Upgrading GPU, Budget 300 - 500 $

[Paras Lehana]

Hi, everyone here.
I've just joined the forum today. Also adding that I'm new to this - "Rig Upgrading".
I've been a Senior Member at XDA-Developers (Android Community), so you can expect to follow the Forum Rules from me .
My dad has agreed to spend 300 $ on upgrading my rig. Well, I'd be able to raise the budget to 500 - 600 $ 😗 .
I like using the machine only for playing high-end games.

According to this post, I'm listing the info as follows:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Before April 2013

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming [GTA IV, Crysis, FPS, NFS]; Surfing Net, Watching HD Movies, Listening to Music.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: nVidia 8400 GS 1 GB, 'Well, I'm planning to get a new power supply to whose budget is excluded from the minimum one. I don't think I'm having PSU of more than 400 W.'

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: (Click them to view details)

■Display - Samsung Sync Master B2030

■CPU - Intel i5 650 @ 3.20 GHz (Socket 1156 LGA)

■Board - Intel DH55TC

■RAM - 4 GB DDR3

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Flipkart , India

OVERCLOCKING - Maybe - I'm reading about it!

MONITOR RESOLUTION - 1600 x 900 (Native)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS - I've tried to gather the most info I could. I've also read about bottle-necking, well, not much.

My doubts are as follows:

■Shall I need to upgrade my CPU too?

■Or shall I go for a lower budget GPU?

■Is 750 Watt enough? (I've chosen this Cooler Master GX 750 Watts PSU)

■Is my 4 GB RAM enough?

■Any recommendations or suggestion please?


I'm currently considering this combo:


Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 With Boost 3 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

and

Cooler Master GX 750 Watts PSU

 

[AirSKiller]

Hi, everyone here.
I've just joined the forum today. Also adding that I'm new to this - "Rig Upgrading".
I've been a Senior Member at XDA-Developers (Android Community), so you can expect to follow the Forum Rules from me .
My dad has agreed to spend 300 $ on upgrading my rig. Well, I'd be able to raise the budget to 500 - 600 $ 😗 .
I like using the machine only for playing high-end games.

According to this post, I'm listing the info as follows:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Before April 2013

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming [GTA IV, Crysis, FPS, NFS]; Surfing Net, Watching HD Movies, Listening to Music.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: nVidia 8400 GS 1 GB, 'Well, I'm planning to get a new power supply to whose budget is excluded from the minimum one. I don't think I'm having PSU of more than 400 W.'

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: (Click them to view details)

■Display - Samsung Sync Master B2030

■CPU - Intel i5 650 @ 3.20 GHz (Socket 1156 LGA)

■Board - Intel DH55TC

■RAM - 4 GB DDR3

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Flipkart , India

OVERCLOCKING - Maybe - I'm reading about it!

MONITOR RESOLUTION - 1600 x 1200 (Native)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS - I've tried to gather the most info I could. I've also read about bottle-necking, well, not much.

My doubts are as follows:

■Shall I need to upgrade my CPU too?

■Or shall I go for a lower budget GPU?

■Is 750 Watt enough? (I've chosen this Cooler Master GX 750 Watts PSU)

■Is my 4 GB RAM enough?

■Any recommendations or suggestion please?


I'm currently considering this combo:


Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 With Boost 3 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

and

Cooler Master GX 750 Watts PSU

I would go for a HD 7870 LE (LE is the key!) AWESOME card... I'm not kidding... It will give you HD 7950 performance (GTX 670ish), it can be overclocked easly and you safe some money for a MOBO+CPU+RAM upgrade later (which you are starting to need) 😀
Have fun
HD 7870 LE went to the market not long ago, silent, not many people know about it but it is just a hell of a card!
(Cooler Master PSU tend not to be the best... Go corsair... Antec... Seasonic or something like that)

 

[Paras Lehana]

I would go for a HD 7870 LE (LE is the key!) AWESOME card... I'm not kidding... It will give you HD 7950 performance (GTX 670ish), it can be overclocked easly and you safe some money for a MOBO+CPU+RAM upgrade later (which you are starting to need) 😀
Have fun
HD 7870 LE went to the market not long ago, silent, not many people know about it but it is just a hell of a card!
(Cooler Master PSU tend not to be the best... Go corsair... Antec... Seasonic or something like that)

Appreciated 😍

I've had seen reviews on LE but couldn't find it on Flipkart.
They only have these 7870's: (Click to view)

Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7870 HDMI OC Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Sapphire AMD HD 7870 2GB GDDR5 Flex Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Gigabyte AMD GV-R7870OC-2GD 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Search Results

If I go for HD 7950, what are your recommendations for upgrading so that I won't bottleneck anything (whatever you call it ) ?

Thanks!!

 

[AirSKiller]

Appreciated 😍

I've had seen reviews on LE but couldn't find it on Flipkart.
They only have these 7870's: (Click to view)

Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7870 HDMI OC Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Sapphire AMD HD 7870 2GB GDDR5 Flex Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Gigabyte AMD GV-R7870OC-2GD 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Search Results

If I go for HD 7950, what are your recommendations for upgrading so that I won't bottleneck anything (whatever you call it ) ?

Thanks!!

They would have to be LE version... LE versions are actually HD 7950 just a tiny tiny tiny bit cut back costing something like 70$ less! That's why they are awesome...

Well... You CPU is kinda getting old... I would upgrade the graphics card and your PSU now (Corsair AX750i? If you have the money... They are awesome...), then by June (when Intel Haswell come out) buy a new CPU+MOBO+RAM (i5-4570k I expect)

 

[Paras Lehana]

They would have to be LE version... LE versions are actually HD 7950 just a tiny tiny tiny bit cut back costing something like 70$ less! That's why they are awesome...

Well... You CPU is kinda getting old... I would upgrade the graphics card and your PSU now (Corsair AX750i? If you have the money... They are awesome...), then by June (when Intel Haswell come out) buy a new CPU+MOBO+RAM (i5-4570k I expect)

Okay, Done!! I'd go for 7870 but can you confirm me the version - HDMI/OC or FLEX?
I think flex is good for multiple screen gaming only.

So, would I be needing 750 W or anything like 600-700 would do?

AX750 is discontinued on flipkart? Can you suggest me the best one from here? I'll buy that

 

[AirSKiller]

Okay, Done!! I'd go for 7870 but can you confirm me the version - HDMI/OC or FLEX?
I think flex is good for multiple screen gaming only.

So, would I be needing 750 W or anything like 600-700 would do?

AX750 is discontinued on flipkart? Can you suggest me the best one from here? I'll buy that

I find this one to be better --> Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7870 HDMI OC Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card;

You don't need 750W, even for 2 HD 7870 you only need 600W (even less)

This one is very very good http://www.flipkart.com/seasonic-s1...ASAY&ref=0ab3b2f9-c0a6-49e7-b501-36ad21536c80

 

[Paras Lehana]

I find this one to be better --> Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7870 HDMI OC Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card;

You don't need 750W, even for 2 HD 7870 you only need 600W (even less)

This one is very very good http://www.flipkart.com/seasonic-s1...ASAY&ref=0ab3b2f9-c0a6-49e7-b501-36ad21536c80

Done!

Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7870 HDMI OC Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Seasonic S12II 620 Watts PSU

Total - INR 24,211 or USD 448.50

Had a great response here!!
I love this forum. 😍

Last one, shan't I upgrade my display?

 

[quilciri]

His monitor is 1600x900...anything more than a 7850 is overkill for that resolution.

 

[Paras Lehana]

His monitor is 1600x900...anything more than a 7850 is overkill for that resolution.

Last one, shan't I upgrade my display?

That's why I asked this.

 

[nsesh]

Last one, shan't I upgrade my display?

That's why I asked this.

I think corsair hx 650 will be better. n why r u buying from online. if u buy directly from store u will get it at lower price.

 

[AirSKiller]

I think corsair hx 650 will be better. n why r u buying from online.

Isn't the HX650 a Seasonic rebranded...? Pretty sure it is... So... same think

 

[swifty_morgan]

GTX660. pocket the rest of the money.

 

[Paras Lehana]

I think corsair hx 650 will be better. n why r u buying from online. if u buy directly from store u will get it at lower price.

I don't think I'd get them cheaper from the stores here. Well, I'll ask for the rates.
Flipkart's services and products are the best plus having reasonable prices!!

GTX660. pocket the rest of the money.

HD 7870 is way better than it, I assume, no?

 

[swifty_morgan]

no, in the benchmarks I've seen they trade blows with 1 or 2 fps, but when they separate it's the 660 by 10fps or more. but he's gaming at 1600resolution so it doesn't matter.

 

[Paras Lehana]

no, in the benchmarks I've seen they trade blows with 1 or 2 fps, but when they separate it's the 660 by 10fps or more. but he's gaming at 1600resolution so it doesn't matter.

Confused Now.

Gigabyte 660 is for 300 $ only while Sapphire HD 7870 is 40 $ more.

 

[nsesh]

7870 ghz is better than 660ti.

 

[swifty_morgan]

sorry to OP for the spam but had flood warning in PM box........... GTX660 is not $300. the ti might be but not the 660. look at your private messages.

again, sorry OP.

 

[Paras Lehana]

sorry to OP for the spam but had flood. warning in PM box........... GTX660 is not $300. the ti might be but not the 660. look at your private messages.

again, sorry OP.

Dude, not getting you!!

I've checked every possible store here in india - It's for 300 $.
Ti is for 450 - 480 $

 

[swifty_morgan]

how am i supposed to know where you're from?

 

[Paras Lehana]

how am i supposed to know where you're from?

I'd mentioned my preferred online store location in case you missed it...

 

[quilciri]

Last one, shan't I upgrade my display?

That's why I asked this.

That's entirely up to you, not us. A higher resolution display will necessitate a more expensive graphics solution to achieve he same performance.

 

[Paras Lehana]

Thanks, guys!!

 

[Angry Bellic]

Appreciated 😍

I've had seen reviews on LE but couldn't find it on Flipkart.
They only have these 7870's: (Click to view)

Sapphire AMD/ATI HD 7870 HDMI OC Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Sapphire AMD HD 7870 2GB GDDR5 Flex Edition 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Gigabyte AMD GV-R7870OC-2GD 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

Search Results

If I go for HD 7950, what are your recommendations for upgrading so that I won't bottleneck anything (whatever you call it ) ?

Thanks!!

What is Flipkart?

 

[Paras Lehana]

Well, I'm gonna buy the HD 7870 Tahiti LE soon but I can't assure the correct version on Flipkart.
The recommendation you'd given is - http://www.flipkart.com/sapphire-amd-ati-hd-7870-hdmi-oc-2-gb-gddr5-graphics-card/p/itmdc2rafnxpkg6k?pid=GRCDC2QTMTAHB4ZR

And the specs of the Tahiti LE are here - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-4.html

Now, can someone please confirm me the version of the former?

What is Flipkart?

Online Store (India)

 

[Guest]

His monitor is 1600x900...anything more than a 7850 is overkill for that resolution.

Why do so many people use the work overkill?Try maxing out crysis 3 even at that res with a 7850 and its not happening.You would have problems running it at medium/high even.