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Started by olliewalts | | 15 answers
can my system support the gtx 970
I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card to the asus strix gtx 970 overclocked, I currently have a asus gtx 650ti.
My system specs currently are:
cpu- intel i5 4440 3.1ghz
motherboard- Asus H81M-E (micro-ATX)
case-Novatech defender Mid-Tower
PSU-Novatech 500Watt Power Station V2 Modular Power Supply 80Plus Bronze
Memory- Novatech 8GB (1x8GB)
Hard Drive- 1TB

I was wondering whether my specification is good enough to run a gtx 970 and maybe even overclock it? If not, any other suggestions on a decent graphics card that would fit the specification in the £300 range??
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a b Ĉ ASUS
a c 302 U Graphics card
October 17, 2014 11:02:49 AM

The most satisfying performance upgrade, bar none, is using a SSD for the "C" drive.

I will never again build without a ssd for the "C" drive. It makes everything you do much quicker.
120gb is minimum, it will hold the os and a handful of games. If you can go 240gb,do so.
Samsung or Intel are best.
October 17, 2014 10:50:03 AM

geofelt said:
Since it is doing the job now, I would not bother to change it out.

Look at the spec label on your unit.
There should be something that gives the max amperage on the +12v. rails.
That is what a modern psu or cpu uses.
On a decent psu, that should be 30a or better.
older or cheaper psu's had the amps elsewhere.


I've looked at the specification and the power supply covers both so I think I'll be alright for the power supply, would you suggest any other upgrades??
a b Ĉ ASUS
a c 302 U Graphics card
October 17, 2014 10:43:24 AM

Since it is doing the job now, I would not bother to change it out.

Look at the spec label on your unit.
There should be something that gives the max amperage on the +12v. rails.
That is what a modern psu or cpu uses.
On a decent psu, that should be 30a or better.
older or cheaper psu's had the amps elsewhere.
October 17, 2014 10:27:31 AM

geofelt said:
Do not go overboard and pay more for fancy coolers.
The strix has a boost clock of 1253.
Stock GTX970 boost is 1173
You can buy a EVGA GTX970 superclock for less with a boost clock of 1317.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I might have some doubts about the quality of a novatech psu.
It sounds like it is bundled with the case, and there are very few such bundles that have a good psu included. Antec might be the only one.

I suggest checking that psu out.
I would suggest you pay a bit more for a quality psu.
Here is a list:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware...


Thanks, my PSU was not bundled in with the case and hasn't had any problems so far but I will look into it
a b Ĉ ASUS
a c 302 U Graphics card
October 17, 2014 10:21:46 AM

Do not go overboard and pay more for fancy coolers.
The strix has a boost clock of 1253.
Stock GTX970 boost is 1173
You can buy a EVGA GTX970 superclock for less with a boost clock of 1317.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I might have some doubts about the quality of a novatech psu.
It sounds like it is bundled with the case, and there are very few such bundles that have a good psu included. Antec might be the only one.

I suggest checking that psu out.
I would suggest you pay a bit more for a quality psu.
Here is a list:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware...
October 17, 2014 10:02:50 AM

Not as good, it might fit, but not sure, it will be tight if it does. The zotac is still a nice card, just not as big of a name brand as asus, also probably can't be OC'd as well.

My bad, I was looking at the wrong case, ya the strix will fit.
a b Ĉ ASUS
a c 94 U Graphics card
October 17, 2014 10:01:15 AM

Your case supports graphics cards up to 400mm, just make sure you check its dimensions before you buy.

But the strix is 280cm for example, so no issues there at all. I think the windforce might be the longest, not sure, but that one is 312mm so I don't think you need to worry about whether a GPU will fit.
a b Ĉ ASUS
a c 101 U Graphics card
October 17, 2014 10:00:55 AM

Your case can support VGA upto length of 400mm whereas Strix has length of 279.4 mm. No issue there.

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