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Upgrading Graphics card, would like advise

kinkaito

kinkaito

kinkaito

Associate
Joined
20 Jun 2009
Posts
71
Location
England - Stroud
Hello!,
I'm currently in need to upgrade my graphics card, currently have a XFX 4890, which is causing me BSOD, ati driver is incompatible with my motherboard Gigabyte Z77-D3H.

The ati drivers only go up to 12.6 stable edition so i'm assuming it's the default and/or HD 4000 series which is conflicting.

I'm currently looking to spend around £200 on a graphics card could go slightly higher or slightly under.

I've been looking at the HD 7850 graphics card, or the Nvidia counter-part GTX 560Ti/ and 448 series.


I've not been keeping up to date on gfx cards, could anyone explain the difference between them, other then the ati card using about 100w lower and running a lot quiter/cooler then the nvidia?
 
Been in the same boat for a couple of months mate, with a painful eye I've been watching the 7950's drop then realised they're all too long for my NZXT m59 case :(

So far im eyeing up one of the 7850 MSI offerings, 3 year warranty just like gigabytes.
 
IRLeetly said:
Been in the same boat for a couple of months mate, with a painful eye I've been watching the 7950's drop then realised they're all too long for my NZXT m59 case :(

So far im eyeing up one of the 7850 MSI offerings, 3 year warranty just like gigabytes.
Click to expand...

Is there much of a size difference between the 7850 and the 7950? (currently on a Antec 900 case)

i'm seeing OcUk selling 7950s for around £250 which is only £60 more then the 7850 but at about 60% performance increase according to some Google searches.
 
Hi there,

Firstly the 560Ti is not the 7850 counterpart. The nVidia equivalent is probably the 570 but the 7850 is the better option.

Unfortunately nVidia do not have a product to counter the 7850 at present.

I'm not sure the drivers are causing a BSOD with your motherboard. That doesn't sound right to me... it sounds like some other kind of instability.

You should however overclock your 3570k to at least 4.4Ghz if you can this will help performance overall.

As for a new GPU I would go for a 7850 and overclock it. They overclock a long, long way.

If you can stretch a 7950 would definitely be worth stretching for. Ignore nVidia's 660Ti. It's rubbish and overpriced.
 
Rusty0611 said:
Hi there,

Firstly the 560Ti is not the 7850 counterpart. The nVidia equivalent is probably the 570 but the 7850 is the better option.

Unfortunately nVidia do not have a product to counter the 7850 at present.

I'm not sure the drivers are causing a BSOD with your motherboard. That doesn't sound right to me... it sounds like some other kind of instability.

You should however overclock your 3570k to at least 4.4Ghz if you can this will help performance overall.

As for a new GPU I would go for a 7850 and overclock it. They overclock a long, long way.

If you can stretch a 7950 would definitely be worth stretching for. Ignore nVidia's 660Ti. It's rubbish and overpriced.
Click to expand...

i called it the counterpart due to them being within the same price bracket =p assumed they would be equal cards ^^ My mistake ^^

I've never overclocked a CPU so I've kept it at stock,ive got some easy tune software with my motherboard but i'm honestly to scared to do anything with it.

i can stretch to a 7950, IRLeetly kind of worried me when he said he wouldn't fit into his case lol...

I'm going to assume in your opinion the 7950 would be better and would be worth the extra?

Is there a difference in the makes of the cards? i mean like, i got a XFX as it was advertised to be better for games then the other makes (not sure how true it is)


about the bsod.
I've been working with "So called tech experts" to try to find my bsod issues, seeing as i have a 1 in 10 chance to get into windows without a BSOD.
after weeks of work, it was found that even with windows default drivers i would bsod, but if i had the ati 12.3/12.4/12.5/12.6 or 12.7 beta drivers i would have a 90% bsod rate)
No matter what i do, i get a C:\Windows\system32\drivers\atikmpag.sys bsod :<

I would have assumed it would be the card as i've had it for 3 years. and only once has it BSOD inside a game, (which was today) i only get BSOD problems when watching videos OR 9 times out of 10, when booting windows.

either way i think it's time for an upgrade ^^
 
What kind of games do you play?

If you need help overclocking your CPU there's a whole thread in the CPU forum about overclocking Ivybridge.

Often it's just a case of bumping the Multiplier to 44x, voltage to say 1.25v and then booting in and testing for stability.

If it BSOD's then bump the voltage, if it's OK then lower the voltage.

You should set the ram voltages/timings as per the XMP. (you'll see the profile in the BIOS)
 
The games i currently play are.

League of legends (doesn't use any power what so ever)
World of Warcraft
Dayz
Diablo 3
Mass effect series

Will be playing Planet side 2
Will be getting arma3

And thanks :)
I'll also look into the overclocking thing ^^ who knows, it might make my CPU fan actually move..
 
I have an Antec 900, Had a 580 Lightning in before my 670, you will need to remove the lower HDD casing though (better air flow anyway)

I would stretch to 7950 if you can and I agree with Rusty get that 3570K rocking, Why else did you buy the K version ;)
 
F1aw1ess said:
I have an Antec 900, Had a 580 Lightning in before my 670, you will need to remove the lower HDD casing though (better air flow anyway)

I would stretch to 7950 if you can and I agree with Rusty get that 3570K rocking, Why else did you buy the K version ;)
Click to expand...

Brought it because it had good reviews and my old mother short circuited. so rather then buying a new motherboard i brought a updated motherboard + high rated CPU. I've never overclocked anything in my life. i was told back in 1998 that it put extra stress on the hardware for better performance, never really saw it as a "pro" to stress something for a little extra power.

by remove the lower HDD case do you mean permanently or just to fit the card?
Case as you see my HDD is in the bottom due to the 4890 power cables being a bitch. i have like a 9-13 CM gap between my PSU and my GPU lol.

Any specific "make" i should look into? such as MSI, HiS, Sappire. powercooler ect?

IRLeetly said:
Not much like under 3-4cm, but with a non removable HDD case its a pain in the bahookie.
Click to expand...

lol i have to remove my HDD holder to put my 4890 in atm XD it's soo annoying. :P
 
I take that back, I just looked and I have removed the upper HDD case (yes permanently)

I have also drilled a large hole in the bottom of the case so I could turn my PSU over and taken out the grill from the side cover to fit my DH14 CPU cooler, ignore the sata connectors hanging out the side and the 2 bits of wood it sits on to let more air flow to the PSU hehe

case.jpg
 
All my GFX cards since my old 9600GS, has had 2 connections on them so i didnt think it was a big deal...
all the gfx cards but 1 have 1 DVI connection on them...:(

and it has no reviews :(
 
Last edited:
Okey.

Lucky for me, two cards i was looking at went on discount today! So what better luck for me i guess.

Anyone got a preference within these cards. i'm looking for a coolrunning, quite card, which doesn't use as much PSU power (Currently i have a brand new 650w PSU)

MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III OC 3072MB
This Card

or

Sapphire HD 7950 OC 3072MB
This Card



I've MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III OC 3072MB, I can read the "30db full load" and transparently runs cool.

from the reviews of the Sapphire one is about 35dB to 90dB, which sounds like my current 4890 :(
Does anyone have any experience in either card or any other 7850?

Side note: i love the look of the sapphire, its so clean :(
 
I have the 7950 twin frozr and it was almost silent under load at stock. I couldnt hear it over my quiet case fans and the fan on my PSU.

Overclocked and with a voltage bump the fans are noticeable though. IMO MSI are a better brand than Sapphire and have better warranty support, but thats up to you.

Both will be pretty much silent until you overclock and start adding voltage.
 
kinkaito said:
I just buy one of These to turn the mini display port to go into my monitor correct?
(only learned about mini display ports yesterday)
Click to expand...

Yes but only if you are already using the DVI on the card already, its for secondary monitors (eyefinity etc).

Use the DVI connection on the card for the first monitor, I would also use HDMI over display port through a convertor, anything that converts signals is asking for trouble imo
 
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F1aw1ess said:
Yes but only if you are already using the DVI on the card already, its for secondary monitors (eyefinity etc) use the card mounted DVI connection for your first monitor.
Click to expand...

I duel Screen, one for gaming, one for webpages/movies/fourms.
My main screen is 1920x1200, and my second screen is 1920x1080 (which i believe is the same resolution as the adapter =)

Thanks for the help everyone! :) Order has been made.... now to find some case fans, my Antec 900 is looking....dark :< lol

Thank you Everyone! :)
 
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