Graphics Graphics card upgrade - HD4870 to... ?

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by pete*, 6 Mar 2011.

  1. pete*

    pete* Something witty here.

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    Hey there,

    My PC has started struggling a LOT with FPS drops etc lately and its getting quite annoying.
    I know that it most likely just needs a clear out, dust cleaned etc.
    However I feel like after doing that and testing it, i'm going to upgrade my graphics
    card anyway, because i've had problems with it for a while. While in game, the whole
    PC will just lock up and freeze. I have to press my reset button to get back into it.
    It only does it when I load up a game, any game. I did hear something about the
    4870 switching between 2D and 3D something or other, but never found out an
    fix except bios flashing, which didn't work for me.

    But anyhow, I am looking to upgrade my Radeon HD 4870 to something much more
    current. I don't intend to upgrade the rest of the PC for a while, even though i've had
    it all since the 4870 was first released. I just don't have the money.
    My budget is UNDER £200, the more under the better. I have no preference as to who
    the card is by, nvidia or amd/ati. But would just prefer a stable one with stable drivers.
    My ATI cards seem to have been a little lacking usually in that sense.
    Oh, also a card that sends its hot air out of the back of the case is VERY MUCH
    more wanted.
    I know my PC is quite weak so would be a bottle neck for a lot of cards, but any
    suggestions welcome. In UK prices/from UK websites please :)

    Thanks,

    Pete


    Current PC specs : Antec 300, Intel C2D E8400 No o/c, ASUS P5Q Pro, 2x2GB Corsair Dominator PC2-8500, ATI Sapphire Radeon HD4870 512MB, 3x 1TB Samsung F1, X-Fi Ti Fatal1ty Pro, Quattro 850W
     
    Last edited: 6 Mar 2011
  2. murraynt

    murraynt Modder

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    Hey Pete.

    Whats your current rig and what res are you gaming at?

    The go to card at the moment for under 200 pounds is the 560GTX although the 460 GTX will probally be enough if your aren't gaming at too large or a res.
     
  3. Picarro

    Picarro What's a Dremel?

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  4. pete*

    pete* Something witty here.

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    Gah! I knew there was something I forgot to put in.
    I'm on a 22" Samsung, using res 1680x1050 in most games - My monitors native res.
    My current rig is in the original post now (should have been in sig, but its not weirdly :/)
     
  5. Picarro

    Picarro What's a Dremel?

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    Okay, if you OC'ed your E8400 to say, 3,6ghz, and bought a GTX 560 it should be a neat little gaming machine for atleast another year at that res.
     
  6. murraynt

    murraynt Modder

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    The best thing for you to do is to give that E8400 a good overclock.
    Then If more power is needed buy a 560GTX or a 460GTX. Both will have more than enough power.

    Edit-Bet to it.
     
  7. Bloody_Pete

    Bloody_Pete Technophile

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    I'd go for a 560 personally. If you can go for one with a custom cooler then you'll be able to OC it and squeeze some more performance out of your cash :)

    Edit: don't forget OC'ing the CPU will require a better cooler...
     
  8. murraynt

    murraynt Modder

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    Also is it worth 50 pounds for a card with a rear exhaust?
    The Msi Twin freezer is 185 pounds from Scan ATM.
    Cracker of a card.
     
  9. pete*

    pete* Something witty here.

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    Better cooler for what, GPU or CPU? My E8400 has the ACPF7 on it.
    I've never o/c'd because i'm TERRIBLE with numbers and understanding the bios.
    Countless times when I first built this PC I read the O/C help things and in Custom PC
    mag itself, but still couldn't understand it enough to have the confidence to start changing
    numbers in the bios risking a nasty tasting fry up without the tomatoes.

    Thanks for the suggestions though guys, just looking through the 560's and 460's
    and which are the better of the bunch.
     
  10. murraynt

    murraynt Modder

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    They are all pretty good. Even the stock coolers are great.
    They use a vapor chamber so they are as good as silent.
    The Msi one got a great review here.
    http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/1
     
  11. pete*

    pete* Something witty here.

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    Do you mean this one?

    MSI TF

    It's just over £200 :( But, could probably stretch to that if I can get an o/c on my CPU
    and totally clean my system.
     
  12. mucgoo

    mucgoo Minimodder

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    Get a 560 but your CPU will bottleneck slightly so consider an upgrade once bulldozers comes out and CPU/mobo prices lower.
     
  13. murraynt

    murraynt Modder

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    That's it. I t was on offer but I guess that's over now.
    My the KFA2 one got some great reviews and it's the cheapest of the bunch.
     
  14. Ljs

    Ljs Modder

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    No, the MSI Twin Frozr is still for sale for £189.99.

    It is annoying though that there aren't many EE (external exhaust) 560's. Hopefully some more will appear but I doubt it - EVGA have stated they don't plan it make one so I'm not sure other manufacturers will either...
     
  15. Bloody_Pete

    Bloody_Pete Technophile

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    OC'ing 775 is easy. Just bump up the FSB, check the RAM is correct, then start up, run prime for an hour, check temps, if they're ok (ie below 70C) then either do a long run of prime 95 (3-6 hours) or up the fsb some more. You should be able to hit 3GHz easily :) I'd personally just set the voltage to 1.2v (or something along those lines) and OC untill it becomes unstable/too hot :)
     
  16. Instagib

    Instagib Minimodder

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    Errr, who says it's a weak rig? It's still a very capable system that one. Just needs a little overclocking to make it run sweet. At that res, i think a gtx460 like this one would be perfect. It comes in under budget too. Plus some overclocking and this system will continue to be capable for a few more years.

    If you're not confident BIOS overclocking, then how about trying some software overclocking? It's more accessible and less daunting than wall to wall blue of the BIOS. Once you know what you're doing there, make it more permanent in the BIOS.
     
  17. Guest-44432

    Guest-44432 Guest

    Get a GTX 480 you should get one for £200. This will last you a few years at your Resolution.

    Cheers,

    Simon.
     
  18. carpetmonster

    carpetmonster What's a Dremel?

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    I disagree with these reccs. I would get an HD5850. The reasoning is they are the most powerful card for the money, even if they are 'old'. You can get the Forzr II for 130 if you look about, 460's with 1gb are usually more, in fact, always more and even though they clock well, the 5850 clocks like a mother. It is also beefier than the 6850 which is also more cash.

    People say the 68 does tessalation better. Don't know how thius applies in the real world.However as mentioned all the aofrementioned cards in this thread and the 5850 would be hampered by the somewhat lumbering LGA775 platform. If you kept the card you had and went to Sandybridge or s2nd hand i7/i5 you would see better frame rates. A 4870 should be happy at 1680x1050.
     
  19. Bloody_Pete

    Bloody_Pete Technophile

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    You seem to be pushing 5850's very hard on people...

    And the GPU will improve thing much more than a full system upgrade. I went from a 4870 to a 5870 and the difference was noticable.

    And as stated above a 480 can be had for £200, so how can a 5850 be best value if it's only £70 cheaper but performs much much less...?
     
  20. carpetmonster

    carpetmonster What's a Dremel?

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    For the money, a 5850 outperforms slightly more expensive 460's and 6850's. What is so hard to understand about recommending one ? Explain ?


    'Only £70'. That is like a weeks shopping for most people.
     

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