PSU and GPU advice

[michaeld_83]

New thread as my other one is off topic.


My PC

CPU: Intel 6600 2.4ghz

Motherboard: asus p5n-e sli

Graphics: 8500gt (to be changed)

RAM: 4gb Corsair

PSU: Colorsit 550W (to be changed)




I am getting a new GPU and am changing my PSU on the advice of members on here.


Is this deal for a GTX 260 AT £126 too good to miss?

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/nVidia+GeForce+GTX+260+896MB+PCI-E+?productId=34394

I know many people suggest the 4870 over it but i haven't seen a 4870 for anything near as cheap as this and i hear the GTX 260 is quieter and cooler than the 4870, that is important to me and i would be willing to substitute a bit of performance for that. What do you think.?



I am torn about my PSU, weighing up price/performance which would you take


OCZ 500w modxstream pro @ £49
http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/OCZ+500W+ModXStream+Pro+Modular+Power+Supply+PSU+?productId=

Corsair 550w VX series @ £69

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/500w+%2B/Corsair+550W+VX+Series+PSU+?productId=29383


Is the Corsair worth the extra £20 or would the OCZ so just fine?


What are peoples thoughts? Will they work in my system by the way as well? feel free to suggest alternatives.



Also i hear that changing a graphics card is relatively easy but how hard is changing a PSU? I have no tech skill so am i up for a tough time?


Cheers

 

[AKM880]

I don't know about that PSU, I heard that OCZ power supplies are noisy when it comes to the fan. Corsair is worth the extra amount, can save you more money if lets say a PSU fails and takes other components with it.

Changing a PSU is quite easy in fact, all you do is remember or know where each power cables goes where. Or if you can't remember everything then take detailed pictures of each component that has power to it. That what I did when changing CD drives and HDD. After that unscrew the four screws on the outside of the case (usually) and slide the PSU out, depending on what type of case you have and how its designed this might be tricky or different. Then slide in the other, connect all the cables and your good to go.

PS. When changing the PSU, I always wear a grounding strap if I have one, or touch a metal part of the case without paint. After that I flick the PSU switch off. And then pull plug out and proceed to removing it. Good Luck.

The graphics card is also easy to install, some cases (newer ones anyways) have tooless expansion slots, that you just lift a lock or something and insert the card in. This is really easy, no need for further explaination since your probably know. But always remember to plug in all the power needed to run the card.

I think the 4870 is faster and more powerful than a GTX260, but since I don't have either card I can't say which one is quieter or cooler.

BUT I found these

Sapphire 4870 512MB - £143.62
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB-Sapphire-HD4870-PCI-E-20(x16)-3600MHz-GDDR5-GPU-750MHz-800-Cores-2x-DL-DVI-I-HDTV-HDCP

Asus HD 4870 512MB - £142.59
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB-Asus-HD4870-PCI-E-20-(x16)-3600MHz-GDDR5-GPU-750MHz-800-Cores-2x-DL-DVI-I-HDTV-HDCP

Or, the 1GB versions.


Sapphire 4870 1GB - £154.07
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1Gb-Sapphire-Radeon-HD-4870-GDDR5-CC-750MHz-PCIE-2xDVI

XFX HD 4870 1GB - £160.40
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-XFX-ATI-Radeon-HD-4870-775M-DDR5-DUAL-DVI-XXX-EDITION

And the GTX260

EVGA 896MB GTX260 SSC - £142.90
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/896MB-EVGA-GTX-260-SSC-PCI-E-20-(x16)-Mem-2106-MHz-GPU-626-MHz-192-Cores-2-x-DL-DVI-HDTV

BFG Tech 896MB GTX260 MAXCORE - £167.05
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/896MB-BFG-GTX260-OC-MAXCORE-PCI-E-20(x16)-Mem-1998MHz-GPU-590MHz-216-Cores-2xDL-DVI-HDTV

This is the best I could come up with! Good Luck!

 

[michaeld_83]

Thanks AKM800, sounds like if i take my time then i shouldn't have too many issues changing the PSU.

What is the difference between the two 4870's despite make? They look like the cheapest i have seen but £126 for the GTX 260 still seems awesome.


Is there much difference between 512mb cards and 1gb or 896mb as the 260 is in terms of real time performance?

 

[AKM880]

Well depends on how big your display is. The GTX260 is a really good deal, what games are you planning to play?

 

[michaeld_83]

My display is a 22" widescreen monitor. 1680x1054 resolution.

I plan to play games such as rfactor (and rfactor 2 when it comes out), rpg's such as mount and blade and i may buy eve online. I also plan to buy flight simulator X.

 

[AKM880]

FSX is such a demanding game, I really can't say off the top of my head how the 4870 preforms over what card. Best thing is too look at benchmarks. They have alot on tomshardware too.

 

[AKM880]

Heres the comparison benchmarks for games.

GTX260 vs HD 4870

=on&prod[2062]=on]http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/compare,754.html?prod[2113]=on&prod[2062]=on

 

[michaeld_83]

As most reviews say the 4870 has that slight extra oomph but i think i will go for the gtx 260 due to price and also as i have sli if needed in the future i can add another.

Cheers AKM880

 

[michaeld_83]

I ordered it and they are coming tomorrow. One GTX 260 and a Corsair 550w VX (shame 650w was out of stock for same price).

Can anyone tell me what the best order to change them is? PSU then GPU or GPU then PSU?

Also will i have to manually uninstall my 8500gt card or will it do it automatically when i out the GTX 260 disc in?

 

[AKM880]

I like do to PSU then GPU. Make sure that everythings stable first and then proceed. Good luck!

 

[starams5]

Hi

Do yourself a favor and get a min 750W PSU. Anything above that is icing on the cake. Leave some headroom for future upgrades unless you're selling the computer.

 

[AKM880]

Why would there be need for a 750W PSU. A Corsair is more than enough and plus its probably way higher and has more juice than a generic crap one. The Corsair is enough.

 

[starams5]

I don't mean no disrespect but with your specs I wouldn't be concerned about power either. When you start getting into power hungry hardware the PSU becomes front and center.

 

[AKM880]

Yeah but a Corsair is a high quality unit. It has lots of amps on the 12v rails, and its powerful enough. If he can run a "ColorIt" 550w then the Corsair is fine. Plus you didn't add what brand. a 750W could be generic and those suck.

 

[starams5]

Hi

You are right the consair 550W is a good unit I have heard nothing but good about it. But you have to take the Op's hardware into consideration. Q6600 Quad, ASUS P5N-E Sli Motherboard, potential nVidia GTX 260 GPU, 4gb of Corsair ram not to mention HDD's, DVD's and fans. Down the road if he decides he wants to buy another card for SLI then what? He is now riding boarder line with no more room for upgrades like that extra HDD he might want to add, or that Water Cooling system he wants to add. You should always leave plenty of headroom for future upgrades and you can never have to much power, there is no such thing.

 

[AKM880]

You are also right however, for futureproofing this is a bad idea.

 

[starams5]

I don't mind debating the issue with you but its turning in an argumentative direction so its time for me to move on, the Op has enough info here to decide which direction to take.

Take care AKM880, I'll see you around

 

[AKM880]

Nice, thanks for your help I learned something new. Anyways see ya round' too.