Which GPU and PSU?

[k0zmic]

Hi

Recently My PSU has been making some dodgy creaking noises..so I may replace it if I do I am going to replace my GPU also which is currently a Nvidia GeForce 6600

Which PSU and GPU should I choose..? I was thinking if ATI is compatible with my Mobo an ATI 4870..? or a Nvidia GTX 260..?

My System is a HP m7260.uk except with 4gb RAM instead of the Supplied 2gb

- Full Specs here http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?product=1152525&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

My Budget for both PSU and GPU is £220

Thanks

 

[Jaysin]

I believe that is $360. That is probably more than enough to bottleneck your CPU, just to give you a heads up. Plus I can't promise american prices will match up to yours but Ill give it a go.

You can easily go with this 4870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102825

and 750watts from Corsair: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=corsair%20750

 

[coozie7]

What is your useage?
If for games, what is your monitor resolution and what type of games do you play?

As a rough guide:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-037-OC&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

Good PSU, with dual PCI-E connectors will cover cards up to HD4870/GTX260

HD4870: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-108-HT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=939

GTX260: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-167-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927

I would suggest the listed PSU and this card though:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-127-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

I'm not part of, nor have any connection with Overclockers! The products are listed to give you a guide to prices.

Check also: Scan, CCL, Novatech, Pixmania, E-buyer, Micrdirect and Dabs to name a few.

As always, shop around and check the card fits! not every case has enough space to accommodate a long card!

 

[jyjjy]

The bad news is your processor is a Pentium D which is pretty crappy at this point. The good news is your motherboard is a 775 which means you should be able to upgrade to a better CPU fairly easily as all core 2 duos/quads are 775 as well.
Coozie has made some good suggestions and looking on that site you can get an e5300 for £53. That chip is well over twice as powerful as your Pentium D and overclocks very well if you are interested in such. At that price the e5300 + PSU + any of the 3 cards he linked should come in under your budget(the ATI are a better value for the money.)
If you aren't interested in upgrading the CPU I'd probably just go for an HD4670 as anything much better than that will be wasted on your CPU.

 

[coozie7]

Blast! I missed the CPU numbers.

As Jyjjy says, without a CPU upgrade even the HD4850 is really going to be too much and will be held back quite a bit by the Pentium D currently installed.

A HD4650 is going to give a fair boost and will run on the existing PSU. I'm not sure about a HD4670, though, it uses a fair bit more power so I'd suggest this PSU if you go for a HD4670:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-017-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

If you do not like that then Seasonic, OCZ, Silverstone and Pc Power and Cooling also make great units along with Corsair: For a HD4670 350-400W from those suppliers will be plenty.

 

[k0zmic]

Thanks for your Replies

The Resolution of my Monitor is 1920x1200 and is a HP 2448hc (24inch) and Games i usually Play are Call of Duty and Shooters mainly.

Yep the CPU is crappy but thats the best i can go really.

The mobo dosent support Core 2's as its the Lithium not Leonite version which does Support Core 2's http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc [...] 25&lang=en - MOBO

i was thinking about this PSU from Dabs but it now i think it would be wasted. http://www.dabs.com/products/corsa [...] -4RY9.html

Also thanks for notifying me about the CPU being the Bottleneck.

 

[coozie7]

Your link is dead, please try again or we'll send you to the Headmasters office

 

[k0zmic]

oh and also the HD4650 would work with the current PSU...? thats surprising.. sorry but are you definitely sure that it will..i just dont want the hassle of ordering it and then having to return it etc.. Thanks

 

[k0zmic]

my bad... http://www.dabs.com/products/corsair-memory-650w-tx-series-atx-4RY9.html

 

[coozie7]

^ You're right, it's a great unit, but far, far more than you need to spend, even 400W is going to be a bit much really but the prices at that end of the spectrum are very close, so you might as well get a big one.
No, the HD4670 may not run on your PSU, but the 4650 will, the 4670 uses nearly twice the power of its smaller sibling!

 

[k0zmic]

I see.. Ok i if i get a 4650 which brand..e.g Saphire, Asus which is the best ? Also does this one have a HDMI port or will i need the Adaptor ?

I found this http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/Asus-ATI-Radeon-HD4650-1Gb-DDR2-DVIHDMI-PCI-E,-Retail_8742.html 4650 by Asus any good ?

 

[coozie7]

Check the specs carefully. The HD4650 comes with DDR2 memory (not good) or DDR3 memory (better) so try to hunt down the DDR3 version.
As for brand, I have no brand loyalty at all and usually just get the cheapest, but BFG and XFX are supposed to have the best warranties and support.

The HD4650 uses the same, or possibly slightly less power than the 6600 it might be replacing.

 

[coozie7]

Slow down on the keyboard!
The card linked to has both DVI and VGA by the look of it, so you'll be good to go with either type of display.

 

[k0zmic]

yeh i think i should..Oh ok that explains the price differences

Is there a 1gb version with DDR3? ..if there is im struggling to find it.

 

[coozie7]

TBH, I do 'nt know if there is a 1Gb DDR3 card;(
Do n't get too concerned about it: I've never used that much memory yet and I do n't think I've missed it, not even on the 1920x1200 I'm using.

 

[k0zmic]

oh right.. im just wondering which to go for the extra memory or DDR3..?

 

[coozie7]

DDR3, the HD4650 is not really fast enough to make use of the extra memory, which only comes in handy at high resolutions with 4X or more AA, which will slow the card down.

 

[k0zmic]

Ok Thanks for that i found the card at a couple of places.

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/1961693/art/sapphire-technology/radeon-hd-4650-hdmi-512.html?srcid=867

and

http://www.pcwb.co.uk/catalogue/item/A0477221?cidp=Froogle

Any Cheaper elsewhere? if not ill go and buy one of these

 

[coozie7]

Had a quick look, nothing cheaper, take your pick on the two you linked to, they seem to be the same card!

 

[k0zmic]

yeah i kno just one comes with Dust Removal..so i think il got for that

Thanks for all your help