Spec me an upgrade

Tazzfalcon · 27 Apr 2017 at 19:10

Hi all,

Back after a bit of a break. I was wondering if someone who is up to date on things can tell me what the best AMD graphics card I could buy for under £250 would be? I want the best card that won't be bottle necked by the rest of my system. I do a bit of gaming, Project CARS and also photo editing in Lightroom on a 2k monitor.

Much appreciated!

N.B. My signature spec is up to date apart from the fact I'm on windows 10 now and have added some additional storage!

Tazzfalcon · 28 Apr 2017 at 10:21

Does my motherboard: GA-Z77X-D3H mean that I can't use DX 12 even with a DX 12 GFX?

Tazzfalcon · 29 Apr 2017 at 12:19

OK cool, and the RX 580 that was suggested, is that really worth £30 more than one of the stock speed or mild overclocked cards under £240?

Tazzfalcon · 29 Apr 2017 at 14:26

Good tip! Thank you! Does a motherboard bios update effect the OS? I'd rather not have to clean install windows!

Tazzfalcon · 30 Apr 2017 at 09:27

Plec said:
As above - with nobs on - you can go the extra mile and format the stick using fat 32 and then install just the BIOS file which makes the process very simple and helps ensure the USB drive isn't corrupt (belt and braces). But as stated already, do not be tempted by the windows update tool.

Pastymuncher makes a good point - if you're unfamiliar with your BIOS- make notes before you flash (cycle through the pages. Remembering to scroll down and enter sub menus) - your phone camera can come in very handy for this.

Great advice! Thank you!

I've gone ahead and ordered the cheaper of the two Aorus RX 580 cards. Fingers crossed it all goes OK. Haven't done much tinkering other than storage drive installs for a couple of years! Will take as an opportunity to dust bust as well and try to push the CPU clock up another few hundred mhz.

Tazzfalcon · 30 Apr 2017 at 20:24

Well, this is a new one. I'm trying to get into the MB bios to reflash it but I can't access it because, seemingly, my Microsoft Sidewinder X4 gaming keyboard doesn't get any power until past the bios entry popup! Very odd indeed!

Tazzfalcon · 30 Apr 2017 at 20:28

Sadly I don't think I have one :-(

I will have to try and blag one from IT at work on Tuesday. How common a problem is the GFX card issues with Z77 mobos?

Tazzfalcon · 30 Apr 2017 at 20:37

Weirdly CPU-Z says I'm on bios version F17f 11/21/2012. That's actually not available for DL on the Gigabyte website :-\

But the only ones that are available with higher version numbers are 'beta' which scares me, so maybe fine? Latest beta appears to be from 01/2014

Tazzfalcon · 30 Apr 2017 at 22:05

stulid said:
F18k here - https://forums.tweaktown.com/gigaby...-bios.html?s=086519123979b4623ccae8d246afdc94

I wouldnt worry about it saying beta, all the ones with letters are, the final versions are just F then a number, so if there was an F18 then that would be the official one for the F18* series, so all the ones a,b,c,d, etc go into the final BIOS.

So I've done some more investigation and it's a rev 1.1 board. The latest bios available direct from Gigabyte is F18i. I'm gonna try and get hold of an adapter from the hardware store tomorrow - if it's open.

Tazzfalcon · 7 May 2017 at 09:11

I figured it out eventually. The cable only worked in the top right USB slot. I managed to flash the bios, pushed the overclock up to 4.4ghz, and that allowed for the fastest gpu swap out I've ever managed! My 4 year old build is now clean and has a lot more gaming life at 1440p left in it! Thanks for the advice everyone.

Tazzfalcon · 7 May 2017 at 09:54

I know what you mean but it's a situation I'm happy to remain in for a loooonng while, all being well.