Best Graphics Card for Budget & PSU Question

[Juneau]

Hi guys, first post here.

I'm in the process of my first built computer. I have tried to keep to somewhat of a budget and so far have:

Coolermaster CM 690 II Advanced case
i7 Core 920 Processor
Asus P6TD Deluxe

Managed to pick them up for £310 (£190 as I traded in my current PC for £120).

I have since bought 1TB Samsung F3 Hard Drive and Corsair 2 x 2GB DDR3 Sticks of RAM. I am now just needing a Graphics Card, PSU and an Optical Drive.

I have a budget of £140 max for a graphics card, and have been looking at the Radeon 5850 and 6850. I'd like to know if these are the best 2 choices I have for my price range, and if so, which one to pick? If not, any suggestions and reasons are greatly appreciated.

Also, I am unsure on what PSU to get. I don't really know which Wattage is suitable for my build, I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible (hopefully £70 max) which could still handle my specs.

Thanks for any help, Richard

 

[Blue160]

For that budget GTX 460 1GB is the way to go. Don't know much about PSU's, but I'm very happy with my OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W, which would come in under your budget. Someone else is bound to come up with some other options.

 

[[WU-TANG]GZA]

Agree with suggestions above ^^^^

One thing though - if you have i7 you need triple channel memory which needs to be 6GB or 12GB not 4 or 8.

 

[dave_beast]

PSU http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-042-BQ £44.99
GPU http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-103-MS £140.99

All the 1gb 460's are around the £160 mark

 

[Juneau]

Thanks for the replies. I've looked at the 460 and the price seems to be about £154-£160 and upwards.

Is a 600W capable of handling my build then? Thanks

 

[ashatron]

I'm surprised so many users here recommend the gtx 460 1gb over the radeon 5850.

From the benchmarks I've seen the 5850 is the better card.

Does the 460 1gb overclock better or something? They are both very similar prices.

 

[Juneau]

I've gone for....

MSI ATI Radeon HD 5850 Twin FrozR II 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card *** With Assassins Creed II

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600w Silent SLI Certified Modular Power Supply

Samsung SH-S222A/BEBE 22x DVD±RW IDE Rewriter (Black) - OEM

Do you feel that PSU is good enough? I'm a first time builder so a bit worried about it all being ok haha!

 

[J.D]

PSU is good enough but from reading the reviews on the OCuK site they say that cable length has been a problem for a few people. Try this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-008-CS&tool=3. It is slightly more expensive (£6) but comes with a 5 year warranty .

Good luck on your new build.

 

[bifday2k]

Agree with suggestions above ^^^^

One thing though - if you have i7 you need triple channel memory which needs to be 6GB or 12GB not 4 or 8.

Not 100% true, all X58 mobo's can do single, dual and Tri channel, so 2 x 2gb is fine, just not using the full potential is all.

 

[kayliss1011]

i would go 460gtx too i was limited to £100 and i bought a 460gtx 768 for £105 delivered from OC. i ordered on christmas day was delivered yesterday, first working day since christmas very impressed with Overclockers.

 

[coupe69]

Not 100% true, all X58 mobo's can do single, dual and Tri channel, so 2 x 2gb is fine, just not using the full potential is all.

Pretty pointless in having an X58 mainboard with one of the key features being triple channel memory, and then sticking a dual channel kit in it though isn't it!?

It's like sticking a 4 speed Cortina gearbox in a Ferrari, ie it will hamper performance.

To the op, do it right from the start and get yourself a triple channel memory kit.

 

[icey_haj]

OP you've gone for an IDE drive, change to Sata.

 

[dave_beast]

Thanks for the replies. I've looked at the 460 and the price seems to be about £154-£160 and upwards. However I have found this on a different site:

www.competitor.com

Is a 600W capable of handling my build then? Thanks

I'd delete that link if I was you, it's a competitor

 

[bifday2k]

Pretty pointless in having an X58 mainboard with one of the key features being triple channel memory, and then sticking a dual channel kit in it though isn't it!?

It's like sticking a 4 speed Cortina gearbox in a Ferrari, ie it will hamper performance.

To the op, do it right from the start and get yourself a triple channel memory kit.

Oh i agree, don't get me wrong, was just letting the OP know that he can if he so wishes too, as it was stated it needed tri channel.

And with some tri kits just as cheap as dual kits atm, if ur not after anything fancy, i totally agree.

 

[Scougar]

I'd delete that link if I was you, it's a competitor

Don't forget to delete the link in the quote, or you will get suspended as well

Anyway... all things in your range are:

6850 /460 1GB/ 5850. Prob your only real options at this price range unless you are prepared to go 2nd hand.

 

[Juneau]

OP you've gone for an IDE drive, change to Sata.

Oops, I've already placed the order! Anyway to cancel that at all?

 

[fowler002]

if you're going to do something, do it right/all out. get the 6950, go on you know you want to(especially if you have a 24inch monitor)

give the sales team a call tomorrow, I'm sure they'll be able to sort it out for you.

 

[Blue160]

I'm surprised so many users here recommend the gtx 460 1gb over the radeon 5850.

From the benchmarks I've seen the 5850 is the better card.

Does the 460 1gb overclock better or something.

The 460 is a fantastic overclocker. My cheapo Palit one went from 700 to 820 on the core clock with standard voltages. Apparently when OC'd to this level the performance is similar to a GTX470.