I want to upgrade my graphic card.

[kirkostas]

Hi,

I believe it is time for me to upgrade my graphics card. There are several games I can't full enjoy because of my card. I will provide you with my current pc configuration and then I will ask your opinion for the graphics card I want to buy.

My pc configuration is:

Intel Core 2 Duo 3Ghz
Gigabyte X38-DS5
Kingston 4 GB RAM DDR2 800 Dual Channel
PowerColor Radeon HD3870 512MB DX10.1
WD Black 1TB SATA2
Trust 550W PSU

Samsung 22'' LCD monitor max res. 1680x1050

I do not wish to change my cpu, mobo and my psu configuration. And I want to buy something that will last for the next 3-4 years. I have this configuration since 2007 and I am very happy of my graphics card it is capable to play almost all the games. I do not enable FSAA and Shadows are always to medium settings. And I play all of the games in DX9 version.

I am thinking to buy the GTX 650, which is ok for my PSU and it is support all the new features of DX11, Field of depth, tesselation, SSO... This card is for PCI Express 3.0 and my mobo is PCI Express 2.0, do I have a problem with that? Will this card play next gen games in my pc configuration with 30fps min in res. 1680x1050? Will it last for the next 3-4 years? Do you have anything else to suggest?

Thanks in advance.

 

[swagatrath]

Regarding the PCIe 2.0 and 3.0 -- PCIe 3.0 is backward compatible with 2.0. So you need not worry about that. I too had the same doubt before....

 

[kirkostas]

I am not the kind of user that play the game with presets, I always fine tunning every game. That means that I do not allow FSAA because it is not needed in high resolutions and it is performance killer. FYI I am playing Witcher 2 with HD3870 in medium mode (w/out FSAA) and is running pretty well. So I believe a newest card like GTX 650 with 1GB ram and much much faster gpu than hd3870 will last for the next 3-4 years since I have 3870 the last 5 (in few months 6) years.

 

[kirkostas]

I like to play RPG games, Dragon Age, Witcher, Mass Effect, I also like GTA like games like, Mafia, Max Payne, GTA, Sleeping Dogs, I always have the latest FIFA installed and the NBA2k series. I love Need for Speed series and DiRT. Also I love a good old school adventure.

 

[may1]

Don't forget that consoles are reaching the end of their cycle, probably max 2 yrs.

 

[mubin]

What is your cpu model number. e.g. E8400, E7500?

For games like witcher 2 and gta4 you will need a lots of cpu power.

 

[diec4st]

Radeon 7770 would be a very good upgrade and be a nice fit for your CPU. It also won't blow your PSU up since I believe it draws less power than the 3870.

 

[swifty_morgan]

things to remember.......... "DX11, Field of depth, tesselation, SSO"

all of these will weigh heavily on the new card. and unless deactivated, physx will also hurt performance. but some of that will not matter unless you have Vista or W7.

 

[kirkostas]

My first thought was for HD7770 but after research I saw gtx 650 needs less power and it is more capable of performance and costs the same money.

 

[kirkostas]

I have a core 2 due 3Ghz, 4GB ram DDR2 and a gigabyte mobo x38-ds5 with trust psu 550W

 

[kirkostas]

I can go for a GTX 660 or GTX 660 Ti but then I will need definitely a new PSU and the cost will be very high.

 

[Kamen_BG]

no actually the HD 7770 is quite a bit faster than GTX 650.It uses less power at idle and has higher overclocking headroom.
BUT if you wan't the card to last 4 years i suggest you take a look into something a bit more serious like a HD 7870 or a GTX 660.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125443
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161411
The radeon is a bit faster but it's really up to you.

 

[swifty_morgan]

I can go for a GTX 660 or GTX 660 Ti but then I will need definitely a new PSU and the cost will be very high.

do some research. don't depend on some of the stuff you read here. there has to be power consumption tables somewhere. either from the manufacturers site or place like anandtech/guru3d and maybe even here somewhere.

got some kind of budget / ( in reality - not fantasy land )

 

[kirkostas]

That is why I stayed on GTX 650 it is powerfull enouph better than HD7770, less PSU need, same cost, can play with my current configuration and later after 2-3 years and when the PCI Express 3.0 will be used from the games, I will change my mobo and my cpu and my ram. What do you think? Should I stay or should I go?

 

[dannylivesforher]

Can my Coolermaster CM350 PSU support Radeon HD 6570...???
I have a6-3650 APU,4gb vengeance 1600mhz ram,500 gb toshiba hdd,asus f1a55-m le board,a sony dvd-rw drive and a modem.....can my PSU hold all these loads...???

 

[swifty_morgan]

kirsk. yes. stick with what you wanted in the first place.


dani..... yes.

 

[diec4st]

7770 > 650, sorry to burst your bubble.

 

[dannylivesforher]

kirsk. yes. stick with what you wanted in the first place.


dani..... yes.

Thanks dude...

 

[swagatrath]

That is why I stayed on GTX 650 it is powerfull enouph better than HD7770, less PSU need, same cost, can play with my current configuration and later after 2-3 years and when the PCI Express 3.0 will be used from the games, I will change my mobo and my cpu and my ram. What do you think? Should I stay or should I go?

In that case, wait a little more and get the gtx 650 ti... After 2 yrs may be you can get a new mobo and another 650 on SLI to cope up with latest games....
Although IMO, which ever model you choose among the 650 or 650ti, it wont last for more than 1yr because you will be playin at 1650X1050...

 

[kirkostas]

In that case, wait a little more and get the gtx 650 ti... After 2 yrs may be you can get a new mobo and another 650 on SLI to cope up with latest games....
Although IMO, which ever model you choose among the 650 or 650ti, it wont last for more than 1yr because you will be playin at 1650X1050...

Why it wont last more than 1yr? I am telling you right now I play with a HD3870 and there is no game I cant play in 1680x1050 resolution with high settings (fsaa disabled).
How is it possible a brand new GTX 650 which is 100 times more powerfull than hd3870 will last for another 1 yr?

 

[swagatrath]

Why it wont last more than 1yr? I am telling you right now I play with a HD3870 and there is no game I cant play in 1680x1050 resolution with high settings (fsaa disabled).
How is it possible a brand new GTX 650 which is 100 times more powerfull than hd3870 will last for another 1 yr?

I'm saying so because of my own experience with the HD 5750. It lasted approx 1yr for me. Now i'm in need of an upgrade. I play at 1366 X 768 which is lower compared to what you are playing at...

Upcoming games like crysis 3, GTA V will be more demanding... the GTX 650 will probably allow you to play games like these through the next 1 yr...

Considering this suppose say a year later there would be more demanding games like Battlefield 4 and it will be impossible to max them out on a single GTX 650...

 

[mubin]

Why it wont last more than 1yr? I am telling you right now I play with a HD3870 and there is no game I cant play in 1680x1050 resolution with high settings (fsaa disabled).
How is it possible a brand new GTX 650 which is 100 times more powerfull than hd3870 will last for another 1 yr?

I told you before, with that core 2 duo cpu will get nothing from a high-end gpu.

From my personal experience, witcher 2 need a lot more cpu power. I played it with 6770 but get very poor performance for my cpu, 18fps only. Cpu is clocked like E7000 series core 2 duo. It add 5 more frame, 22/23fps. But my 6770 can handle witcher 2 @ 40fps with high setting.

As you want to play witcher 2 & GTA 4, you need a cpu upgrade as well. If you cant afford both cpu and gpu at a time, then keep in mind for cpu upgrade. Also 80% of games will be bottleneck by your cpu.