Help with Graphics Card upgrade.

Hey. I am a fairly big PC gamer but my knowledge of hardware upgrades and the multitude of options out there is pretty much zero. I am currently running an Nvidia GT 9500 1gb model, its just under three years old now. Until recently I was very happy with its performance as the bench mark I was running it too was SC II and HotS, which the card runs quite well but not to the games full potential. However I have just bought Simcity and the graphical performance on my current card is quite frankly awful.

With games such as Rome Total War 2 and Company of Heroes 2 just around the corner I would really like to upgrade my card to something that will handle newer games a lot better. My PC is running:

Windows 7 64 bit, 4gb of ram and a Pentium Dual Core CPU E5400 both which clock 2.7 ghz.

So what card would you recommend I get? If you need anymore info on my rig please let me know. Thanks.

7850 or 650Ti Boost, anything higher and that dual core is just too slow.

Edit: Get a cooler as well and OC.

Thanks for the advice, do you have any links you could provide for your recommendations? As I said I am very new to upgrading so pretty dumb when it comes to anything to do with it.

Thanks for the advice, do you have any links you could provide for your recommendations? As I said I am very new to upgrading so pretty dumb when it comes to anything to do with it.

hawker8821

Well, where you from? so I can link places.

I am from the UK. Thanks.

http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-hardware/all/gpu-amd/radeon-hd7850-pci-e-(1024-cores)

7850 or 650Ti Boost

GTR12

Both those cards need a 6-pin PCIe power plug from the PSU. What rig do you have, or what PSU?

Im not sure on either of those sorry. Like I said I am a complete novice when it comes to the mechanics of a PC. How do I go about checking these? Ill hunt out the literature it came with and see if it tells me there.hawker8821

There should be some sort of label on the case, like is it a Dell model whatever or an HP whatchamacallit or what? If it's a homebuilt, there will be a label on the PSU.

I have a hunch it is a 350w PSUhawker8821

It was a home built model, will this require me to open up the PC?hawker8821

Maybe not. You need to copy what's on the PSU's label for us. It might be where you can see it from the outside.

Ok so the only sticker on the back of the PC says AC 230 V, if thats any help? If I guess right I will need to upgrade my power supply as well?

Ok so the only sticker on the back of the PC says AC 230 V, if thats any help? If I guess right I will need to upgrade my power supply as well?

hawker8821

Ok so the only sticker on the back of the PC says AC 230 V, if thats any help? If I guess right I will need to upgrade my power supply as well?

hawker8821

There is another sticker on the PSU somewhere that says the wattage and such, but the chances are that you will need a bigger one for the better graphics cards. Pick a card, and get the PSU that is suitable for it.

Anything from the GTX 650 Ti Boost to GTX 680, but I don't know your budget. If you want to spend like a maniac and go for the Titan or 690, good for you, but I think it's crazy.

For me personally, I think the GTX 670 is very good value for money and it will give you a lot of performance, just a bit weaker than the 680.

Anything from the GTX 650 Ti Boost to GTX 680, but I don't know your budget. If you want to spend like a maniac and go for the Titan or 690, good for you, but I think it's crazy.

For me personally, I think the GTX 670 is very good value for money and it will give you a lot of performance, just a bit weaker than the 680.

Cyberdot

All those models are a little out of my price range, I was looking around the £100-150 and a little extra if I need to upgrade the PSU.

I have a 350 w PSU. You think it would be worth upgrading it?hawker8821

what is the brand name of the power supply?

I have a 350 w PSU. You think it would be worth upgrading it?hawker8821

I guess I wouldn't be hurting your feelings telling you that your rig is pretty weak and old. If I were you, I'd get an HD 7750 2GB, which is the fastest card you can get that doesn't need auxiliary power. It's miles ahead of your present graphics card, but not so much that it would be massive overkill with your CPU. For about a hundred bucks (66 pounds), you will get much enjoyment with little pain, and your present supply should handle it no problem.

[QUOTE="hawker8821"]I have a 350 w PSU. You think it would be worth upgrading it?Blistrax

I guess I wouldn't be hurting your feelings telling you that your rig is pretty weak and old. If I were you, I'd get an HD 7750 2GB, which is the fastest card you can get that doesn't need auxiliary power. It's miles ahead of your present graphics card, but no so much that it would be massive overkill with your CPU. For about a hundred bucks (66 pounds), you will get much enjoyment with little pain, and your present supply should handle it no problem.

The 7770 should be fine as well.

[QUOTE="hawker8821"]I have a 350 w PSU. You think it would be worth upgrading it?Blistrax

I guess I wouldn't be hurting your feelings telling you that your rig is pretty weak and old. If I were you, I'd get an HD 7750 2GB, which is the fastest card you can get that doesn't need auxiliary power. It's miles ahead of your present graphics card, but no so much that it would be massive overkill with your CPU. For about a hundred bucks (66 pounds), you will get much enjoyment with little pain, and your present supply should handle it no problem.

No feelings hurt at all, I realised it was pretty outdated now. If I could I would just buy a whole new system and try and sell my current one but money is fairly tight at the minute. I like the look of both the HD 7750 and the 7770. To tell you the truth I am a little overwhelmed!

[QUOTE="Blistrax"]

[QUOTE="hawker8821"]I have a 350 w PSU. You think it would be worth upgrading it?blaznwiipspman1

I guess I wouldn't be hurting your feelings telling you that your rig is pretty weak and old. If I were you, I'd get an HD 7750 2GB, which is the fastest card you can get that doesn't need auxiliary power. It's miles ahead of your present graphics card, but no so much that it would be massive overkill with your CPU. For about a hundred bucks (66 pounds), you will get much enjoyment with little pain, and your present supply should handle it no problem.

The 7770 should be fine as well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-7770-Radeon-Graphics-Card/dp/B0081LDXW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365451168&sr=8-1&keywords=hd+7770+2gb#productDetails How does this look? I will need a PSU upgrade but that's not a problem.hawker8821

that 7770 is far too expensive, go with this one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-11201-17-20G-DisplayPort-CrossFireX-Technology/dp/B009YTT5RW/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1365455096&sr=1-3&keywords=hd+7770

Once again, the 7770 would require a new power supply with a PCIe connector. Get the 7750 2GB.

Once again, the 7770 would require a new power supply with a PCIe connector. Get the 7750 2GB.

Blistrax

molex to pci-e adaptor. It might be included in the box.

[QUOTE="Blistrax"]

Once again, the 7770 would require a new power supply with a PCIe connector. Get the 7750 2GB.

blaznwiipspman1

molex to pci-e adaptor. It might be included in the box.

Yeah, but I'm afraid. He was unable to say for sure what wattage he has, and he thinks it's 350, which is pushing it, I'd say.

i just checked psu calculator and it says he will use 283 watts for a 7770 and a pentium e5400, whereas a 7750 would pull about 223 watts.  Either way he should be fine if his psu is a 350 watt.  If its a decent or even semi decent brand psu he will be more than fine.

i just checked psu calculator and it says he will use 283 watts for a 7770 and a pentium e5400, whereas a 7750 would pull about 223 watts.  Either way he should be fine if his psu is a 350 watt.  If its a decent or even semi decent brand psu he will be more than fine.

blaznwiipspman1

The psu is just a bog standard atx model. I  am torn between the 7750 and 7770. Both seem like very good cards capable of doing what I want. I have contacted a couple if local tech companies for advice aswell and if they quote me a reasonable price I will get them to perfirm the upgrade. 

I would play it safe and get a 7750, or you can save a bit more and get a decent power supply for about £50

I would play it safe and get a 7750, or you can save a bit more and get a decent power supply for about £50

kraken2109

That's what I would say. Get the 7750 now, or wait a little longer, save a bit more money, and get a new PSU and even better graphics card.

Thats what I was thinking of doing. I like the look of the 7770 2gb. Do you have any recommendations on a psu with a good wattage?hawker8821

do not spend extra money on a 2gb version of the 7770.  It is an upper midrange card but won't benefit from more than the 1gb.  But if it makes you feel better, then go for it.