Upgrading my computer (Video Card and Power supply)

Tabeeb · Jul 20, 2015

The computer I currently use, the ASUS CM1745, is over 2 years old now and it has the following specifications.

AMD A10-5700 4x 3.4GHz
Radeon HD 7660d Integrated Graphics
8 GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM
300W PSU
1TB HDD 7200rpm
A85 Motherboard with:
PCI
PCI-e x 1
PCI-e x 4 (PCI-e x16 slot)
PCI-e x 16

I'm thinking about upgrading the video card and the power supply to get higher performance in games. The integrated graphics have done pretty well for two years, but I would love to have some discrete graphics. I made a thread like this two years ago and the Radeon HD 7870 was recommended to me. I haven't really kept up with hardware updates recently and everything now seems so oddly expensive... :??:

I am aware that the CPU I have does not have L3 cache and therefore, it will bottleneck higher end cards. After doing some research, the R7 260x and the GTX 750 ti seem to be the recommended options for video cards. Not really too sure about the power supply, I don't want it to be something too costly. Altogether the cost should fall around $200-250. If there are better options, then I am willing to spend more.

I am a casual gamer and video editor and I want to get the best out of my system for these last few years of high school, before I build a more powerful PC. I have never built or upgraded a PC before but I have done research. So, what are the best upgrades I can make to maximize gaming and video-rendering performance?

I live in Canada. Thank you in advance.

StarChief · Jul 20, 2015

GTX 960 $200 ish

EVGA 500W $50 ish in some places

Great for a casual experience.

maddogfargo · Jul 20, 2015

StarChief :

Agreed. This would be a decent combo, especially if you overclock the CPU portion of the APU.

Tabeeb · Jul 20, 2015

StarChief :

Will the CPU bottleneck it?

StarChief · Jul 20, 2015

Tabeeb :

Not at all.

Tabeeb · Jul 20, 2015

StarChief :

I'll look into it then. Seems too good to be true.

StarChief · Jul 20, 2015

Tabeeb :

You have a pretty solid rig.

The 960 will compliment your cpu nicely.

The PSU is enough because the 960 doesn't require much power.

maddogfargo · Jul 20, 2015

Tabeeb :

It will depend on the game. Some CPU intensive games need an Intel i5 or i7 or AMD FX 6 or 8 core CPU for best performance on maxed out details. But you will be fine with this setup on Medium to High for 1080p 60hz gaming. And TBH, you don't lose much going between medium / high / ultra.

Tabeeb · Jul 20, 2015

maddogfargo :

The card ranges around $250 in the Canadian newegg and low TDP makes the cost less expensive altogether. Seems like a pretty good option. I will look into it and see if there are any issues I can find. Thank you both.

stl522013 · Jul 20, 2015

Get the 4GB 960 though.

Tabeeb · Jul 21, 2015

stl522013 :

I have a 1080p monitor, is it really necessary?

StarChief · Jul 21, 2015

Tabeeb :

Nah, regular ol' 960 is good enough.

Tabeeb · Jul 22, 2015

StarChief :

Alright, and is this fine for the power supply?
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438016

StarChief · Jul 22, 2015

Yeah that PSU is solid, I use one.

Tabeeb · Jul 22, 2015

Alright. This is the inside of my computers. No problems, right?

http://puu.sh/j90vC/eeb1c1386e.jpg

stl522013 · Jul 22, 2015

StarChief :

Tabeeb :

There are games that use over 4 GB at 1080p. And it is like an extra $10 lol.

StarChief · Jul 22, 2015

stl522013 :

StarChief :

Tabeeb :

There are games that use over 4 GB at 1080p. And it is like an extra $10 lol.

Name one.

Tabeeb · Jul 23, 2015

In the picture I posted, there are two PCI-e slots with different colours but same structure. I think these are PCI-e x16 1.0 slots. From what I've read, the compatibility with the 3.0 card isn't an issue at all, aside from the possibility of a bios update. Is this correct?

stl522013 · Jul 23, 2015

StarChief :

stl522013 :

Name one.

Shadow Of Mordor. And even if the game doesn't most games will go over 4 GB with anti ailiasing. And again, an extra $10.

StarChief · Jul 24, 2015

stl522013 :

StarChief :

Shadow Of Mordor. And even if the game doesn't most games will go over 4 GB with anti ailiasing. And again, an extra $10.

First of all shadow of mordor barely exceeds 3.6 usage, I've tested myself.

Second, it's not $10 it's more like $40

Third, literally no other game will go over 4G of Vram on 1080p save for a VERY few.

Tabeeb · Jul 24, 2015

So... what about the PCI-e slots? x)

Upgrading my computer (Video Card and Power supply)

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