Alright, so I've got a pre-built Dell that has become unbearable for games and needs some upgrading. I recently purchased a 21" LCD monitor at 1920x1080, but I'm starting to miss being able to play games full screen without massive performance problems.
My current card is a Radeon HD 4350 512MB and I have the stock 300W PSU.
Looking at:
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102855]Radeon HD 4670[/url]
or
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102871]Radeon HD 5670[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017]Corsair 430W PSU[/url]
I'm very open to suggestions and advice. I'd prefer to keep the cost as low as possible on the PSU and >$100 on the card if possible, though.
A PSU is not a good thing to skimp in price on!
I'll dig up a sufficient and cheap option for the PSU: [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022&cm_re=Fatal1ty_power-_-17-341-022-_-Product]OCZ 550w 80+ certified PSU[/url]
It's a very, very good PSU, modular (which is amazingly hard to find at this power level!), has plenty of amperage on the 12 volt rail, and has plenty of wattage. It's $65, with a rebate that makes it really only $45. An amazing deal.
I looked hard to find you a good, modern solution to the graphics card under $100 USD. I've had to pinch pennies before on setups, too, and didn't need to look far.
Newegg doesn't sell them any more, but the 4870 is still a solid video card which will run almost anything as long as it isn't at stupid settings. You could look on Tigerdirect. Newegg used to sell them for $90.
You can also go with a [URL=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133348&cm_re=gtx_260-_-14-133-348-_-Product]GeForce 260[/URL]. It's ten dollars over your budget, but a sizeable upgrade over the 4870.
Of course, as with everything, you can find graphics cards at a much cheaper price on Ebay (and in some cases, not even opened from their cases!)
I once got a 480 for $150 from a reseller on there. Good deals to be found, but don't buy the PSU from Ebay. If you get a bad PSU, you can asplode everything it's hooked to.
OCZ Fatal1ty is actually pretty horrible. Its made by Sirtec. I'm not sure why that particular 260 is so cheap compared to the others, could be discontinued.
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888236]OCZ Fatal1ty is actually pretty horrible. Its made by Sirtec. I'm not sure why that particular 260 is so cheap compared to the others, could be discontinued.[/QUOTE]
What would you say about for a PSU then?
I've had one in a setup of mine for a long time and had no issues, measured it with a voltameter to be over specs
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
If you're nervous about the OCZ PSU, however, you could go with a [URL=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018&Tpk=Corsair%20500w]Corsair 500W[/url] for only $5 more.
Corsair is top of the line, and it really is a nice deal.
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
It's not modular, though, which may be a problem for smaller cases. I'm also not sure if the Corsair 500w has 1 6-pin or 2 6-pins (I think the 260 needs 2 and the 4870 does for certain.)
[QUOTE=Tropophas;26888349]I've had one in a setup of mine for a long time and had no issues, measured it with a voltameter to be over specs
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
If you're nervous about the OCZ PSU, however, you could go with a [URL=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018&Tpk=Corsair%20500w]Corsair 500W[/url] for only $5 more.
Corsair is top of the line, and it really is a nice deal.
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
It's not modular, though, which may be a problem for smaller cases. I'm also not sure if the Corsair 500w has 1 6-pin or 2 6-pins (I think the 260 needs 2 and the 4870 does for certain.)[/QUOTE]
Corsairs are made by SeaSonic, they just rebrand them. Seasonic is great and all but a little overpriced for a budget. Dont be fooled. If you're on a budget and want something better then OCZ get a Fortron Source Group PSU. The 500Watt model is on sale now for $45
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888464]Corsairs are made by SeaSonic, they just rebrand them. Dont be fooled. If you're on a budget and want something better then OCZ get a Fortron Source Group PSU.[/QUOTE]
Are you kidding?
I could maybe understand you speaking against the OCZ because it's not a well-known PSU but Corsair PSUs are absolute quality.
[QUOTE=Tropophas;26888349]It's not modular, though, which may be a problem for smaller cases. I'm also not sure if the Corsair 500w has 1 6-pin or 2 6-pins (I think the 260 needs 2 and the 4870 does for certain.)[/QUOTE]
Judging by the picture of the 260, it requires 2. Modular or not makes no difference to me; it will fit the case.
[QUOTE=CaptainQuirk;26888495]Judging by the picture of the 260, it requires 2. Modular or not makes no difference to me; it will fit the case.[/QUOTE]
It's somewhat difficult to find cheap 500w+ PSUs that have 2 6-pins. I can vouch personally for the OCZ and it has tons of good reviews. I would go with it unless you're prepared to pay more.
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888464]Corsairs are made by SeaSonic, they just rebrand them. Seasonic is great and all but a little overpriced for a budget. Dont be fooled. If you're on a budget and want something better then OCZ get a Fortron Source Group PSU. The 500Watt model is on sale now for $45[/QUOTE]
That also wouldn't do. Only one 6-pin.
Confirming the Corsair PSU has 2 6-pins. You could go with it.
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104069[/url]
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125236[/url]
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
That bundle of items will be enough OP. Will run most games on high.
Why would he use a 4850 when he could get a 4870 for more-or-less the same price (and sometimes less?)
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
Plus the 260 is an insane deal for that price. A 4850 won't hold up to current-gen games well, esp. at his native res.
[QUOTE=Tropophas;26888606]Why would he use a 4850 when he could get a 4870 for more-or-less the same price (and some-times less?)[/QUOTE]
Because he asked for a budget combination and I gave him perfectly fine suggestions. The 260 uses power like no end, a 500watt isnt going to handle it. The Failtility isnt really the best quality power supply either.
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888623]Because he asked for a budget combination and I gave him perfectly fine suggestions.[/QUOTE]
Okay. I'm just saying a 4850 isn't the best utilization of the budget.
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888568][url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104069[/url]
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125236[/url]
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
That bundle of items will be enough OP. Will run most games on high.[/QUOTE]
I guess I should have said the main connector should be 24 pin.
[QUOTE=CaptainQuirk;26888666]I guess I should have said the main connector should be 24 pin.[/QUOTE]
20+4Pin means it works on older and newer motherboards. All motherboards have this (almost).
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
It is a little clip you attach to the 20 pin to make it a 24 pin. Ill take a picture.
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
Does this make sense to you? I took a blurry picture just for you. The 4 pin beside the 20 pin connector clips onto the side of the 20 pin to create a 24 pin. Hence, 20+4pin.
[img]http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5672/pictureel.jpg[/img]
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=Tropophas;26888658]Okay. I'm just saying a 4850 isn't the best utilization of the budget.[/QUOTE]
Yes it is. Its better then what he was looking at before, the 5670. And it is saving him money.
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888690]20+4Pin means it works on older and newer motherboards. All motherboards have this (almost).
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
It is a little clip you attach to the 20 pin to make it a 24 pin. Ill take a picture.
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
Does this make sense to you? I took a blurry picture just for you. The 4 pin beside the 20 pin connector clips onto the side of the 20 pin to create a 24 pin. Hence, 20+4pin.
[img_thumb]http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5672/pictureel.jpg[/img_thumb]
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
Yes it is. Its better then what he was looking at before, the 5670. And it is saving him money.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the clarification.
Right now your suggestion is what I'm most considering.
[QUOTE=CaptainQuirk;26888888]Thanks for the clarification.
Right now your suggestion is what I'm most considering.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for taking my suggestion into consideration, I put in some effort.
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
Also, a reason not to get a cooler master :effort:
[img]http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/6703/picture001rr.jpg[/img]
Yes this is my old psu, I replaced it with a SAGA+ 500 by FSP, FSP has better grammar too! :V
Yeah, just try and RMA it, its out of warranty and has no proof of purchase! And its serial number is blacked out.
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888914]Thank you for taking my suggestion into consideration, I put in some effort.
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
Also, a reason not to get a cooler master :effort:
[img_thumb]http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/6703/picture001rr.jpg[/img_thumb]
Yes this is my old psu, I replaced it with a SAGA+ 500 by FSP, FSP has better grammar too! :V
Yeah, just try and RMA it, its out of warranty and has no proof of purchase![/QUOTE]
I suppose it's still better than mine, in all of it its Chinese glory.
[QUOTE=CaptainQuirk;26889182]I suppose it's still better than mine, in all of it its Chinese glory.[/QUOTE]
Don't remove the sealed stick though.
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26888623]Because he asked for a budget combination and I gave him perfectly fine suggestions. The 260 uses power like no end, a 500watt isnt going to handle it. The Failtility isnt really the best quality power supply either.[/QUOTE]
A 260's peak consumption is 180 watts, which the Corsair or OCZ PSU could both handle easily.
[QUOTE=Tropophas;26889612]A 260's peak consumption is 180 watts, which the Corsair or OCZ PSU could both handle easily.[/QUOTE]
The 260 Core 216 uses 300 watts at load. The 4850 uses 240 watts at load. Besides, the 260 is over budget! And the OCZ PSU is mediocre. I'm within his budget and I brought him quality and decent parts!
[QUOTE=doonbugie2;26889871]The 260 Core 216 uses 300 watts at load. The 4850 uses 240 watts at load. Besides, the 260 is over budget! And the OCZ PSU is mediocre. I'm within his budget and I brought him quality and decent parts![/QUOTE]
You are sadly mistaken, 240 & 300 watts would be referring to full computer power consumption.
I'm pretty sure Doonbugie has no idea what he's talking about (I expected so after he claimed OCZ to be mediocre PSUs)
[editline]23rd December 2010[/editline]
Might I point out, too, that having a 1x 6-pin PSU severely limits your ability to upgrade to a better graphics card in the future (while the OCZ or Corsair could easily sustain something like a 460, or 6850)
I've heard the fatality series is bad or something like that, but if it's got an 80 plus rating and is rated 5 STARS on newegg, that's saying something. it's fine.
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
also op, just get the corsair psu and get an extra one of these [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812198022&cm_re=molex_to_pcie-_-12-198-022-_-Product[/url]
[editline]22nd December 2010[/editline]
what's the rest of your system look like though?
and get the 260
[QUOTE=drummerundrcovr;26890453]You are sadly mistaken, 240 & 300 watts would be referring to full computer power consumption.[/QUOTE]
Mmm ah you are right.
The Corsair 500W does already have 2x 6-pins, but you could buy one of those if you wanted to get a 1x 6-pin PSU (I'm not sure why you would, though)
corsair 500?
and the cx430 is more cost effective. it should be fine granted he doesn't have a 980x or some shit
It's not safe to run a 4870 or 260 under 430w of power. Yes, it's possible, but it's not good to be at the threshold of power (or anywhere near it, tbh. This also depends on his other hardware)
Plus the 500w or 550w grant him more room if he wants to upgrade at a later date. It is also a 1x 6-pin PSU, meaning he would need to spend money on a 1x to 2x 6-pin adapter (as mentioned by Drummerundercovr).
I'm a bit skeptical of this, but the user manual for the GTX 260 and HD 4870 state that both cards require 36A on the 12v rails, while the 430w only puts out 28A.
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