Redundant APU graphics + GPU?

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Kd Aquino

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I'm an inexperienced builder and I just bought an A10-7700k and ATI Radeon R7-250 2GB DDR3. I use it mainly for digital painting in Photoshop but would play games too.

I just learned about APUs and that they have integrated graphics along with them, my A10-7700k have Radeon R7 integrated graphics with it.
My separate dedicated GPU also have the same name? Did I just buy the same as the integrated graphics or are they different and my GPU is stronger?

Also with my specs, what is the highest quality I can get with gaming? (I have 6GB ram, 2.2 usable)

Thanks!
 
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jason3871
6GB Ram with 2.2 usable? I know the APU will allot some as dedicated memory but 2.2 seems low out of 6GB. Where are you checking this? You did purchase mainly the same GPU. But there is nothing wrong with it as the APU can easily run in Dual Graphics mode, utilizing both it's iGPU as well as the GPU you purchased. Please run 2133Mhz Ram as the differences between 1600Mhz and 2133Mhz is tremendous. Also what games and at what resolution will you be playing them? What you have is capable at running most games at medium to high settings at 720p. If you're gaming at 1080p you'll be looking towards keeping the settings on low or even medium, depending on the game.
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jason3871

jason3871

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6GB Ram with 2.2 usable? I know the APU will allot some as dedicated memory but 2.2 seems low out of 6GB. Where are you checking this? You did purchase mainly the same GPU. But there is nothing wrong with it as the APU can easily run in Dual Graphics mode, utilizing both it's iGPU as well as the GPU you purchased. Please run 2133Mhz Ram as the differences between 1600Mhz and 2133Mhz is tremendous. Also what games and at what resolution will you be playing them? What you have is capable at running most games at medium to high settings at 720p. If you're gaming at 1080p you'll be looking towards keeping the settings on low or even medium, depending on the game.
 
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Kd Aquino

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Jul 24, 2015
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Hey :) thank you for the reply.

6GB Ram with 2.2 usable? I know the APU will allot some as dedicated memory but 2.2 seems low out of 6GB. Where are you checking this
Click to expand...
The info is from computer properties.
Yes, I was gonna ask about the usable ram too. Ram is important to me. I tried searching for options on the bios but I can't find any options on increasing my usable ram. (max memory also unchecked on BOOT advanced options) Any idea on how to fix this one? I am running 32 bit.

You did purchase mainly the same GPU. But there is nothing wrong with it as the APU can easily run in Dual Graphics mode, utilizing both it's iGPU as well as the GPU you purchased.
Click to expand...
I did see the Dual Graphics option on bios but I did some research and it's not the recommended combination. Also the option was not on AMD Catalyst Control Center. Glad to hear that it's possible though. Will try!

Please run 2133Mhz Ram as the differences between 1600Mhz and 2133Mhz is tremendous.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry but I don't understand this? :/

Also what games and at what resolution will you be playing them?
Click to expand...
Right now I'm only playing my existing games, Skyrim, Civilization, Dark Souls 2 etc. I haven't really tried changing the settings but Skyrim at default is on low quality. Will dual graphics help?
I do plan on getting newer games. I was going to buy Dragon Age Inquisition. Will my PC be able to run it good?
 
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jason3871

jason3871

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What resolution are you gaming at? Ram runs at a certain speed, so 1600Mhz and 2133Mhz are Ram speeds. APU's benefit a lot from faster Ram speeds. 32Bit version of Windows allows for a maximum of 4GB Ram. Install a 64Bit copy of Windows. So as of now you're 2GB of Ram isn't even being recognized by Windows since it only supports up to 4GB of Ram.
 
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Kd Aquino

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Jul 24, 2015
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I can't find whether I am using 720p or 1080. The game settings only show me the screen res which is 1366x768. How do I see the resolution?


About the ram speed, are those also the same as the DRAM frequency? Mine is set to 1333mhz in default.

In 32bit, does that also count the reserved RAM? So it actually only uses my 4gb ram? Do I really need to change to 64bit to use all my ram or are there any options to increase usable ram
 
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jason3871

jason3871

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32bit doesn't recognize more than 4GB Ram. You can't do anything to make it recognize that. 1333Mhz is a little slow Ram for running with an APU. If the max option in game is 1366x768 then you're running 768p resolution. I'm suare this is on a 18.5 inch monitor.
 
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Kd Aquino

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Jul 24, 2015
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Ok, I will change to 64 bit .

So do I change my ram speed to 2133? There is also an option of 2400mhz.

Also enabling dual graphics had improved my PC. Now all I need is the ram boost :>

Thank you for all your help so far! Will update once I finish installing 64bit.
 
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Kd Aquino

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Jul 24, 2015
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Hello again. I just went 64 bit and now my usable ram is 4.94 gb. Definitely satisfied with that now :) Thank you so much!
Do I still need to change my ram speed?

Here are the screenshots from CPU-Z:

Untitled.png


image.png


My second RAM is very old, was from my previous 7yr old PC which just died.

UPDATE: So I just ran Skyrim and it sets the quality to ultra high. I didn't know ram can affect so much :|
Would it be safe/stable for my PC to play on ultra high? (I always played on minimum on my previous PC)
 
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Kd Aquino

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I tried playing Skyrim on different qualities to see my PC's performance and temperature. Which one in here do you recommend me playing at?

Ultra High: Stutters when I move a lot and often when I rotate my view. Looks awesome but I really can't play it well on this.
Temp: hits 60c fast and got to 64c in 5 minutes.

High: Stutters sometimes, on effects and when a lot is happening in the screen.
Temp: Played for 15 minutes and it stays around 60-62c

Medium: Works almost perfectly.
Temp: Played about an hour. Stayed around 56-58 but eventually hit 60c.

As for GPU, it stayed below 45c IDK why.

Which one of these are safe temps to play long periods at? I use the stock cooler of my A10-7700k (reviewed for crappy stock cooler and heat sink)
What would be the safe temperature range for my CPU?


EDIT: I'm not really sure if those are CPU temps. Can you help me identify what the three tempx stands for and which is my CPU?

My temp by the end of about an hour of Skyrim in medium:
Untitled.png


Maybe this can help in identifying:
Untitled.png
 
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