Best Graphics card I can get?

[Meerkat]

Here are my computer specs:
Motherboard Name ASRock ALiveNF6P-VSTA
CPU Type DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2500 MHz (12.5 x 200) 4800+
4GB RAM (3GB Usable)
Windows 7 Ultimate

I currently have an NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT.

I've been looking at a Palit GT 520 2048MB graphics card, but I'm not sure if my computer could handle it.
What's the best graphics card my computer can handle? Also, is there any other information you require?

[ShyguyXPC]

mobo specs: ASRock > Products > ALiveNF6P-VSTA

What are you using the PC for?


What is your Power Supply Specs/info?

Wattage, Brand, Model of PSU, Amp Rating for +12V Rail on the PSU. All should be on the label on the PSU.

are you using a slim style case, or a regular width case?

[Meerkat]

I use the PC for Photoshop, coding, and a bit of gaming.

Also, how would I find out the rest of the information you asked for without opening the computer up, as I'm currently using it? It's a regular width case.

[Meerkat]

The Power supply is an EZcool Super Silent ATX-450 JSP.

[ShyguyXPC]

well, take the cover OFF of the PC and look at the label as I stated above on the Power supply.

Pretty simple to do, even with the PC running.

Your not going to be disconnecting any cables or anything like that.

And if you plan on doing this upgrade your going to have to open that thing anyways and get your hands "dirty" knowing how/where to look.

just a heads up, the GT 520 card your looking at, though newer and supporting DirectX 11, is really no better than the 9500GT you currently have in there, only thing is that it uses less power.



For your uses, what games do you play?


also what resolution does your monitor use? If its anything below 1920x1200, a 2GB Video card will be utterly useless, unless you planned on setting up a dual Monitor setup, spanned across both displays for the Gaming.

[ShyguyXPC]

OK... well while typing out my reply, you must of looked at the Power supply.

[Meerkat]

I did, I've typed the model above. The GT 520 is 2048MB, my current graphics card is 512MB, how is it not better?

I play Skyrim, COD, and a couple of MMORPGs.

My resolution is 1920 x 1080.

[ShyguyXPC]

The Power supply dates back from 2006 or before. Even if its still somewhat newer, though might not be, your Motherboard and CPU Platform are a few generations behind already, so 2006-2007 era would be about right.

I'd suggest replacing that Power supply along with the Video card upgrade.

the PSU is a low end brand as well, I wouldn't trust it with a new GPU upgrade. especially given its age.

I'm guessing your in the UK or EU? (Since thats where a lot of those EZ Cool's are sold)

[Meerkat]

Yes I live in the UK. I haven't upgraded my PC for about 2-3 years. So I believe it's due an upgrade. Is there anything you'd recommend me to purchase?

[ShyguyXPC]

I did, I've typed the model above. The GT 520 is 2048MB, my current graphics card is 512MB, how is it not better?

I play Skyrim, COD, and a couple of MMORPGs.

My resolution is 1920 x 1080.

Memory size doesn't mean squat.


The Graphics Processor Itself and the Shader Processors inside the GPU is what matters most.

as I stated above, 2GB is wasted memory if your not gaming beyond 1920x1200, even on the high end $300 cards.

In some rare instances it can help, but it doesn't really improve performance much. More or less maintains it.

even on the low end cards your looking at, 1GB is usually wasted as well. the GPU just isn't fast enough to process all that data with out having an excess of data backed up in the frame buffer. Rather than a bottleneck, choking the GPU (usually pairing a Fast GPU with a slow CPU) its just the opposite, the data gets backed up, and can slow the CPU's performance.

though the latter is preferred over the former, but still.

In any case, the 9500GT has a 128-bit memory bus, and the GT 520 only has a 64-bit bus, so its overall memory bandwidth is less anways.

Look here and you can clearly see, the 520 is inferior to the 9500GT in performance.


Video Card Comparison - GPUReview.com

the 9500GT has more Memory Bandwidth, FLOPS (Floating Point Operations Per Second), Pixel and Texture Fill rates.

The GT 520 has more Shader Cores, but their weaker performing also, which doesn't help it one bit.


basically the 520 is a combination of the older G 210 and GT 220 in one Chip, has many of the formers attributes, but the 48 cores of the 220 model.

but at least the 220 model was comparable and in some cases better than the 9500GT.

Video Card Comparison - GPUReview.com



A GT 240 with GDDR5 memory would be double the 9500GT's performance:

Video Card Comparison - GPUReview.com

but with less than 50% more power consumption.




For Skyrim, your probably going to want something like a Radeon 6670, or 5670 at least.

Or comparable Geforce Cards would be the GDDR5 equipped GT 440, or a GTS 450.

though you'll want a new Power supply to replace in that PC first.

a Good Quality brand 400-450W will be more than enough.

Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, Coolermaster, Thermaltake... etc.

Some of the brands over in UK, are Be Quiet, Seventeam, and a few others I forget off hand.

[ShyguyXPC]

Yes I live in the UK. I haven't upgraded my PC for about 2-3 years. So I believe it's due an upgrade. Is there anything you'd recommend me to purchase?

Honestly, if it were me, I'd be looking at an entire new build, or at least, Motherboard/CPU/RAM/GPU/PSU for upgrades, and carry over the OS, Hard drives, Optical Drives, and depending on the case, that too.


but the GPU's and PSU are the 2 primary weak points right now.


Is your copy of Win7 Ultimate 32 or 64bit?

[ShyguyXPC]

Whats your Budget for upgrades?

[Meerkat]

Thanks for explaining all that, it really helped.

My OS is currently 32 bit, however I am looking to upgrade to 64 bit.

As for a budget I'm not really sure as I didn't think about upgrading the entire system. I don't have a lot to throw in to it, maybe £200-300. The case I have is from a pre-built system I got, it used to be a HP Pavilion but I'm not sure on the model.

[SoloCamo]

Welcome to TechIMO!

Shyguys got it down. In fact, I have a system very similar to yours, just currently with a gtx550ti. Otherwise they are essentially identical (and my gpu is worlds better than even the ones you are upgrading to, no offense intended of course)

With skyrim I've learned that throwing in a GPU that is a lot more powerful than the CPU can handle is nice, but where your performance counts (in towns and battles) that gpu will not matter as the cpu will hold you back.

I've got my x2 4200+ @ 2.5ghz as well, 3gb of ram @ ddr400 and the 550ti and the performance is good, but really lacks where you need it most.

I would highly suggest saving up for a new build. If money is tight though, perhaps the gpu and psu will be worth it for now.

I did the samething a few monthes ago, replaced my gpu and psu and it sprung new life into the rig, but knowing how badly my new gpu was held back, I just ordered a new cpu (well a whole new build to be honest )

Skyrim enjoys a fast CPU more than anything else and can get by on a lower end gpu just fine.

[Meerkat]

Is there a certain PSU and GPU you would recommend for me to use with my current build? But also take in to consideration that I will also upgrade my motherboard, etc, further down the line.

[ShyguyXPC]

EVGA GTX 550Ti SuperClocked 1GB GDDR5 DVI HDMI PCI-E.. | Ebuyer.com

Coolermaster GX 550W PSU | Ebuyer.com

[ShyguyXPC]

PSU would be more than enough for most any GPU out there, even the $300+ models.

The GTX 550 Ti would be enough based on your CPU specs, in fact might even be bottlenecked a bit.

but with out knowing what CPU hardware you plan to upgrade to in the future, its hard to suggest a GPU to pair with it.

for 300 Pound budget, you could potentially put together a budget based newer system as well.

EVGA GTX 550Ti SuperClocked 1GB GDDR5 DVI HDMI PCI-E.. | Ebuyer.com

Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz XMS3 Memory Kit CL9.. | Ebuyer.com

Intel Pentium G860 3.0GHz Socket 1155 3MB L3 Cache.. | Ebuyer.com

Biostar H61MLC Socket 1155 mATX Motherboard | Ebuyer.com

Coolermaster GX 550W PSU | Ebuyer.com


Barebone core components, Before shipping Cart total inc vat: £291.60


Could drop that Memory to a single 4GB Stick of RAM, which would be enough for gaming, and use the money saved for a new better ventilated case.

Corsair 4GB DDR3 1333MHz Non-ECC (9-9-9-24) 1.50V.. | Ebuyer.com

+

Casecom K5-7688 All Black Case with 120mm Blue LED.. | Ebuyer.com

+ rest of stuff above (replacing the RAM with the stuff here)

and Cart total inc vat: £297.59 before shipping.

[Meerkat]

How's a rig like these?

XW6400 Gaming Computer Dual Core Xeon 2.66GHZ 4GB FX1400 160GB DVDRW Desktop PC | eBay

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Gaming PC Dual Xeon HT Core Quad (4)x 2.8GHz 2GB Ultra Quiet/Fast 160GB AV Drive | eBay

[ShyguyXPC]

I'd just buy the parts and build one.


The first one is outdated, and that is not a Gaming Graphics card, even if it was, its a low end card.

2nd one decent hardware specs but a crap Power supply, and priced WAY too low for the hardware thats in it.

a bit suspicious.

the 3rd link, same as first one with GPU, not a gaming card and low end, but the CPU is much more capable, however its also outdated, socket 775 is really no longer made.

either of the 2nd two would be better, but the prices are abnormally low for the hardware.

And then there's the matter of installing a better PSU in the Phenom II one, or PSU and GPU in the Quad Core Xeon.

[Meerkat]

Hmm, how about something like this:
Fast AMD Dual Core 4GB 1TB DVDRW WiFi ATi Gaming PC | eBay

HP XW6400 GAMING PC Computer 2 x Core 2 Duo = Quad Core 12GHZ 4GB WINDOWS XP.. | eBay

Techbox Game Extreme 1.1 Game PC > Dual Core/8GB Ram | eBay

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace