Hello,
I have a AMD PC with an APU from December, 2012.
I am rather satisfied with the gaming results from it but only with older, already released games. All the new releases force me into playing on Low or Med with a lower resolution than my monitor which is a pain.
I would like to upgrade my graphics card though as its an APU, that would involve replacing the CPU aswell which is 3.4 GHz and in my eyes, very good. I think I have a few solutions to my obstacles and would like to list them so the masses can help me and decide which one to do and answer a few questions.
If you were in my position and were chasing better frames and performance, what would you do?
1) (Low priority)
Buy a new CPU and GPU and sell old APU to help with costs.
AMD FX 8120 Black Edition + AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB
£121.39 inc. VAT £188.19 inc. VAT
2) (Medium priority)
Buy a double of my current GPU(APU); AMD 7570 and install that into the empty PCI Express slot and crossfire them for double action.
3) (Highest priority)
Buy a specific, more expensive, GPU (AMD Radeon HD 7((8/9))70 2/3GB) and Crossfire it with my APU, set the newer GPU as the main one and the original APU graphic card as the alternative.
AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB
£188.19 inc. VAT
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Around September to December (Christmas)
BUDGET RANGE: (Minimum)100-~200/Most likely\300~400(Maximum)
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Essentially gaming at Med to High/Ultra on games like BF3, Crysis, ARMA 2/3, Saints Row, GTA IV/V, hopefully. I don't want a massively overpowered PC that destroys the universe but I don't want it to be petty either.
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: (http://bit.ly/16Hwhzd)
Internal 300W (100V-240V)
•Form factor: Internal ATX
•Total wattage: 300W
•Nominal input voltage range: 200-240V/3A (50-60Hz)
•Dimensions: 150mm x 140mm x 86mm (5.9 x 5.5 x 3.4 inches)
Radeon HD 7570
•Form Factor: Full-height ATX bracket
•Maximum resolution:
◦DisplayPort resolution: 2560 x 1600 at 60Hz
◦HDMI resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
◦DVI (dual-link) resolution: 2560 x 1600 x 32bpp at 60Hz
◦Analog VGA resolution (with adapter): 2048 x 1536 x 32bpp at 60Hz
•2 GB onboard memory
•Memory size: 128-bit
•Memory type: DDR3
•Supports Blu-ray
•Supports up to three displays at the same time
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
AMD A10-5700 ((AMD A10-5700 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics))
•TDP: 65W
•Operating speed: 3.4 GHz (up to 4.0 GHz turbo)
•Number of cores: 4
•Socket: FM2
MSI MS-7778 (Jasmine)
•Manufacturer: MSI
•Form factor: uATX - 24.4 cm (9.6 inches) x 24.4 cm (9.6 inches)
•Chipset: AMD A75 FCH
•Memory sockets: 2 x DDR3
•Front side bus speeds: UMI 5 GT/s
•Processor socket: FM2
•Expansion Slots:
◦1 PCI Express x16 (Gen 2.0)
◦3 PCI Express x1 (Gen 2.0)
◦1 PCI Express Mini Card (Gen 2.0)
8 GB ((4GB DIMM Hynix Semiconduc 1600MHz))²
•Amount: 8 GB
•Speed: PC3-12800 MB/sec
•Type: DDR3-1600
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.dinopc.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Uk, England, London
PARTS PREFERENCES: I assume that as the whole PC consists of AMD parts, I would have to obtain a new Intel compatible motherboard to use Intel parts but if not so, I wouldn't mind a GeForce Nvidea card.
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, Crossfire
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
*Would the extra GPU top my wattage over 300W (forcing me into getting a bigger power supply and then getting a cooler/fan to make sure its all in shape?)
*Is the 7570 APU compatible with the 7870 in Crossfire, if not, can I just not Crossfire it and let them run together without software?
*Would all the hassle be worth it as I would be running TWO GPU's instead of ONE more powerful GPU, therefor the PC would be hotter and louder?
*Would it be worth waiting until September/Christmas to see an improvement in AMD technology?
-Michael Scott
I have a AMD PC with an APU from December, 2012.
I am rather satisfied with the gaming results from it but only with older, already released games. All the new releases force me into playing on Low or Med with a lower resolution than my monitor which is a pain.
I would like to upgrade my graphics card though as its an APU, that would involve replacing the CPU aswell which is 3.4 GHz and in my eyes, very good. I think I have a few solutions to my obstacles and would like to list them so the masses can help me and decide which one to do and answer a few questions.
If you were in my position and were chasing better frames and performance, what would you do?
1) (Low priority)
Buy a new CPU and GPU and sell old APU to help with costs.
AMD FX 8120 Black Edition + AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB
£121.39 inc. VAT £188.19 inc. VAT
2) (Medium priority)
Buy a double of my current GPU(APU); AMD 7570 and install that into the empty PCI Express slot and crossfire them for double action.
3) (Highest priority)
Buy a specific, more expensive, GPU (AMD Radeon HD 7((8/9))70 2/3GB) and Crossfire it with my APU, set the newer GPU as the main one and the original APU graphic card as the alternative.
AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB
£188.19 inc. VAT
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Around September to December (Christmas)
BUDGET RANGE: (Minimum)100-~200/Most likely\300~400(Maximum)
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Essentially gaming at Med to High/Ultra on games like BF3, Crysis, ARMA 2/3, Saints Row, GTA IV/V, hopefully. I don't want a massively overpowered PC that destroys the universe but I don't want it to be petty either.
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: (http://bit.ly/16Hwhzd)
Internal 300W (100V-240V)
•Form factor: Internal ATX
•Total wattage: 300W
•Nominal input voltage range: 200-240V/3A (50-60Hz)
•Dimensions: 150mm x 140mm x 86mm (5.9 x 5.5 x 3.4 inches)
Radeon HD 7570
•Form Factor: Full-height ATX bracket
•Maximum resolution:
◦DisplayPort resolution: 2560 x 1600 at 60Hz
◦HDMI resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
◦DVI (dual-link) resolution: 2560 x 1600 x 32bpp at 60Hz
◦Analog VGA resolution (with adapter): 2048 x 1536 x 32bpp at 60Hz
•2 GB onboard memory
•Memory size: 128-bit
•Memory type: DDR3
•Supports Blu-ray
•Supports up to three displays at the same time
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:
AMD A10-5700 ((AMD A10-5700 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics))
•TDP: 65W
•Operating speed: 3.4 GHz (up to 4.0 GHz turbo)
•Number of cores: 4
•Socket: FM2
MSI MS-7778 (Jasmine)
•Manufacturer: MSI
•Form factor: uATX - 24.4 cm (9.6 inches) x 24.4 cm (9.6 inches)
•Chipset: AMD A75 FCH
•Memory sockets: 2 x DDR3
•Front side bus speeds: UMI 5 GT/s
•Processor socket: FM2
•Expansion Slots:
◦1 PCI Express x16 (Gen 2.0)
◦3 PCI Express x1 (Gen 2.0)
◦1 PCI Express Mini Card (Gen 2.0)
8 GB ((4GB DIMM Hynix Semiconduc 1600MHz))²
•Amount: 8 GB
•Speed: PC3-12800 MB/sec
•Type: DDR3-1600
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.dinopc.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Uk, England, London
PARTS PREFERENCES: I assume that as the whole PC consists of AMD parts, I would have to obtain a new Intel compatible motherboard to use Intel parts but if not so, I wouldn't mind a GeForce Nvidea card.
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, Crossfire
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
*Would the extra GPU top my wattage over 300W (forcing me into getting a bigger power supply and then getting a cooler/fan to make sure its all in shape?)
*Is the 7570 APU compatible with the 7870 in Crossfire, if not, can I just not Crossfire it and let them run together without software?
*Would all the hassle be worth it as I would be running TWO GPU's instead of ONE more powerful GPU, therefor the PC would be hotter and louder?
*Would it be worth waiting until September/Christmas to see an improvement in AMD technology?
-Michael Scott