Need Help Picking a good GPU

[alleriaq]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this week (the closer the better) BUDGET RANGE: about $340

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming Playing Starcraft 2, Dota 2 and League of Legends Mainly occasionally GW2 and Skyrim

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: my GPU is so outdated its not even worth mentioning, PSU 700W (new)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: MOBO: ASRock G31M-S
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 8200
RAM: 4gb (not sure what brand)
Planning to eventually get newer components when i have the $$$

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Centrecom, Australia

PARTS PREFERENCES: Any Reliable brand/Card

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: whats SLI and whats Crossfire...

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1440x900 i may be getting a new monitor soon with higher RES

 

[ASHISH65]

Please tell your whole specs and your power supply and your max resolution.

 

[pit_1209]

Check this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125414

 

[pit_1209]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this week (the closer the better) BUDGET RANGE: about $340

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming Playing Starcraft 2, Dota 2 and League of Legends Mainly occasionally GW2 and Skyrim

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: my GPU is so outdated its not even worth mentioning, PSU 700W (new)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: MOBO: ASRock G31M-S
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 8200
RAM: 4gb (not sure what brand)
Planning to eventually get newer components when i have the $$$

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Centrecom, Australia

PARTS PREFERENCES: Any Reliable brand/Card

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: whats SLI and whats Crossfire...

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1440x900 i may be getting a new monitor soon with higher RES

PSu brand and next possible res. for new monitor would be great.

 

[ASHISH65]

In amd side you can get hd 7950 and in nvidia gtx 660ti.Both card will maxout any games you throw for next 3 years at that resolution.

 

[alleriaq]

PSu brand and next possible res. for new monitor would be great.

Thermaltake TR2 Bronze 700W
and 1920x1080 hopefully

 

[pit_1209]

Sli and Crossfire are multi-gpu setups, I mean 2 or more cards interconnected.
Requires an AMD CrossFire™ Ready motherboard, an AMD CrossFire™ Bridge Interconnect (for each additional graphics card) and may require a specialized power supply.

 

[ASHISH65]

Your psu is enough for both cards.you are good to go.

 

[pit_1209]

Thermaltake TR2 Bronze 700W
and 1920x1080 hopefully

Check the one in the link I already posted, I think that a hd 7950 is more suitable than the gtx 660 ti.

 

[alleriaq]

i looked on centrecom and there are like 3 or 4 different GPU's with the same name for both HD7950 and 660Ti what is the difference?

 

[alleriaq]

Check the one in the link I already posted, I think that a hd 7950 is more suitable than the gtx 660 ti.

http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/r795wf3-gigabyte-radeon-7950-overclocked-p-56327.html?sort=2a
is that pretty much the same one that you posted?

 

[pit_1209]

http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/r795wf3-gigabyte-radeon-7950-overclocked-p-56327.html?sort=2a
is that pretty much the same one that you posted?

Yeah, is the same card.

 

[alleriaq]

another newbie question is there any software i will have to install? or can i just place it in?
and will the GPU fit propperly?

 

[ASHISH65]

Yes hd 7950 is better than gtx 660ti.They both performs at very close to each other.

 

[pit_1209]

another newbie question is there any software i will have to install? or can i just place it in?
and will the GPU fit propperly?

You will need the drivers beforehand but you can download the last version or just installed the one in the cd that comes with the card, about if it fits I need to know which is your case if that´s possible.

 

[ASHISH65]

Download latest driver from website as thd driver which comes with cd is sometimes old.

 

[alleriaq]

You will need the drivers beforehand but you can download the last version or just installed the one in the cd that comes with the card, about if it fits I need to know which is your case if that´s possible.

my case doesnt display the name anywhere is there a way to find out?

 

[pit_1209]

my case doesnt display the name anywhere is there a way to find out?

How much free space you got inside your case with your build, is everything very tigth or there´s plenty of it.
Can you take photos?

 

[alleriaq]

How much free space you got inside your case with your build, is everything very tigth or there´s plenty of it.
Can you take photos?

it should fit length wise but im not sure about width

 

[pit_1209]

is a double slot card so if there´s nothing blocking the next slot there won´t be a problem. My concerned was about the length.

 

[ASHISH65]

You will have no problem to fit gpu.you are good to go.

 

[alleriaq]

okay thanks a heap guys

 

[pit_1209]

okay thanks a heap guys

Just try to get nothing between the flow of the card´s fan and good luck.

 

[bigshootr8]

Check the one in the link I already posted, I think that a hd 7950 is more suitable than the gtx 660 ti.

I'm going to disagree here not because of the techreport that shows that the 660Ti can be stronger then the 7950.
http://techreport.com/review/23981/radeon-hd-7950-vs-geforce-gtx-660-ti-revisited

But because he is a old socket 775 chip that is at least 4-5 years old. August 2008 is when they released. He needs a more mid range card a 7950 isn't a mid range card and even the 660Ti may throw him a curve ball. I would be looking at a 7850 or a gtx660 non ti and start looking towards Haswell or Skylake. I'm referring to CPU architecture I would say that you would need to look towards the next 2 gens as points of where upgrading would yield the biggest return when looking at graphic cards.

 

[alleriaq]

i will eventually upgrade the CPU though is it bad for the GPU if the CPU is outdated? or is it just not going to use the GPU to its full potential?