Another new GPU thread.

[Fuggan]

Hi guys, I'm thinking about getting a new GPU. I am way out of touch with components at the moment - I bought this system in 2009. Still does just about everything I need it to but can't help thinking my GPU is struggling. I get Aero notifications telling me the memory is running low all the time. I also notice slow downs in other windows when I fullscreen certain apps. Here's my system:

Asus P6T
i7 Nehalem 920
2 x Radeon 4890s
Corsair 850w TX Psu
500GB WD Blue and a 120GB Samsung 840 EVO
12GB Corsair DDR3

I run 3 monitors so looking for a GPU that would be able to support that. If not would I be able to keep one of my old ones plugged in, run 2 monitors off that, then my primary one off a new GPU?

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[Qitarah]

What budget do you have to work with?

 

[Fuggan]

Looking somewhere around the £150 mark if possible.

 

[Qitarah]

For 150 your best bet is a r9 270.

Have a look at the 270x you can get battlefield for with some of them (you do pay a bit extra for battlefield, but if u want the game then yer go for it!).

Something such as;

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-226-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1982

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-123-GI&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1982


The 270s support up to 4 monitors with 2x DVI, 1x HDMI and 1x DP.


I would personally save up a bit longer and go for a r9 280. Even though the prices of the 280s are inflated due to "mining", you can still get some good deals on them. Check regularly and u can find some good branded ones going for around 220 pounds. Hopefully the mining craze settles soon so the prices drop back down but yer. If you are not in a hurry my advise would be get another 70-100 pounds and get a 280! It would be a far bigger upgrade.

 

[Fuggan]

Looks good, not that fussed for BF but thanks anyway!

How much of a step up in performance would you say this is from what I am currently running?

 

[Marine-RX179]

Looks good, not that fussed for BF but thanks anyway!

How much of a step up in performance would you say this is from what I am currently running?

Should be around 60%+ performance increase, plus dx11 and lower power consumption and heat, minus the potential issue of crossfire and performance scaling and having only 1GB of vram.

 

[Fuggan]

Nice, thanks. I think that and maybe attempt to OC my cpu a bit should see me for another year or two.

 

[Qitarah]

Yer if you push your 920 up to 4ghz it will be fine to use for a while longer!

But as I said maybe you should think about putting some more money towards a bit of a better graphics card! Anyways the 270 will be a decent upgrade over what you have but it wont be mind blowing.

 

[Fuggan]

Yeah I might actually. It's not going to be until next month at the earliest, maybe even March when I buy. Is it worth holding out for anything else in the near future?

 

[Qitarah]

Not in the immediate future, that I am aware of. I think the next big thing is Nvidia releasing Maxwell which is probably the back end of this year. So yer, nothing super exciting any time soon!

If you are waiting till next month deffo put some more on the side and save up for a 280x!

 

[Fuggan]

Roger that! Will do, thanks for the help on this. Tech moves so fast I am lost within a few months.

 

[Qitarah]

You are welcome and yer things do move verrrrry fast!

 

[Fuggan]

Just bought the Asus R9 270x couldn't wait lol.

What's the best connector to connect my primary monitor? It does have a DP socket on it too.

 

[Fuggan]

Any ideas anyone?