Upgrading GPU - please help!

Jazi · Sep 11, 2014

Hello,

1. Can someone give me some advice on upgrading my GPU. I was thinking about R9 270, but I don't know if my mainboard will support (R9 270 need PCIe 3.0?) and I'm confused with my power supply, CPU... Which GPU are you suggesting will be good for my PC?

2. And if you can help with some advices about upgrading my memory (RAM).. I don't know what I have to be aware of.. like MHz?

Thank you and sorry for my bad english.

My computer specifications:

Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-H55M-USB3

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 750 @ 2.67GHz

GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB

Memory: 4GB DDR3 / 2x Kingston PC3-10700 (667 MHz) 2048 MBytes DDR3

PSU: Gigabyte Superb 550P - http://www.gigabyte.si/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2794#sp

lightcloud · Sep 11, 2014

A graphics card that is a PCI 3.0 can still connect with a PCI 2.0 so there is no problem and also no performance drop too. For PSU, get at least a 450W PSU.

For RAM, a 1600MHz and a 1866MHzare the best choice for a gaming. But if you will do editing and rendering then get a 2133MHz or higher.

The PSU you listed is not good. Aim for a tier 1-3 PSU. Here the list to assist you out.
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

mapesdhs · Sep 11, 2014

You won't be able to run 2133 RAM on that mbd, certainly not with an i5 750, the bclk will never
be high enough. Unless you're going to overclock the CPU (generally unwise on an H55 board),
there's no point using RAM higher than 1600. Best option is to replace your RAM with 2 x 4GB DDR3/1600.

If you want to save pennies on a PSU, get a used good quality unit like a Thermaltake Toughpower 750W.

Note that beyond a certain point, you'll find the CPU will become a bottleneck. You can probably get a
moderate overclock on that board with a 750, but don't push it too much. Alternatively, replace it with an
i7 870 which will help quite a bit and oc's much better, assuming the mbd can handle it.

Re the GPU, again for saving money, consider a used 7970. Same as a 280X, costs about the same as
a 270, though personally I'd get a 750 Ti instead (not as fast as a 7970, but less noise, less power,
easier on your PSU).

I built a similar system to your setup recently for a friend's daughter; i5 760 oc'd to 3.8GHz, TRUE cooler,
GA-H55M-S2H mbd, 8GB DDR3 @ 1500, 240GB SSD, GTX 560Ti 900MHz, Antec 300, Toughpower 750W, etc.
All done from used parts, worked very nicely, low cost.

IMO for someone with an older platform like you have, there's a lot of utlity to be had from the used market.

My comments are based on the assumption that your budget may be kinda limited.

Ian.

Jazi · Sep 11, 2014

lightcloud :

Thanks for your answer.

I don't understand.. Isn't my PSU 550W? I checked at http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm, and I saw that my hd 5770 recommended PSU Wattage (W) is 425; for R9 270 is 450 W.. I have to miss something.

lightcloud · Sep 11, 2014

Yes it is right. But I recommend a PSU from tier 1-3 which the PSU listed is not in there.

mapesdhs · Sep 11, 2014

Jazi, what Joeteoh99 means is that although your PSU may be rated at 550W, it's not a model which
is regarded as a quality unit based on that page summary, though who knows, could just be a type
that toms has never tested.

Ian.

Jazi · Sep 11, 2014

Ok, I understand now, thank you guys.

It looks like I have to change almost everything.. My CPU is old, to change GPU I'll have to change PCU, RAM is low..

So, can you please build me decent PC with Radeon R9 280 (or something like this quality) for around 650€ - 700€ (850$ - 900$), if possible of course. I don't have any idea about motherboards, power supply,...

Thank you very much!

mapesdhs · Sep 11, 2014

Actually you don't have to change the CPU if you change the GPU, not given that the suggested GPU isn't
a current top-end model. There may be a bottleneck in some games, but not all, and the 750 does have
a lot of scope for being speeded up (check reviews for that CPU). For the RAM, you could just get a used
8GB/1600 kit, that would be fine.

However, having said all that, with a budget of 700E, you could certainly afford to put together a decent
new Haswell system, eg. 4690K CPU, etc. I'll leave it to others to discuss the merits of the various new
build options (vast range to choose from).

Btw, I do have an i5 760 system, so if you like I'd be happy to bench a 7970 with it (both sub-stock to
match your 750, and oc'd to a typical degree), which would give a perfect indication of how a 280X would
behave (they're basically the same GPU). Some games are highly GPU-bound and would thus run perfectly
ok on such a system (eg. Call of Juarez), some are totally CPU-bound (eg. X3TC), while others like Crysis
and Stalker need a more balanced system.

Also just thinking, with Maxwell fast approaching, it's probably a good idea to wait until after the new 900
series cards launch, see what happens with general pricing (including how AMD responds), or whether any
of the new 900 cards are a better option for a new build (people have been talking about a 950 Ti, but
I have no idea if there will be such a thing).

Ian.

Jazi · Sep 11, 2014

mapesdhs :

You don't have to bench, thank you, I'll just wait then and see what happen after the new 900 series released. My priority is FIFA 15, I guess I can ran it at minimun (medium) at least..

If I just buy a new RAM (8GB/1600) would it have affect in performance in game like FIFA 15? I don't know if is smart to buy now a new RAM, and then not invest into a new components..

Thank you again!

mapesdhs · Sep 11, 2014

I doubt FIFA15 needs that much in the way of system resources, though I could be wrong. Use system monitoring
tools to see what your RAM usage is during normal play. Maybe, for FIFA15, you already have enough. Either way,
I can't in all conscience recommend buying a new kit when it's possible to save 40% or more buy getting a perfectly
ok used kit (aim for a quality kit like GSkill, Corsair, Mushkin Redline/Blackline, etc. I normally hunt for GSkill and
Mushkin). Again though, best to wait for the Maxwell launch, see if there's a good new option, or if prices drop for
existing options (eg. if the 280X becomes as cheap as the 270 is now, or drops in old product NVIDIA pricing, who
knows - this was just an example comment btw, I have no idea what AMD will do with its pricing, if anything). Might
be post-launch that overall it's best not to waste money upgrading an older platform at all, and btw these days I
find people seem to pay surprisingly high amounts for old H55/P55 boards on eBay (I have no idea why), so you
could recoup some of the cost of a new build via selling your old system for parts.

It would be different if your base setup was higher up the scale, eg. one of the better P55 boards, with an i7 and
a decent PSU (oc'd 870 on a good board is still a very potent system, as I've shown by testing with 580 SLI), but
with so many parts lower down the scale, I'd say wait for the Maxwell launch, see what happens to pricing, consider
whether an all-new build using a 4-core Haswell chip makes more sense, either a 4690K or a 4790K if you can afford
it, though note that for FIFA15 you might not need such a powerful CPU with overclocking potential - check reviews
where FIFA15 is tested, or check forum sites where FIFA15 performance is discussed, find out what other people get
with their systems.

Ian.

lightcloud · Sep 11, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-HD3 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston Fury Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($243.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($19.94 @ OutletPC)
Total: $792.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-11 18:09 EDT-0400

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Upgrading GPU - please help!

Jazi

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mapesdhs

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Jazi

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lightcloud

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mapesdhs

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Jazi

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Jazi

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