I need help replacing a 10 years old graphics card

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13Argon

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Motherboard: Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 6000+ (3.0GHz)
PSU: Chieftec CTG-550-80p (550W)
Graphics card: Asus EAH3870/G/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 3870 111 x 228mm

Recently my graphics card started malfunctioning (BSOD due to atikmpag.sys, had to uninstall graphics drivers just to use the computer, can't fix it) and I want to replace it with this cheap card:

Gigabyte PCI-Ex GeForce GT710 2048MB DDR3 (64bit) (954/1800) 300W 144 х 68 х 21 мм

I dont have the means to replace the entire computer right now, but I could find money for a new PSU if need be. The only game that interests me is Dota 2. My questions:

- Is my PC too old to be upgraded?
- Is GeForce GT710 compatible with it? Could it not fit in the backplate?
- How do I determine on my own if a g-card is compatible with the motherboard?
- Will it actually be an upgrade or downgrade compared to my old card? Could there be a bottleneck or is it even worse than my 10 years old GPU?
- Could you advise a compatible card that can run Dota 2?


I thank you in advance for your help.
 
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The Ukraine? Ah. Can you list me the prices for a RX 560 then?
Also, 2GB's of VRAM can make a load of difference. 1GB of VRAM limits things like...
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pete_101

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The GT 710 is very weak, it will be worse than your HD 3870. Probably the GT 730 would be about the same. I don't see any reason why either of these cards wouldn't be compatible. Certainly they would fit in your computer, your motherboard has a PCIe 16x slot, so the card would fit straight in. There is always the issue of will your BIOS be compatible, it should be, and if it's not you should be able to upgrade to a BIOS version that will work.

While your PSU isn't all that great, it will still be fine, the newer cards use less power than the one you've already got.

 
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13Argon

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Could you please elaborate on BIOS compatibility. How can I on my own determine if BIOS is compatible without bothering other people? I have Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG.
 
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pete_101

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Ok, now that I know your BIOS version, I did a quick search, and it seems there are plenty of people out there using a GT 730 with your BIOS version......I do have to admit that most of the hits I got were related to gaming issues, but these has nothing to do with compatibility. It seems the GT 730 (and therefore 710, if you go that way) do indeed run on your BIOS version.

Update, I just realized, you did say your BIOS version in your original question, I must have missed it while concentrating on your motherboard specs. Anyway, more searching has found lots of people with 700 series cards and the same BIOS as you, so it's all good there.
 
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13Argon

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But what if I decide to get another card, a better one (Gigabyte PCI-E Radeon RX 550 2048Mb, 128bit, DDR5 for instance)

How can I determine compatibility without posting on a forum? Call the manufacturer? After looking at this page - https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M2NSLI_Deluxe/HelpDesk_Download/, I dont think BIOS update is an option.

Update: You didn't miss it, I updated the post.
Update: Google search "GT 730 award bios 6.00PG" doesn't seem to show anything useful.
 
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pete_101

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Oh, so I'm not going crazy :)

The newer cards are going to be more of an issue for such an old BIOS version, most of them don't even want BIOS, but UEFI instead. All I can suggest is searching for your BIOS and the card you want and see if you get any hits from people who are using that combination.

If you want a better card, I did come across a few people with the same CPU and BIOS as you who were using the GTX 750Ti, this card is at the top end of what you should consider. Anything more powerful is just a waste as your CPU will be holding it back.

 
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Nighterlev

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Your PSU isn't all that great tbh. I'm surprised it's lasted for so long.

As for BIOS compatibility, honestly that means really nothing. Any GPU today will likely be compatible with your motherboard as long as you have a PCI X16 slot available. Other then that, yea. Means little to nothing. BIOS compatibility would only affect you if you were let's say replacing the CPU with a much more recent one.

But really, you shouldn't get the GT 710. It's a lot weaker then the current GPU you got, like A LOT weaker. I'd highly recommend getting a R7 260 or a GTX 750Ti instead. (Make sure you get the 2GB variants, not the 1GB variants as those are a waste in my opinion for the price.

As for Dota 2, I'm not even sure if you can run that on the CPU you got at all. If you can and you find the frames acceptable, good for you, but honestly I'd heavily recommend upgrading that CPU to at least a AMD Phenom X4. You can find them all across Ebay for less then $30 usually, although they do require good enough cooling so make sure to get a heatsink as well for it. (This is where the BIOS updates come in though, make sure to Google your BIOS to see whether or not it supports AM2+ CPU's)

A more important thing would be to make sure you google your Motherboard to see if you can even stick a AM2+ CPU inside it, as certain AM2 motherboards don't support AM2+ at all, but most do with just a simple BIOS update.
 
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13Argon

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Lmao, what the hell is UEFI. How far am I behind the times? Rhetorical question.

So this one should be fine: Gigabyte PCI-E GeForce GTX750Ti 1024Mb, 128bit, DDR5 (GV-N75TOC-1GI) 400W?
How big of an upgrade will it be? Do I have to replace anything else (PSU etc.)?

Update: found 2GB variant, as advised AFOX PCI-Ex GeForce GTX 750 TI 2GB GDDR5 (128bit) (1020/5400) (VGA, DVI, HDMI)
Update: I could run Dota at aprx. 35 fps before GPU started to malfunction, but framerate often fluctuated from 25 to 60 for some reason. Will that graphics card make a difference?
 
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pete_101

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UEFI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface

Yes that card should be fine. It uses less power than your HD 3870, so your PSU will be fine.

Ok, it's almost midnight here, so I'm off to bed now. If you have any other questions, someone else may answer, or you'll just have to wait :)

 
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Rookie_MIB

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I think you'll be fine. Generally most PCIe cards are pretty backwards compatible for exactly this reason - upgrading. The 750ti is a good card, draws little power (sub 75w).

The only reason you might have issues with graphics cards on older motherboards is that some of the VERY earliest designs didn't provide enough power through the PCIe slot. The way that works is that on boot the card initializes on a lower power mode on POST. Then it requests a higher power mode which the motherboard should provide UNLESS it was one of those oddball designs which only supported lower power modes (25ish watts if I remember correctly...).

Obviously a card that pulls 75w through PCIe alone (like the 750ti will) if limited to 25w would not be able to boot. Assuming that your previous card ran fine, I'm pretty sure the 750ti should be fine as well.
 
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Nighterlev

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Before you buy that GPU, how much money are you spending on it? If it's anywhere near $80-$100, then don't buy it. Get a GTX 1050Ti
RX 560
RX 570 instead.

Anyways, for such a old CPU those are pretty decent frames for running Dota 2. The graphics card will 100% definitely make a difference, but don't expect to much because that CPU you got will heavily bottleneck the crap out of it.

If you live in the US I can help you find various different GPU's, you can add my Discord account Nighter#2333 if you wish to do so.

And yes, I would recommend replacing that power supply. It's old, realllly old.
 
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13Argon

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I live in Ukraine and at the current exchange rate AFOX PCI-Ex GeForce GTX 750 TI 2GB GDDR5 (128bit) (1020/5400) costs 115 USD. It's the cheapest GTX 750 TI with 2GB that I can find here. The prices of GTX 1050 TI are beyond what I can afford right now. I am just looking for a temporary (a year, year and a half) fix so I can play goddamned Dota again.

Could you quantify the difference 2GB VRAM would make? If it's not much, I'd rather buy 1GB version.

And why should I replace my PSU? (e.g. not enough power for the card, it could break down, it could burst into flames, etc?)
 
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Nighterlev

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The Ukraine? Ah. Can you list me the prices for a RX 560 then?
Also, 2GB's of VRAM can make a load of difference. 1GB of VRAM limits things like graphical stuff, so with only 1GB (once it's maxed out) you'll experience stutters, fps drops, etc etc etc.. here and there.

Stutters are what we like to call complete freezes, like the game will freeze for a second then continue to play, then freeze again. That's why I'd recommend the 2GB option instead of the 1GB one.
You'll also be very limited as to what your computer can achieve in both the FPS department, and the graphics department, etc etc etc...

If the GTX 750Ti is all you can afford though at the moment, then I'd get it. Hell, whenever you get the money to afford a way better computer, you should probably be able to keep the 750Ti to.

With the 750Ti only consuming around 75W's max though, your PSU should be fine although I would still recommend replacing it whenever you can if you want to keep this PC as your main computer for the next couple of years.
 
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13Argon

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RX 560 is not easy to find. The biggest Ukrainian online store had it for 222 USD (at the current rate), but it sold out. Link, if you're interested (in Ukrainian, obviously): https://hard.rozetka.com.ua/ua/videocards/c80087/21330=rx-560/

Well then. It is decided. I am getting AAFOX PCI-Ex GeForce GTX 750 TI 2GB GDDR5 (128bit) (1020/5400). Hopefully it will work, because customer support is shit around here and it's unlikely I would be able to get my money back. And unless there is a danger of damage, I'll be keeping my PSU for now.

Thanks everybody for answers, especially pete_101 and Nighterlev!
 
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