Geforce 1Gb 9400GT vs 1Gb HD5450

[malvichm]

hello
my PC specs:
Intel Pentium Dual core E5500 2.8GHz (Over Clocked 3.4GHz)
2GB RAM
Geforce 1 GB 9400GT (Over Clocked)
Win7 32Bit

i have been playing games like Kane & Lynch2: dog days, Mass effect2, GTA IV:EFLC, Lost Planet2, NFS HP2010, etc. they all run fine on medium to high quality settings with the above specs.

My problem is i want to buy an HD5450 1GB which seems to be slightly powerful than my 9400GT GPU, except for the 64bit memory interface the HD5450 has compared to 128bit of the 9400GT.

Does the memory interface count that much considering the HD5450 has a faster core clock, memory clock, has ddr3 etc.

 

[Griffolion]

Yeah the memory interface does count as it details the amount of throughput on your card. If you want a card that comfortably beats the 9400GT then go for the 5550.

 

[malvichm]

Which makes the 9400GT faster than the HD5450, right? I'm also looking at the prices. Approximately how much would the 5550 cost me? I would have gone for the HD5670 but our guys are killing us with their prices, $200USD for the HD5670 and $90USD for the HD5450.

 

[Griffolion]

If you're in the US, 5550 prices start at $62.

Which country are you in / what retailer are you using?

 

[malvichm]

That's the thing. I'm not in the US. I'm in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe to be specific. I use Kalahari.net from South Africa. By the time it gets this side it'll probably be around $150. The price isn't bad though, I'll look into it.

Do you know how much performance i will get if i overclock it? I cant talk of cross fire because the money will be equivalent to buying maybe an HD57xx

 

[Griffolion]

The 5550 is the bottom end of the gaming offering by ATI, overclocking it honestly won't do a great deal but you could always give it a try. It also uses a single slot cooler instead of a double slot so cooling would definitely be an issue.

 

[Unolocogringo]

They are very close in games performance wise. So it would not be an upgrade.
Take a look at this chart.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-radeon-hd-6870-radeon-hd-6850,2782-7.html

If possible try to upgrade at least 3 tiers on the chart. Otherwise you will be dissapointed with your purchase.

 

[Griffolion]

The 5550 is 4-5 tiers above the 9400GT according to that chart.

 

[Herr_Koos]

That's the thing. I'm not in the US. I'm in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe to be specific. I use Kalahari.net from South Africa. By the time it gets this side it'll probably be around $150. The price isn't bad though, I'll look into it.

Do you know how much performance i will get if i overclock it? I cant talk of cross fire because the money will be equivalent to buying maybe an HD57xx

Kalahari is horribly expensive when it comes to electronic components. Take2.co.za is much better, they have a wider range as well. Not sure of they deliver to Zim though.

Can't you get a friend in RSA to buy the card from a local retailer and bring it across for you?

 

[malvichm]

I have friends down there and i don't trust most of them with anything but the ones i do trust don't travel that often. Let me visit Take2 & see their delivery conditions. I think I'll go for the 5550. I did some research and it's an alright card, faster than the 9400GT. I took a look at the chart as well and its way up the list compared to the 9400GT.

thanks

 

[Herr_Koos]

If you ship from Take2, you may be able to afford something significantly better. Good luck!

 

[Dominaz1]

I think Take2 only ships to South Africa, it says that at the end of the page..... Sorry..

 

[malvichm]

@ Dominaz1, yeah i noticed. @ Herr_Koos, they sure have good prices. I just spotted reasonably priced 1156, 1366 mobos and CPUs. i might just build me a new rig.
Thanks guys.

 

[dalauder]

Good luck with finding good prices. At those rates, the importance of overclocking whatever parts you have is amplified.

 

[Herr_Koos]

@ Dominaz1, yeah i noticed. @ Herr_Koos, they sure have good prices. I just spotted reasonably priced 1156, 1366 mobos and CPUs. i might just build me a new rig.
Thanks guys.

You in SA?

 

[malvichm]

No but I will try get someone to buy the things for me and bring them over.