Looking for an upgrade but haven't a clue where to start!

[Natshep105]

Hey guys
no my way around a computer but when it comes to components and upgrading it is alien to me lol so wondering if anyone can help me. Looking at spending around £150-250 on a new graphics card. currently AMD but don't mind swapping to an NVIDIA if its better quality.

My current pc spec:
Motherboard : ASUS M5a87
Chipset : AMD 870
Processor : 4x AMD phenom(TM) II 970 processor 3.5 ghz
RAM : 2x 4gb DDR3 PC3-12800 Unbuffered NON-ECC 1.5V 512Meg x 64
Graphics card : ATI RADEON HD 6670
PCI Express x16 with a 15 hole connector.

any help would be grateful.
Thanks guys!

 

[P4Clock]

R9 290 is a power house and fits your budget just right.
But the GTX 970 is also a very good card, its all down the what team you like

 

[Squink]

What power supply are you using and what resolution do you game at?

 

[Natshep105]

1980x1080
AC input : 200-240v - 3.5a, 50-60hz
DC output 450W

 

[Squink]

I wouldn't want to attach an amd 290 gpu to a 450w power supply. The nvidia 970 should run off it assuming it's not an awful cheap psu but may be limited a bit by your ageing cpu. If you've got 250 sheets for an upgrade it's worth giving it a try! The most that can go wrong is you'll be cpu bound in some games as long as your psu is ok.

 

[Stanners]

What manufacturer is the PSU?

 

[Squink]

Last friday or even yesterday you could have probably squeezed a new psu and an amd 290 into your 250 budget if your existing supply is cack.

 

[pieman109]

I'd certainly look at upgrading that Psu even if it can run a 970, I'd have thought a minimum power requirement for either a 970 or R290 would be about 650w quality psu to give a bit of overclocking headroom.

 

[Stanners]

Taken from the 970 Galax requirements

- 450W PSU Required

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-004-GX&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1010

So he may get away with it if it is a decent PSU, Not sure what the AMD CPU power use is though.

 

[russell664]

970 would be better if you have a lower power PSU. However, it depends if you need the Nvidia specific features or not, if not then the 290 is a good option.

 

[Natshep105]

Im unsure off the manufacturer of the psu. Confused now more than ever on which to purchase lol the whole pc is around 2years old

 

[bru]

Neither a 970 or a 290 is a good option when your CPU is only a " 4x AMD phenom(TM) II 970 processor 3.5 ghz" it would be a bottleneck in my opinion, especially at stock.

 

[Sarah469]

make sure whatever u get will fit into your case, some of these cards are quite big

 

[ginjaninja]

I'd certainly look at upgrading that Psu even if it can run a 970, I'd have thought a minimum power requirement for either a 970 or R290 would be about 650w quality psu to give a bit of overclocking headroom.

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

to check psu requirements....is always useful.