Trying to find a gaming card for older PCI...not PCI-e PCI express

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OldtimeGamer

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Hello...I just read and replied to a thread where a guy wanted to add a graphics card, to his older desktop...same thing I need to do.

I need a good performance card for the older type PCI socket...not a PCI-e / PCI express.... because my older HP a1240n mother board, does not allow for AGP or PCI-e.

And from all the reading I have done, there is no such thing as an aftermarket adapter which "correctly" adapts a regular PCI slot to AGP or PCI-e....meaning it will perform 100% as it should.

This is a shame because my other desktop, a HP a620n does have AGP and it has a Radeon X850 PRO, that I installed back when they were new on the market.

....But my HP a620n w/Radeon X850 PRO will not support a CPU over 2.2ghz. I can play a MMO such as "Dungeons and Dragons online" but a game such as "Tera online", requires a 3.2mhz or better CPU.

My HP a1240n mother board only has a 3.0mhz CPU, so I just bought an "upgrade" (CPU 3.4mhz --Socket: LGA775 #550 Intel processor...which is the largest CPU the board will support) This is the board I have: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00361570&lc=en&cc=us&product=1130587

I then bought a refurbished Radeon X850XT Platinum graphics card for it BUT....then wen I received it, realized the Radeon X850XT is PCI-e ....not the basic PCI...so I can't even use it.

I'm now I'm back to the drawing board.....trying to find a "good" gaming card, for my old HP a1240n system.

Any suggestions? Ebay is full of them.... cheap...but I want to get the best one I can.
 
Solution
iceclock
go with my build ull be happy.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BlyL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BlyL/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BlyL/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($123.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus F2A55-M/CSM Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($38.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $287.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-03 21:08 EST-0500)
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OldtimeGamer

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I was just going to buy a Saphire card..... but as I examine them, there are (10) of them.... all utilizing the same Radeon HD 7770

http://pcpartpicker.com/search/?cc=us&q=hd+7770


Diamond Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (7770PE51G)
VisionTek Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (900504)
HIS Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (H777F1G2M)
XFX Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (FX-777A-ZNF4)
Asus Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (HD7770-DC-1GD5)
MSI Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC)
Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (11201-00-20G)
Gigabyte Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (GV-R777OC-1GD)
MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card (R7770-PMD1GD5)
XFX Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (FX-777A-ZDF4)
 
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OldtimeGamer

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I followed each of the card's links, to get "best" prices and here they are... rounded off to the next dollar.

What a huge range in prices, for a card based on the same Radeon HD 7770. We have the MSI at just $90 and at the high end ASUS at $151
...................................................................................................................................

Diamond Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (7770PE51G) ---best price found is $119

VisionTek Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (900504) ---best price found is $137

HIS Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (H777F1G2M) ---best price found is $120

XFX Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (FX-777A-ZNF4) ---best price found is $105

Asus Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (HD7770-DC-1GD5) ---best price found is $151

MSI Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC) ---best price found is $100

Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (11201-00-20G) ---best price found is $148

Gigabyte Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (GV-R777OC-1GD) ---best price found is $115

MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card (R7770-PMD1GD5) ---best price found is $90

XFX Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card (FX-777A-ZDF4) ---best price found is $115


 
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OldtimeGamer

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I can believe that. Their card is coming in at just $90 bucks...they apparently eiter sell it cheap or like you say, "not the greatest company for mri's lately"
 
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OldtimeGamer

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Its interesting how the HHD 7770 1G rates compared to the AMD Radeon HD 6850.

I was just looking over a couple of articles, which seem to point out how the AMD Radeon HD 6850 beats the 7770 out.... in terms of speed ....but the 7770 is a newer technology. Here was a good link that discussed the AMD Radeon HD 6850

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371274,00.asp

They also compare the HD 6850 to both the Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 (768MB or 1GB version) and the AMD Radeon HD 6870.

Certainly are a bunch of choices, when it comes to cards that are around 2 years or so on the market.
 
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OldtimeGamer

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I'm looking over a comparison between the XFX & Sapphire HD 7770 1GB
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx_sapphire_hd7770/
..........................................................................................................................................................

Also noticed the XFX Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card come is either a single (FX-777A-ZNF4) or double fan configuration, model

XFX FX777AZDF4 Double D HD 7770 1000MHz 1 GB DDR5 miniDP HDMI DVI PCI-E

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150597

Is the double fan model much better than the single fan model?

Also...here is a good link that shows the HD 7770's single and double fan models along with those that are "overclocked" and "super overclocked". http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/XFX-Radeon-HD-7770-Super-Overclocked-Edition-Video-Card-Review/1493
 
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joafu

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A few words on graphics cards:
With ATI cards, the four digit number, with the example '7250', is '7'(generation-effective technology level in terms of DX and OpenGL amongst other things) '2'(series- 'power' of the card, really the main focus when buying a card) '5'(relative quality within a series). '0' is a place holder, it never changes, used to differentiate from nVidia's xxx naming scheme. Usually, a higher-powered, lower relative quality card will beat a lower-powered, higher quality card, for example HD 5850 is a better card than HD 5770.

As an aside, ATI has seemingly dropped low quality makes the last few gens except for mobile platforms; when I bought my first upgrade card, I was looking at a price point where the 5830 and 5770 were my two main options. The 5830 was a gimped 5850, ran hotter, but had a 256-bit interface; the 5770 had lower power requirement and ran cooler, but was limited by a 128-bit interface. In practice, they performed within a few percentage points of each other, though the 5830 ran the chance at better overclocking, but was priced slightly higher as well.

Typically, from one gen to the next, with each successive gen bringing gains, whereas the series usually holds: HD 7770> HD6770 from better architecture, whereas HD 7770 < HD 6850 *at launch*. *I do believe better drivers for the HD 7770 push it past the 6850 in most applications now, until the smaller 128-bit interface starts to choke it down. The HD7770 is also more efficient- it will put out more 'frames per watt' than the HD 6850 since it performs similarly but with far less power. It is the safer model to go with to, given your 400W PSU (any gtx 460 and above would be out of the question).

With pricing, sometimes a higher price just comes different features of a same PCB. Some are a gimmick: manufacturers will make mid and low-end cards with more memory, when the additional memory provided on the card goes unused because of other limitations to the card, usually bandwidth. Another thing that can up cost is fan amount (your current comparison) when everything else is equal. On high-end cards, this will help total cooling; on lower wattage cards, like the HD 7770, I see it more for aesthetic purposes- not so much worth the cost. Still another price changer is using copper pipping vs just aluminum block for the HSF- generally the copper pipping allows cooler performance, but comes with increased cost. The last main thing I can think of is factory overclock that can increase cost.

When I had time, I was part of the 'buy the inexpensive but quality and OC it yourself', but now I'm in the 'buy the best reviewed card at the cheapest price' camp. Stability is far more valuable, and even factory-OC cards carry that increased risk, thanks to cheaper HSF and whatnot. Generally, factory OC when priced high is not worth it- the high end 7770s are clocked higher, but approach the base price for a 7850, and a 7770 won't beat a 7850 no matter how high the former clocks. Within the 7770s, a higher clock might perform 5% faster, but with a 30-40% increase in price. Save your money.

Long story short- stick with the cheaper XFX or an MSI, though there are many great choices in the HD 7770 camp- such as the Sapphire which priced aggressively.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127664
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011
 
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OldtimeGamer

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Joafu...thanks for that in depth explanation how the cards are assigned their specific numbers. It never occurred to me that they were numbered utilizing an established system for ID purposes.

OCing is interesting but for me, it wouldn't be the "selling point". If my 400w power supply wont run a GTX 460 then I guess that it will be out of the question...unless I reach deeper in the wallet, for a more powerful power supply and sell the 400w as used....That could be an option I suppose. I just want to not regret going with a GTX 460 or similar over a HD 7770 series.

I'm leaning to the XFX like icelock mentioned....but still trying to weigh in my choices carefully. If the GTX 460 is going to make games run and look better then a 7770..maybe it's worth it.
 
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OldtimeGamer

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Ok...I'll go with a XFX Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card .....and not look back. (It's driving me crazy anyway, doing all this intense research and reading)

I mentioned about 4 posts back about how the XFX is available with either 1 or 2 fans.

I read that 2 fans are more quiet ....but I'm not too concerned about the fan noise. It can be any worse than my XT850 PRO that I'm currently running in my gaming computer.

Any other considerations when it comes to deciding on 1 or 2 fans on the XFX HD 7770?
 
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OldtimeGamer

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