the revision 1, even though it blows hot air into the case) and is from Sapphire. (2 year warranty, and I haven't had any issues with their products as of yet.)

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
Upvote 0 Downvote
may i ask how did you make this motherboard compatible with an am3 cpu? i have the same mobo and i want to upgrade my cpu from an athlon x2 5600+ to a phenom 2 x4. did you flash your BIOS to make it compatible? i really need your help, thanks a lot in advance..
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom