Upgrade video card

[curlytop09]

Hello, my son wants to upgrade his video card as a Christmas present. I'm not sure what to look for. He has an HP H8-1017CB. Specification on current graphics card:
Eyefinity Radeon HD6570
Interface: PCI Express x16
•Maximum resolution:
•DisplayPort resolution: 2560x1600 at 60 Hz
•HDMI resolution: 1920x1080 at 60 Hz
•DVI resolution: 2560x1600x32bpp at 60 Hz
•VGA resolution: 2048x1536x32bpp at 60 Hz
•1 GB onboard memory

He likes gaming, his main use for computer. Questions I have:

* what graphics card will work
*what other computer specifications need to be considered.
* how do I know if we need more power. Current power supply is 300W
* Could his monitor limit the benefit of a better graphics card. What do I need to check there. Monitor resolution?
* What does the 1GB onboard memory mean. Is that a graphics card memory or something on the computer itself

here is link to full specs
http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c02845911-27%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&sp4ts.oid=5080764&ac.admitted=1387379914787.876444892.199480143

Thanks for any guidance you can give.

 

[SethS]

First thing, upgrade psu, to 500-600W, for a gaming Graphics card, that it the standard, what is your budget?100-200? those are the budget card range, or where are you at?

 

[PepitoTV]

What's your monitor resolution?
Can the power supply be changed?

If the PSU can be changed your possibilities are greater, otherwise, I think the best card you can get is the HD 7770 GHz Edition.

 

[curlytop09]

Its Christmas....I'll go around the $200 or slight above range if needed. He really isn't asking for anything else.

 

[sosofm]

You need to upgrade the power supply and you can buy any video card.
The monitor limit the video card if have more than 1920/1080 resolution.
The 1GB onboard memory is from the video card. Now the lower limit is 2GB for better gaming experience.
All this depends on your budget and monitor resolution.

 

[curlytop09]

What's your monitor resolution?
Can the power supply be changed?

How do I know if the power supply can be changed. The specs on computer power is below

Power SupplyInternal 300W (100V-240V)
•Form factor: Internal ATX
•Total wattage: 300W
•Nominal input voltage range:
•100-127V/6A (50-60Hz)
•200-240V/3A (50-60Hz)
•Dimensions: 150mm x 140mm x 86mm (5.9 x 5.5 x 3.4 inches)

 

[SethS]

Hello, my son wants to upgrade his video card as a Christmas present. I'm not sure what to look for. He has an HP H8-1017CB. Specification on current graphics card:
Eyefinity Radeon HD6570
Interface: PCI Express x16
•Maximum resolution:
•DisplayPort resolution: 2560x1600 at 60 Hz
•HDMI resolution: 1920x1080 at 60 Hz
•DVI resolution: 2560x1600x32bpp at 60 Hz
•VGA resolution: 2048x1536x32bpp at 60 Hz
•1 GB onboard memory

He likes gaming, his main use for computer. Questions I have:

* what graphics card will work
*what other computer specifications need to be considered.
* how do I know if we need more power. Current power supply is 300W
* Could his monitor limit the benefit of a better graphics card. What do I need to check there. Monitor resolution?
* What does the 1GB onboard memory mean. Is that a graphics card memory or something on the computer itself

here is link to full specs
http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c02845911-27%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&sp4ts.oid=5080764&ac.admitted=1387379914787.876444892.199480143

Thanks for any guidance you can give.

I would suggest, this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125476
but i think this would be better:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438012 (psu)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130909 (video card)

 

[Onus]

The most powerful card you can put in that system without upgrading the PSU is a HD7750. Make sure to get one with GDDR5 rather than the much slower DDR3.
This will probably cost $90-$100.
If you are willing to replace the PSU, then you can get a much more powerful card; there it just matters how much you and your son are willing to spend.
The HD7750 can play any game, but depending on his monitor resolution, the latest shooters in particular will be on lowered settings.
If you want to replace the PSU, a 380W Antec Earthwatts or 450W Antec VP-450 are decent budget choices. The former is more efficient and runs cooler, and the latter is a little more powerful. Either one is able to run any graphics card with a single PCIe power connector, such as a GTX650 Ti Boost Edition or HD7850. That will cost ~$45 for the PSU and $140-$150 for the graphics card. A $110 card like a HD7770 could also be used. I would suggest checking some benchmarks of his favorite games for an idea on how these cards perform. Keep in mind that benchmarks often use arbitrary and artificially high settings, and that using lower settings (e.g. turning off AA) will produce much higher frame rates. You can go to YouTube to find gameplay clips on various quality settings.

 

[Onus]

My post got delayed (I'm at work). On a $200 budget, a GTX650Ti Boost and an Antec EA-380D (or the EVGA unit SethS listed) would be right about your max, depending on any deal you find. HardOCP reviewed that EVGA PSU recently, and it passed: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/12/16/evga_500b_500w_power_supply_review

 

[geofelt]

The strongest graphics card that a 300w psu will support is a 7750. That is only a modest jump, and probably not big enough.
Past that, a new psu is in order, probably a 550-650w unit.
Here is a handy chart of psu requirements for different graphics cards.
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

You might want to measure the length of space available in the case. If you have 10.5" available, you can get a very strong card. If less, check things out.

A stronger graphics card will allow more detail or eye candy as well as a higher refresh rate. That is important for fast action games. What is your budget?

Do not worry about graphics specs such as 1gb vram. vram makes little performance difference. cards will come with appropriate amounts.

Read this article on best graphics cards for the money:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

 

[hang-the-9]

+1^, a 7750 is about twice as fast as the 6570 in the system now, so will be a big upgrade. But it won't run the tougher games at the top settings.
For under $100 that is a huge upgrade.

Once you to go the top of the $200 budget, and are OK with being able to swap out the power supply, you can make the system run almost any game at pretty high quality and smooth speeds.

 

[curlytop09]

Great input from everyone and such fast responses yesterday. I have taken notes on suggestions and trying to find more info. My son had picked out the following combination separate from my research:
ASUS 2GB GDDR5 HD7770
Cooler Master Elite Power - 460W

How do those pair up?
And an earlier question was can power supply be changed out. Do some computers not have that capability? How would I know?

 

[Onus]

The PSU he selected is near-junk, as are many of that brand: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-Elite-Power-460-W-Power-Supply-Review/1005/9
Check this out today: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500286 It is more powerful than the HD7770.

As to changing out power supplies, slim cases and some proprietary systems may use a different form-factor for the power supply, such as SFX or TFX (smaller, narrow, differently-shaped physical sizes). From looking at the specs on your son's computer, it takes a standard ATX power supply, so replacing it should be particularly easy.

 

[hang-the-9]

Some small cases require a special power supply. That system is a tower and should accept any ATX power supply.
That is not the best power supply you can pick, read this review on it, it's actually not a 460w power supply as the conclusion states http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-Elite-Power-460-W-Power-Supply-Review/1005/1

This Rosewill is a good 450w PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182066
This is cheaper but not quite as good http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194090

 

[Onus]

That Capstone would be an excellent choice. I'd choose an Earthwatts or VP-450 over the NAXN though; Enermax builds many of their own PSUs, but that one is another CWT, so I'd expect it to contain some lower-quality capacitors. I don't think I've seen that specific one reviewed yet though.

 

[PepitoTV]

I second the Rosewill Capstone PSU and, for the GPU, I found this one: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MSI-650TBT

 

[curlytop09]

Thanks so much for quick answers....I'm running out of time. So his graphics card choice is okay but we should choose a better power supply? I've looked at the options above, I'm okay with any of those.

I know I would hear a "gasp" from you all, but honestly, when I see his computer screen while he is playing, looks fine to me. He says I just don't get it. Then again the last video game I played was tetris. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Onus]

HD7750 < HD7770 < GTX650Ti < HD7790 < GTX650Ti Boost Edition.

Any of them are significantly more powerful than the HD6570 he has. He ought to be happy with the HD7770. Do note the Newegg shellshocker though; getting the GTX650Ti for the same price should be an easy choice.

 

[curlytop09]

HD7750 < HD7770 < GTX650Ti < HD7790 < GTX650Ti Boost Edition.

Any of them are significantly more powerful than the HD6570 he has. He ought to be happy with the HD7770. Do note the Newegg shellshocker though; getting the GTX650Ti for the same price should be an easy choice.

I love math so the "<" really puts things into perspective for me. Thanks so much.

 

[curlytop09]

Now that I'm looking on newegg, for example the GTX650Ti, handful of different manufacturers......PNY, ASUS, EVGA, Zotac, Gigabyte. Is this like Chevy vs Ford in comparison or could it be Saturn vs Mercedes in some?

 

[hang-the-9]

Now that I'm looking on newegg, for example the GTX650Ti, handful of different manufacturers......PNY, ASUS, EVGA, Zotac, Gigabyte. Is this like Chevy vs Ford in comparison or could it be Saturn vs Mercedes in some?

If you are getting from newegg, just sort by best rating. Some of those may be "custom" cards that are factory overclocked, have better cooling, etc.. so keep an eye on the price for them as you can find quite a swing in prices for what looks to be the same thing. If you see a card with a 4 or 5 egg rating with a few dozen reviews, you can be safe with that model.

 

[Onus]

Specific Newegg reviews aren't good for much, as they are "consumer fluff" rather than competent technical reviews. There are exceptions though, and hang-the-9's reliance on many positive reviews (and few or no bad ones) is good.
Personally, I've had good results from EVGA, Sapphire, Gigabyte, MSI, HIS, and Powercolor; and less than stellar results from Diamond and Asus (although the latter's motherboards are top-notch); and mostly good from XFX although their customer service may be weak now. I have not owned Zotac or Galaxy, but don't know of any horror stories.