Decision on a HD4670

[lagster]

Hi. So i want to hear your opinion on buying a 4670. I have searched numerous topic about buying a graphic card for a 300w supplies and I have came to a HD 4670.

The problem is some people claim they can run this "HD 4670" on a "300w psu" while other suggest to upgrade a 400-500w psu.

As much I would like to get a new psu, i am on a very low budget (About 80 dollars to spend).
I am considering to get this graphic card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102854&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-Sapphire+Tech-_-14102854

and my system spec is here as follows

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01742889&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3978596

btw the psu is a 300w Bestec

Also I used, http://www.antec.outervision.com/PSUEngine to help calculate and with all the system spec plus the HD 4670 installed, this site show the wattage is 273w (with 30% capacitor aging and 100% system load).

I think it should work, but I would like some feedback.

Also is there a better brand you prefer for graphic card (nVidia, HIS,Asus, .etc)?

 

[jaguarskx]

It will probably work, but as you stated it didn't work for some people.

=======================

Here's an alternative idea, but it's you who must ultimately decide if you want to take a chance and it breaks your budget a little bit. Get a HD 5670 512MB video card and underclock a little using AMD's CCC. It costs about $93 shipped and is estimated to consume about 5w - 6w more than the HD 4670. Underclocking will help reduce power consumption.

Here's the card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102871&cm_re=hd_5670-_-14-102-871-_-Product

Here's an Xbitlab's review with total system power consumption. You need to realized though that total power consumption comes from the 3.3v, 5v and 12v rails:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd5670_12.html#sect0


Here's a THG review which pits the HD 5670 against the older HD 4670. The HD 5670 simply crushes the HD 4670, at worst is only over 20% faster (COD: Modern Warfare2), at best it is about 75% - 80% faster (Fallout 3). Eyeballing the benchmarks, it seems the HD 5670 gives you around 40% more performance:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5670,2533-6.html

Your frame rates @ similar settings will be lower since your CPU is weaker.

Underclocking the core to 650MHz and memory to 800MHz should save you a few watts to bring down power consumption close to the HD 4670 and should still be faster than the HD 4670.


*** Remember, I am not saying this will definitely work. You must decide for yourself.

 

[lagster]

Hmm very interesting suggestion, jaguarskx. Is under clocking hard though, because I never tamper with the system before.

 

[lagster]

Actually I decided to stick with HD 4670. As much I can see the benefit of spending 20-30 dollar on the HD 5670 to receive a tremendous boost, I can not spend on it unfortunately because I am too desperate due to my budget.

 

[lagster]

Oh if you wanted to know the psu specifically it Model is "bestec atx0300d5wc" and I'm pretty sure this one is close to this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/OEM-HP-Bestec-POWER-SUPPLY-ATX0300D5WC-300W-5188-2625_W0QQitemZ330400630865QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100201?IMSfp=TL100201166002r19759

You can see the AMP or V or whatever spec you need to see in the picture (if you scrolled down to the flipping picture)

 

[jaguarskx]

Seems okay. The good new is that your PC doesn't really consume that much power under load so a 300w PSU seems to be fine. If had to guess based on current configuration I think peak power consumption under load will be about 160w - 170w

 

[lagster]

Haha I like that response^_^. and I did some more snooping (on google of course) and i found two people with +12v / 19a that got theirs to work. So I think the 4670 is a keeper!

([Mike on 11/9/2009] using a Bestec 300w 12v/19a)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820

[Anonymous using a Delta 250W PSU (228W on 12V Rails - 19A)] (The first review)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158546

 

[aylafan]

Haha I like that response^_^. and I did some more snooping (on google of course) and i found two people with +12v / 19a that got theirs to work. So I think the 4670 is a keeper!

([Mike on 11/9/2009] using a Bestec 300w 12v/19a)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820

[Anonymous using a Delta 250W PSU (228W on 12V Rails - 19A)] (The first review)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158546

You will be perfectly fine with the HD 4670 on your 300w PSU.

I have been running a HD 3850 on my Dell 305w PSU since mid of 2008 (even though it is an efficient PSU). The HD 3850 uses 95w total and the HD 4670 only uses 59w total.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=579&card2=546

 

[jaguarskx]

^^^

It is a widely known fact (by those people who knows a thing or two about power supplies) that Dell is conservative about the actual total power output of the PSUs that they use. They have been understating total wattage of their PSUs for the past several years at least.

The same cannot be said about HP / Compaq.

 

[loneninja]

You could get a new 5570, they perform 95% identically to the 4670 while consuming close to 10W less power. I think they have the same retail price too.

 

[dualblade]

You could get a new 5570, they perform 95% identically to the 4670 while consuming close to 10W less power. I think they have the same retail price too.

yes sure 5570 is better ( nearly the same performance with lower power consumption and dx11 support - it can play dx 11 games at lower resolutions such as 1024x768 )

http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1224&catid=13&Itemid=27&limitstart=6

 

[lagster]

You could get a new 5570, they perform 95% identically to the 4670 while consuming close to 10W less power. I think they have the same retail price too.

Hmm It is better but, I can't seem to find one that under 80 dollar :S

 

[lagster]

Best answer selected by lagster.

 

[lagster]

Installed it and it work fine!