Worth Upgrading Video Card?
Tags:
- Power Consumption
- HD
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
oopsies
May 28, 2013 12:14:36 PM
Hello,
I'm thinking of upgrading my video card from a Radeon HD6450 GDDR3 to a HD7870 (http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=651&card2...). I'm primarily concerned about two things:
1. Power consumption of the 7870. I don't know if this is a worthwhile upgrade if I need to purchase a new PSU. The max GPU power consumption varies from review to review. One review had it at 284W when using HAWX2. The 175W in the calculation below is based on gpureview.com. The same issue occurs for the CPU power spec. Different reviews seem to produce different values. Which should I use in my calculation?
2. Combination. Would buying the 7870 outclass my specs so much that the purchase would be a waste of money?
My current specs:
AMD FX-4100 3.6GHz
Asus M5A97 Evo
Asus HD6450 1Gb DDR3
Kingston 8GB DDR3 1600 CL9 240
XFX ProSeries 550W
Min +3.3V Output Current (A):0.1
Min +5V Output Current (A):0.2
Min -12V Output Current (A):0.6
Max +12V1 Output Current (A):44
Max +3.3V Output Current (A):24
Max +5V Output Current (A):24
Max +5VSB Output Current (A):2.5
Max -12V Output Current (A):0.5
Wattage(W):550
My example power calculations are as follows:
* video: 175W max / 12V = 14.58A (based on gpureview.com)
* CPU: 226W max / 12V = 18.83A
All others:
Motherboard: 30W
RAM: 5W
HDD: 15W
Optical: 15W
Fans: 3W
Total: 68W (round up to 70W)
Others: 70W / 12V = 5.83A
Total Current on 12V rail: 39.24A
Total Power: 471W
If I use the 284W value for "video," then the max current drawn would be 48.33A - which is more than what my current PSU can provide on the 12V rail.
Thoughts?
I'm thinking of upgrading my video card from a Radeon HD6450 GDDR3 to a HD7870 (http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=651&card2...). I'm primarily concerned about two things:
1. Power consumption of the 7870. I don't know if this is a worthwhile upgrade if I need to purchase a new PSU. The max GPU power consumption varies from review to review. One review had it at 284W when using HAWX2. The 175W in the calculation below is based on gpureview.com. The same issue occurs for the CPU power spec. Different reviews seem to produce different values. Which should I use in my calculation?
2. Combination. Would buying the 7870 outclass my specs so much that the purchase would be a waste of money?
My current specs:
AMD FX-4100 3.6GHz
Asus M5A97 Evo
Asus HD6450 1Gb DDR3
Kingston 8GB DDR3 1600 CL9 240
XFX ProSeries 550W
Min +3.3V Output Current (A):0.1
Min +5V Output Current (A):0.2
Min -12V Output Current (A):0.6
Max +12V1 Output Current (A):44
Max +3.3V Output Current (A):24
Max +5V Output Current (A):24
Max +5VSB Output Current (A):2.5
Max -12V Output Current (A):0.5
Wattage(W):550
My example power calculations are as follows:
* video: 175W max / 12V = 14.58A (based on gpureview.com)
* CPU: 226W max / 12V = 18.83A
All others:
Motherboard: 30W
RAM: 5W
HDD: 15W
Optical: 15W
Fans: 3W
Total: 68W (round up to 70W)
Others: 70W / 12V = 5.83A
Total Current on 12V rail: 39.24A
Total Power: 471W
If I use the 284W value for "video," then the max current drawn would be 48.33A - which is more than what my current PSU can provide on the 12V rail.
Thoughts?
More about : worth upgrading video card
Best solution
Novuake
May 28, 2013 12:19:14 PM
carowden
May 28, 2013 12:20:24 PM
Novuake said:
Half those numbers are wrong. LOL No offence. Do not know your source. But anyway. You have more than enough power on that PSU to upgrade to an HD7870.It would also be a very big upgrade. Your CPU can handle that GPU just fine too.
Do it!
i agree, night and day difference. i would do it
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firo40
May 28, 2013 12:22:03 PM
firo40
May 28, 2013 12:23:05 PM
hijaxhfx
May 28, 2013 12:23:11 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 12:26:08 PM
firo40
May 28, 2013 12:28:54 PM
firo40
May 28, 2013 12:29:54 PM
hijaxhfx
May 28, 2013 12:30:42 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 12:32:17 PM
oopsies
May 28, 2013 12:32:57 PM
Novuake said:
Half those numbers are wrong. LOL No offence. Do not know your source. But anyway. You have more than enough power on that PSU to upgrade to an HD7870.It would also be a very big upgrade. Your CPU can handle that GPU just fine too.
Do it!
None taken.
Are you referring to the calculations? If so, could you show me where I went wrong? I just followed the sticky post in the forum. But it's my first time crunching the numbers so I'm sure to get it wrong.
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Novuake
May 28, 2013 12:33:09 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 12:34:58 PM
oopsies said:
Novuake said:
Half those numbers are wrong. LOL No offence. Do not know your source. But anyway. You have more than enough power on that PSU to upgrade to an HD7870.It would also be a very big upgrade. Your CPU can handle that GPU just fine too.
Do it!
None taken.
Are you referring to the calculations? If so, could you show me where I went wrong? I just followed the sticky post in the forum. But it's my first time crunching the numbers so I'm sure to get it wrong.Instead of cluttering with math.
Use this calculater and add 50w-100w as a safety margin.
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.js...
EDIT : Oh and keep in mind in needs to be a decent PSU of that wattage, not just any PSU at that wattage. Here is a list.
Tier 1 - 3 are all good units with a trusted wattage rating.
http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx
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firo40
May 28, 2013 12:50:12 PM
LOL you recommend amd for everything clearly you are the fanboy sir. Let alone a my little pony fanboy. I have used AMD gpu's alot and always hated how late their driver releases were. Their crossfire is in a horrible state atm and they dont have the features nvidia does. Its not fanboyism when their actually is a reason behind it. I'm not like Nvidia becuase Nvidia is Nvidia. What reason do you have for wasting money a 7870?
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Novuake
May 28, 2013 12:57:09 PM
firo40 said:
LOL you recommend amd for everything clearly you are the fanboy sir. Let alone a my little pony fanboy. I have used AMD gpu's alot and always hated how late their driver releases were. Their crossfire is in a horrible state atm and they dont have the features nvidia does. Its not fanboyism when their actually is a reason behind it. I'm not like Nvidia becuase Nvidia is Nvidia. What reason do you have for wasting money a 7870?Huh??? I did not recommend AMD, the OP asked after AMD, the GTX660 is just as good an option as the HD7870.
Anything from the GTX660ti and upwards I suggest AMD because its better value. Whereass the HD7850 and lower I suggest Nvidia...
I am not arguing with you, understand? Good. Now do not continue on this.
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firo40
May 28, 2013 1:01:20 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 1:03:36 PM
firo40
May 28, 2013 1:19:30 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 1:29:29 PM
firo40
May 28, 2013 1:38:52 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 2:06:24 PM
firo40 said:
Now thats a bold faced lie AMD is always late with good driver optimisations look how made users of the game rage were when that came out that took literraly months to fix by the time they did no one played it anymore. Nvidia users could play day 1Dude! Oh my soul! I did not SAY anything! You are raging at yourself! Shhh now!
You are just making a fool of yourself...
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Novuake
May 28, 2013 2:20:39 PM
oopsies said:
Novuake said:
Half those numbers are wrong. LOL No offence. Do not know your source. But anyway. You have more than enough power on that PSU to upgrade to an HD7870.It would also be a very big upgrade. Your CPU can handle that GPU just fine too.
Do it!
None taken.
Are you referring to the calculations? If so, could you show me where I went wrong? I just followed the sticky post in the forum. But it's my first time crunching the numbers so I'm sure to get it wrong.Sorry about that... Saw that coming but no way to avoid it, unfortunately each forum has its fanboys...
Well hope you enjoy the new GPU.
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firo40
May 28, 2013 2:21:30 PM
smeezekitty
May 28, 2013 2:27:34 PM
oopsies
May 28, 2013 2:36:56 PM
Does anyone have a suggestion on whether I should get a) or b)?
a) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX40143
b) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX39022
I like both brands but I tend to like XFX a little more than Asus. Would it make a difference in the quality of the build?
a) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX40143
b) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX39022
I like both brands but I tend to like XFX a little more than Asus. Would it make a difference in the quality of the build?
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Novuake
May 28, 2013 2:42:26 PM
oopsies said:
Does anyone have a suggestion on whether I should get a) or b)?a) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX40143
b) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX39022
I like both brands but I tend to like XFX a little more than Asus. Would it make a difference in the quality of the build?
Asus has a much higher quality than XFX, XFX used to be awesome, but this generation they are saving on VRM costs.
Since the Asus is cheaper too, definitely get it.
Alternatively other good AMD manufacturers this generation are :
Sapphire/Asus(whichever is cheaper)
HIS
MSI
In that order according to my personal preference.
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smeezekitty
May 28, 2013 2:45:31 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 2:46:51 PM
firo40 said:
Shh AMD fanboy your horrible drivers already made you a foolhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNrXMOSkBas
So calm now? Listen to that. Pinky Pie would not approve of this fighting.
Or even more appropriate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKVNI9jeFK4
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hijaxhfx
May 28, 2013 3:26:40 PM
firo40
May 28, 2013 3:54:20 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 3:56:14 PM
firo40
May 28, 2013 3:58:29 PM
Novuake
May 28, 2013 3:59:54 PM
oopsies
May 29, 2013 1:08:38 AM
Novuake said:
oopsies said:
Does anyone have a suggestion on whether I should get a) or b)?a) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX40143
b) http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX39022
I like both brands but I tend to like XFX a little more than Asus. Would it make a difference in the quality of the build?
Asus has a much higher quality than XFX, XFX used to be awesome, but this generation they are saving on VRM costs.
Since the Asus is cheaper too, definitely get it.
Alternatively other good AMD manufacturers this generation are :
Sapphire/Asus(whichever is cheaper)
HIS
MSI
In that order according to my personal preference.
Well, I ordered the Asus one. It was the last one in stock. Here's hoping I won't need to RMA!
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Shadowblade2652
May 29, 2013 1:39:23 AM
Novuake
May 29, 2013 4:57:15 AM
oopsies
May 30, 2013 9:18:33 PM
smeezekitty
May 30, 2013 9:31:40 PM
oopsies
May 30, 2013 9:39:46 PM
Can't, I don't have the extra auxiliary power cable.
When I built my current rig, I had a moment of indecision between getting the 450W or the 650W PSU. I faltered and got the 450W. If I had just paid $50 more, I wouldn't have to get a new one. Now both PSU's total $200. I'm just kicking myself. This is one inefficiently priced rig I've built.
When I built my current rig, I had a moment of indecision between getting the 450W or the 650W PSU. I faltered and got the 450W. If I had just paid $50 more, I wouldn't have to get a new one. Now both PSU's total $200. I'm just kicking myself. This is one inefficiently priced rig I've built.
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smeezekitty
May 31, 2013 12:52:38 AM
oopsies said:
Can't, I don't have the extra auxiliary power cable.When I built my current rig, I had a moment of indecision between getting the 450W or the 650W PSU. I faltered and got the 450W. If I had just paid $50 more, I wouldn't have to get a new one. Now both PSU's total $200. I'm just kicking myself. This is one inefficiently priced rig I've built.
Woah! Where are you buying your PSUs? Those are expensive!
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oopsies
May 31, 2013 1:07:14 PM
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