GFX Card help with choice!

[jonnyp1993]

Hello, I currently have a HTPC running at Zotac GT610 PCI 512mb gfx card.

I have recently being given a ATI HD5450 1GB PCI-E.

which one would be best for supporting surround sound and light gaming, by light gaming I mean like command and conquer generals and maybe CS, CSS, CS:GO.. maybe..

has anyone got either of these cards and could help me decide please

also, does PCI-E have the advantage over the PCI one ?

thank you in advanced!

Jonnyp

 

[ArchAndroid]

PCIe has a lot more bandwidth than PCI, so it is a much less of a restriction - a country lane versus a motorway for example. But in order for PCIe to have an advantage, you need a card which is capable of using the extra bandwidth.

I had a look around the web as I am not familiar with GT610 and it turns out that it is a rebadged GT 520. I found a TechPowerUp article which shows that the GT520 (which is identical to the GT610) outperforms the 5450 by a third in their suite of games. Although their card was PCIe whereas yours is PCI, I don't think the performance would be too different between them. I think you may be better off with the 610 although I cannot say for certain.

 

[jonnyp1993]

Thank you for replying. Thats has confirmed it for me. Also is the gt610 better for home cinema ? As thats what it will be used for the most of the time.
Thank you

Jonnyp

 

[ArchAndroid]

I think the 5450 is a tiny bit better for home media purposes but the difference between the two is miniscule. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find many articles on the subject but there is an XBitLabs article from a few years back which compares AMD and nVidia graphics card (although the 520/610 isn't included). The difference in general is a watt or two here or there, a decibel here or there and a % point more CPU consumption here or there.

Overall, I would expect the AMD card to be slightly better for HTPC purposes and the nVidia card to be a lot better for gaming; therefore I would still opt for the GT610.

 

[jonnyp1993]

I think the 5450 is a tiny bit better for home media purposes but the difference between the two is miniscule. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find many articles on the subject but there is an XBitLabs article from a few years back which compares AMD and nVidia graphics card (although the 520/610 isn't included). The difference in general is a watt or two here or there, a decibel here or there and a % point more CPU consumption here or there.

Overall, I would expect the AMD card to be slightly better for HTPC purposes and the nVidia card to be a lot better for gaming; therefore I would still opt for the GT610.

ok, sounds good to me!, I will pass the HD5450 onto my cousin who might have use for it, thank you guys, I don't know where id look for help and advice if you wasn't here

Jonnyp