Video Card Upgrade

[againer11]

Hi guys, I am wanting to upgrade my computer a bit. I went on canyourunit.com, because I want to be able to play Battlefield 3 and Sleeping Dogs on maximum settings, as well as future games, and it recommended upgrading my video card. Here is what the website said, for Sleeping Dogs:

CPU
Recommended: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU
You Have: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz
PASS
Click here for the latest CPU drivers.

CPU Speed
Recommended: Info
You Have: 2.7 GHz


RAM
Recommended: 4 GB
You Have: 4.1 GB
PASS

OS
Recommended: Windows 7
You Have: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (build 7601), 64-bit
PASS
Click here for the latest Windows drivers.

Video Card
Recommended: DirectX 11 Nvidia or AMD ATI card, Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 or ATI Radeon 6950
You Have: ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series
Upgrade Suggested: Unfortunately, your Video Card does not meet this requirement. Click here to see some recommendations.
Click here for the latest Video drivers.
Features: Recommended attributes of your Video Card
Required You Have
Pixel Shader version 5.0 5.0
Vertex Shader version 5.0 5.0
Dedicated Video RAM 1 GB 1.0 GB

Sound Card
Recommended: Yes
You Have: AMD High Definition Audio Device
PASS
Click here for the latest Sound Card drivers.

Free Disk Space
Recommended: 15 GB
You Have: 782.7 GB
PASS

Are the videocards it recommends the best to get? Also, is it relatively easy to install? I've never done it before but I'm willing to learn and I like the idea of doing it myself. Or, is there anything else I should get as well, or instead of a video card? Let me know what you think, my maximum is maybe $250, but I would like to spend less then that if possible.

[SoloCamo]

Hello and welcome to TechIMO!

From the specs you've got yourself a decent low to mid range gaming pc so your starting off with a decent platform.

However, if this is a prebuilt machine (dell, hp etc.) what was the make and model?

One thing that isn't mentioned in that chart is the power supply as well. If you open up your case what is the brand, the +12v rail rating (how many amps) and how many watts does it list the psu as?

Now if you want this; "I want to be able to play Battlefield 3 and Sleeping Dogs on maximum settings" to hold true neither the 560 or 6950 will get you there, though they are hardly bad cards.

To truly max out the games gpu wise you are looking at $350+ cards.

How much do you have to spend?

[againer11]

Thanks for the reply! It's not a prebuilt machine, my brother's friend built it for me.

The power supply is OCZ ModXStream-Pro. It is 600w. I'm not sure about the 12v rail rating, it doesn't say anything about that on it. Is that enough to go on?

I guess what I'm wondering is, is everything but the videocard in good enough shape that I don't have to upgrade it just yet? And I'm also wondering with the difference in prices between video cards, how much extra performance extra money gets. I suppose I don't need to max them out, but I definitely want an upgrade. I could spend more than $250, but I don't particularly want to.

[SoloCamo]

That power supply is just fine so that takes one thing out of the equation.

Coming from a 5700 series gpu, anything in the 200+ range will be a great upgrade for you.

Even a card like the 7870ghz edition would be a huge upgrade.

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-R787OC-2GD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

The above one with a rebate is 239.99 and is even factory overclocked, so it performs closer to a 7950.

If you want to save a bit more the 7850's are going for about $210 now with no rebate and will still be a big upgrade.


I'm running a 7970ghz edition myself and can max the games out just fine. A 7870ghz realistically isn't THAT much slower so your all set to run at max/near max on most games.

[againer11]

That first one you recommended looks great. I've placed an order. Thanks so much.

Are they relatively easy to install? I've never done it before.

[SoloCamo]

That first one you recommended looks great. I've placed an order. Thanks so much.

Are they relatively easy to install? I've never done it before.

No problem whatsoever, it's really a matter of uninstalling drivers, removing old card, installing new card (don't forget to make sure the pci-e power cables to gpu are snug) and then installing new drivers.

Probably the second easiest upgrade besides memory.

[ShyguyXPC]

Probably the second easiest upgrade besides memory.

Unless you try sticking DDR3 into a DDR2 slot....

Like some people have tried doing and asking about on here.




Even though you already placed the order for the new card, another one for a bit cheaper, one of the 7850's Solo mentioned would of been this one:

Newegg.com - PowerColor PCS+ AX7850 2GBD5-2DHPP Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Clocked at same rate as the 7870's, has a bit less shader cores, but with that LARGE factory Overclock on it, 1000MHz up from 860MHz, its definitely got the voltage for the card bumped up, just like their 7870 versions, which should allow a user to OC the card even further, maybe get it to 1100 or 1200MHz and not affect cooling and power consumption much beyond "stock" for that card.

which would place that card closer to a stock 7870 for less.

[againer11]

Hey I've got a question about installation- so my new card right now is in the pci-e 16 slot, the slot that my old card was in, but I don't know how to hook up the power supply to it. My old card was hooked up by a cord labelled pci express, by 6 pins, with an extra 2 pins sort of hanging off the cable, not connected. This new card has 12 slots. Can I just hook it up the same, with 6 pins, or does it require all 12? I do have an additional 4 pins on a separate cable not being used, so between those 4 and the extra 2 on the 1st cable, I can connect it by 12 pins. But can I use two separate cords? I'm not sure if I'm being clear so let me know if I'm not making sense.

All of this is without using the two power supply cords which came with my new video card. Those are two cords with six slots each, but they don't look as if they will fit into my power supply.

I've tried to attach pictures but it's a little difficult since I'm on my iPad, since my computer is undergoing open-heart surgery. Thanks again for all the help so far.

[ShyguyXPC]

Your PSU has a 2nd 6 Pin PCIe Connector, it has a single 6 pin and a 6+2 pin.

You use both 6 Pin connectors, leave the 2 pin extra hanging off end like the old card.

[againer11]

There doesn't look to be. There is a slot for one right beneath the current one in the psu, but there is no 6 pin cable.

[ShyguyXPC]

Then you need to find your extra Modular PCIe 6 pin cable and plug it into the PSU, then you will have the extra 6 pin to plug into the video card.

Hopefully your brothers friend gave you the extra cables for the PSU, since it is a modular unit.



Otherwise your going to have to find 2 free 4 pin Molex cables to use, and use one of the adapters that came with the card.

[againer11]

I don't have any extra cables. I kept them for two years then threw them out.

I've been to a best buy, RadioShack, staples, and a p.c. Richard & son and none of them know what I am talking about when I ask for a power supply cable.

In my computer, I do have two free 4 pin molex cables. But, i am not sure if they are being used or not. They run from the power supply, then they are individually connected to pieces that each have two small wires leading towards the top and rear fans, respectively. Despite this, are they okay to connect the adapters to? They would fit, but am I overloading the cables or something? Sorry, I know nothing about this stuff.

[ShyguyXPC]

if the 4 Pin Molex connectors (a flat 4 pin connector) are empty with nothing plugged into them, then you can use them.

from the sound of it, your friend plugged a couple case fans into some of the 4 pin molex using a 2 pin Fan to 4 pin Molex Adapter, I use something similar for my side case fan, though its a 3 pin connector.

Anyways, if the 4 pin connectors are free and not in use, you can use them.


But I wouldn't disconnect the case fans to use them, because the fans are installed for a reason.

Your not going to find any Modular PCIe power cables at any of those stores, I don't think OCZ sells individual replacement cables. I think they did at one time, but not anymore, at least not for this series of PSU's. If this was Corsair or some other brand, they do have customer replacement kits with different colored cables and such.

If I didn't need my OCZ ModXStream 500W I have here, I'd send you the extra PCIe 6 pin cable I have, but unfortunately I do need the PSU and cables.

[againer11]

Yeah, I plugged the adapters in earlier and it works. Thanks for all the help man. <3

[ShyguyXPC]

no problem.

Just remember in the future to save the cables and not toss them out LOL.