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GPU upgrade advice.

alldaye

alldaye

alldaye

Associate
Joined
6 Oct 2013
Posts
34
Hi all,

I have recently done a part upgrade, but I am now thinking I probably should do the whole lot as I purchased ROME2, runs just about fine with few settings turned off in ultra, but want the Extreme settings and EVERYTHING ON! and I am also looking BF4 when its fixed as game to play.

So some advice please - see below on upgraded and existing components.

Current set up - (Recent upgrade taken place)

Updated components -
AMD - FX8350
Asus - M5A97 EVO R2
8GB of Avexir Ram DDR3 1600mhz

Existing Components
GPU - MSI HD6950 2Gb Twin Forzr 3
Corsair Carbide 400r case
Corsair TX650 PSU - About 2-3 years old.


Now to my question. Which card to upgrade? Not top end - but above middle. If that makes sense. I am looking at a R280x or something similar.
Will this run on my current PSU? If not which do I go for, as I have read a lot of people saying Corsair isn't a PSU company as it once was.

Also is it worth going for the older HD7970 as they are pretty much identical cards?

Also I am running it out the HDMI port on the GPU into my AVR for surround. So it must support audio off the card.

Thanks,

Ed
 
Hi Ed,
Lets talk money :)
How much you got?

If going down AMD route, is TrueAudio important to you? If not, the 7970 is a good choice.

Any issues with dual GPU? I have a 7990 and love it, but I've heard it's not great (cross fire issue) with Rome 2 (don't play it myself), your PSU could also be an issue.

What res do you play at?
 
Thanks for both your inputs.

MrClark - I wouldn't mind spending between 200-250 on the card. Not really interested in dual GPU's.
I play on my Lounge TV - so would want 1080p.

What is this TrueAudio? My current HD6950 outputs the audio via the HDMI into my AVR. Is this the same, or it a onboard DSP? If I did go for a 7970, will it still output the audio via HDMI.

You say the PSU will be a problem? Even with a single GPU solution?


Sieze2 - Are they going to be powerful enough to run all the latest game at 1080p? I would like to go for something that might last again for the next 2-3 years.

Thanks again guys

Ed
 
In that price range a 280x does seem the most likely, if you could stretch a little further the 290 (non-x) is a great card, good value for a powerful card.

TrueAudio won't impact on the HDMI stuff, nor any soundcard use - all of that should still work fine :)

Your PSU should be fine for a single gpu solution, though a 7990 is a single card but not a single gpu (it's two 7970s on one card) so probably pushing it slightly.

I'd not upgrade from your current card to a 7870 to be honest, the 7950 is a great card though and a bit cheaper than the 280X though also a little bit slower. Do you overclock?

Edit: 7970 = 280X, same card.
 
Last edited:
I have dabbled - I got my FX8350 to 4.5ghz quite easily with a stable 42/43c under load.

Are you thinking get the 7950 and overclock?
 
280X or stretch to a 290.

For Rome 2 squeeze every last bit of overclock you can out of the CPU, it's not the most efficient game :)
 
alldaye said:
I have dabbled - I got my FX8350 to 4.5ghz quite easily with a stable 42/43c under load.

Are you thinking get the 7950 and overclock?
Click to expand...

That's likely what I would do TBH wasn't sure if you wanted to OC. I wouldn't have recommended one the 280 over the 7950 just yet, but that is a good price.

I have no idea how noisy or hot the 280/290 are, but, if I didn't care about TrueAudio I would prob get a 7950 or wait (if possible) for 280/290 after market coolers to become available.
 
Hmm I think my choices are clear.

Cheap option - 7950 and overclock.

The more expensive option - 280x. Or 7970. Just looking though - if the 7970 is the older card, but the essentially the same as the newer 280x cards, why are they generally more expensive, and looking at the clock speeds, slightly slower as the 280x are overclocked.

But are we all agreed my TX650 psu will run any of these cards until I feel the need to get a new one?
 
alldaye said:
Hmm I think my choices are clear.

Cheap option - 7950 and overclock.

The more expensive option - 280x. Or 7970. Just looking though - if the 7970 is the older card, but the essentially the same as the newer 280x cards, why are they generally more expensive, and looking at the clock speeds, slightly slower as the 280x are overclocked.

But are we all agreed my TX650 psu will run any of these cards until I feel the need to get a new one?
Click to expand...


The 7970 was last gens top card, some people still think it is and probably think its cheap, its just milking silly people :)

Yes the TX 650 is plenty.

7950 isn't much slower than the 7970 / 280X if you want to go that rout, but if its only £20 more for the 280X, just get that...... IMO.
 
alldaye said:
Hi guys, just waking this up quickly due to the great deals on the front page of overclockers.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-181-MS

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-204-MS

Which do I get?

Or still go for a 280x?

Thanks.

Ed
Click to expand...


IF you can stretch a little bit I would get this (290):

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-337-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

However, if you can't spend that much I would get this but only if the 3 free games were included, it says they are in the description but I suspect that may be incorrect (7970):

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-204-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

If you cant spent 290 money and you don't get free games with the card above I would get this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-091-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

It's a tough one between the 7970 and the 280, down to your own personal preferences.
 
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