24 replies to this topic

[Fezzwig]

Ok, this is my current system with the only change being an upgrade to 4 gig ram and Win 7x64.

http://support.gatew...009475sp4.shtml

These are the specs for the motherboard..

http://support.gatew...01154sp24.shtml

I am looking for advice in upgrading the X1950 video card. My big concern is the pcie slot being an old version, so old that when I ran CPU-Z it doesn't even give a version, just pci express 16x. Now, working with a budget of only 100-150.00 usd can anyone recommend a video card that is DX11/OpenGL 4.1 and should be compatible with the current hardware?

I did see this but am not sure if there is anything better..

http://www.newegg.co...#scrollFullInfo

Thanks in advance

Edited by Fezzwig, 03 June 2012 - 10:07 AM.

[Aoshi]

This is a reliable video card brand along with it being a great price. If you have a microcenter near you, this card is a great deal.

http://www.microcent...duct_id=0382944

I'm not 100% if it's compatible but I'd take a look.

Edited by Aoshi, 03 June 2012 - 10:12 AM.

[Vulpesveritas]

Your best bet in your price range is a Radeon HD 7770. The PCI-e version doesn't matter so long as you have at least an x16 slot.

[Bold]

ATI radeon 7770/6850/6870 are all solid choices

[Lakevren]

I'd opt for the 6870 for $10 more ($160).

[Barbaric Soul]

7770, best choice for your budget



http://www.techpower...7770_OC/26.html


http://www.newegg.co...20GHz%20Edition

[Oderint dum Metuant]

As above definitely the 7770 at your pricepoint.

[Barbaric Soul]

Lakevren, on 03 June 2012 - 11:11 AM, said:

I'd opt for the 6870 for $10 more ($160).

Uh, you can get a 7770 for about $40 less than the least expensive 6870 on newegg

6870- http://www.newegg.co...eon%20HD%206870

7770- http://www.newegg.co...20GHz%20Edition

[Lakevren]

Barbaric Soul, on 04 June 2012 - 04:07 AM, said:

Uh, you can get a 7770 for about $40 less than the least expensive 6870 on newegg

6870- http://www.newegg.co...eon%20HD%206870

7770- http://www.newegg.co...20GHz%20Edition

$10 more than his $150 limit.

[Bullseye69]

I had to replace a HIS 3870 512 card that was barely working got the below card runs quite, faster, and less power and heat very happy with my purchase.
Mechwarrior online use crysis crytek 3 engine should make use of direct x 10 and 11 this card can handle it. Don't have beta so have no experience and dev have not set the required specs yet.


http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814127664

[Fezzwig]

Thank you folks for the assistance. I've opted for the MSI 7770 version due to it's double fan and reasonable price.

[Vulpesveritas]

Fezzwig, on 04 June 2012 - 09:14 AM, said:

Thank you folks for the assistance. I've opted for the MSI 7770 version due to it's double fan and reasonable price.

If you haven't ordered it yet, might I be able to suggest the following instead?
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814102993
It's only $10 more, and you get a significantly higher overclock out of the box.

[Darkhammer]

Get the 6850. It starts at $140 so you can get a faster card and spend the same cash.
http://www.newegg.co...eon%20HD%206850

Edited by Darkhammer, 04 June 2012 - 06:49 PM.

[Vulpesveritas]

Darkhammer, on 04 June 2012 - 06:46 PM, said:

Get the 6850. It starts at $140 so you can get a faster card and spend the same cash.
http://www.newegg.co...eon%20HD%206850

The 7770 vaporX is faster in many cases than 6850s, uses less power, and makes less noise than most of them.

Unless the OP puts in for a 6870, the 7770 is a better option with overclocking in most cases...

[AkuPyro]

Normally PCIe standards have been made backwards compatible. In that regards, what ever PCIe card you will get for the x16 slot will work fine (even smaller cards like x1/x4/x8 will work in it, but normally video cards use the full x16). The only down side with that would be the 2.5GB transfer vs the 5GB with version 2 and the 8GB with version 3. All of this aside though, as others mentioned, the 7770 might fit what you are looking for. Per the specs you gave, at least from the link, the PSU (700w) is more than enough to handle the upgrade. Plus you can utilize that card if at some point and time you would like to get a new board with a new version of PCIe. In short, you are fine with the PCIe slot you have and the 7770 as others mentioned should fit your price window fine.

[Vulpesveritas]

AkuPyro, on 05 June 2012 - 07:23 AM, said:

Normally PCIe standards have been made backwards compatible. In that regards, what ever PCIe card you will get for the x16 slot will work fine (even smaller cards like x1/x4/x8 will work in it, but normally video cards use the full x16). The only down side with that would be the 2.5GB transfer vs the 5GB with version 2 and the 8GB with version 3. All of this aside though, as others mentioned, the 7770 might fit what you are looking for. Per the specs you gave, at least from the link, the PSU (700w) is more than enough to handle the upgrade. Plus you can utilize that card if at some point and time you would like to get a new board with a new version of PCIe. In short, you are fine with the PCIe slot you have and the 7770 as others mentioned should fit your price window fine.

Thing is, even the Radeon HD 7970 and Nvidia GTX 680 don't eat up all the bandwidth of PCI-E x16 2.0. The 690 only has a slight drop in performance in 1.0 X16.
In essence, you'll be fine so long as you have a full x16 lane.

[Fezzwig]

Just an update, 1st ya gotta love Newegg, 3 day shipping meant 23 hr delivery Ok, unfortunately the 7770 card is a dual slot card and while the card it was replacing is described as a dual slot it in actuality only uses 1 mounting bracket. In essence the new card just wouldn't fit so while babysitting my grandkids yesterday I sold one to a wealthy Arab shiek and after obtaining an RMA purchased this http://www.newegg.co...olor-_-14131433

Seriously, though allot more then I wanted to spend there were very few options to choose from considering the case/mb structure. Hotdogs and Raman noodles for the next couple weeks!

[Meldarth Sunphot]

Hmmm Fezz when you tried putting it in; was it simply because you needed to remove another slot or another card was in the way? if you possibly could post a pic of your inside your case.......? or did you already order the single slot?

[Fezzwig]

Meldarth Sunphot, on 06 June 2012 - 11:41 AM, said:

Hmmm Fezz when you tried putting it in; was it simply because you needed to remove another slot or another card was in the way? if you possibly could post a pic of your inside your case.......? or did you already order the single slot?

The current card occupied the very top slot with a non-removable exhaust port built into the case right above it.





So you can see right above the top "I" is where the 2nd bracket would have needed to go.

Thanks anyway for the interest.

[Vulpesveritas]

Fezzwig, on 06 June 2012 - 01:24 PM, said:

The current card occupied the very top slot with a non-removable exhaust port built into the case right above it.





So you can see right above the top "I" is where the 2nd bracket would have needed to go.

Thanks anyway for the interest.

Gotta love OEMs...

Seriously, I hate towers that keep you from upgrading them.