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Radeon HD 3870 x2 DDR3

I would say that you should certainly be looking to upgrade the PSU. It could well be this is why your 3870x2 failed. Although your 425w PSU may sound just enough, being a generic dell one it won't have enough amps on the 12v rail to supply these cards. At a minimum I'd be looking at a 500W decent branded PSU for you setup.

Thread here about some more unhappy customers who have the 5850.
 
Make sure you get a relibale BRANDED PSU. No any of the generic ones. 5850 is a really good buy. People here have been having problems with the msi one so i would get the xfx as it is a really good card. Dont no how much extra it is tho.
 
J-FRO said:
Not even an OcUK PSU?

Because at the moment I was thinking:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-216-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=

With this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-026-OP&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

That would be within my budget but at a push I could go for:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-230-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=
Click to expand...

Don't skimp on the PSU, the OCUK ones are budget ones so don't go near them.

Also the 5770 while DX11, probably isn't much faster if at all than the 3870 X2 you had previously.

The XFX 5830 1GB is only a few £ more and performs around the GTX 460 768MB level.
 
I'd stay well away from that OcUK PSU. Chances are you new graphics card will head the same way as your 3870x2.

That XFX 5830 is a good price too for only a few dollars more.

Me personally would be going for the BeQuiet 530W PSU (£47) and gtx 460 768mb (£111)

I know its over your original budget of £130, but that PSU/gfx card should last you a while.
 
J-FRO said:
Not even an OcUK PSU?

Because at the moment I was thinking:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-216-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=

With this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-026-OP&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

That would be within my budget but at a push I could go for:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-230-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=
Click to expand...

NO NO NO NO!!! That PSU is the one i got and it doesn't have 6 pin connectors and the cableas are short.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-168-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1711

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-032-OC&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1098

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-037-OC&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1098
 
5770 sounds good to me and so much more efficient than your old card for about the same performance.

Bit that concerns me is where you say "suspected" rather than certain. Card 'could' be fine. Might be worth investigating more yourself before you waste money. Can you borrow another psu to try?

You would benefit massively from overclocking even on the stock cooler, even though you say you arent.
 
Hey guys, following on from yesterday no doubt you'll be glad to hear I've invested in a 600W OCZ StealthXStream and also bought a Saphire 5770.*

I know it's no major improvement on the card I already had, but I figured it's within my price range and I'm looking to build a new PC *in a years time anyway once I've got a job and got real money - being a student is a tad inconvenient. And the OCZ 600W should be more than enough!
 
J-FRO said:
Hey guys, following on from yesterday no doubt you'll be glad to hear I've invested in a 600W OCZ StealthXStream and also bought a Saphire 5770.*

I know it's no major improvement on the card I already had, but I figured it's within my price range and I'm looking to build a new PC *in a years time anyway once I've got a job and got real money - being a student is a tad inconvenient. And the OCZ 600W should be more than enough!
Click to expand...

not the modular then?
 
No? Not sure of the difference if im honest....
:confused:

EDIT: Just done a quick google search and found out what you mean. Nope didn't get that. I could take it back and get a modular I guess....But will the modular come with all the same connection as the regular one?

EDIT2: Sod it, will take it back and order the 600W OCZ Modular from Amazon. It's a couple of quid cheaper on there and I wont have to pay a tenner for P&P.

EDIT3: Sorry OcUK, don't mean to do you bad business but just ordered the 600W OCZ Modular from "a well known online store" for £65.27 including delivery 2-4 working days compared to £77.48 from OcUK.
 
Last edited:
The BeQuiet 530W although not modular is £20 cheaper and would easily be enough for a single 5770.

How much did you pay for the 5770?

PS. in the above post you mention a competitor, not allowed to on these OCUK run forum so you should deleted it.

The OCZ is good psu and should see you through your next build too tho but £65 is still expensive for what it is.

Have a search for Antec TruePower 650W, much better PSU and modular. Is available on special offer from a competitor for £59.99!
 
I'm going to stick with the OCZ I think, but thank you though. I know it's £20 dearer, but as you say, may last me through til my next build as well.

For the 5770 I paid £96 including p&p, which I thought was a touch. And was also thinking, maybe down the line a little I could grab another one and activate crossfire seen as the OCZ is crossfire and sli certified. If I was to go for crossfire though, would it have to be another 5770 or could I link it up with any other ATI card that us crossfire compatible? To do so though I'd have to get a new mobo first and that will set me back a few quid as well so I will be waiting a while for that.
 
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