- Sep 13, 2010
- 28
- 0
- 18,530
Hello everyone!
Just to lay down some facts:
I built my first computer back in September 2010, just over a year ago. One of the only components I did not buy was a GPU, since I really dislike shopping for them.
Instead, I'm currently using an old Asus EN9600GT 512MB graphics card that I received from a friend. He thought the card fried along with his mobo, but it was fine, so I've been using it since last year.
As of the last several months, however, I have been getting numerous BSoDs while using 2 monitors. In fact, while typing this post up the first time, I received a BSoD. I have now 59 unresolved BSoDs, almost all of them related to a "Video Hardware Failure", according to Windows Action Center. My display drivers also crash and recover while I am playing games, specifically Garry's Mod. This was happening even with the most recent drivers installed from the manuf. website. Rolled back, same issues. All of this has become extremely annoying and cannot be good for my system's health. The deciding factor occurred when my computer set my graphics to medium settings on Skyrim.
The 9600GT is getting old, and I believe it's time to get with the current technology. I don't have anything specific in mind. I've always had NVIDIA cards but I am not against trying Radeon.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Anywhere between now (11/26/11) to Christmas (12/25/2011), preferably.
BUDGET RANGE: Up to around USD $250.
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT
1. Gaming [Garry's Mod, Minecraft, Skyrim/Oblivion, Fallout3/NV, L4D1/2, GTA IV, LoL, BioShock1/2]
2. Home theater/watching movies
3. Folding@Home (Not doing it)
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY:
GPU: ASUS EN9600GT Silent/HTDI/512M GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
PSU: SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz (OC'd @ 3.5GHz)
MOBO: ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX
RAM: (G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 240-Pin DDR3 1600) x 4 (8GB total)
CASE: LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62 Black
WEI rates my 3D Graphics Performance at 6.4, my lowest rating (CPU @ 7.6 of 7.9).
COOLING:
HEATSINK: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
FANS: (Scythe ULTRA KAZE fan) x 2
Using the Hyper 212 on my 1055t, 1 ULTRA KAZE pushing air into a stock fan on the the other side of the grill.
1 ULTRA KAZE on the back of the case to pull the air from the CPU out. 2 stock push fans on top, 1 stock intake fan in front.
CPU is overclocked to 3.5GHz currently.
CPU temperature: ~38*C Idle -- 42*C Practical Load (50% CPU Usage)
GPU temperature: ~56*C Idle -- 64*C Practical Load (50% CPU Usage)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.newegg.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: No brand preference.
OVERCLOCKING: Never overclocked a gpu but willing to try it.
SLI/CROSSFIRE: Never done it, not really interested.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: [1 ASUS VH232 1920x1080] and a 1024x768 Dell Monitor (replacing it with an ASUS VH238 within a week, 1920x1080). I'm not interested in doing SLI/Crossfire. I just like having two monitors for playing games on one and doing everything else on the other. GPU must have at least two video ouputs (VGA/DVI/HDMI).
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Nothing specific here, just wanting a reliable card between $250 that has a noticeable performance jump from my 9600GT. I am not a hardcore gamer, as my list of games that I play shows. But I would like to be able to throw in games like Skyrim and play at max settings. I also play all games at 1920x1080 if possible.
Just to lay down some facts:
I built my first computer back in September 2010, just over a year ago. One of the only components I did not buy was a GPU, since I really dislike shopping for them.
Instead, I'm currently using an old Asus EN9600GT 512MB graphics card that I received from a friend. He thought the card fried along with his mobo, but it was fine, so I've been using it since last year.
As of the last several months, however, I have been getting numerous BSoDs while using 2 monitors. In fact, while typing this post up the first time, I received a BSoD. I have now 59 unresolved BSoDs, almost all of them related to a "Video Hardware Failure", according to Windows Action Center. My display drivers also crash and recover while I am playing games, specifically Garry's Mod. This was happening even with the most recent drivers installed from the manuf. website. Rolled back, same issues. All of this has become extremely annoying and cannot be good for my system's health. The deciding factor occurred when my computer set my graphics to medium settings on Skyrim.
The 9600GT is getting old, and I believe it's time to get with the current technology. I don't have anything specific in mind. I've always had NVIDIA cards but I am not against trying Radeon.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Anywhere between now (11/26/11) to Christmas (12/25/2011), preferably.
BUDGET RANGE: Up to around USD $250.
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT
1. Gaming [Garry's Mod, Minecraft, Skyrim/Oblivion, Fallout3/NV, L4D1/2, GTA IV, LoL, BioShock1/2]
2. Home theater/watching movies
3. Folding@Home (Not doing it)
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY:
GPU: ASUS EN9600GT Silent/HTDI/512M GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
PSU: SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz (OC'd @ 3.5GHz)
MOBO: ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX
RAM: (G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 240-Pin DDR3 1600) x 4 (8GB total)
CASE: LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62 Black
WEI rates my 3D Graphics Performance at 6.4, my lowest rating (CPU @ 7.6 of 7.9).
COOLING:
HEATSINK: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
FANS: (Scythe ULTRA KAZE fan) x 2
Using the Hyper 212 on my 1055t, 1 ULTRA KAZE pushing air into a stock fan on the the other side of the grill.
1 ULTRA KAZE on the back of the case to pull the air from the CPU out. 2 stock push fans on top, 1 stock intake fan in front.
CPU is overclocked to 3.5GHz currently.
CPU temperature: ~38*C Idle -- 42*C Practical Load (50% CPU Usage)
GPU temperature: ~56*C Idle -- 64*C Practical Load (50% CPU Usage)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.newegg.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: No brand preference.
OVERCLOCKING: Never overclocked a gpu but willing to try it.
SLI/CROSSFIRE: Never done it, not really interested.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: [1 ASUS VH232 1920x1080] and a 1024x768 Dell Monitor (replacing it with an ASUS VH238 within a week, 1920x1080). I'm not interested in doing SLI/Crossfire. I just like having two monitors for playing games on one and doing everything else on the other. GPU must have at least two video ouputs (VGA/DVI/HDMI).
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Nothing specific here, just wanting a reliable card between $250 that has a noticeable performance jump from my 9600GT. I am not a hardcore gamer, as my list of games that I play shows. But I would like to be able to throw in games like Skyrim and play at max settings. I also play all games at 1920x1080 if possible.
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