Graphics Card for MW3 (low settings)

[wannabepro]

Hi everyone,

I have about $180~ to spend on a graphics card for My HP d4999z.

My specs:

Amd Phenom x 4 running at 2.3 ghz.
and 4 Gb of ddr2 running at 800mhz. I am not sure about the latency.
750 watt PSU.
1680 x 1050.


I know I can't run Mw3 on anywhere near high settings, but I would prefer gaming at my native resolution.


I am not brand loyal, and I am only intersted in the best bang for the buck.

I am looking for a single gpu. (only one Pcie x 16)

I will also consider getting one used.


I am hoping to buy this card in about a month. Hopefully the new 7000 series Radeons will drive down the prices.

 

[sosofm]

With this card at your resolution you will play all the games almost at high ;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

 

[refillable]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161393

And can you tell me what exactly is your PSU and CPU? You know that Phenom II X4 are good processor but lower end models might bottleneck. When you have a normal or higher end you don't have to worry. I was Asking this because I thought you have lower end Phenom II X4 because of your clock speed.

 

[wannabepro]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161393

And can you tell me what exactly is your PSU and CPU? You know that Phenom II X4 are good processor but lower end models might bottleneck. When you have a normal or higher end you don't have to worry. I was Asking this because I thought you have lower end Phenom II X4 because of your clock speed.

That is my build's weak spot. It isn't a Phenom II, it is just a Phenom 9600.

I had the clock speed wrong, It is runs at 2.3 ghz.

The power supply is a Kentek 750 watt. It seems to handle quit well. What specs are you looking for on the Psu?

What would you think about getting a used Gtx 560 on Ebay? I could probably find one for about $150.

One more thing, isn't the 5870 supposed to be better then the 6870 if you are not doing Cf?

 

[wannabepro]

I opened it up and looked at the Psu specs:

Dc output: +3.3V +5V +12V1 +12V2 -12V +5Vsb
Max current: 25A V8A 27A 27A 0.5A 3A

Is it good enough?

 

[refillable]

Yeah the PSU is good enough, but your CPU and your motherboard have problem. Your CPU will bottle neck either a 560 or a 6870. But if you overclock to about 2.5Ghz It will reduce the bottleneck. And the motherboard, most of the AM2 Motherboard doesn't have native support of PCI-E 2.x. That means you need to stay away from 2.1 (not 2.0) because I have heard some issues of putting 2.1 cards on 1.x motherboards. Unfortunately 6870 is a 2.1 card. But 560 is a 2.0 so you don't have to worry about when you choose a 560. If you ask what is better 6870 or 5870 you can see the comparison here http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/290?vs=294.

So in the end you would go for GTX 560 at ebay which you said cost you $150. It's a good deal anyway.

Hope this helps.

 

[wannabepro]

Yeah the PSU is good enough, but your CPU and your motherboard have problem. Your CPU will bottle neck either a 560 or a 6870. But if you overclock to about 2.5Ghz It will reduce the bottleneck. And the motherboard, most of the AM2 Motherboard doesn't have native support of PCI-E 2.x. That means you need to stay away from 2.1 (not 2.0) because I have heard some issues of putting 2.1 cards on 1.x motherboards. Unfortunately 6870 is a 2.1 card. But 560 is a 2.0 so you don't have to worry about when you choose a 560. If you ask what is better 6870 or 5870 you can see the comparison here http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/290?vs=294.

So in the end you would go for GTX 560 at ebay which you said cost you $150. It's a good deal anyway.

Hope this helps.

It is a am2+ Socket, not a am2. I wanted to put a Phenom II 1090t in it, but everyone in the Cpu section said my Mb didn't support it.

This is the spec sheet for it: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01409493&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=3709474&tmp_track_link=ot_search

Unless you have any better ideas, I will probably go with the cheapest 560 I can find.

 

[fb39ca4]

A Phenom II x6 will not be very useful for games, most are only optimized to four threads so far. Also, yes the 5870 (flagship single-GPU for the 5000 series) is a better card than the 6870 (6970 is the flagship for the 6000 series, this card is for more value oriented people.)

 

[refillable]

You already change your PSU right? Yeah get the cheapest GTX 560. And if you want to upgrade to phenom II you can get X4 955 to X4 980. They are enough for your need and backward compatible with the old AM2+ Motherboards. It has both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller If I am not wrong.

 

[wannabepro]

You already change your PSU right? Yeah get the cheapest GTX 560. And if you want to upgrade to phenom II you can get X4 955 to X4 980. They are enough for your need and backward compatible with the old AM2+ Motherboards. It has both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller If I am not wrong.

Okay thanks, Will do.

 

[wannabepro]

Best answer selected by Wannabepro.

 

[refillable]

Okay thanks, Will do.

Your welcome . And Good luck buying one.