• Competitor rules

    Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.

GTX295 upgrade suggestions?

Name

Name

Name

Soldato
Joined
8 Oct 2009
Posts
3,256
Location
United Kingdom
Hello there,

As you know this card is showing its age now, i got this soon after release in late 2009.

As i found out, changing a card is as easy as unscrewing the bracket, taking out the current pin connectors from the card, taking the card out, and placing in a new one, reusing the old cables/pins for the new card. Pretty much...as i dont really want to rewire the whole thing!

Any suggestions? Budget around £150, would like to stick with Nvidia unless ATI is stupidly better for price/performance. Im running a Corsair 650W PSU.

Thanks :D
 
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14588675 All details about my system there, only difference was i added a GTX295 which i now wish to replace.

Key Components

:- Intel Core i7 920 2.66Ghz D0 Overclocked to 3.40GHz!
:- Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
:- Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 (1600MHz) Tri-Channel
:- Corsair TX 650W ATX2.2 SLI Compliant PSU

Could possibly stretch £175 for the upgrade.
 
Last edited:
Go second hand, you could pickup a 660 or 7950 for around £175, maybe a bit more.
Might take a couple of weeks trawling here and avforums but it should be possible.

What size monitor and what resolution do you game at?
 
Op if you can oc your CPU to around 3.8 - 4.0ghz a HD 7950 would be ideal and would give your system several more years of good use.
 
Doesnt have to be a big quality upgrade, just something that can play bf3/skyrim/cod on medium settings at a stable rate, bf3 on low if needs be.

It's just my GTX295 is starting to struggle even with bf3 on low, its not an enjoyable gaming experience anymore.

tempted by that **B Grade** 7850, i just wonder what is missing, does it usually say? will it be power connectors, manual or CD? or all of the above ? :O
 
Name said:
Doesnt have to be a big quality upgrade, just something that can play bf3/skyrim/cod on medium settings at a stable rate, bf3 on low if needs be.

It's just my GTX295 is starting to struggle even with bf3 on low, its not an enjoyable gaming experience anymore.

tempted by that **B Grade** 7850, i just wonder what is missing, does it usually say? will it be power connectors, manual or CD? or all of the above ? :O
Click to expand...

The 7850 will do BF3 on Ultra @ 1080P, perhaps not at 60 FPS unless you overclock or turn MSAA off. but it will do it fairly comfortably at good frame rates.

It might be a good idea to phone them about that B Grade, ask them whats what and why, its likely an open box and or xFire bridge missing, something like that.
 
I recently changed from a GTX295 to a GTX660. My GTX660 only needs one power lead (6pin) whereas the 295 needs an 8 pin as well. So power and heat savings to be made.
I bought an EVGA 3gig SC edition and paid £183.99 for it elsewhere.
 
Name said:
Doesnt have to be a big quality upgrade, just something that can play bf3/skyrim/cod on medium settings at a stable rate, bf3 on low if needs be.

It's just my GTX295 is starting to struggle even with bf3 on low, its not an enjoyable gaming experience anymore.

tempted by that **B Grade** 7850, i just wonder what is missing, does it usually say? will it be power connectors, manual or CD? or all of the above ? :O
Click to expand...
Actually the 7850 should allow you to game on Ultra/Max settings in those games with problem...you might use 2xAA instead of 4xAA for better frame rate if you wish.

Between the 7850 and the 7950, I would say the 7850 should be good for may be around 2 years with high/max settings, whereas the 7950 would probably last you for 3 years. Both cards got big overclocking headroom.

Also as mentioned about, make sure you overclock your i7 920 to 4.0GHz or above...it should last you another 2 or even 3 years!
 
Name said:
It's just my GTX295 is starting to struggle even with bf3 on low, its not an enjoyable gaming experience anymore.
Click to expand...

Same thing happened to me mate. I had two EVGA 295 co op (single PCB) and even with everything turned off it still stuttered. Turns out that no matter what you do 896mb vram simply isn't enough for that game at any setting :(
 
Yeah they do do 3GB 660s, think its only EVGA, they make a SC version.

Going to wait an extra week so i can get some extra money for one of those i think, thanks for the input guys :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom