Need help with video card upgrade

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USMC_Grunt

Gawd
Joined
Nov 9, 2000
Messages
559
Hey everyone. I just had a quick question since I haven't been into video card or scene in a very long time. I have no knowledge of the new stuff out. I'm looking to upgrade my GTX 260 which was given to me. My current setup is:

Processor - AMD Phenom II 955
MB - Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3
Memory - 8 GB DDR3 GSkill
PSU - Corsair CX500
Video - Geforce GTX 260

Looks like my MB is limited to PCI-E 2.0, but my main concern is my PSU. I'm thinking that it might not cut it. Anyone have any ideas on a reasonable upgrade for the video card and possibly the PSU if needed? I'm not really limited on money but I don't really need anything super crazy.

I'm also probably going to pick up another HD and an aftermarket HSF since I still have the original on. I always seem to have heat issues. Not serious issues but it's always way hotter than everyone else.

Thanks for the help guys. Let me know if you need anymore information. I've been out of the building thing for a while now.
 
Please provide a budget, your native resolution, and some games you play/would like to play. I could just guess and make a recommendation (say, 7870 2GB, which is twice as fast as your current card), but it may be more or less than you actually need.

Your PSU is fine.
 
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Ok, the case looks to be a Cooler Master Elite 430. I'm guessing my budget would be around $200-$300. Native resolution is 1680x1050. I just picked up Rome 2, but players seem to be having graphics issues with it. I play mostly older games but will probably be looking into some more modern stuff. GTA V might be fun. I really don't know what I'll be playing as my game tastes change constantly. I guess I'd just like to be able to play any modern game on higher settings.
 
I would recommend a 660ti, a 670 at the most. Not just for the psu, but for the CPU bottleneck with the 670. If the 955 is c3 step then you can get a good OC, to get the most out of the gpu, but the psu may limit the OC to the chip along with the gpu. Everything at stock you will still be fine though. I ran bf3 @5670 x 1080 with a 955 c2 OC to 3.8(via multiplier only) and a 2gb 670 wf3. Settings were custom low/medium though. I had a 850w psu though.

Edit : at that reso a 650 ti boost or 660 would be fine as well.
 
At around the $200 mark, HD 7870, or a GTX 660 is a bit more than you need at that resolution, but if you're planning on keeping it as long as the GTX 260, then it's not a bad idea to go a little big.

I wouldn't spend more than $250 with that processor and resolution, in which case you either want the GTX 760 or the HD 7950.
 
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Right now there's this pretty good HD 7950 3GB for $205 shipped:
$205 - MSI R7950-3GD5/OC Radeon HD 7950 3GB PCI-E Video Card

Definitely more GPU than you need but it's a real steal at that price considering that it significantly outperforms the HD 7870 2GB and GTX 660 2GB by quite a large margin yet costs around the same price as either of those two cards. Yes your mobo and PSU will work with that GPU. However, that case of yours may not be suitable unless you already upgraded it to have 3 or more fans already. So have you added more fans to that Coolermaster Elite 340 case?

As for the HSF, I recommend this HSF:
$28 - Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus HSF
 
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I currently have 3 fans in there but it still runs a bit warm. Something I haven't considered in a very long time is getting a new monitor. I currently have a Westinghouse L2210NW and the one before that was a CRT. So I've had this for quite a while. :D

I think I had a Hyper 212 on my last computer but don't remember what I did with that thing.

That video card looks good and is at a great price, but newegg says there are only 10 more left (more on the way though). The reviews about the cooling issues worry me since I always seem to have problems with that. I'll have to look into that and decide on any other hardware I feel like grabbing.
 
USMC_Grunt said:
I currently have 3 fans in there but it still runs a bit warm.

.....
That video card looks good and is at a great price, but newegg says there are only 10 more left (more on the way though). The reviews about the cooling issues worry me since I always seem to have problems with that. .
Click to expand...
If you haven't already, here's how your fans should be set up for optimal cooling: Have the rear and top (make a fan top if you have to) both exhaust outside of the case. Then have the final fan mounted on the side panel as an intake. Yes that means no front fan as the front fan really won't help cool the rest of the system. That should help alleviate your temp issues and any potential heat issues with that MSI HD 7950 3GB.
 
Interesting, that's exactly how I'm doing it... the wrong way that is. I'll move that front fan to the side if I can.
 
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