A new graphic card for an old computer

[cynicoren]

Hello,
I have a 4 year old comp with these specs -

Processors Information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 2 (max 2)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Codename Wolfdale
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Package (platform ID) Socket 775 Lga (0x0)
CPUID 6.7.6
Extended CPUID 6.17
Core Stepping C0
Technology 45 nm
TDP Limit 65 Watts
Core Speed 1999.8 MHz
Multiplier x FSB 6.0 x 333.3 MHz
Rated Bus speed 1333.2 MHz
Stock frequency 3000 MHz

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge Intel X48 rev. 01
Southbridge Intel 82801IR (ICH9R) rev. 02
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 4096 MBytes
Channels Dual, (Symmetric)
Memory Frequency 400.0 MHz (5:6)
CAS# latency (CL) 5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 5
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 5
Cycle Time (tRAS) 15
Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) 52
Command Rate (CR) 2T
MCHBAR I/O Base address 0x0FED14000
MCHBAR I/O Size 4096

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) G.Skill (7F7F7F7FCD000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number F2-6400CL4-2GBPK
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (1 profiles)
XMP no
AMP yes


DMI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIOS Type Award Software International
DMI BIOS
vendor Award Software International, Inc.
version F2
date 07/17/2008
Rom size 1024 KB

DMI System Information
manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
product X48-DS4
version unknown
serial unknown
UUID {00000000-0000-0000-0000-001D7D0C6A9B}

DMI Baseboard
vendor Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
model X48-DS4
revision x.x
serial unknown

DMI System Enclosure
manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
chassis type Desktop
chassis serial unknown

DMI Processor
manufacturer Intel
model Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU
clock speed 3000.0 MHz
FSB speed 333.0 MHz
multiplier 9.0x

DMI Memory Controller
correction 8-bit parity
Max module size 1024 MBytes

DMI Memory Module
designation A0
size 2048 MBytes (single bank)

DMI Memory Module
designation A1

DMI Memory Module
designation A2
size 2048 MBytes (single bank)

DMI Memory Module
designation A3

DMI Port Connector
designation PRIMARY IDE (internal)
connector On Board IDE

DMI Port Connector
designation SECONDARY IDE (internal)
connector On Board IDE

DMI Port Connector
designation FDD (internal)
port type 8251 FIFO Compatible
connector On Board Floppy

DMI Port Connector
designation COM1 (internal)
port type Serial Port 16450
connector 9 Pin Dual Inline (pin 10 cut)
connector DB-9 male

DMI Port Connector
designation COM2 (internal)
port type Serial Port 16450
connector 9 Pin Dual Inline (pin 10 cut)
connector DB-9 male

DMI Port Connector
designation LPT1 (internal)
port type Parallel Port ECP/EPP
connector DB-25 female
connector DB-25 female

DMI Port Connector
designation Keyboard (internal)
port type Keyboard Port
connector PS/2

DMI Port Connector
designation PS/2 Mouse (internal)
designation Detected (external)
port type Mouse Port
connector PS/2
connector PS/2

DMI Port Connector
designation USB (internal)
port type USB
connector Access Bus (USB)

DMI Port Connector
designation USB (internal)
port type USB
connector Access Bus (USB)

DMI Extension Slot
designation PCI
type PCI
width 32 bits
populated no

DMI Extension Slot
designation PCI
type PCI
width 32 bits
populated no

DMI Physical Memory Array
location Motherboard
usage System Memory
correction None
max capacity 4096 MBytes
max# of devices 4

DMI Memory Device
designation A0
format DIMM
type unknown
total width 64 bits
data width 64 bits
size 2048 MBytes

DMI Memory Device
designation A1
format DIMM
type unknown

DMI Memory Device
designation A2
format DIMM
type unknown
total width 64 bits
data width 64 bits
size 2048 MBytes

DMI Memory Device
designation A3
format DIMM
type unknown


Graphics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of adapters 1

Graphic APIs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

API ATI I/O

Display Adapters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter 0
Name Radeon HD 4850
Codename RV770
Technology 55 nm
Memory size 512 MB
Memory bus width 256 bits
GPU ref clock 100000
PCI device bus 1 (0x1), device 0 (0x0), function 0 (0x0)
Vendor ID 0x1002 (0x1002)
Model ID 0x9442 (0x0502)
Performance Level 0


Software
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Windows Version Microsoft Windows 7 (6.1) Home Premium Edition 32-bit Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)
DirectX Version 11.0

Power
-----------------
Silencer
610 EPS12V
PC Power&Cooling
610W

Display
---------
1680X1050 monitor

1. Should I upgrade to one of the following ? ( I asked because I saw them priced somewhere at about the same price as the old 4850)

Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 2GB DDR3 DX11 DVI HDMI PCI-E
Sapphire HD 7750 1GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI DP PCI-E MSI Radeon HD 7770 1GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI DP PCI-E
Asus/Gigabyte/Sapphire HD 7770 GHZ Edition 1GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI DP PCI-E+
Sapphire HD 7770 GHZ Edition OC 1GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI 2xMiniDP

2. Other optional graphic card include :

Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 1GB GDDR5 DX11 2xDVI HDMI DP PCI-E
MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI 2xMiniDP PCI-E
Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB GDDR5 DX11 2xDVI HDMI DP PCI-E Gigabyte HD 7850 2GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI 2xMiniDP PCI-E MSI Radeon HD 7870 2GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI 2xMiniDP PCI-E R7870 Hawk Sapphire HD 7870 GHZ Edition OC 2GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI 2xMiniDP PCI-E MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI 2xMiniDP PCI-E Sapphire HD 7950 OC 950 MHz Edition 3GB GDDR5 DX11 DVI HDMI 2xMini DP PCI-E


I know that generally, as the card is more expensive, it give better performance, but on the other hand there could be "bottle neck"/overkill in the old system. Please recommend me on any of the mentioned cards (or parallel Nvidia products), and if there's a bottle-neck, please tell me what it is.

3. Is the power supply good enough for this new league of cards ?

Thanks a lot

 

[memadmax]

Power supply is good.
Not sure about bottlenecking.
But anything you get will surely perform better.
I would get #2 myself.

 

[cynicoren]

#2 from which list ?
Thanks

 

[Sunius]

I'd get HD 7850 2 GB. Either Sapphire or MSI.

Also, get a CPU cooler and overclock that CPU to 3.8-4.0 GHz. That will minimize the bottlenecking.

Your power supply unit is great.

 

[dscudella]

I'd get HD 7850 2 GB. Either Sapphire or MSI.

Also, get a CPU cooler and overclock that CPU to 3.8-4.0 GHz. That will minimize the bottlenecking.

Your power supply unit is great.

+1

Right on the spot, that's my recommendation. 7770 is a good card, but it is entry level right now. The 7850 is a great midlevel card but at 1920x1080 its 1gb of VRAM becomes an issue (don't know if that would hold true at your resolution though). 7850 2gb or 7870.

 

[jaideep1337]

get the sapphire 7850

 

[memadmax]

lol #2
The first one in the #2 list lol... The sapphire 7850.

 

[cynicoren]

Thanks guys.
I don't really know how to OC or install a CPU cooler (or how to choose one). Should I buy more advanced CPU ? If so, which one do you recommend (one that fits the motherboard. I got an offer for the following bundles, but I don't know how much they will improve total system performance: 1. AMD Phenom II X4 BE 3.4 GHZ+Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2P 2. AMD Phenom II X4 BE 3.4 GHZ+Gigabyte GA-880GM-USB3) ?

 

[Sunius]

I wouldn't really get an AMD CPU. It's not worth it. This cooler is great:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

And there are plenty of guides online for overclocking .