What kind of Graphic Card Do You Suggest

[mvmoncayo]

Hello I am new to the graphics world. I am currently in school about to finish with CIS degree. I do not have much time to research due to overload of work. I am looking for the best graphics card that I can get around $150 or less. As of right now I only need it to play blue ray and hd movies. I would like to have the options of being able to play games also (when I get a chance in the future). I have an HP p6130y with one PCI Express x16 graphics slot. I am in confusion as to whether or not I can install a 2.0 x16 card. Thank you for any help you can assist me with.

 

[jfem]

Here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448&cm_re=hd_5750-_-14-150-448-_-Product

 

[jyjjy]

The best card at around $150 is definitely the HD5770;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858
However it really is a gaming card. A card 1/3rd the price would be great for any kind of video playback.
What is the native resolution of your monitor?

 

[lothdk]

I would not get any of those cards seeing as the PSU is a 300W of which I have been able to find nothing, so, if you could take a look at the PSU and let us know its model number and specs we could give you better advice.

 

[hardwaretechy]

5770 if your PSU can handle it.
5750 if it has less juice.

Both are suitable. And yes the cards as well as the slots for PCI x16 are backwards compatible so you won't have an issue there.

 

[mvmoncayo]

The best card at around $150 is definitely the HD5770;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858
However it really is a gaming card. A card 1/3rd the price would be great for any kind of video playback.
What is the native resolution of your monitor?

I have an Hp w2338h and a HP2159m I forgot to mention I have dual monitors, sorry. the 2159 is 1600 x 900, and the 2338 is 1920 x 1080.

 

[mvmoncayo]

I would not get any of those cards seeing as the PSU is a 300W of which I have been able to find nothing, so, if you could take a look at the PSU and let us know its model number and specs we could give you better advice.

Delta Electronic inc. DPS- 300AB-19A

 

[mvmoncayo]

I would not get any of those cards seeing as the PSU is a 300W of which I have been able to find nothing, so, if you could take a look at the PSU and let us know its model number and specs we could give you better advice.

Here are the specs http://itwinkle.stores.yahoo.net/beathp3024ps.html

Should I upgrade my power source while I am at it? or is there a sufficient gc that I can use with this amount of power.

 

[jyjjy]

That may be able to handle an HD5750 but I wouldn't be certain about it and for gaming at 1920x1080 you'll definitely want at least the HD5770 anyway. You are best off replacing the PSU.

 

[-Fran-]

Nah, he can play with medium settings @1920x1080 with a 5750 with no sweat, I'm sure.

Go for the 5750, since it's the safe bet on this issue... Well the real safe bet would be a 5670

Cheers!

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, but I don't think an HD5750 is a particularly safe bet on an off brand 300w PSU. And medium settings today means low settings tomorrow. I'm not too high on the "future proofing" concept but some level of foresight certainly makes sense.

 

[-Fran-]

The 4850's are now 2 years old? The 8800's are 5 years old?

My point is that "medium setting" might refer to "DX9" instead of "DX10" code path nowadays. Besides, not al "medium settings" are bad xD!

I hate motion blur =x

Cheers!

 

[jyjjy]

Your card ages are a bit off but anyway I never said all medium settings were bad. My point was that buying a card that is already considered underpowered for your resolution probably means you are going to want to replace sooner rather than later.

 

[-Fran-]

Understood and agreed, but if he can't stretch his budget, then it's either the cutting low-mid or the upper-low. Getting another PSU will get him off his budget like 40-50 bucks (400w, good brand PSU).

Cheers!

 

[jyjjy]

If the HD5750 was certain to work on that thing then I could see going for it but I wouldn't recommend a plan that counts on it. More likely than not a new PSU will be necessary anyway and the price difference of the two cards is quite low right now.

 

[AsAnAtheist]

A 300w PSU is not enough to power the HD 5750 and a system.

The calculator power consumption of the base HP p6130y is around 199w which around 30w less then the specification of the max output of the power supply (considering it's 75% efficient).

The PSU calculators incorrectly measure the power consumption of a HD 5750 at around 39w. Many reviewers have already found the card using 14w idle all the way up to 68w load.

The idle power consumption is 14w+-, the average is 56 and at peak it consumes 66w. 199w system+56w average pushes it to 255w. This is past the specification of the Delta PSU, and I would not recommend getting the HD 5750 unless your willing to the replace the power supply.

Here are some charts of the 5750. One of the charts is in spanish but you should be able to understand it.

 

[mvmoncayo]

Thank you all for your help. If I had an extra $50 would that get me a sufficient psu?
If so what brand do you recommend?

 

[-Fran-]

I like Thermaltake, so I'd suggest this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023&cm_re=thermaltake-_-17-153-023-_-Product

If you're gonna get that one, you can save up for a 5770 even. And the 5750 will work with no sweat.

Cheers!

EDIT: If you want something to power up something in the future, this one would be a good buy also: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153113&cm_re=thermaltake-_-17-153-113-_-Product

 

[lothdk]

A much more efficient one would be the CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX, you really should not get that Thermaltake one, it has low efficiency and no active PFC.

Question is though if HP are using a special PSU and motherboard, so you can not just add another PSU yourself.

 

[AsAnAtheist]

Thank you all for your help. If I had an extra $50 would that get me a sufficient psu?
If so what brand do you recommend?

It most definitely is. The brands I recommend from highest to lowest (I am skipping several enthusiast know brands because of their difficulties with keeping retailers stocked):
1. Seasonic
2. Corsair
3. Antec/OCZ

Here's the best $50 PSU I could find.
It's $54.99 with a $10 MIR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

 

[-Fran-]

You're right, lothdk with the first one; didn't look at it very closely. Now, between the Corsair and the Thermaltake TR2 W0379RU (second link), the second one would be better with the 39.99 price tag, right?

Cheers!

EDIT: Typo xP

 

[AsAnAtheist]

You're right, lothdk with the first one; didn't look at it very closely. Now, between the Corsair and the Thermaltake TR2 W0379RU (second link), the second one would be better with the 39.99 price tag, right?

Cheers!

EDIT: Typo xP

The Thermaltake PSU is quite frankly.. Cheap. Very cheap. And no I am not referring to the price, I mean the quality. In terms of quality for price, it is actually over priced. I picked up a Tuniq Potency 650w Active PFC/80 plus Efficient for $39.99, that is cheap price wise.

65%=< efficiency is quite frankly... unacceptable.
The label on the PSU is evidence enough that it is not suited for systems with GPU's because it does not state the max wattage on the 12v rails. As mentioned earlier by lothdk low efficiency and no active PFC is a huge no no in my books.

The Corsair CMPSU-400 has far better capacity (true 400w), 80 plus certified efficiency, and a far better reputation as a quality unit. This is definitely well worth the $19 difference, no doubt about it. This power supply comparison is similar to comparing Windows movie maker with Adobe Creative Suite 4

 

[jyjjy]

Yeah, some of the more expensive Thermaltake PSUs are pretty nice but their low end models aren't very impressive at all.