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Which card for a 2500k @ 4.8-5Ghz

RichH

RichH

RichH

Associate
Joined
1 Dec 2011
Posts
434
Hi Guys,

I dont really know much about GPUs.

I have just finished my build but am using an old card (5570).

Clearly I need something a bit more powerfull for gaming but I dont know how much more powerful.

Will a 6870 be ok or will it bottleneck my CPU?

The plan was to get a 6870 now and perhaps add a second one later when prices go down.

Will this be OK or am i wasting a good CPU?

Thanks in advance.
 
pumaz said:
No card will bottle your cpu, just buy the best card you can afford :)
Click to expand...

Or more correctly, no existing single card will bottleneck your CPU. I doubt even quad SLI or XFire will. (Perhaps some future GPU will, however.) So just buy the best you can.
 
Thanks guys.

I dont think I explained myself clearly, I didn't want to hold my CPU back with a rubbish card.

However from what you have said even if i buy the best there is the CPU will never be the limiting factor.

Out of interest what would 2x 6870s perform like? In single card terms.

Thanks.
 
...but if you're only using a 19" monitor at 1280x1024 then stick with what you have :)

Don't blow a load of cash unless you need it.
 
RichH said:
Thanks guys.

I dont think I explained myself clearly, I didn't want to hold my CPU back with a rubbish card.

However from what you have said even if i buy the best there is the CPU will never be the limiting factor.

Out of interest what would 2x 6870s perform like? In single card terms.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Should be similar performance to 7970 I would say, but for a much higher power draw and more noise.
 
Havana_UK said:
...but if you're only using a 19" monitor at 1280x1024 then stick with what you have :)

Don't blow a load of cash unless you need it.
Click to expand...

I have 22 inch monitor and am playing at 19xx by something, but with all other settings on low, and it is pretty jerky at times.
 
RichH said:
I have 22 inch monitor and am playing at 19xx by something, but with all other settings on low, and it is pretty jerky at times.
Click to expand...

In which case 6870 CF would perform wonderfully, as would a 7970, or a GTX580, GTX560Ti SLi (even single card GTX560Ti would let you go to mainly high settings in BF3 though at that res).

Single 6870 would be decent as well, or single 6970/6950 etc.
 
OK, thanks.

Single 6870 for now then.

I'm only using a crappy own brand 650w PSU though. This should be ok for single card though right?
 
The problem with "no-brand" PSUs is their propensity to expire, sometimes spectularly, often taking expensive components with them.

Also, their (in)ability to deliver the power they are rated at. It's often that some artistic licence is used in the quoted power ratings.

Change it for something quality ASAP, prefrably before you spend on a shiny graphics card!
 
Yeah, I was worried that would be the answer. It astually says 780w (max) on it, but the tech spec says 650w constant. It has overvoltage protection etc....

Am i just clutching at straws?
 
I feared as much, well at least i have an excuse to get a modular PSU now, although i may have to put the card off for a bit.

Thanks for the advice.
 
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