Graphics card upgrade, CX400W PSU

[Collider]

Hi, a couple of years ago I built a budget level PC for a friend using the Corsair CX400W PSU as a base and a Phenom 2. He does light gaming only on a 19 inch monitor. He bought the bits and I assembled it. It's running along fine, not causing any issues.

He was thinking of upgrading the graphics card from the 4670 it has in it at present so he can run a few more games. Ideally the preference wouldn't be to go to a complete hardware change to do so, so I wondered what graphics card it might be worth getting that would be safe alongside the CX400 and whether it would offer a real improvement given the CPU.

 

[PGdude]

How much would he like to spend?

The first things that come to mind for a good non-over-the-top GPU upgrade would either be the 6850 (There is one sub £85 on TWO now) or the 7850 (Can be had for under £200, and quite overclockable if he would like that) [Edit: These should be good with that PSU, too, it's a reliable one that delivers good power]

Again, budget?

 

[Collider]

Sorry I completely forgot to include the budget! Around £100 would be ideal.

I did a bit of research on the PSU at the time (he had the other bits I did case and power) and it seemed to be one that would last a few years and be a nice clean power supply.

The 6850 looks a really good idea.

 

[Marine-RX179]

Sorry I completely forgot to include the budget! Around £100 would be ideal.

I did a bit of research on the PSU at the time (he had the other bits I did case and power) and it seemed to be one that would last a few years and be a nice clean power supply.

The 6850 looks a really good idea.

I myself have ran Q6600 overclocked to 3.6GHz and the 5850 (which has higher power-consumption than 6850 and uses two PCI-E 6pins instead of one) on the Corsair CX400...and while the PSU's 12v rail is good enough to provide sufficient power and the PSU itself is a decent Seasonic unit, the fan get VERY noisy...probably due the the high stress and the extra heat generated by the PSU. So yes I would think the 6850 would be the best match, and definite enough grunt for the that res. If anything, it would be the CPU not keeping up with the graphic card at that res.

 

[beejjacobs]

Sorry I completely forgot to include the budget! Around £100 would be ideal.

I did a bit of research on the PSU at the time (he had the other bits I did case and power) and it seemed to be one that would last a few years and be a nice clean power supply.

The 6850 looks a really good idea.

The 6850 is ideal, especially on offer
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-163-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1866

Measured power consumption - 6850

Advertised TDP = 127W
System in IDLE = 176W
System Wattage with GPU in FULL Stress = 278W
Difference (GPU load) = 102 W
Add average IDLE wattage ~ 19W
Subjective obtained GPU power consumption = ~ 121 Watts

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-review/10

 

[Collider]

Great, thanks both I will make the recommendation (with credit!). And under £85..that's a good saving as well.

 

[Meaker]

278W from the wall means a real power draw of around 241W (or a bit less) actually from the PSU so yeah, well within safety margins.

 

[Collider]

Good advice all, friend more than happy with that (also showed a few stats from graphics performance on the card now we have one id'd, with a caveat on CPU), now to fit it once it arrives!

Thanks again.