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Help chosing between 2 Graphics cards?

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  • CPUs
  • AMD
  • Motherboards
  • Graphics
  • Graphics Cards
  • HD
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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December 3, 2013 8:47:30 AM

Hi,

I'm looking to add a graphics card to my PC and I could do with the advice of someone that is far more knowledgeable on these matters than myself. I don't normal play games which is why I've not had a graphics card before, but I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Elite Dangerous so I'm going to need a Graphics card.

I want something that is nice and quiet, mid-range and fits into my case and my PCIe 2.1 motherboard. I think I've nailed it down to these two cards but I could do with some pointers as to which one is better (or let me know if I've been really stupid and should get something else!)

There is this custom Radeon HD 7850 with a 1000MHz core and 4GB of Memory
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX...

or this Radeon HD 7870 with a 1000MHz core and 2GB of Memory
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX...

As far as I can tell, other than the £6 price difference; the HD 7850 has double the Memory vs the HD 7870 with an extra 256 stream processors... whatever they are. Any help would be appreciated.

My Pc is a Intel 2100 sandybridge 3.1Ghz with 16Gb of ram, if you need to know.

Thank you :) 

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December 3, 2013 8:51:06 AM

Both of those are very good picks, between the two if you are gaming at 1080p or lower I would suggest the 7870, if you are at 1440p and up, go for the 7850.
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December 3, 2013 8:56:23 AM

The HD7870 is the stronger card.
Make SURE your PSU is up to the job. If you've never had a discrete graphics card before, you probably have a very low wattage PSU that cannot power a graphics card.
For either of those cards, a good 450W-500W PSU would be sufficient. Look for something built by Seasonic (e.g. their own, XFX, some Antec, some PC Power & Cooling), FSP (their own, some Antec), Delta (some Antec Earthwatts), or Super Flower (new Kingwin, Rosewill Capstone).
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December 3, 2013 9:04:21 AM

akensai said:
Both of those are very good picks, between the two if you are gaming at 1080p or lower I would suggest the 7870, if you are at 1440p and up, go for the 7850.


Thanks for the super fast Response! 7870 it is then. Thank you very much. Have a great day :D 
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December 3, 2013 9:08:28 AM

akensai said:
Both of those are very good picks, between the two if you are gaming at 1080p or lower I would suggest the 7870, if you are at 1440p and up, go for the 7850.


I think you mean the reverse :)  at 1080p - 7850, and for 1440 above the 7870. Id rather have a better peforming GPU than one with more ram, which it won't really use. Even at 1440 or above, it would be pointless having the 7850 as the GPU would be weak at that res. The 7870 is more powerful card. Even though it only has 2 gb. 2gb is more than enough for 1080p with high/ultra settings in some games. I would most certainly take the 7870 ghz edition, good powerful midrange card. If your going above 1080 p with high settings something like the 7950/7970 or the new equivalent. From Nvidia gtx760/770 are good solid performers for high res high settings gaming.
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December 3, 2013 9:09:38 AM

Onus said:
The HD7870 is the stronger card.
Make SURE your PSU is up to the job. If you've never had a discrete graphics card before, you probably have a very low wattage PSU that cannot power a graphics card.
For either of those cards, a good 450W-500W PSU would be sufficient. Look for something built by Seasonic (e.g. their own, XFX, some Antec, some PC Power & Cooling), FSP (their own, some Antec), Delta (some Antec Earthwatts), or Super Flower (new Kingwin, Rosewill Capstone).


7870 seems to be the consensus. I'd not even considered the PSU! I've got a Antec EarthWatts EA 500D Green power supply, Thanks Onus for confirming this will suffice :) 

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December 3, 2013 9:16:26 AM

Yes, the EA-500D will be sufficient.
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December 3, 2013 9:17:59 AM

I intend to be playing at 1080p
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!