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Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with AMD processors => Topic started by: worf105 on November 26, 2010, 08:29:00 pm

Title: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on November 26, 2010, 08:29:00 pm
Hi all,

First post here and a new Gigabyte user (came from MSI)..

What would you recommend for a new graphics card for the new system and would the PSU stand up OK with the new card?

Kind Regards,

worf105
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on November 26, 2010, 08:35:30 pm
Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte UK Forum. We won't hold it against you that you used to own an MSI board. ;)

If you can let us know a bit more about your system. Can you list the makes and models of your hardware and we should be able to give you better advice.
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on November 26, 2010, 08:40:08 pm
Hi Dark Mantis,

LOL, What would you like to know about my system?

Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on November 26, 2010, 08:56:27 pm
Perfect!  ;)

Well as you are running an AMD platform you would definitely be better off sticking with and ATI designed card. Obviously it depends on what you want to use your system for and your budget as to what to recommend.
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on November 26, 2010, 09:09:30 pm
Thanks for the quick reply,

I use my system for about everything..  My old system
(Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, MSI K8N DIAMOND nForce4 SLi, AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+, 2GB (2 x 1024) DDR OCZ Platinum (2-3-2-5-1T), XFX GeForce 8800 GTS, Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer, Xaser Armor Case, Enermax Noisetaker 485W EG495AX-VE, (+3.3V = 32A, +5V = 32A, +12V1 = 18A, +12V2 = 18A)) served me well for gaming until" Call of Duty Black Opps" came out.
My CPU was the let down and when I bought the new system the game ran great. so now I would like to upgrade my Graphics card and my budget would be £200 - £300. 
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on November 26, 2010, 09:31:06 pm
OK that makes things a mite more understandable. A man after my own heart - COD and Black OPs etc.

The first thing to realise is that your PSU isn't going to be big enough. What you will need it a single 12V rail of about 650W minimum. I would recommend a Corsair or something like that. Decent make, good 5 year or more warranty depending on model. Check them out but expect to pay around £100 for anything decent. Try Ebuyer for some of the best deals.

Next graphics card. Well lets say you have roughly £200 to play with. That will buy you a 6850 or maybe even a 6870 if you are lucky. Definitely the cards to go for as a gamer. They actually use less power than the previous generation and give a better output.

Hope that helps a little and if there's any other questions you know where we are.

Check out this website for info in general as I believe they are going to be selling Gigabyte products along with other things at a good price soon:
AZCS         http://www.azcs.co.uk/
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on November 26, 2010, 09:41:35 pm
Thanks Dark Mantis will let you know what I do, Cheers
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on November 26, 2010, 09:47:41 pm
You are very welcome. ;)
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on November 26, 2010, 09:58:46 pm
What you think???

Graphics Card:
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/ATI+6000+Series/ATI+Radeon+6870/XFX+ATI+Radeon+HD+6870+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=42398

Power Supply:
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/650W+or+less/Corsair+TX+Series+650W+ATX2.2+SLI%2FCrossfire+Compliant+Power+Supply+?productId=29099
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on November 26, 2010, 10:16:16 pm
Personally I am not a great fan of Aria but that aside the components would be about right. As long as you don't intend to start adding more GPUs or other power hungry devices the PSU should be fine. If you want to think about running a Crossfire setup later then up it to at least a 750W.

I don't know what the XFX cards are like to be honest but that is the model that I was recommending for you. There are several Gigabyte ones too.
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on November 26, 2010, 10:25:46 pm
Revised

Graphics Card:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/244474

Power Supply:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134677
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on November 26, 2010, 10:33:57 pm
Yes I would have to say an excellent choice! Couldn't have done better myself  ;)
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: absic on November 27, 2010, 08:22:13 am
Yes, both items also seem good to me just ought to point out though that XFX recommend a PSU of 850 Watts (Minimum 500 Watt) and the one you're looking at is 750Watts which might be a problem later on.
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on February 08, 2011, 09:24:57 pm
Hi,

Just bought and installed the following: Saphire HD6950 which has just been flashed to a 6970  ;D and a TX850 PSU.

Cheers

worf105
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on February 08, 2011, 09:44:02 pm
Clever move that worf getting the 6950 and flashing it to the 6970 as basically they are the same card with the 6950 having been hobbled in the firmware. I don't know how long before they start manufacturing them with the fuses instead which will stop that but great for now and a good saving.

Nice PSU too. ;)
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: worf105 on February 10, 2011, 08:55:38 pm
Thanks Dark Mantis
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on February 10, 2011, 08:57:44 pm
You are very welcome and I hope that you enjoy your new build. ;)
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: fadsarmy on February 14, 2011, 02:02:10 am
Perfect!  ;)

Well as you are running an AMD platform you would definitely be better off sticking with and ATI designed card. Obviously it depends on what you want to use your system for and your budget as to what to recommend.

I have used many AMD boards with nvidia cards and never had problems. Is there any evidence to support this?
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: Dark Mantis on February 14, 2011, 09:07:33 am
Hi,

There is no evidence as such apart from circumstantial and the fact that we have seen more problems with this combination over time. There are very many people quite happily running AMD/nVidia combinations.
Title: Re: What Graphics Card??
Post by: autotech on February 15, 2011, 01:43:44 am
Here i am late comin g in again but i use an all amd set up now. Only reason so far was when i used nvidia video cards with amd chipsets id have some few problems. That was years ago though with the sockett 939 boards. As i see it if you are going to go nvidia video build around it and the same with amd.