What is the best graphics card a AsRock 960GM-VGS3 FX can handle?

[Miketo]

I'm looking for the best graphics I could have on a cheap motherboard like this. I'd like to game with it but don't really know much about motherboards.

 

[pit_1209]

That motherboard has a pci-e 2.0 port so it can handle any card available on the market right now, if you don´t know which one just tell us a budget and we can help you.

 

[DJLJ]

An EVGA GTX 280 will not work on mine, but will work in a dell GX280 A Radeon X600 will work thu. I know big difference between the two, but only other card I have to do test. So, I know both cards work, and both pcie slots are good.

Motherboard: ASRock 960GM-VGS3 FX AM3+ w/ Radeon 3000
Processor/CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.8GHz (4.4GHz turbo) Six-Core
Memory/RAM: 4GB(1x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz
500 watt power

GX280 Intel P4 3.0 Ghz 800Mhz
PC2-6400 2.5 Gig Ram
500 watt power

So why, in one and not the other the GTX 280 works? And should I use AMD type video cards only on the ASRock? Or should it not matter?

 

[pit_1209]

That psu that comes with a the gx280 has all the neccesary connectors for the gtx280? that´s a very power hungry card and you´re problem could be low power capacity from that psu.

 

[Calvin7]

Power requirements:
GTX 280 models:

Minimum of a 550 Watt power supply
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 40 amps)
An available 6 pin PCI-E and 8 pin PCI-E power connector

 

[DJLJ]

Alright. So, I need more than 500 watts. I even thought maybe not enough power. So, I used the 250 watt that came with case for the motherboard and used the 500 watt just for the GTX280 by jumping green and black to turn it on. This trick works in the dell, but not on the ARock, still no video. At the moment I'm using only the 500 watt in the dell and it works. I tried just the 500watt only on the ASRock system and the fan and green light come on but no video. Still weird that it works in the dell with only the 500 watt. Specs on power supply are
DC Output Specifications:
+3.3V, 22A
+5V, 30A
+12V, 22A
-5V, NA
-12V, 0.8A
+5VSB, 3A

I have been eye balling a EVGA SuperNova 120-PB-0750-KR 750W Power Supply. But the specs on it are:
Wattage: 750W
SLI/Crossfire: SLI Ready
Modular Cabling: Yes
Energy Efficiency: 80 PLUS Bronze
Input Voltage: 100 ~ 240 VAC
+3.3V: 25 A
+5V: 25 A
+12V 1: 20 A
+12V 2: 20 A
+12V 3: 20 A
+12V 4: 20 A
-12V: 0.8 A
+5VSB: 3 A
What should I get to make it happy?

 

[pit_1209]

That EVGA looks fine for you, what´s your max budget? maybe we can find something better at that price.

 

[DJLJ]

$200 max I found this per the 40amp that Calvin7 pointed out. Antec High-Current Gamer 750w It's got 4 12v at 40amps. Only thing is I will have to wait because rent is due. So, I will be asking around to see if anyone I know has one big enough to test with. That way I can find out if I need to exchange my board I just bought for a new one before the 30 days are up for return.

 

[pit_1209]

OK, in the meantime you could read this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1927916/power-supply-101-understanding-power-supplies-selecting-job.html

At that budget this is one of the best psu you can buy:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088

650w will be enough for most single cards build nowadays.
You can use this calculator for that:
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

You could use this to find a good one also:
http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

 

[DJLJ]

Thanks for the help so far. I will keep in touch with any new results.

 

[DJLJ]

Update I have a Antec High-Current Gamer 750w Power Supply ordered. So, I should know in a week or so. Get back to you then.

 

[DJLJ]

Got my new power supply but was still not giving any video. So, I sent board back and they did test on it. The PCI-e was working just fine. They told me that the card must of been shorting out and to bend or cut off plate where it touches the bottom of case and make sure no mounting points are touching board where there is not any mounting holes. I should of known this. Since it working just fine on another board. I will update with the results when I get the board back.

 

[DJLJ]

I tried a couple more things and could never get the GTX280 to work on the ASRock board. So, I said the heck with it and resold it. Makes no sense at all but a AMD ATI Radeon HD 6570 fired right up with no problems. Happy with this card for now, and if I do update I will continue to buy AMD/ATI cards for this motherboard.