Need help deciding what route to go with Graphics and APU

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

I bought a Pc Desktop that came with this.

A8-6600K 3.9GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) 4-Core APU
8GB of 1600Mhz DDR3 RAM1TB Hard Drive Storage Space
AMD Radeon 8570D Graphics Chip
GigaByte GA-F2A55M-HD2 mobo
DVD-RW +/- & WiFi Network Adapter
Galaxy Gaming Case & Standard PS

I have hear for better gaming performance i can dual or cross fire with another Graphics card.

Could someone explain what this means and why i should do it... to help me getting better Game performance.... and does it matter what graphics card i get ? or does it have to be a specific kind... same manufacturer... etc.

Or should i just buy a stand alone graphics card or something.

Does Psu play a part too ?

Danbuscus25 · Jul 17, 2014

ok, it means running a dedicated graphics card at the same time as your integrated graphics, the 8570D. it has to be an amd gpu, and usually a low-end one. lemme pull up a chart, and ill let you know which cards you could pair with it. also, what is your budget?

i7Baby · Jul 17, 2014

It's a browser pc.

A graphics card has to fit your case and be powered by the power supply.

What power supply make and model? Got a link to the case?

Danbuscus25 · Jul 17, 2014

ok, the best card to pair with your integrated gpu is the radeon HD 6670, which is around $70-$90. if you want a more powerful card, it will run alone.

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

hey guys the motherboard i seem to have according to HW is GigaByte GA-F2A55M-HD2 now i may have read it wrong but my motherboard doesnt allow crossfire ?? but the apu does ?

So if i bought the appropriate card nothing would happen ?

My PSU is the standard i believe it is 500.

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

i7Baby :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200910078633?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

i7Baby · Jul 17, 2014

That's the pc - no specs for what max length vga card will fit inside. You'll have to measure it.

Got a make and model for the power supply?

Danbuscus25 · Jul 17, 2014

you can run the igpu and a card in crossfire in that board, and the hd 6670 doesnt need any power connectors so it should be fine on your psu. it will fit in your case just fine aswell, i have one and it is very small, low-profile ready and only like 5" long. but again, what is your budget and usage?

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

i7Baby :

this site lists the gpu that will fit when you click the CPU socket link ?

http://www.game-debate.com/motherboard/index.php?mot_id=1961&motherboard=GigaByte%20GA-F2A55M-HD2

psu = ad-e500ae-a5/a6

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

Danbuscus25 :

£50 -80

Up until now it been for browsing and watching films but i wanna start playing some pc games... just ordered xbox 360 wired controller and thought id boost graphics as my recent performance test on mortal kombat complete addition auto set everything too low or off which told me that my graphics must be poor ?

Pcbuilder123 · Jul 17, 2014

Hello. Get the gtx 750. it doesn't require external power, and will fit and run demanding games on medium settings

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-1020MHz-1085MHz-5012MHz-Graphics/dp/B00IGQ546A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405573077&sr=8-2&keywords=gtx+750

i7Baby · Jul 17, 2014

Kevin Fraser :

It has a pcie2.0 x16 slot for the card. But what card will fit in your case?

Pcbuilder123 · Jul 17, 2014

i7Baby :

Kevin Fraser :

Looks like its only a pcie1.0 slot. Only old cards will work with it.

No??? that is a pci-e 2.0 16x slot... Or atleast that is what it looks like. An a8 wouldn't be compatible with an socket a1 board.

i7Baby · Jul 17, 2014

Yr too quick - I edited

Danbuscus25 · Jul 17, 2014

for your budget, this card will be perfect for you http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-n750tf1gd5oc

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

Danbuscus25 :

IS this going to be a standalone card or will it be used dual/cross fire with the APU i currently have ?

And will it perform better than the crossfire alternatives.

thanks for all the help guys.

Danbuscus25 · Jul 17, 2014

standalone, and it will run a little better than a dual setup with the 6670, and much better in games that do not support the crossfire.

Pcbuilder123 · Jul 17, 2014

Kevin Fraser :

The nvidia card will be standalone. It doesn't matter, though. Look at this video, the apu crossfire hardly does anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LpvpgqGddM&list=UUkWQ0gDrqOCarmUKmppD7GQ

Pcbuilder123 · Jul 17, 2014

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

Danbuscus25 :

okay i will have a look thanks. tbh i dont think my motherboard allows crossfire ? some sites say no and some say yes....

Pcbuilder123 · Jul 17, 2014

Kevin Fraser :

Also, please don't get a 6670 or a 6770, it is very outdated and noisy. Get a radeon 7750 worst case.

Danbuscus25 · Jul 17, 2014

well, his apu cant crossfire with 7xxx cards, thats why i said the 6670, and your mobo does NOT allow crossfire with 2 dedicated cards, but it DOES allow crossfire with 1 dedicated card and an igpu.

Kevin Fraser · Jul 17, 2014

Danbuscus25 :

thanks for clearing that up, so basically if i was trying to crossfire with two standalone graphics cards ti would be a no go but using a APU and 1 standalone it would be okay...

I just dug out the box that came with the pc... pre installed. this is the mobo specs which are slightly different form the good results.

APU support: AMD FM2/FM2+ A- series Processors
Apu Socket: AMD Socket FM2+
Chipset: AMD A55 Chipset
Graphics Interface 1* PCI-E 3.0 x 16 slot
Memory type: Dual channel DDR 3
Form Factor : Micro ATx 226 x 174

With all this would you still go with the msi card or dual 6670 ?

Pcbuilder123 · Jul 17, 2014

Kevin Fraser :

Definitely the msi card. It will be much faster and quieter and also, dual gpu-s are not compatible with all cards, and the 6 series driver support will end sooner than the msi card.

Danbuscus25 · Jul 17, 2014

the standalone 750 card will give more performance, but is more expensive. if you really need to save money, the dual 6670 is 25 pounds cheaper.

Need help deciding what route to go with Graphics and APU

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