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Worth Upgrading Video Card?

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  • Power Consumption
  • HD
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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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?

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May 28, 2013 12:19:14 PM

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!
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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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May 28, 2013 12:22:03 PM

Yeah if you like gaming get a better graphics card, Nvidia has alot better power concumption with their 600 line. Whats your budget?
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May 28, 2013 12:23:05 PM

If you can afford it go gtx 670
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May 28, 2013 12:23:11 PM

I think you should be fine with that PSU and running the HD7870
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May 28, 2013 12:26:08 PM

firo40 said:
If you can afford it go gtx 670


You do realize the GTX670 and HD7950/7970 have similar power usage and are damn close in performance?
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May 28, 2013 12:28:54 PM

But you get physx a quiter card and less power consumption though close. Plus you get Nvidia's way better driver quality and driver release dates
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May 28, 2013 12:29:54 PM

And you recommended the 7870 not the 7970
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May 28, 2013 12:30:42 PM

Yeah he is right.. i would go Nivida all the way
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May 28, 2013 12:32:17 PM

firo40 said:
But you get physx a quiter card and less power consumption though close. Plus you get Nvidia's way better driver quality and driver release dates


Oh wait NEVERMIND. Not starting this... Clearly a fanboy...

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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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May 28, 2013 12:33:09 PM

Oh JUST great... I was fanboy free for SOOOO long, knew it was too good to be true.
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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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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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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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May 28, 2013 1:01:20 PM

I just don't recommend crappy products to people, and honestly a company that cant write proper software for the high end hardware people purchase shouldn't get peoples money its a waste.
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May 28, 2013 1:03:36 PM

firo40 said:
I just don't recommend crappy products to people, and honestly a company that cant write proper software for the high end hardware people purchase shouldn't get peoples money its a waste.


:pfff:  I am sure you know better than Toms and every other hardware testing site on the internet...
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May 28, 2013 1:19:30 PM

They recomend it becuase it exists and im sure they make money advertising for AMD but in reality their drivers suck and anyone can attest to that.
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May 28, 2013 1:29:29 PM

firo40 said:
They recomend it becuase it exists and im sure they make money advertising for AMD but in reality their drivers suck and anyone can attest to that.


:pfff: 
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May 28, 2013 1:38:52 PM

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 1
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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 1


Dude! 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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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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May 28, 2013 2:21:30 PM

Shh AMD fanboy your horrible drivers already made you a fool
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May 28, 2013 2:27:34 PM

firo40: Sorry but what you are posting is obvious fanboyism.

He already picked out the AMD card and wasn't asking for suggestions on alternatives.

Not to mention the GTX670 is more expensive and requires 170 watts instead of 130 for the 7870.
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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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May 28, 2013 2:45:31 PM

I would go with the Asus simply because it is cheaper.
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May 28, 2013 3:26:40 PM

Broneys scare me
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May 28, 2013 3:54:20 PM

They scare me too jesus
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May 28, 2013 3:56:14 PM

hijaxhfx said:
Broneys scare me


firo40 said:
They scare me too jesus


People are easy to judge... Well your loss.
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May 28, 2013 3:58:29 PM

A grown man should not like pink my little ponies its just wrong in every sence you disgust me
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May 28, 2013 3:59:54 PM

firo40 said:
A grown man should not like pink my little ponies its just wrong in every sence you disgust me


Grown men and women can learn a lot from those same ponies that disgust you so much.

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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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May 29, 2013 1:39:23 AM

If you bought the cheapest one, you may need to RMA. The cheaper end come DOA more often than the higher end ones (or so i've seen).

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May 29, 2013 4:57:15 AM

Asus remains one of the best despite the cheaper price, they are not normally cheaper.
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May 30, 2013 9:18:33 PM

Well, it's here. It's beautiful. And it turns out I don't have a 550W PSU... only a 450W. :pfff:  Now I have to decide whether to upgrade the PSU, go with a cheaper card, or simply return it and forget all about it.
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May 30, 2013 9:31:40 PM

You might be able to run it on 450w but I suggest you upgrade the PSU. It is the best option in the long run.
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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.
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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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May 31, 2013 1:07:14 PM

I'm in Vancouver. Hardware components are usually expensive in Canada. :( 
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