New Graphics card

Cable Fairy · 18 Jul 2011 at 09:37

My wife has a games computer desk top with the following spec

ASUS P7P55D LE Mainboard Intel Core i5 / i7 LGA 1156 /ATX
2 x 1GB ATI Radeon 5850 Graphics Accelerator GDDR5
950 Watt Power Supply
Intel Core i5 Quad Core Processor (2.66Ghz 8MB cache)

The graphics cards are starting to wear out and she would like to replace them.

She has seen the following at Overclockers, MSI ATI Radeon HD 6950, or Nvidia GeForce GTX560TI.

Would these graphics cards be compatible with the system she has at the moment.

anuraj · 18 Jul 2011 at 09:39

What brand is the psu?

Brian8bit · 18 Jul 2011 at 09:44

Yes they'll be compatible. But what do you mean the graphics cards are starting to wear out? Also, will two 5850s provide better performance than a 6950? They'll provide better performance than a 560, I know that much.

Cable Fairy · 18 Jul 2011 at 09:56

anuraj said:
What brand is the psu?

HEC 950W

Cable Fairy · 18 Jul 2011 at 09:58

Brian8bit said:
Yes they'll be compatible. But what do you mean the graphics cards are starting to wear out? Also, will two 5850s provide better performance than a 6950? They'll provide better performance than a 560, I know that much.

The fans have started to get very noisy, I have tried to clean them but it has not helped.

Brian8bit · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:02

Cable Fairy said:
The fans have started to get very noisy, I have tried to clean them but it has not helped.

It would probably be cheaper to source 3rd party replacement heatsinks and fans than go and buy a new card. Something like this; http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-048-ZA&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=787

Although, make sure you take into account the space available between your cards and if 3rd party coolers will fit and whether or not your particular card is supported, whether it's reference or non-reference et cetera.

anuraj · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:18

Try spraying some compressed air at it.

Captain Chaos · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:23

bearings do fail eventually

as said just source some aftermarket cooling fans etc

Save you hard earned for another day

Cable Fairy · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:35

anuraj said:
Try spraying some compressed air at it.

Been there, done it - it is starting to sound like a Jet Engine - most likely the bearings. I have looked at taking the card to bits but "her in doors" was non too happy. There is no room between the cards, an inch at the most and they are ganged together with two straps at the back end.