Looking to upgrade from my HD 6950 (A bit of help needed)

Malmortius · 24 Dec 2014 at 05:13

Hi there. About 4 years ago i bought a great pc from overclockers (The only site i ever use) but since playing Dragon age: Inquisition and other games recently, its starting to show its age and i can only play on med at around 40fps (No fancy graphics for me anymore)

After 4 years, i think its time for an upgrade.
My price range is £150-250

My only problem is, i don't know if ill need to upgrade any other components if I'm to buy a newer card. Ill list em all.

AMD HD6950 2gb
8GB DDR RAM
Intel core i5 CPU 760 @ 2.80 GHz 3.8GHz overclocked
600w psu (Corsair, i think)

Gregster · 24 Dec 2014 at 07:16

Ideally you could do with a new CPU as well as a new GPU. There is some good deals at the mo and the 290X lightning is a cracking price but I wouldn't run it on that PSU. A GTX 970 would cope with your current PSU but they come in a bit dearer, so your choice on going for a new PSU + 290/290X or just a GTX 970

The CPU will struggle in some games as well and this won't let the GPU get to 99% usage (optimum) but that will be the same for either the red or green team.

Uncle_Gravy · 24 Dec 2014 at 08:27

If ya after something on the cheap, then you can't go wrong really on the refurb deals with the 7950's http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-274-MS

triss · 24 Dec 2014 at 08:48

Uncle_Gravy said:
If ya after something on the cheap, then you can't go wrong really on the refurb deals with the 7950's http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-274-MS

This plus re overclocking your CPU would be my Cheap and cheerful option

Malmortius · 24 Dec 2014 at 13:49

triss said:
This plus re overclocking your CPU would be my Cheap and cheerful option

Will the GTX970 require a new CPU?
The 7950 is a decent upgrade over the 6950 right, but i guess i don't want to have to upgrade again in another 6 months or something, or only get a 10 fps boost.

Also, overclocking this cpu again may be a problem. When i bought the pc it was overclocked to 3.9, but i replaced RAM and i didnt realise that it'd reset to to 2.9

For some reason, when i try to go into the bios and set to "optimized settings" it doesnt overclock back to 3.9 (I did it once before and the settings were saved)

So i have no idea here. I mean im willing to buy a whole new pc, its been about 4 years after all.

ED209 · 24 Dec 2014 at 14:22

I have just brought a 970 with a I7 950 CPU running @ 4ghz

rather than replace my whole system which I didn't have the money too I overclocked the processor and brought a new GPU, went from a Radeon HD 5830 to the EVGA 970 which I shall be installing tomorrow.

link below

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-263-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1010

if I was you I would maybe get a new CPU cooler which can keep the temps down and overclock the cpu. mine be default is 3ghz oced to 4ghz and I have 6GB of ram or maybe see how much you can get from it on the stock cooler

the 970 does require a 450w PSU so this would be something you would need to upgrade unless you go for a cheaper GPU and spend the spare on a PSU

Malmortius · 24 Dec 2014 at 14:32

ED209 said:
I have just brought a 970 with a I7 950 CPU running @ 4ghz

rather than replace my whole system which I didn't have the money too I overclocked the processor and brought a new GPU, went from a Radeon HD 5830 to the EVGA 970 which I shall be installing tomorrow.

link below

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-263-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1010

if I was you I would maybe get a new CPU cooler which can keep the temps down and overclock the cpu. mine be default is 3ghz oced to 4ghz and I have 6GB of ram or maybe see how much you can get from it on the stock cooler

the 970 does require a 450w PSU so this would be something you would need to upgrade unless you go for a cheaper GPU and spend the spare on a PSU

Nevermind then, its what i expected since my pc is so old. If ill need to upgrade the CPU, GPU, PSU and possibly cooler i may aswell buy a new pc from overclockers.

Welp, time to go and post on the bundles section heh.

Malmortius · 25 Dec 2014 at 01:33

ED209 said:
I have just brought a 970 with a I7 950 CPU running @ 4ghz

rather than replace my whole system which I didn't have the money too I overclocked the processor and brought a new GPU, went from a Radeon HD 5830 to the EVGA 970 which I shall be installing tomorrow.

link below

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-263-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1010

if I was you I would maybe get a new CPU cooler which can keep the temps down and overclock the cpu. mine be default is 3ghz oced to 4ghz and I have 6GB of ram or maybe see how much you can get from it on the stock cooler

the 970 does require a 450w PSU so this would be something you would need to upgrade unless you go for a cheaper GPU and spend the spare on a PSU

I have a 500w PSU, why would i need to upgrade if you said it requires a 450w?

Also, my pc was originally overclocked to 3.9 from 2.8 so i think the cooling isnt a problem, i just need some help in overclocking it back to somewhere close to what it was.

Efour · 25 Dec 2014 at 01:51

Spend the money on a 970GTX and overclock a bit on the cpu.

Malmortius · 25 Dec 2014 at 01:59

Efour said:
Spend the money on a 970GTX and overclock a bit on the cpu.

People tell me to do it, but not how. Im a noob here, man.
I mean i've been reading about it, but, its ridiculously complicated when i know nothing about it.

triss · 25 Dec 2014 at 02:03

Malmortius said:
People tell me to do it, but not how. Im a noob here, man.
I mean i've been reading about it, but, its ridiculously complicated when i know nothing about it.

Post in the overclocking section, I'm sure someone can help, learn on your current pc and even when you get a newer one you will already have the skills

Malmortius · 25 Dec 2014 at 02:11

triss said:
Post in the overclocking section, I'm sure someone can help, learn on your current pc and even when you get a newer one you will already have the skills

I used to be able to reapply my overclock that was set by overclockers by simply going into bios and selecting "optimized settings" but it doesnt work anymore.

Any idea why?

Malmortius · 28 Dec 2014 at 13:11

Update: My CPU is now overclocked back to 3.8, safely!

So, do any other options for GPUs open up without me having to replace any other components?

jamiehavok · 28 Dec 2014 at 19:27

honestly i'm still fine with my i7 920, which is the same as your i5 but with hyperthreading. i doubt hyperthreading makes a massive difference. and your i5 is clocked higher. just get a gtx 970 and that will keep you going a few more years imo. i recenntly upgraded from a 6950 to a radeon r9 290 - well about a year ago and saw a massive boost and can still play all games on ultra at 1920x1200. if i was buying today id get a 970 though...

Malmortius · 28 Dec 2014 at 21:02

jamiehavok said:
honestly i'm still fine with my i7 920, which is the same as your i5 but with hyperthreading. i doubt hyperthreading makes a massive difference. and your i5 is clocked higher. just get a gtx 970 and that will keep you going a few more years imo. i recenntly upgraded from a 6950 to a radeon r9 290 - well about a year ago and saw a massive boost and can still play all games on ultra at 1920x1200. if i was buying today id get a 970 though...

Do you think you could link me to one on the ocuk store? Theres so many manufacturers..

Budget is £150-250, willing to go to the top of my price range. I think id probably like to stick to AMD if possible, ive always had amd graphics cards.

A few more opinions from others on a good graphics card would be great, too.

jamiehavok · 28 Dec 2014 at 22:09

Malmortius said:
Do you think you could link me to one on the ocuk store? Theres so many manufacturers..

Budget is £150-250, willing to go to the top of my price range. I think id probably like to stick to AMD if possible, ive always had amd graphics cards.

A few more opinions from others on a good graphics card would be great, too.

looking at the 970's they seem to be closer to £300 so yeah since you like amd maybe get a radeon r9 290 which is closer to the £250 mark and looking at benchmarks not that much slower. i've got the gigabyte windforce one because heard good things about gigabyte rma service and it was the first 290 with custom cooler released, but i've heard that the sapphire tri x one has the best cooler, here....
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-341-SP

and the gigabyte one i have

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-133-GI

edit ..looking at the 290 psu requirements, 500 watts might be a bit on the low side. the 970 requires less power so might be a safer bet if you can stretch to £300

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-147-GI

Malmortius · 28 Dec 2014 at 22:40

jamiehavok said:
looking at the 970's they seem to be closer to £300 so yeah since you like amd maybe get a radeon r9 290 which is closer to the £250 mark and looking at benchmarks not that much slower. i've got the gigabyte windforce one because heard good things about gigabyte rma service and it was the first 290 with custom cooler released, but i've heard that the sapphire tri x one has the best cooler, here....
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-341-SP

and the gigabyte one i have

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-133-GI

edit ..looking at the 290 psu requirements, 500 watts might be a bit on the low side. the 970 requires less power so might be a safer bet if you can stretch to £300

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-147-GI

Im trying to figure out if any of em will fit in place of my XFX ATI Radeon 6950 2048MB GDDR5, but i cant find the sizes. Also quite expensive for that 970

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 29 Dec 2014 at 09:49

People on this forum and others have run R9 290 cards off 450W PSUs.

OpenToSuggestions · 29 Dec 2014 at 09:50

I had a first gen i5 with an unlocked 2GB 6950.
I bought a 290X and the difference was immense.

Note that in my sig I did buy a new rig because the i5 motherboard died, not because it the CPU was lacking power.
I bought a 3rd gen i5 CPU and motherboard used from the MM.

In my opinion you really do not need a new CPU or more ram here.

Malmortius · 29 Dec 2014 at 10:34

OpenToSuggestions said:
I had a first gen i5 with an unlocked 2GB 6950.
I bought a 290X and the difference was immense.

Note that in my sig I did buy a new rig because the i5 motherboard died, not because it the CPU was lacking power.
I bought a 3rd gen i5 CPU and motherboard used from the MM.

In my opinion you really do not need a new CPU or more ram here.

What GPU do you suggest with my specs? considering i only have a 500w psu

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
People on this forum and others have run R9 290 cards off 450W PSUs.

Everywhere i've checked they've said 600w at the very least. Im not going to take that chance.