5770 1GB or 512MB + PSU sth - Hardware & Software

I was planning on upgrading my computer and since I have some money I can buy new graphics card (at last!). I've already done my research and have chosen Radeon 5770 as it fits my budget. It stands a long with GeForce 250GT 1GB 256bit GDDR3 in my local store but GDDR5 sounds more promising to me. Now I have a dilemma. There are two versions of this card in the store, 1GB and 512MB. I would surely choose 1GB but it costs 60zlotys more and I'm willing to keep some money for later. After thinking a while I came up with this question: If I buy 1GB version, will my system use it's full potential? Will those additional 512MB of GDDR be used by high-end software or games on maxed out settings? I'm a user of Windows 7 64b, some applications from Adobe CS4 and of course most of the Valve Source games. Both playing TF2 on low configuration and running at least 2 Adobe applications in one time is a huge pain. My actual specs: CPU: AMD Atholn x2 5000+ 64b GFX: GeForce 9400GT 1GB 128b DDR2 (ouch! willing to upgrade) RAM: 2GB DDR2 800 SATA Hard drive and 350W PSU Another question I'm willing to change my CPU as well in the near future to Phenom 955, what PSU will you recommend? (or should I just lurk it up in the forums) Thanks.

What's your resolution? For a PSU, a $50 Corsair 450Watt will be fine. For source games, an HD5670 will max out everything. Tf2 will play @ 1920x1080 with 4xaa.

[QUOTE=Shadow187(FP);21235071]What's your resolution? For a PSU, a $50 Corsair 450Watt will be fine. For source games, an HD5670 will max out everything. Tf2 will play @ 1920x1080 with 4xaa.[/QUOTE] AA @ 16xQ with 1920x1080 is where it's at son. :cool:

It's 1680x1050. I was wondering about the GDDR more here (1GB/512MB) Also I wanted to buy something I could use to play/work on in the (near) future too (tf2 don't have that advances graphics, you know)

For that, I'd grab a GB. 1680x1050 would probably use most of 512MB on Tf2, with AA.

For 1680x1050 512mb is enough without AA, texture detail high(on a new-ish demanding game). When you start cranking up the AA at that resolution, you are going to take a performance hit unless you have 1gb of memory on the card. So you have to decide is the extra cost worth it for AA? Only you know how important AA is to you.

Or if you can swing it, grab two 1GB 5770's and Crossfire them. A 750 watt PSU recommended for that setup though.

An HD5770 doesn't use much power, at all. 2 will run off of a 550W PSU.

[QUOTE=Shadow187(FP);21235346]An HD5770 doesn't use much power, at all. 2 will run off of a 550W PSU.[/QUOTE] Ah, good to know. ^_^ I have a 550 watt, and I'm thinking of buying a 1GB 5770 to replace my aging 8800GTS.

[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;21235527]Ah, good to know. ^_^ I have a 550 watt, and I'm thinking of buying a 1GB 5770 to replace my aging 8800GTS.[/QUOTE] Hoorah for 5 more fps

[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;21235327]Or if you can swing it, grab two 1GB 5770's and Crossfire them. A 750 watt PSU recommended for that setup though.[/QUOTE] Are you shitting me? One 5770 alone can run on a 250W. Crossfire would take no more than a 350W to run. [editline]06:12PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Pixel Heart;21235527]Ah, good to know. ^_^ I have a 550 watt, and I'm thinking of buying a 1GB 5770 to replace my aging 8800GTS.[/QUOTE] I would wait a bit longer. That's hardly an upgrade. [editline]06:15PM[/editline] @OP. I say you go for the 1GB version of the 5770. Any res that is 1920x1080 and up starts to need that extra V-RAM. If all you're playing is source games I highly recommend this. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131354[/url] It's only 10FPS behind the 5770 and it's much, much, much cheaper. I'm getting one to replace my 4670. 5750s are usually around $120.

5770 will bottleneck on the 5000+

[QUOTE=OCELOT323;21253107]5770 will bottleneck on the 5000+[/QUOTE] Barely. [editline]07:41PM[/editline] If at all

[QUOTE=EBS-Gamer;21254903]Barely. [editline]07:41PM[/editline] If at all[/QUOTE] My 5770 is bottlenecked on my AMD 5200+ proof [url]http://forums.amd.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=13&threadid=123847[/url] He gained a 10 fps average because of switching to a tri core.