ATI HD3870XT & PSU

[Skutter]

All,

Friend has a new Dell Inspiron 530 and wants to upgrade the Graphics. I have done search and think that the ATI HD 3870XT seems the best deal at the moment over the 8800GTS.

Will these be capatible?

Asus ATI Radeon HD 3870 XT 512MB GDDR4 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail (£146.86 inc VAT).

Akasa AK-P050FG8-BKUK 500W Green Power 80+ (£63.44 inc VAT).

Not sure about the size of the case, how big is the Graphic card? Will it fit?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Herojuana]

They are compatible, 500w is enough for that card. I've got the same combination. Not sure about Crossfire or the X2 on that PSu though :/

 

[ACESHIGH]

That PSU will be fine and the 3870 is the best priced card for that sort of money. As for the case, the card should fit, though depending on where HDD is you may need to move it.


However you do need to get the ones that are priced well like this ...
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-078-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=416
IMO its the best bang per buck card in that range.
(note the card you get willl likely be a single slot card as that photo is for referance only).

 

[OCOCOC]

That PSU will be fine and the 3870 is the best priced card for that sort of money. As for the case, the card should fit, though depending on where HDD is you may need to move it.

The PSU is good enough but for that sort of money, I could buy a 8800GT. Much better than 3870XT.

 

[Magnum_Force]

OUCh, yeah, just seen how much your paying for the HD3870XT, WAY too much for that card tbh.

Either get the OCUK 8800GT or go for a Cheaper HD3870XT like the OCUK model (Unfortunately, the powercolor models have increased in price).

Your options are these really (trust us on this).

Cheapest (still better than HD3870)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-071-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008

Average (the price your paying for the HD3870 - this card is better than the above & HD3870)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-129-LT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008

The BFG eqivalent (Lifetime warranty - or is it 10 year warranty in UK??)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-052-BG&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1008

BEST (for price - it's better than all the other options on this post).

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-017-PV&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927

So there you have it.

May seem abit unfair that it's all nvidia, but they really are best bank for buck at the moment.

If you really must have ATi, search around, you can do a better deal than £140 for a HD3870, should be atleast £20 cheaper than that.

Don't rule out some HD3850 512mb models either, they can be had for cheaper still and some are preoverclocked to close to HD3870 speeds (You can also vmod it and clock it to buggery).

I have 2 x Gecube HD3850 512mb X-Turbo III and they are silent and have a great duel slot cooler (better than the stock HD3870 cooler infact.

 

[-iceblade^]

yeah, OCOCOC... well, either way, you'll be sitting pretty ^^

 

[TheOtherOption]

The OcUK 3870xt has a nice flower cooler which is silent and the card is also a lot shorter - nearly 2" shorter than a 2900 series card so no worries about fitting it into the average case.

 

[Skutter]

Many thanks all, especially Magnum_Force.

Never did ask why he wated the 3870XT, but looking at those prices he would be mad not to go for a 8800GT.

Seriously like the price of the Point of View GeForce 8800 GTS!

Thanks again.