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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
+343

Help on picking a GFX card.

November 29, 2011 4:34:02 PM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Hey gang, I need your help/advice.
Looks like I might be looking at some extra cash and was thinking about (finally) getting me a proper GFX card again.
I'm currently running an ancient nVidia 7300 LE wuheeeee...... (not)
But it's a focking jungle out there.... and I'm sure some of you got your fingers on the hardware pulse.

So, what do I need?

Monitor support: 3. (DVI/VGA)
RAM: Enough to do some proper gaming. So at least 2GB.
Brand: I don't give rats ass..... As long as it works.
OS: Vista/Win7- primarily Vista (64)

Comparison: I had (and smoked) a 2GB HD 4850 X2 last year. Best card I've ever had, so that's the 'bar' performance vise.

I've been looking at a 2GB Asus EAH 6970 with 6 monitor support....
Mighty sweet card.
Price: $500 (local price)
I'm sure it's available much cheaper elsewhere, but anything electronic/fun over here costs a small furtune....

Anyway. Any other suggestions?

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atle-mj
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Snowman
juryal
Join Date 11/2009
0
Reply #1 November 29, 2011 4:40:25 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

If that's the price range you're looking at then you're only real choices are the 6970 of the GTX 580. What kind of monitor setup do you have that you need all that firepower for games?

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Snowman
gevansmd
Join Date 12/2008
+50
Reply #2 November 29, 2011 4:51:48 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I'm running the XFX Radeon HD5570 card with 1gb, which rates a 5.9 on the Vista Experience index (5.7 for gaming).  I don't know if that's enough horsepower for you.  I paid $110 a few months ago, but there are alternate brands with the same graphics engine for well under $100.  XFX gives you free lifetime support.

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Snowman
Heavenfall
Join Date 07/2008
+441
Reply #3 November 29, 2011 5:09:31 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Comparison: I had (and smoked) a 2GB HD 4850 X2 last year. Best card I've ever had, so that's the 'bar' performance vise.

I'm just so surprised at this. I have a 4870x2 and I never felt that it was even adequate. The second core rarely does any real work, and the gpu handles AA so bad.

(I'm not saying you're wrong in your own assessment, it's just curious that we should differ so much)

 

 

Tomshardware publishes a report each month, where they go through what's the best choice in different price ranges. They also have a "hierarchy chart" for all the cards. You can find both here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fastest-graphics-card-radeon-geforce,3067.html

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #4 November 29, 2011 5:22:22 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting juryal,
reply 1
If that's the price range you're looking at then you're only real choices are the 6970 of the GTX 580. What kind of monitor setup do you have that you need all that firepower for games?

I don't need that kind of setup for gaming. I just like the extra 'real estate'.
my old setup:

The 6970 seems like a fair bet, for now.

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #5 November 29, 2011 5:28:23 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Heavenfall,
reply 3

Comparison: I had (and smoked) a 2GB HD 4850 X2 last year. Best card I've ever had, so that's the 'bar' performance vise.
I'm just so surprised at this. I have a 4870x2 and I never felt that it was even adequate. The second core rarely does any real work, and the gpu handles AA so bad.

(I'm not saying you're wrong in your own assessment, it's just curious that we should differ so much)

Tomshardware publishes a report each month, where they go through what's the best choice in different price ranges. They also have a "hierarchy chart" for all the cards. You can find both here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fastest-graphics-card-radeon-geforce,3067.html

My 4850 'ate' everything I could possibly throw at it, even at highest possible resolution (1680X1050).
I almost cried when it kicked the bucket....

I'll for sure be reading up on that article from Tom! Thanks.

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Snowman
juryal
Join Date 11/2009
0
Reply #6 November 29, 2011 5:31:15 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

I'm not going to lie, I'm jealous. But is that a Gateway FX I see lurking behind the laptop?

In any case, Heavenfall is right, tomshardware.com is a great resource but if you're really interested in the cream of the crop it really comes down to whether you want an Nvidia or AMD flagship. See if any of your favorite games favor one brand or the other.

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Snowman
Heavenfall
Join Date 07/2008
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Reply #7 November 29, 2011 5:46:46 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Quoting Snowman,
reply 5


My 4850 'ate' everything I could possibly throw at it, even at highest possible resolution (1680X1050).
I almost cried when it kicked the bucket....

I'll for sure be reading up on that article from Tom! Thanks.

Maybe I'm just spoiled with resolution. My old screen was a 1440x900 something I think, then I jumped to 4870x2 and got a 1920x1200 screen. That's going from 1.3 million pixels to 2.3. The thing is the card handled everything up until anno 2070, but I could never use any AA (or if I did, very little). I think I just expected "more" from the card in that sense.

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #8 November 29, 2011 6:01:14 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting juryal,
reply 6
I'm not going to lie, I'm jealous. But is that a Gateway FX I see lurking behind the laptop?

In any case, Heavenfall is right, tomshardware.com is a great resource but if you're really interested in the cream of the crop it really comes down to whether you want an Nvidia or AMD flagship. See if any of your favorite games favor one brand or the other.

That's my ACER M7711, Quad Core Q9300, 8GB. Ain't short on power, you see, but I may have to look at a new PSU too. Not sure if the current one is quite adequate anymore. But it DID handle 4 internal HDD's along side all the other hardware.

nVidia or AMD, same shit to me. Both brands have been good to me at any time.

 

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Snowman
BigDogBigFeet
Join Date 12/2005
+397
Reply #9 November 29, 2011 7:45:36 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I have the XFX 6870 and I love it.  It handles every game available today with very good performance and for around $200 its good bag for the buck as they say.

I also should add I have Win 7 and on this setup I am able to play old favorites of mine like the original Empire Earth, Oblivion and many others.  So far I have not tried a game that wouldn't run on this setup.

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Snowman
yrag
Join Date 08/2001
+393
Reply #10 November 29, 2011 10:34:02 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/09/07/galaxy_geforce_gtx560_ti_mdt_x5_video_card_review/1

 

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/05/23/enermax_maxrevo_1350w_power_supply_review/1

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #11 November 30, 2011 4:34:04 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting BigDogBigFeet,
reply 9
I have the XFX 6870 and I love it.  It handles every game available today with very good performance and for around $200 its good bag for the buck as they say.

Adding this one to the list, too. It's going for $300 over here.

Quoting yrag,
reply 10

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/09/07/galaxy_geforce_gtx560_ti_mdt_x5_video_card_review/1

 

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/05/23/enermax_maxrevo_1350w_power_supply_review/1

Sweet card. Goes on the list as well.
Dunno about the PSU though.... It's about twice the price of any of the GFX cards, so far.....

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Snowman
yrag
Join Date 08/2001
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Reply #12 November 30, 2011 2:19:10 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Snowman,
reply 11
It's about twice the price of any of the GFX cards, so far.....

Now pay attention, Honey.....

 

The PSU is the most important piece of hardware in your machine. Period.

 

Hugs and kisses from another one of those crazy-ass Americans.

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Snowman
bonscott
Join Date 04/2003
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Reply #13 November 30, 2011 2:28:39 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

I've got an MSI 6950 2GB model and I run Skyrim a solid 60fps on Ultra at 1920x1080.  And you can get one for $300 US or less.  I got the MSI Twin Frozer edition and it is very quiet and runs super cool.  Highest temp I've ever gotten when totally stressed is 62 degrees. 

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Snowman
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
+1761 sdemployee
Reply #14 November 30, 2011 3:45:56 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting yrag,
reply 12
The PSU is the most important piece of hardware in your machine. Period.

Yep...but there was a time  people scoffed at my choice....Antec TruePower Quattro 1000w.... who'd ever need 1000? ....;0

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #15 December 12, 2011 10:10:13 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

And here's what I got hold of:

(1000 Watt PSU)

Can't wait to get these puppies installed!

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #16 December 13, 2011 8:41:00 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

It was a focking nightmare getting the GFX card installed, both physically and software wise.

I'll spare you the boring details, but let's just say that I utterly hate motherboard layout designers... with a passion!

Took me about 7 hours from start till a fully usable desktop, with all monitors being detected and set up properly.

Windows Index thingy, before:

And after:

Odd that the RAM score has changed....

Snowman is a happy camper again. =D

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Snowman
MadDeez
Join Date 11/2001
+147
Reply #17 December 13, 2011 9:25:48 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

ok, i'm curious. what was difficult about installing the vid card? 

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
+343
Reply #18 December 13, 2011 10:58:05 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

1) Getting it to physically fit on the motherboard. Some jackass at MSI must have thought it was a brilliant idea putting all SATA connectors directly behind the PCIE port. I can now barely fit cables into 2 out of 6 connectors.

2) Drivers.
Dunno why, but when uninstalling the old GFX drivers all motherboard drivers were nuked as well, which "kindly" included the LAN adapter. So... I couldn't even get online to get a new set of drivers for the motherboard. Luckily, I had an ancient laptop laying around which barely can be labeled as a computer..... I managed to get it online and download new drivers that way. But FFS it took a long time. >.<

3) Monitor cables...
The card is appearantly so hightech that it doesn't support dual VGA monitors, so I had to dig very deep in my pile of monitor cables to find two DVI cables.
Gonna be extra fun when I get my 3rd monitor home again. Then I have to use a HDMI cable on the main monitor....

I remember the time when a hardware replacement took no longer than swapping tyres on a car, and wasn't any more technical.

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Snowman
MadDeez
Join Date 11/2001
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Reply #19 December 13, 2011 11:34:55 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

frosty, it must be difficult being an abominable frosty. it's kind of like kermit being green. how do you manage?   

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #20 December 13, 2011 12:12:26 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I ain't getting any younger - and feeling alot older.

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Snowman
MadDeez
Join Date 11/2001
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Reply #21 December 13, 2011 12:50:21 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

yeah, you are an old fart. hippy had a great line about old farts. i wish i could remember it. 

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Snowman
Snowman
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #22 December 13, 2011 6:34:55 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I'll have a look through the logs, see if I can dig it up.

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Snowman
BigDogBigFeet
Join Date 12/2005
+397
Reply #23 December 13, 2011 7:27:05 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Ya but you do have great taste in skins snowy.  Tronix is the best deal you got going there and no hassles on the install. lol.

Good hardware choices.  I like AMD for graphix and cpu these days - more bang for the buck imo.

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Snowman
atle-mj
Join Date 04/2007
+8
Reply #24 December 13, 2011 10:09:41 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Is this the score you got on your new gfx card, then you picked the wrong card bud, that is if you payed 2300dkk 

i only payed 1999 dkk and look what i got, on a gtx 560ti 

 

 

my score

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Snowman
vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
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Reply #25 December 13, 2011 10:25:55 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

if your 4 feet tall, and have more than 1 child, have more than one firewire port on you motherboard as well as any kind of allergies to beans, if you have problems spelling words derived from 15th century Colonial French, and would rather have a dill pickle than a bread and butter (sliced) one, AND.. and this is important.. if ANY of your relatives were born in the Azores (especially Sao Miguel).. between 1974 and 1987.. do NOT buy an nVidia...

....Cos lord knows, that green they use, in their website and packaging design, honestly, it just turns my stomach. Should definitely have more yellow in it.

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