Help me choose a Graphics Card.

DumStriker33 · Nov 18, 2015

Hello, I am looking to get a new Graphics card and I want to upgrade my PC build.
I am pretty Newbie to choosing stuff and I can't decide. I am in the UK.
Motherboard - Gigabyte F2A78M-HD2
Processor - AMD A8-6600K APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (4CPUs), ~3.9GHz
8GB RAM
Windows 7
21.5" Screen (1980x1080)
500W Power Supply
I have a budget of around £150 might be a slight over.
I have no preferences to manufacturers.
Help Appreciated.

clutchc · Nov 18, 2015

The power supply spec you listed doesn't tell us anything. That is just the line voltage it must be supplied with. If it is an OEM 300W PSU, you can use the GTX 750 Ti. That should be within your budget.
Otherwise we need to know what the specs are on the PSU's nameplate. In particular, the +12V ratings.

DumStriker33 · Nov 18, 2015

Sorry about that, It's a 500W Power supply (atx switching power supply atx-500b) Thanks for the suggestion by the way!

Bricks1226 · Nov 18, 2015

Do you want Crossfire or an SLI card? I'm trying to help you out here.

DumStriker33 · Nov 18, 2015

In preference I would go for SLI but Crossfire isn't bad too. I don't bother which one, they both seem fine to me but I'd prefer a SLI card.

clutchc · Nov 18, 2015

That motherboard will not do SLI or Crossfire. It only has one PCIex16 slot: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5336#ov
What is the make/model of the "500W" PSU? Total wattage means very little. The +12V rail ratings are what is important.

Bricks1226 · Nov 18, 2015

clutchc :

I think the motherboard does support AMD though.

Bricks1226 · Nov 18, 2015

Well if your motherboard does support AMD, then I would recommend an MSI Radeon R9 380 R9 380

clutchc · Nov 18, 2015

Bricks1226 :

Well, yes. It has a FM2+ socket. So it would have to support an AMD processor. What has that got to do with the gfx card or the fact it doesn't do CF or SLI?

DumStriker33 · Nov 19, 2015

I can't seem to check out the rail ratings like I said I'm pretty new to all of this. I know my power supply has 500w and is named atx switching power supply atx-500b. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for your recommendations.

clutchc · Nov 19, 2015

DumStriker33 :

There are several PSU manufacturers out there that have that 500b nomenclature in their model designation. There should be a nameplate on the PSU. If the PSU is top mounted in your case, the nameplate may be facing the back wall. Until I know the make/model of the PSU, I'll have to stop my recommendation at the GTX 750 Ti. However...

If you want to go it at your own risk, a budget of around £150 will put you in a R7-370 or a GTX 960. The GTX 960 is the faster of the two and would be about the max that the AMD A8-6600K APU can keep up with w/o major bottleneck.
R7-370: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=node%3D430500031&field-keywords=r7-370&rh=n%3A340831031%2Cn%3A428655031%2Cn%3A430500031%2Ck%3Ar7-370
GTX 960: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=node%3D430500031&field-keywords=gtx+960&rh=n%3A340831031%2Cn%3A428655031%2Cn%3A430500031%2Ck%3Agtx+960

DumStriker33 · Nov 19, 2015

clutchc :

DumStriker33 :

There are several PSU manufacturers out there that have that 500b nomenclature in their model designation. There should be a nameplate on the PSU. If the PSU is top mounted in your case, the nameplate may be facing the back wall. Until I know the make/model of the PSU, I'll have to stop my recommendation at the GTX 750 Ti. However...

If you want to go it at your own risk, a budget of around £150 will put you in a R7-370 or a GTX 960. The GTX 960 is the faster of the two and would be about the max that the AMD A8-6600K APU can keep up with w/o major bottleneck.
R7-370: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=node%3D430500031&field-keywords=r7-370&rh=n%3A340831031%2Cn%3A428655031%2Cn%3A430500031%2Ck%3Ar7-370
GTX 960: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=node%3D430500031&field-keywords=gtx+960&rh=n%3A340831031%2Cn%3A428655031%2Cn%3A430500031%2Ck%3Agtx+960

By any chance would the Output chart on the PSU contain the information on the Rail Ratings?

clutchc · Nov 19, 2015

DumStriker33 :

I suppose, if they mean power output. The +12V rail is the important one. It will have an amp rating. Your PSU may have a single +12V rail or more than one. Each will have its own amp rating. Then, there will be a total watts rating for the +12V rail(s) as well. Some nameplates go into more detail than others. And there should be a manufacturer's name and model number on there as well.

DumStriker33 · Nov 19, 2015

I believe I only have one 12v Rail rating. There is only one 12v which has 22A. I believe this means there is only 1 12v Rail.
Here is a picture of the PSU : http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAwWDE2MDA=/z/mQAAAOSwo0JWNMYL/$_57.JPG
If that helps by any way.

clutchc · Nov 19, 2015

DumStriker33 :

Your picture isn't working for me. But a single +12V rail rated for 22A would be right, although weak for a 500W PSU. That's why I said to consider it a 300W instead. Low end PSU manufacturers play fast and loose with the total wattage numbers. They boost up the lesser rails that never get much use and come up with some big number for total watts.

DumStriker33 · Nov 19, 2015

So the PSU would be good for the R7-370 to run right? And is there a PSU that you would recommend that would fit good and be more efficient instead of these Low end PSU manufacturers. Thank you for your help.

clutchc · Nov 19, 2015

DumStriker33 :

Yeah, the R7-370 should work OK if you upgrade the PSU. You will want a good quality 450W or better for that card. One with a stronger +12V rail. This XFX 550W will run that card and faster in case you want to upgrade in the future again: http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-ATX-550-Power-Supply/dp/B004RJ8EKI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447975607&sr=8-1&keywords=xfx+500W
Here's a 520W Seasonic equally as good: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seasonic-S12-II-Bronze-Certified-Supply/dp/B00390P1NO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447975694&sr=8-1&keywords=seasonic+500w+psu
In fact, both PSUs are made by Seasonic, one of the premier PSU manufacturers.

Bricks1226 · Nov 19, 2015

clutchc :

Bricks1226 :

Well, yes. It has a FM2+ socket. So it would have to support an AMD processor. What has that got to do with the gfx card or the fact it doesn't do CF or SLI?

Yeah I didn't really think about it.

Help me choose a Graphics Card.

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