Thinking about upgrading my Graphics card, need advice

faune

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I am thinking about possibly upgrading my graphics card and PSU. I am a casual gamer and I also do some light video and graphics work.

I am currently able to run COD: Modern Warfare 1 at decent settings with my current specs. I was interested in being able to run games like Battlefield : Bad Comapany 2 and COD: Modern Warfare 2 and wanted to know if I need to upgrade my graphics card in order to run them.


My computer is an Acer Aspire M3641 Desktop (recently had to replace the motherboard)

current specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte G31M-ES2L (rev 2.0)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
System memory: 4 GB (I think its DDR 2)
Hard drive: WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B0 ATA Device, 596.17 GB
Current GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GS 512MB
PSU: Delta DPS-250AB-22 d 250W
Monitor: Samsung syncMaster T220 1680 X 1050
OS: Vistas Home Premium 32 bit
Case Type: Mini Tower

If I do need to upgrade the graphics card... I was looking into the Sapphire ATI HD 5770 1024MB GDDR5 along with a Corsair CMP SU-450VX EU PSU.

Will this suffice? is it compatible with my current hardware? any bottle necking issues etc...?



Some choices for GPUs available to me (outside US, prices converted to $USD):

-Sapphire ATI HD 5770 1024MB GDDR5 ~$214

-MSI ATI HD 5750 1GB ~$211

-Gigabyte ATI 5670 1GB ~$170

-Sapphire ATI 5670 1 GB ~$157

-Sapphire ATI 5570 1 GB ~$118

-Sapphire ATI 4650 1 GB ~$82

-Gigabyte Nvidia 250 GTS 1GB ~$184

-Zotac Nvidia GT 240 1 GB ~$132

-Gigabyte Nvidia GT 240 1 GB ~$149


Appreciate your help.

Thanks
 

flyinfinni

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For your price range, the 5770 is absolutely the card to get. The Corsair is a perfect PSU for you as well. From the looks of it, it looks like a typical case, so it should all fit and work.
 

jonpaul37

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couple questions here, the motherboard you replaced, is it from Acer and does it allow for overclocking? That Q6600 is a very nice CPU and even better when overclocked, just something to consider. The reason i ask is because i know OEM companies don't allow for overclocking on their BIOS's.

Second question, would you consider spending more for a power supply that will last a long time with other rigs that you may build in the future? The one you selected is a fine PSU and will fit nicely, but in the future if you decide to get a more power hungry video card or want to OC the CPU or Vid card, you may want a PSU with a little more juice. Or perhaps even crossfire.

Lastly, the 5770 is the best card for your current situation and should be nice in the future as well.
 

faune

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So you think both the GPU and PSU should fit into my Acer case, which is a mini tower?

Thanks for your advice
 

faune

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1. The Replacement motherboard is not from Acer, it is a Gigabyte G31M-ES2L and I believe that it does allow you to overclock.
See here: http://www.overclock.net/intel-motherboards/465041-gigabyte-ga-g31m-es2l-overclock.html

2. Yes, I would certainly consider it. Which PSU did you have in mind?

Thanks for your advice
 

flyinfinni

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That corsair 450W PSU you are thinking about will run probably any single GPU solution available right now (excluding the ridiculously power hungry GTX470/480). Unless you are really thinking about upgrading more than that in the near future, theres probably no reason to get a bigger PSU. Also- I believe it is a micro-ATX sized case, so that PSU ought to fit. I'm always a little wary though as I can't see inside the case, and the OEM's sometimes do weird things.
 

faune

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I took some pics which may help. How can I either upload them onto this thread or send em to you?
 

faune

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jYNyZzcwhV8HWr2HysYCdA
 

faune

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phew, thanks.

Now getting back to the GPU...

some guy in another forum said that I should go for the Nvidia GTS 250 over the ATI HD 5770

You can run those games with your current equipment... but it's really a question of whether you want to run them with any AA/AF on them and at a high framerate. The only game(s) you'll run in to problems with at that res with 0AA/0AF are games like Crysis, which will still run, but the playability will be really, really shitty.

If it isn't really any scratch to you, you absolutely should get the 250; the 5770 isn't even in the ballpark with the 250, and the suggestion to get one is absolutely wrong; it's more expensive and only performs better in circumstances which don't apply to you now or in the near (2+ years) future.

You will, however, need a new PSU. This should do the job.
http://www.gpureview.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9978&posted=1#post9978

I thought that the 5770 was supposed to be better than the 250?
 

flyinfinni

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The 5770 is clearly faster than the GTS 250. The 250 is similar to the 5750 which is a good bit slower than the 5750. The person suggesting a 250 is only outperformed by the 5770 in circumstances that don't apply is probably an Nvidia fanboy- ignore them. The 5770 is on par with a 4870 and the GTX 260- much better than a 250. Plus- it uses less power than a 250, its DX11 capable which the 250 is not, and its only $150- the GTS 250 is not really much cheaper than that.
 
The GTS 250 can be had for a net cost of $39 .... that's the $89 newegg price minus the $50 game coupons that come with the card which have been ranging from Rainbow 6 to Resident Evil 5 to Cryostasis. Either way, the 5770 is $160 if ya get a "name brand".

The 260 is about 10% faster than the 5770 and when it was $155 it was a great buy .....but it's current $215 price puts it outta the range I consider reasonable.
 

flyinfinni

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I don't think ANY of those games are worth $50 anymore- thats just crazy. Also- the 5770 is still available for $150 even for a decent name brand.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317 (HIS is a solid brand)
The GTX260, even at $155, still doesn't have DX11 support, also- with driver updates, its faster than it was, so its probably much closer to the 260 than that 10% now.
The 5770 is significantly faster than the 250, and you'll still pay more than $90 for a 250, without DX11 or eyefinity capability, and get some game that either you don't want/need, or have already.
 

faune

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Since I am located outside the US the prices are different :( , more $$$. I am editing the original post with the various cards and the price equivalent in USD. Let me know if this changes anything
 

flyinfinni

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Ok yeah- with those prices, the 5770 is definitely the best option, though they are all quite a bit more than here. 5750 is not enough cheaper to be worth it. The GTS 250 is closer to a good deal, but its still a pretty big step down in performance, and it isn't DX11 compatible. I'd get the 5770.
 

faune

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Thank you.

That's what I was thinking as well. I mean the pricing seemed totally random almost, like the $3 difference between the 5750 and 5770.