Is my computer good enough?

Kimmy · 30 Apr 2009 at 23:39

Hi Guys,

I’m thinking of upgrading and buying a ‘BFG GTX285 OCX Edition’, but I’m not sure if my rig can handle it. My CPU is an Intel e6700 @ 2.66 and my power supply is just 580 watts.

Can any one advise me?

Thanks

TheRealDeal · 30 Apr 2009 at 23:43

The psu should be enough depending on what manufacturer its from. To get the best out of the gtx285 you would need to overclock that cpu to 3.0ghz or more.

The gtx285 is way to expensive though you would be as well going for a gtx275 or ati 4890 as they are not to much slower and are much cheaper. Most people will tell you the gtx285 is a waste of money if you really want to spend that much money on a card then it would have to be the 4870x2 but then you would need a new psu.

jak731 · 30 Apr 2009 at 23:43

i assume you got some form of PCI-E slot (full physical size)

what res are you using?

go you have the required number of PCI-E connectors on your PSU?

Kimmy · 30 Apr 2009 at 23:50

My power supply is HyperPower.

I can overclock the CPU to 3.0ghz. I did it once for a few days. The temps went from 22 to 25 so I put it back down again.

I’m not sure about the other questions asked. I’m not very good with computers. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R (if that helps)

My monitor is always 1024 x 768.

Jessica

daniel_bourton · 30 Apr 2009 at 23:55

at that res defodnt go for the 285gtx you could asyily play that with a 250gtx or maybe even lower i use a 260gtx and i play at 1920x 1200

Kelt · 30 Apr 2009 at 23:57

Kimmy said:
My power supply is HyperPower.

I can overclock the CPU to 3.0ghz. I did it once for a few days. The temps went from 22 to 25 so I put it back down again.

I’m not sure about the other questions asked. I’m not very good with computers. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R (if that helps)

My monitor is always 1024 x 768.

Jessica

25C at idle is nothing. Load temps are what you have to monitor. 60-70C is acceptable to most here, overclock that sucka!

GTX 285 at that rez is total overkill. Save some money and get a 260-216 (still overkill at that rez).

jak731 · 1 May 2009 at 00:00

If i had the money for a 285 but i was running at 1024*768 i would get a 4770 or 4850 and a new monitor.

TheRealDeal · 1 May 2009 at 00:01

You could just pick up a 4850/gts250 and buy a new monitor for the same price as the gtx285 will cost you and have an all round better gaming experience. This is assuming that your monitor can't do anymore than 1024 x 768. Which gpu do you currently own?

Kimmy · 1 May 2009 at 00:12

At 3.0ghz under load, my temps were 55 to 58. I know this because I ran the X3:TC rolling demo for ages.

My monitor will go to 1280 x 1024. My graphics card is an 8800GTS 640 OC (bought from Overclocker two years ago). Sometimes my screen goes black. Everything still works just no display. Hence the need for a new graphics card.

Jessica

Raikiri · 1 May 2009 at 00:33

If you have an LCD then I would suggest using it's native res
of 1280x1024, it will look a lot better.

If it isn't then buy a 4850 on offer this week for £93 and a new screen. It's faster than what you have right now and the new screen will no doubt be a welcome upgrade.

Kelt · 1 May 2009 at 00:34

Kimmy said:
At 3.0ghz under load, my temps were 55 to 58. I know this because I ran the X3:TC rolling demo for ages.

My monitor will go to 1280 x 1024. My graphics card is an 8800GTS 640 OC (bought from Overclocker two years ago). Sometimes my screen goes black. Everything still works just no display. Hence the need for a new graphics card.

Jessica

55-58 is well under 70c. Absolutely nothing to be concerned about with those temps.

Have you tried re-installing with the latest drivers? Very occasionally over the years I've had a black screen (with gaming) but it's just a driver/software thing, which a reboot has sorted out.

TheRealDeal · 1 May 2009 at 00:34

This gpu

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-127-XF

This monitor

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-048-IY&groupid=17&catid=949&subcat=

This would be a nice setup which would cost you less than most gtx285's and the monitor has a nice high resolution which would make better use of a high powered gpu which you may buy l8r down the line. The 4850 should run games pretty well on it also. Even these 2 gpu's below which would be better for the monitor's resolution would bring you in around the same price as a named gtx285

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-120-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=939

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-114-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927

Raikiri · 1 May 2009 at 00:37

I would get the dell 2209wa personally, it uses a much higher quality S-ips panel.

icey_haj · 1 May 2009 at 00:49

I would probably get a new PSU as well.

Kimmy · 1 May 2009 at 10:21

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Everyone is being so helpful.

I didn’t really want to upgrade so much. I’m hoping to have a new computer built around the new Intel i7 CPU later on this year. All I wanted to do now was upgrade my GPU. I understand now that the 285 is over-priced and that I should go for an alternative that would save me money, but still performs well.

How much faster is the 275 compared to my old 8800GTS? Does any one know of a comparison chart?

I’ve been looking at this:-

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-086-BG&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=

If I overclock my CPU to 3.0ghz and buy the 275, how much faster (in %) will my computer be.

Thanks to everyone.

Jessica

remy87 · 1 May 2009 at 10:29

depending on the res you are playing 260 would be enough like people says
even a 4850 will do fine
however if you are getting the latter of GTX you might not need to upgrade it by the time you switch to i7 so it can be a saver.

For the moment all of the gfx card mentioned would need at least 3ghz to take out the CPU as a bottleneck.

What I would do is either get a 4770 or 4850 and do a full system upgrade by the time you decide to get i7
and a new screen

EDIT: ops didn't read the above sry

Corasik · 1 May 2009 at 10:33

At 1024x768, or even 1280x1024, your GTS should still be able to get pretty much maxed out eye candy and good framerates on most if not all current titles.

I would get a new screen, a 22inch (1920x1080) or 24inch (1920x1200) widescreen. Then you'll be able to put a new graphics card to real use.

I wouldnt worry too much about the CPU at the moment, sure in benchmarks it will not give the full potential, but at 1920x1200 with all eye candy maxed out, the GPU will be the bottleneck more often than the CPU.. In real games the difference between 2.67Ghz and 3.0Ghz wont be too extreme. Although overclocking is easy enough

.

At 1024x768, you could probably still use a Geforce 7000 series and get great results!

I use a 8800GTX on a 24inch screen, and get to use 80-95% maxed out eyecandy in the majorty of games @ 1920x1200

Wiggins · 1 May 2009 at 13:15

My wife has a 7900GTO and she can max out Grid on 1024x768.

You should really be looking into a bigger monitor first before plunging for a top end graphics card.

Kimmy · 1 May 2009 at 15:39

I’m confused to why you’re all telling me to get a better/bigger monitor. I thought a bigger/better GPU was the answer to more FPS.

reflux · 1 May 2009 at 15:42

Yeah, but the fact is that 1280x1024 is a postage stamp sized screen and if you want to play at that res, you may as well just buy a £60 graphics card.

Bigger screens make your gaming experience far more enjoyable - I have a 24'' screen that runs 1920x1200 and games look awesome. It's the best thing I've ever bought for my PC.

Any mid-range (£150) GPU will run games at that res, so you may as well get a new screen too.