Looking to buy a video card, help please.

[fxu]

Hello everyone. I need a little help finding out what card is best to suit my needs.

Budget: $170
Looking for: Video card (and power supply if it's not enough with the stock I have) to do some gaming (not hardcore, maybe 1-2 hours a day?) Modern Warfare 2 and Bad Company 2 mainly. Powerful enough that I won't have to upgrade much for the upcoming generation of games (at least sufficient enough that I will be able to play it on low).

I do all my gaming on 800x600 or 1024x768 (targets are way too small for anything bigger)


My system specs (HP Pavilion p6310f):
AMD Athlon II X4 630 2.8GHz
6GB DDR3 RAM
1TB HDD
NVIDIA GeForce 9100
300W PSU

More detailed specs here [scroll down].

I did a lot of research, but in the end, I am somewhat lost. But this is what I had in mind:
HIS H485FM1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI...
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V S...

My biggest fear when it comes to selecting and buying parts is compatibility [which is why I said I'm somewhat lost]. Like I said, I did some research and tried to learn the most, and I think I got it right when choosing that. Please correct me if I'm wrong, still a noob trying to learn.

Would I need some type of cooling for the card aside from what it comes with the PC and/or card? Do you recommend anything else? (card and/or power supply)

I have never changed a PSU, but I watched some video tutorials and I am confident. I've done one video card swap before on my old PC.

Thank you.

 

[brandonwh64]

a 4870 is a good card but what you should do is search the FS threads Here and you will probly find a strong card for a GREAT price! also there are some beefy PSUs for sale on there for around 40$.

 

[fxu]

What do you think about this XFX Radeon HD 4870 1GB DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 Video Card ? The price is good i think , i found it online.Hope it can help you out.

It says I need a 450W PSU. I doubt the card would use all 450W, but I only have a 300W and would have to upgrade anyway.

....

Ah, it has mail-in rebate for $20.00, and the PSU I posted also does, that would come out to be $185 or so. Not bad and close to my budget.

I posted $170 as my budget to see if we could do anything below it. But I can search between the cushions of the sofa and pull out $30 more.


I was also looking at this set:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6348624&CatId=3670
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276574&sku=ULT-LSP550

Any suggestions?

 

[m4gicfour]

Motherboard specs (HP Specifcications) show one free PCI-e x16 slot. If you haven't put any card in there yourself, then you're good to go as far as that goes.

300w is probably very very tight for a 4850. You'd have not too much room for error TechPowerUP! Review: Power consumption The graph shows how much a computer equipped with a reference (standard) 4850 512MB and very little else draws. In a real computing environment, with more hardware plugged in it'd probably run, but it's not good to run a PSU at or near 100% output all the time anyway, and if you're overclocking AT ALL you'll definitely need more.

Bottomline:
1. Card will work, so long as it physically fits in the case (measure, if you haven't) check the height, width, depth. Judging by HP's picture of your case I would think that it should fit, but better safe than sorry.

2. Upgraded PSU is probably a good idea - I'd recommend it, and so would ATI's specs -, but not NECCESARILY needed. 450W or more on any brand name unit should be more than enough. Go bigger if you plan on putting in a bunch of hard-drives or anything like that, or even if you just want to re-use the PSU in another build down the road.

 

[brandonwh64]

Well i like Ultra PSUs but i would atleast get the LSP650 PSU cause it has 38A on the +12v

But after shipping you would be better off getting this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Not a fan of that PSU at all. I would get a 400w Cosair. It would run it just fine. the video card isn't bad.if you can find the 4870 in your budget i would go that way as it is faster and will last longer

 

[brandonwh64]

Yea corsair is a great PSU! i would just add more money and get the 750TX or something simular

 

[m4gicfour]

Well i like Ultra PSUs but i would atleast get the LSP650 PSU cause it has 38A on the +12v

But after shipping you would be better off getting this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

Ultras are nice looking, and they have good warranty; but make sure you use it if you buy one. I had two ultras fail on me - one started emitting a high-pitched whine loud enough to cause migraine headaches in a different room, and the other just plain died.

OCZ is a good brand.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Yea corsair is a great PSU! i would just add more money and get the 750TX or something simular

Corsair and seasonic are the only 2 brands i would ever run a i7 and 8800GT on like i have done before. IMO they underrate there PSU's

@m4 I agree that ocz is a "good" brand but there sure not the best. They never have been but i still trust them and haven't had a problem with the 2 that i owned

 

[fxu]

Alright, I'm loving the idea of that HD 4870 (I will have to take measurements as somebody said). But I think that 700w PSU you gave me is overkill XD

I might go with that OCZ 550W. I am not gonna overclock, at least not now. I am just barely starting to get comfortable touching the cables of the PSU (shocked many times when I was a kid, huge trauma).

I'm gonna sleep on it, do a bit more research and take in the suggestions you guys gave me and future suggestions if other people post, and then the moment of truth. Good night.

 

[m4gicfour]

@m4 I agree that ocz is a "good" brand but there sure not the best. They never have been but i still trust them and haven't had a problem with the 2 that i owned

Yeah, if I had to pick "the best" it would likely be Seasonic or PC P&C prior to the buyout.

Honestly, though, it was really just a remark in regards to the relative quality compared to everything else out there; and an agreement that the OCZ he linked was a much better pick than the Ultra.

Alright, I'm loving the idea of that HD 4870 (I will have to take measurements as somebody said). But I think that 700w PSU you gave me is overkill XD

I might go with that OCZ 550W. I am not gonna overclock, at least not now. I am just barely starting to get comfortable touching the cables of the PSU (electrocuted when I was a kid, huge trauma).

I'm gonna sleep on it, do a bit more research and take in the suggestions you guys gave me and future suggestions if other people post, and then the moment of truth. Good night.

Sounds like a good decision. One other thing to check is whether you can fit a dual slot cooler in there (the slot directly below the card will be blocked by the cooler, if you get a 4870 or a non=reference 4850)

 

[brandonwh64]

Acually, this PSU would be PERFECT!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194038&cm_re=enermax-_-17-194-038-_-Product

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Yeah, if I had to pick "the best" it would likely be Seasonic or PC P&C prior to the buyout.

Honestly, though, it was really just a remark in regards to the relative quality compared to everything else out there; and an agreement that the OCZ he linked was a much better pick than the Ultra.

I highly agree that the OCZ is better then the Ultra.
If i have the $$ for a PSU i will pick Seasonic over about any other brand or a Silverstone if there isn't a seasonic that meets my needs. That is unless i am building a 2nd rig/cruncher on a budget then i will go with Antec or OCZ or a lower end Corsair.

 

[brandonwh64]

I wouldnt knock ultra! i bought a LSP650 for my PC that i took to iraq and it went through sand, heat, and hella gaming with a OCed System and the PSU still runs to this day in my HTPC (Had to replace the 140mm fan due to sand but other than that its 100% Solid!)

 

[p_o_s_pc]

I wouldnt knock ultra! i bought a LSP650 for my PC that i took to iraq and it went through sand, heat, and hella gaming with a OCed System and the PSU still runs to this day in my HTPC (Had to replace the 140mm fan due to sand but other than that its 100% Solid!)

I have heard good and bad things about Ultra. they have there good and bad units but i have always been told to stay away from them if there are other options. In this case there are other options so i'm not going to recommend them. No disrespect just telling you my reasoning

 

[brandonwh64]

I have heard good and bad things about Ultra. they have there good and bad units but i have always been told to stay away from them if there are other options. In this case there are other options so i'm not going to recommend them. No disrespect just telling you my reasoning

Oh yea! true! i just probly got a good one (besides the 140mm fan)

I ran the PSU for about 4 months til i realized the fan was locked down and it didn't effect it at all!

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Oh yea! true! i just probly got a good one (besides the 140mm fan)

I ran the PSU for about 4 months til i realized the fan was locked down and it didn't effect it at all!

that is amazing! most PSU's would have shit them self if that happened.

 

[brandonwh64]

Yea im surprised it didnt explode the caps but i checked all of them and they are not bulging or broken. also tested the PSU with my I7 rig with 4ghz OC at full load for about 3 hours and it held up perfect and only got alittle warm! its a nice PSU for the money

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Yea im surprised it didnt explode the caps but i checked all of them and they are not bulging or broken. also tested the PSU with my I7 rig with 4ghz OC at full load for about 3 hours and it held up perfect and only got alittle warm! its a nice PSU for the money

link me to it bro.I may have to consider it as a backup since i sold my OCZ that i used for a backup.
when the fan was broke was the PSU under alot of stress?

 

[brandonwh64]

link me to it bro.I may have to consider it as a backup since i sold my OCZ that i used for a backup.
when the fan was broke was the PSU under alot of stress?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276573&CatId=1483

I had it running a Phenom II 940 Oced to 3.6ghz with a 8800GTS 640MB card in it then a GTX 285

 

[p_o_s_pc]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276573&CatId=1483

I had it running a Phenom II 940 Oced to 3.6ghz with a 8800GTS 640MB card in it then a GTX 285

kinda stressful. thanks for the link i am going to bookmark it so i can put it on my list next time i am shopping

 

[kurosagi01]

This is just over the budget by $10 but it is worth it:
PowerColor AX5750 1GBD5-H Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-b...
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certi...

 

[p_o_s_pc]

This is just over the budget by $10 but it is worth it:
PowerColor AX5750 1GBD5-H Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-b...
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certi...

i have that PSU in my FS thread. So if he needs to save alittle $ mine is like new and has little use.But has no box as it was thrown away

 

[kurosagi01]

i have that PSU in my FS thread. So if he needs to save alittle $ mine is like new and has little use.But has no box as it was thrown away

Well if he buys the 400w off you then he should try pushing his budget and get this:
PowerColor AX5770 1GBD5-H Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-b...

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Well if he buys the 400w off you then he should try pushing his budget and get this:
PowerColor AX5770 1GBD5-H Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-b...

oh yes a 5770 would be worth the price difference IMO