Need Help Picking a Graphics Card

[Osiris592]

Hi, I need advice on what graphics card would be good for me. I want a card for high settings in newer games for around 100-200 dollars and it would be nice if it lasted at mid-high range for a few years. I was looking at the gtx 460 and the HD 5770, but not sure if my psu will support it.


Comp Specs (will be most likely upgrade cpu/motherboard next year):
-AMD Athlon II X2 245
-Mainboard- MSI K9N6PGM2-V2
-WD Cavalier Green 500gb Hard Drive
-4GB Ram
-600watt PSU- http://www.buyxg.com/store/item.aspx?key=PS-126-106

 

[hunter315]

Your PSU is a lie, it was apparently designed by people who cant do math which scares me. On the load table under the 12V rails it says

470W (31A)

31A @ 12V is 372W, 470W is ~39A, im not sure which one is right but i would assume the lower number to be safe, in which case the 5770 is about as high as you should go.

 

[Osiris592]

But doesn't the gtx460 only need 450watts and at least 21A. Would the gtx460 be better than the 5770?

 

[hunter315]

Add in about 60W for your CPU and you are at your 12V limit for that PSU, for a PSU made by a company that can do basic math i wouldnt risk bringing it close to max load.

 

[Osiris592]

what psu would you recommend? (keep in mind that I probably will want to upgrade my processor to an i5/i7 next year)

 

[Twoboxer]

Some of the advice you have been given appears to be inaccurate.

The Tom's chart showing 307W for a single GTX 460 under full graphics load is reporting the TOTAL system wattage drawn AT THE WALL. At 90% efficiency, the actual wattage THAT psu actually used to drive the whole computer was ~275W.

So if you believe your psu can deliver close to the numbers it tries to report on its label, you would be fine.

OTOH, a $26 600W psu with at least one math error on its label is something to be skeptical about

Here's a powerful enough psu for $40 after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=ocz_stealthxstream-_-17-341-012-_-Product]

that got a pretty good review from a respected source:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/OCZ-StealthXStream-500-W-Power-Supply-Review/798/9]

[strike]If[/strike] When you read the review you will find other recommendations you may want to check out.

 

[Osiris592]

since i looking at getting an i5 next year what kind of psu should I get?

 

[hunter315]

Actually, those load tables are only GPU load in that review, they do not have the CPU at max load which is why i was adding the extra 60W to account for the CPU.

If you are going to be upgrading to an i5 with a higher end GPU then pick yourself up a good 500-550W unit with about ~40A on the 12V rail, that way you wont need to worry about upgrading it unless you decide to move onto a dual GPU setup. Something like the Antec TP-550, Seasonic S12II 520W, or Corsair 550VX are good choices.

 

[Osiris592]

what about this power supply?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

 

[hunter315]

Thats a good pick, its a nice deal right now with the promo code.

 

[Osiris592]

does it matter that it has three 12v rails instead of one when installing it

 

[hunter315]

Not at all, its cables are set up in such a way that you really dont need to worry about manually balancing it yourself.

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, the EA650 is a good choice and a good deal.

 

[Osiris592]

Would this be an even better option since it will leave options open in the future?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171053&Tpk=RS750-ACAAE3-US

 

[jyjjy]

No, I would take an Antec 650w over a Cooler Master 750w any day.
I would just order it before the promo code expires today.