New Graphics Card

Many AP members are knowledgeable about computers. Ask questions and share your knowledge here. (Information are supplied without any guarantee. Do not open any URL or file not posted by someone you know.) (All users can read)
Post Reply
Nic
Big Leet
Posts: 314
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:16 pm

New Graphics Card

Post by Nic »

Hi,


I have a really decent PC and when I bought it, it was top of the range with i7 processor etc, but graphics card is only a NVidia geforce gt330, so I need to upgrade it to play new games etc.

Any recommendations? I get confused with what I actually need, ie 1 or 2 gig Ram, clock speed, memory bus, memory type?

I kn ow I will probably need an upgraded power supply as well, although I need to check what size this one is.

Any ideas on a good value for money card that wont break the bank or need to be upgraded in the next 12 months?

Thanks,

Nic
User avatar
Chrisax
President
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:08 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Chrisax »

3 years ago, I built a huge system you can see here:

Building the monster (a new computer for little me!)
http://www.athenpaladins.org/forums/vie ... =45&t=6715

This system is still able to run any game of today in either top conditions or, at the worst, very good ones (remember several games have extreme options and modes that CAN'T be really used, or only on very specific systems using many graphic cards, etc.).

I don't have the feeling I'll need to change it anytime soon as long as I don't want to go extreme.

So, if you have an Intel i7 and enough RAM and a fast hard disk, basically, you can do what you want to achieve with a card that would be close to my now old Nvidia GEForce 570 (and, so, less expensive that it in its time).

First, though, it's now a good choice to have 2GB of memory on a graphic card for games because they tend to use more and more memory. It was luxury 3 years ago. It's cautious now although not strictly necessary.

So your card could be, for example, an Asus GeForce GTX 750 OC - 2 Go
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/GTX750TIOC2GD5/

You can see a review here, for what reviews are worth: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GTX_750_Ti_OC/


A bit below would be the Asus GeForce GTX 650 Ti OC - 2 Go

And nicely above, the Asus GeForce GTX 660 OC - 2 Go

But is that the price range you want?
Nic
Big Leet
Posts: 314
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:16 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Nic »

Thanks Chris.

The EVGA 2 GB GeForce GTX 750 Ti PCIe Graphics Card looks good and is in the price range. I don't want to spend too much so £150 max.

does it matter whether its made by EVGA or Asus? Both seem same price with clock speed slightly higher on the EVGA.

Also any thoughts on power supply, yours seem very high although given what you are running seems good?
User avatar
Chrisax
President
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:08 pm

Post by Chrisax »

First thing ( I really need to sleep): which EVGA are you talking about because there are 3 and the names are very close to each other. This unfortunately allows some stores to mislead consumers.


http://www.evga.com/Products/ProductLis ... GTX+750+Ti

The one comparable to the Asus I mentioned (as an example, the Asus GeForce GTX 750 OC - 2 Go http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/GTX750TIOC2GD5/) is the

EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti w/ EVGA ACX Cooling
Part Number: 02G-P4-3755-KR

or the
EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti FTW w/ EVGA ACX Cooling
Part Number: 02G-P4-3757-KR



And the EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti Superclocked
Part Number: 02G-P4-3753-KR

is comparable to the

Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti - 2 Go (GTX750TI-PH-2GD5)
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/GTX750TIPH2GD5/

Those are more basic design, close to the Nvidia "base reference" design, without special cooling but still somewhat pushed in terms of frequency.

Yes, I know... those methods for naming are :burst:




Side note Nvidia's GTX 750 Ti GPU design allows little overclocking so differences only based on overclocking can't be very important.
Nic
Big Leet
Posts: 314
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:16 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Nic »

Chris, thanks that has been a big help.

I checked and I have a FSP450 watt power supply, which I hope should be plenty to run the card you mentioned.

The two options at present are
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/s_action/ ... 85235.html
User avatar
Chrisax
President
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:08 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Chrisax »

Ok, so, assuming the information provided by the site you linked to is accurate I could identify the 2 cards they sell:

The EVGA would be the
EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti FTW w/ EVGA ACX Cooling
Part Number: 02G-P4-3757-KR
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.as ... P4-3755-KR

I identify it by:
- the 1189MHz Base Clock (on the product detail page http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/component ... 5-pdt.html)
- the "FTW" small plate on the picture of the card, on its flank, between the fans, above "GEFORCE"

The Asus would be
Asus GeForce GTX750TI-OC-2GD5
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/GTX7 ... /overview/

I identify it by its base clock frequency

In any case, make sure what you get is really one of those models.


Now, their tables are incomplete and misleading and you can refer to the manufacturers' sites linked above for details. Let's fix that... (Can they hire me?)

BOTH cards will support all Nivida features, all recent Windows versions (7 / 8) and DirectX 11 (which is still rare in games and many have bugs with it and have to be played in version 10; it's an option in the games)

NONE of those two cards is SLI compatible, contrary to what PC World says about the Asus (SLI = possibility to associate a second card, if the motherboard allows it))

BOTH (error again) require a 6-pin PCI-E power connector to be powered (your power supply is recent and should have one; cheap adapters are available anyhow and maybe there are some provided with the cards, but packages change so I can't say)

BOTH should consume roughly the same power (inaccuracy in info): 150ish Watts peak on heavy workload, 70-85ish W on average game use, 50ish on desktop use, and 40ish W idle (or light desktop use). This is a HUGE improvement over my generation of 570 GPU and over many current GPU's!

Your power supply should be normally OK (any brand name on it?). You can find here what was previously the Antec PSU calculator (and the old Antec link leads there but I assume Antec got bored with manufacturers whining about what the calculator says about their hardware). This is likely the most complete power supply calculator available:
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine
Play a bit with it.


The EVGA uses a slightly higher base clock frequency than the Asus. This probably translates into a very minor edge in performance. This is a factory setting: the GPU is exactly the SAME model. But the Asus comes anyhow with a tweaking software to modify parameters safely. Usually Asus software to tweak GPU settings is quite fool-proof, safe and easy to use; you see a picture on the Asus overview page. (EVGA should have something too.) Whatever you do with those two cards, I doubt there will be a really significant difference for a human being.

The Asus is a bit less long but a bit wider. Shouldn't make a difference in most cases.

Both manufacturers are serious. EVGA built their reputation with higher standards at a time many makers were not aiming at high quality but times have changed now. Asus video cards are all fine. The quality is most likely similar on both products.

Connections may make a difference:
  • The Asus offers:
    - HDMI x 1
    - VGA x 1
    - DVI-D x 2

    And the EVGA "only":
    - HDMI x 1
    - DVI x 1
That depends on what you do and what your monitor(s) allow. Asus got one VGA and one more DVI. The presence of a VGA output is convenient to use with older monitors, but also analogue video inputs/devices. It may or may not be interesting for you.



With which of those cards would I go? Honestly, I'd say go for the one on which you get the best deal unless there is a feature that makes the difference.

Personally I would maybe pick the Asus because I had no issue with their cards for years, and that's a long time since I used EVGA but that's only me.


On a side note:

- Remember that, at the moment, AO doesn't really use the graphic card: it's still DirectX 7, relying on the CPU mostly and not on the GPU, contrary to other games by FC like AoC and TSW which make extensive -and intensive- use of video cards. This will chnage with AO's new engine.

- Sometimes, have a look at SSD's: SSD's make an impressive performance difference over normal hard drives. Crucial (made by Micron, one of the largest memory makers) has just release the interesting MX100 series with nice performance, reliability, and better pricing, so everyone tries to lower their prices ATM.
Nic
Big Leet
Posts: 314
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:16 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Nic »

Chris, that's really comprehensive and well beyond the call of duty (which by coincidence is one of the games I cant play on my existing card :P )

I have read this a couple of times and tend to agree with your summation about which to buy, so I will get it this week and try and install it.

I will play around with the power supply evaluator and see what it says but will go with the one I have for now anyway.

Thanks again, I really appreciate the time you took to do this for me.
User avatar
Chrisax
President
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:08 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Chrisax »

You're welcome. That's just AP :D

:apftw:
Nic
Big Leet
Posts: 314
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:16 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Nic »

well I got the card and installed it, updated all the drivers etc and now a few programmes wont load up at all, like ITunes and Steam.

anyone have any ideas? I changed nothing else, however since then I have done a system restore to before the install, and tried again, but still having same problem.

I guess I could launch pc and F8 so I can run at last known working configuration?

any other ideas?

Thanks in advance!
User avatar
Chrisax
President
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:08 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Chrisax »

IMHO, be drastic: start windows in safe mode, go to the configuration panel, uninstall the programs that don't work, restart windows normally, test if all is OK, and reinstall the programs.

Restart Windows 8 in safe mode:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8 ... e-mode.htm

Win7
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixthepro ... dows-7.htm

It is possible that iTunes and Steam don't understand at the moment you have a new graphic card and try to use the integrated graphic processor in your CPU or something.

You can also try to install only the graphic driver and no Nvidia sound or anything else. But that's not really Nvidia's fault.
Nic
Big Leet
Posts: 314
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:16 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Nic »

Thanks Chris, I tried what you suggested and also a restore to previous version but nothing seems to be working so I feel like it needs to be a windows 7 reinstall which I will be doing soon.

Only up side is I have fibre optic now so should get through downloads etc quite quickly!!

Nic
User avatar
Chrisax
President
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:08 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Chrisax »

Ugh that's really weird.

Anyhow, download the trial (full features) of JV16 powertools
http://www.macecraft.com/jv16-powertools-2014/
Then use the Uninstall software function that will clean stuff from old or messy installs that the regular uninstaller doesn't remove.
Then use the registry cleaner; and delete all the obvious junk it will find. If you have a doubt, don't delete the items you have a doubt about or ask.

From my experience with this software, if the situation doesn't get any better, then it's an issue with something very specific and poorly designed or an old setup you can't think of at the moment.

Grats on fiber :).
Nic
Big Leet
Posts: 314
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 5:16 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Nic »

Thx again Chris, i ended up with full reinstall, so almost done. Just need to sort AO tomorrow and thats it i think.

So pc is running v fast atm, without the usual garbage getting in the way :P
User avatar
Chrisax
President
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:08 pm

Re: New Graphics Card

Post by Chrisax »

Good to hear :)
Post Reply