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can't decide on graphics card for new build

blazesnake

blazesnake

blazesnake

Associate
Joined
24 Apr 2012
Posts
13
Hi all,

I am currently planning my new setup but cant decide what graphics card would be best, i havent built in about 4 years, so far i have

23" samsung syncmaster P2450
crucial M4 SSD 128GB
Samsung SH-B123L driver
Thermolab Trinity Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler
Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600Mhz CL9 1.5V
Corsair White 600T Graphite

yet to buy:
i5 2500k 3.3ghz (plan to OC)
XFX 550W Core Edition Pro PSU (will this suffice?)
Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Z68 (should i go better depending on GPU)
graphics card???

i have been looking at the sapphire 7950 (should buy overclocked edition?), will this go well with my setup so far and are there any good deals on them anywhere?

thanks, Sam
 
for what you've listed and the class of graphics card you seem interested in, yes that power supply would be fine and is quite a good choice

if you wanted to go cheaper on graphics then the 7850 is getting good OC results, or a GTX 670 might also be a good choice, though nothing really wrong with the 7950 either it's a good choice at a reasonable price

looking on OCUK this card is a bit cheaper than the sapphire one but gets some good reviews from other users;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-008-VX
 
andybird123 said:
for what you've listed and the class of graphics card you seem interested in, yes that power supply would be fine and is quite a good choice

if you wanted to go cheaper on graphics then the 7850 is getting good OC results, or a GTX 670 might also be a good choice, though nothing really wrong with the 7950 either it's a good choice at a reasonable price

looking on OCUK this card is a bit cheaper than the sapphire one but gets some good reviews from other users;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-008-VX
Click to expand...

The 7950 is not a good choice for the price.

For just £10 more the GTX 670 makes it look very silly.
 
opethdisciple said:
The 7950 is not a good choice for the price.

For just £10 more the GTX 670 makes it look very silly.
Click to expand...

as he'd listed the 7950 I was assuming he's an AMD fan so wasn't going to overly pressure him in to going green (I must admit I was looking at the cheapest 7950 price at £287 when I typed that :( )

however yes, my money would be going on a 670 not a 7950
 
for the PSU preferably not above £70 and the graphics card aiming for around £300 but could be persuaded quite a bit higher if it was worth it.
 
Last edited:
stulid said:
Well the best cheaper one is this MSI - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-164-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2294

Slight overclock and a 3year warranty.

More money gets a higher overclock and a custom cooler - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-018-KF&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2294
Click to expand...

Just to add:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-095-GI

Better than the KFA as it has one more year warranty and a better cooler for silence.

blazesnake said:
i have seen the phantom for £359.99, is it worth paying the extra £13?, is it difficult to overclock?
Click to expand...

If it's from a reputable etailer, then yes, the phantom is worth it. The Gigabyte card I linked above is also a good choice

As for PSU, it's over budget by £10 but it's got good review and it is fully modular, also 600w:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-230-SV&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=2283
 
Indications so far seem to be that good Z77 motherboards overclock even the SB chips better than Z68 so it might be worth considering that?
 
Cleeecooo said:
As for PSU, it's over budget by £10 but it's got good review and it is fully modular, also 600w:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-230-SV&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=2283
Click to expand...

What a waste of money, there are plenty of other higher wattage PSU's than that for the same costs or less.

Also I don't see any reviews from the two best PSU review websites (Hardwaresecrets+jonnyguru)

You can get this for £6 more - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-047-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084

This for £8 less - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-002-XF&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

Both have reviews from the two sites I mentioned, I hope you haven't suggested that PSU to forum users before?
 
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stulid said:
Core clock is lower:)

Can you show me some links comparing the two coolers?
Click to expand...

No links i'm afraid, based on user recommendations. Bhavv who got the KFA said he regretted it and wanted the windforce. Gibbo said that the Gigabytes tended to overclock more.

stulid said:
What a waste of money, there are plenty of other higher wattage PSU's than that for the same costs or less.

Also I don't see any reviews from the two best PSU review websites (Hardwaresecrets+jonnyguru)

You can get this for £6 more - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-047-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084

This for £8 less - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-002-XF&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=
Click to expand...

Missed the Corsair, that would be the better choice. However, I discounted the XFX as it was out of stock :(
 
stulid said:
Core clock is lower:)

Can you show me some links comparing the two coolers?
Click to expand...

I stand corrected, coolers are similar:

Gibbo said:
Hi there

They are both very close.

KFA2 has a better power design.
Gigabyte however seems to edge it marginally in overclocking.
Both are as quiet as each other.
Both run very quiet!
Both boost to similar speeds out the box.

Its too close to call, but I love overclocking and because of that I'd buy Gigabyte with KFA2 a close second.
Click to expand...
 
I maybe a bit of a Gigabyte fan, but common sense and the price says the KFA2 has the edge (until the price goes back up)
 
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