Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Budget Graphics Card for Skyrim Ultra, Running Medium on Intel HD 2000

Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share

Hello,

Noob Dislcaimer: Noob here !!

This is my first post here, but seeing the number of gurus here I am sure my query will be answered here. So I've been meaning to spend a little on a graphics card I went over some of the threads here and am still sorta confused. To make it easier for y'all to answer the question I am sticking to the template here.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: in the next month BUDGET RANGE: USD $100 +_ $20

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming ( skyrim at this point). Also some other games at varying levels

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Intel Graphics HD @ 1366 X 768 with medium graphics (and large view distances for actors) and very playable ( as in you really can’t tell that I am not using a dedicated graphics card). PSU 350 W (i’d rather not upgrade that just yet)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Intel Core i7 2600 3.4 Ghz Quad Core, 16 GB 1333 Mhz DDR3 RAM, MSI H67MA-E35

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Prefer it to be from Amazon but any other online retailer would be good too if i get a better price

PARTS PREFERENCES: No preferences - quality and price trump everything else.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe Don’t know if I will indulge in it at this point same with SLI OR CROSSFIRE

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Using a 42 inch Panasonic Plasma as my display so 1920 X 1080 would be preferred

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: At this point I am planning on going through the entire Elder Scrolls series and some other games ( May be) as long as I can run Elder Scrolls V at highest settings I’d be happy. :) 

Thanks a lot y’all !!

More about : budget graphics card skyrim ultra running medium intel 2000

Register or log in to remove

I am strapped for cash so new PSU is sorta out. I checked my system and HD 6770 with the extreme power calculator and it says that I should be fine with my powersupply

I do have a green HDD will that help?
Related ressources
Ask the community
Graphics card Expert

Does your psu have an external 6 pin pci-express connector? If so I think a 6770 could work, otherwise you'd have to go with a 6670. You really should get a decent PSU + 6870 though, because 6870 >>>>> 6770.

I am not sure if there is one or not. How do I check ?

What about the nVidia camp? Do I have any options in the nVidia chipsets ?

I just checked with the product page for my PSU and I have the following connectors

1X 20 + 4 pin
1X Sata
4X 4 pin IDE
1X 3 pin FDD
1x 4 pin CPU

Detailed PSU specs as follows:


I know am not using any IDEs can I use a converter or something to connect one of these 4 pin to a 6 pin pcie ?
Also, the max peak out put is at 400W with 350 W as the rated output.

I tried using the extreme power calculator and this is what it shows me for 6870
and this for 6770
Graphics card Expert

Nvidia cards need more power for similar performance if I remember correctly, that's why I'm only considering AMD. 30A on the +12V rail is enough for a 6770, but I can't guarantee your PSU won't blow up within a week since it isn't from a quality brand. The 6770 should come with a molex to pci-express power connector (never used one of those so I can't guarantee it works correctly). If you ever get a new monitor and start playing on a res like 1080p, the 6770 will struggle big time. A decent PSU + 6870 would give you peace of mind and be more future proof (around 200$ total investment). Hope that helps and good luck ;) 

Thanks Youngster I may just have to shelve it for the time being then. I am already gaming on a 42 inch HD plasma, might as well wait a bit. Skyrim gives me about 25-30 fps with medium settings (textures and viewing distance on high) which i can live with and is perfectly playable. Frankly I am surprised that this is the onboard card thats giving me this performance.

May be when deals get better i may get a better PSU and a better card.
Graphics card Expert

Skyrim is a very CPU dependent game and your i7 is pretty much as good as it gets, that's why it's working. If you ever wish to play a GPU dependent game like BF3, your integrated graphics won't cut it.

Thanks esrever I am trying to look for deals for all three at the moment

I also researched the PSU maker - turns out that almost all ASUS and a lot of Antec PSUs are rebadged Delta electronics PSUs; just wanted to put that out there.

They may not be all that bad just because they aren't the ones whose name is on the frontend. :) 
Graphics card Master

Delta is fine as far as brands go but that doesn't change the 228w rating on your +12v rails which is simply quite low. You either need to replace it or stick with a card like the HD6670 that I originally recommended.
Graphics card Expert

esrever said:
you should be able to use the 6850 since you have 30 amps on your +12 which is 360 watts. The 6850 will run as long as its above 270 watts.


Totally wrong! His PSU have a combined 12V@228W That means 19A only!

The combined 12V rails ISN'T the max 12V1 + max 12V2 since they share some internal circuitry. Please, do not blow up the OP computer :) 

As far I researched:
i7-2600 max TDP = 95W
HD 6670 max TDP = 66W (Do NOT require PCI-E auxiliary pin)
HD 6750 max TDP = 86W
HD 6770 max TDP = 108 W

Total for 12V (HD 6670)= 161W
Total for 12V (HD 6750)= 181W
Total for 12V (HD 6770)= 203W

I would surely sleep better if you get the HD6670, not the others, since you need to have wattage room for the PSU, AND your PSU don't have any PCI-E auxiliary pin (I'm against adaptors)

Bit the bullet and got the OCZ modxstream pro 700 W PSU and the XFX HD687x CNFC 2GB.

Which brings my final build to this:

i7 2600
16 GB DDR3
xfx HD6870 2GB
OCZ modxstream 700W

all on a 42" Plasma

Sound good?
Register or log in to remove
 
Ask the community
Read discussions in other Graphics & Displays categories
!