• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Upgrading GPU to best my current system will allow..

nathan323

New Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2014
Messages
1 (0.00/day)
I want to get a new GPU, one that will hopefully allow me to run Battlefield 4 and other similar/new games as maxed out as possible. Just getting properly into PC gaming
My budget is open, as long as I don't have to spend on better hardware to support it, looking of the best my current system will allow.
I've been looking at the Gigabyte GTX 770, not sure if I could squeeze in something more high end though..

I'd appreciate any help. Please let me know if I've left any crucial info off the following list.
Thanks!

PSU: Earthwatts 650
Cooling: Freezer Pro 7 Rev.2
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1024 MB
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 (6.1) Home Premium Edition 64-bit Service Pack 1 (Build 7601) (DirectX Version 11.0)

Processor: Intel Core i5 750 Lynnfield @ 2.67GHz
Chipset: Northbridge- Intel DMI Host Bridge rev. 11
Southbridge - Intel P55 rev. 05
Memory: DDR3 4GB Dual Channel
 
Joined
Aug 20, 2007
Messages
20,714 (3.41/day)
System Name Pioneer
Processor Ryzen R9 7950X
Motherboard GIGABYTE Aorus Elite X670 AX
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 + A whole lotta Sunon and Corsair Maglev blower fans...
Memory 64GB (4x 16GB) G.Skill Flare X5 @ DDR5-6000 CL30
Video Card(s) XFX RX 7900 XTX Speedster Merc 310
Storage 2x Crucial P5 Plus 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
Display(s) 55" LG 55" B9 OLED 4K Display
Case Thermaltake Core X31
Audio Device(s) TOSLINK->Schiit Modi MB->Asgard 2 DAC Amp->AKG Pro K712 Headphones or HDMI->B9 OLED
Power Supply FSP Hydro Ti Pro 850W
Mouse Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless
Keyboard WASD Code v3 with Cherry Green keyswitches
Software Windows 11 Enterprise (legit), Gentoo Linux x64
I have an AMD R290X (HIS Cooler) for sale in the forums for pretty cheap. See my system parting out thread... I don't think an i5 lynfield would really bottleneck that, but I can't be sure. Your PSU should be ok. Someone else advise, I'm stuck in the socket 1366 era mentally, but I think that's a pretty strong processor (at least on a per clock basis).
 
Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Messages
7,112 (1.46/day)
Location
Rīga, Latvia
System Name HELLSTAR
Processor AMD RYZEN 9 5950X
Motherboard ASUS Strix X570-E
Cooling 2x 360 + 280 rads. 3x Gentle Typhoons, 3x Phanteks T30, 2x TT T140 . EK-Quantum Momentum Monoblock.
Memory 4x8GB G.SKILL Trident Z RGB F4-4133C19D-16GTZR 14-16-12-30-44
Video Card(s) Sapphire Pulse RX 7900XTX + under waterblock.
Storage Optane 900P[W11] + WD BLACK SN850X 4TB + 750 EVO 500GB + 1TB 980PRO[FEDORA]
Display(s) Philips PHL BDM3270 + Acer XV242Y
Case Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO
Audio Device(s) Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply Fractal Design Newton R3 1000W
Mouse Razer Basilisk
Keyboard Razer BlackWidow V3 - Yellow Switch
Software FEDORA 39 / Windows 11 insider
If overclocking to 4Gghz the CPU is enough, except large CPU heavy and swarmy games. Either cheapo R9 280X or 770, but 4GB version is my suggestion without breaking the budget... R9 290ies are simply too hot and not worth it...
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 20, 2007
Messages
20,714 (3.41/day)
System Name Pioneer
Processor Ryzen R9 7950X
Motherboard GIGABYTE Aorus Elite X670 AX
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 + A whole lotta Sunon and Corsair Maglev blower fans...
Memory 64GB (4x 16GB) G.Skill Flare X5 @ DDR5-6000 CL30
Video Card(s) XFX RX 7900 XTX Speedster Merc 310
Storage 2x Crucial P5 Plus 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
Display(s) 55" LG 55" B9 OLED 4K Display
Case Thermaltake Core X31
Audio Device(s) TOSLINK->Schiit Modi MB->Asgard 2 DAC Amp->AKG Pro K712 Headphones or HDMI->B9 OLED
Power Supply FSP Hydro Ti Pro 850W
Mouse Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless
Keyboard WASD Code v3 with Cherry Green keyswitches
Software Windows 11 Enterprise (legit), Gentoo Linux x64
My HIS R9 290X runs reasonably cool. The stock cooler R9 290X is a monstrosity that should never have been allowed in anyones case, however.
 
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
8,380 (1.93/day)
Location
Ovronnaz, Wallis, Switzerland
System Name main/SFFHTPCARGH!(tm)/Xiaomi Mi TV Stick/Samsung Galaxy S23/Ally
Processor Ryzen 7 5800X3D/i7-3770/S905X/Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Motherboard MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk/HP SFF Q77 Express/uh?/uh?/Asus
Cooling Enermax ETS-T50 Axe aRGB /basic HP HSF /errr.../oh! liqui..wait, no:sizable vapor chamber/a nice one
Memory 64gb Corsair Vengeance Pro 3600mhz DDR4/8gb DDR3 1600/2gb LPDDR3/8gb LPDDR5x 4200/16gb LPDDR5
Video Card(s) Hellhound Spectral White RX 7900 XTX 24gb/GT 730/Mali 450MP5/Adreno 740/RDNA3 768 core
Storage 250gb870EVO/500gb860EVO/2tbSandisk/NVMe2tb+1tb/4tbextreme V2/1TB Arion/500gb/8gb/256gb/2tb SN770M
Display(s) X58222 32" 2880x1620/32"FHDTV/273E3LHSB 27" 1920x1080/6.67"/AMOLED 2X panel FHD+120hz/FHD 120hz
Case Cougar Panzer Max/Elite 8300 SFF/None/back/back-front Gorilla Glass Victus 2+ UAG Monarch Carbon
Audio Device(s) Logi Z333/SB Audigy RX/HDMI/HDMI/Dolby Atmos/KZ x HBB PR2/Edifier STAX Spirit S3 & SamsungxAKG beans
Power Supply Chieftec Proton BDF-1000C /HP 240w/12v 1.5A/4Smart Voltplug PD 30W/Asus USB-C 65W
Mouse Speedlink Sovos Vertical-Asus ROG Spatha-Logi Ergo M575/Xiaomi XMRM-006/touch/touch
Keyboard Endorfy Thock 75% <3/none/touch/virtual
VR HMD Medion Erazer
Software Win10 64/Win8.1 64/Android TV 8.1/Android 13/Win11 64
Benchmark Scores bench...mark? i do leave mark on bench sometime, to remember which one is the most comfortable. :o
If overclocing to 4Gghz the CPU is enough, except large CPU heavy and swarmy games. Either cheapo R9 280X or 770, but 4GB version is my suggestion without breaking the budget... R9 290ies are simply too hot and not worth it...
the 290 are going on par with 770's price ... if they are not worth it when they are 780 counterpart ... i dont know if a 770 at a 290 price is worth it :D (ok less power consumption ... well not really :) 6+8pin for both )
The stock cooler R9 290X is a monstrosity that should never have been allowed in anyones case, however.
if you say so ... (never above 70° in game 77° sometime in bench ok i run my fan at 65% when gaming/benching but i barely hear it and i don't play with a headset and i have also a JetFlo set a t 2k rpm permanent, just my sound overtake that noise xD my Zotac 770 AMP was hotter than that 80° in benchies but the cooler used was a bit quieter indeed xD )
IMG_1089.JPG

edit, little example: 1st one is a 770 SLI with a i7 3770K and a custom WC/2nd one is my main rig if i go 290CFX (4690K and H60V2)

Minimum PSU Wattage:673 W
Recommended
PSU Wattage:
*

Recommended PSU:

Corsair RM Series 850 Watt ATX/EPS 80PLUS Gold-Certi…
Corsair


Minimum PSU Wattage:619 W
Recommended
PSU Wattage:
*

Recommended PSU:

Corsair CX750 Builder Series ATX 80 PLUS Bronze C…
Corsair
 
Last edited:
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
Messages
635 (0.15/day)
Location
Technical Tittery....
System Name "IBT 10x Maximum Stable"
Processor Intel i5 4690K @ 4.6GHz -> 100xx46 - 1.296v
Motherboard MSI MPower Z97
Cooling Corsair H100i + 2x Corsair "HP Edition" SP120's
Memory 4x4GB Corsair Vengence Pro 2400mhz @ 2400MHz 10-11-12-31-1T - 1.66v
Video Card(s) MSI Gaming GTX970 4GB @ 1314 Core/1973 Mem/1515 Boost
Storage Kingston 3K 120GB SSD + Western Digital 'Green' 2TB + Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB
Display(s) Iiyama Prolite X2377HDS 23" IPS
Case Corsair Carbide 300R
Audio Device(s) Rotel RA-04/Cambridge Audio Azur 540R + B&W DM302/Cerwin Vega AT12 / Sony MDR-XB700 & FiiO E5
Power Supply EVGA NEX650G + Silverstone Extensions
Mouse Always failing me....
Keyboard Endlessly broken.....
Software Windoze 7 Pro 64-bit/Windoze 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores I had some of these once upon a time? Old age has seen me misplace them....
Looking at this guys post and rig specs, I'm going to assume he knows only a limited amount about hardware so suggesting he overclock his current setup (that most probably is a pre-built or family built rig of some kind) is pretty much the wrong way of doing things, guys.


I also doubt he will be needing a 290X or 780Ti or Crossfire/SLi... or for that matter, even to swap his setup entirely for XXXX Intel or XXXX AMD "because it will be XX% quicker and your epenis will grow" (though I do expect the thread to go that way sometime soon...).. staying on target about the original question he asked would probably benefit him though lol :twitch:



@OP: I feel one of the best priced cards currently out there is the R9 280 non-X. They currently range from $199 - $230 on Newegg ($199 after MIR) and perform very closely to the GTX770 you were looking at, while being considerably cheaper to the tune of around $100

Here's a link: Sapphire Dual-X 280

It also comes with 3 free games you may be interested in.

If you want a bit more power, you can always chose the R9 280X for a price of around $240 after MIR: Diamond 280X

This will give you performance on-par or within 5% of the GTX770 in most common games out there today and still comes in around $60 cheaper (after MIR on the GTX770) than the lowest priced GTX770, the Gigabyte you were probably looking at.


If you think the performance difference is worth the extra money or you're an avid nVidia fan only then I suggest you pick up the GTX770 you were looking at. However, if you want to save a bit of loot and still have very respectable performance, my advice is one of the 280's I linked above... either the X or non-X, depending on how your budget speaks to you. :toast:
 
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
8,380 (1.93/day)
Location
Ovronnaz, Wallis, Switzerland
System Name main/SFFHTPCARGH!(tm)/Xiaomi Mi TV Stick/Samsung Galaxy S23/Ally
Processor Ryzen 7 5800X3D/i7-3770/S905X/Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Motherboard MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk/HP SFF Q77 Express/uh?/uh?/Asus
Cooling Enermax ETS-T50 Axe aRGB /basic HP HSF /errr.../oh! liqui..wait, no:sizable vapor chamber/a nice one
Memory 64gb Corsair Vengeance Pro 3600mhz DDR4/8gb DDR3 1600/2gb LPDDR3/8gb LPDDR5x 4200/16gb LPDDR5
Video Card(s) Hellhound Spectral White RX 7900 XTX 24gb/GT 730/Mali 450MP5/Adreno 740/RDNA3 768 core
Storage 250gb870EVO/500gb860EVO/2tbSandisk/NVMe2tb+1tb/4tbextreme V2/1TB Arion/500gb/8gb/256gb/2tb SN770M
Display(s) X58222 32" 2880x1620/32"FHDTV/273E3LHSB 27" 1920x1080/6.67"/AMOLED 2X panel FHD+120hz/FHD 120hz
Case Cougar Panzer Max/Elite 8300 SFF/None/back/back-front Gorilla Glass Victus 2+ UAG Monarch Carbon
Audio Device(s) Logi Z333/SB Audigy RX/HDMI/HDMI/Dolby Atmos/KZ x HBB PR2/Edifier STAX Spirit S3 & SamsungxAKG beans
Power Supply Chieftec Proton BDF-1000C /HP 240w/12v 1.5A/4Smart Voltplug PD 30W/Asus USB-C 65W
Mouse Speedlink Sovos Vertical-Asus ROG Spatha-Logi Ergo M575/Xiaomi XMRM-006/touch/touch
Keyboard Endorfy Thock 75% <3/none/touch/virtual
VR HMD Medion Erazer
Software Win10 64/Win8.1 64/Android TV 8.1/Android 13/Win11 64
Benchmark Scores bench...mark? i do leave mark on bench sometime, to remember which one is the most comfortable. :o
@OP: I feel one of the best priced cards currently out there is the R9 280 non-X. They currently range from $199 - $230 on Newegg ($199 after MIR) and perform very closely to the GTX770 you were looking at, while being considerably cheaper to the tune of around $100

Here's a link: Sapphire Dual-X 280

It also comes with 3 free games you may be interested in.

If you want a bit more power, you can always chose the R9 280X for a price of around $240 after MIR: Diamond 280X

This will give you performance on-par or within 5% of the GTX770 in most common games out there today and still comes in around $60 cheaper (after MIR on the GTX770) than the lowest priced GTX770, the Gigabyte you were probably looking at.

yep totally the point.

paying less for the same perf of a 770 (+/-5%) is worth it for the OP and will be quite enough for a long time, unless he can afford a 770 4gb, which at this point would be better to take a R9 290 (same price, depending the retailer and more performances ) end words the best bang for bucks card are 280/280X in that case (i would took a 280X if i didn't paid my 290 less than a 280 )
 
Joined
Mar 29, 2014
Messages
85 (0.02/day)
System Name The Endless Road.
Processor R9 5900X under EKWB Quantum Velocity2 block.
Motherboard asrock x570 phantom gaming 4
Cooling EK-XRES 100 Revo D5, EK Quantum Surface 420M (case roof) with 3x140m.m. case fans, pull config
Memory 32Gb DDR4 3600/14 cas
Video Card(s) Zotac RX4080 Trinity, waterblock cooled.
Storage 2 Tb WD Black sn770
Display(s) 32" Gigabyte M32UC 4K/144 Hz
Case Corsair 7000D airflow
Audio Device(s) MB audio feeding a HyperX Cloud 2 wired headset
Power Supply Koolink Continuum 850
Mouse one
Keyboard also one
Software Win 11 Home 64 bit
Benchmark Scores I don't play benchmarks.
Got the same CPU and it's beginning to show its age in current AAA titles, overclocking is definitely well worth the effort and minor expense in order to fully exploit a more powerful graphics card.
With the CPU at 3.4GHz and a HD7950 at 950/1400 even graphically heavy games like Metro LL run smoothly on a single 1080 display, although at the 'high' rather than 'very high' preset, same for FC3 and
Tomb Raider: Smooth but one notch down from max settings.
@ Nathan323: With the above said, if you can add a half decent cooler (I'm using the Hyper 212 Plus and the newer Evo model is a little better) into the mix and get the CPU to 3.4GHz or a little above
the current system should run a GTX770/R9 280X class of card with minimum restrictions.
If the motherboard will not allow overclocking or you're reluctant to do so the slightly less powerful GTX760/R9 280 would be a better match and I'd suggest the R9 280 over the GTX760, but only because of its larger memory.
 
Joined
Mar 15, 2013
Messages
3,626 (0.90/day)
Location
GMT +2
System Name Red Radiance l under construction
Processor 5800x
Motherboard x470 taichi
Cooling stock wrath
Memory TridentZ Neo rgb 3600mhz (2x8 kit)
Video Card(s) Sapphire Vega 64 nitro+
Storage 970 evo nvme
Display(s) lc27g75tq
Case tt core x5 tge
Audio Device(s) sennheiser's pc323d usb soundcard
Power Supply corsair AX860i
Mouse roccat burst pro
Keyboard roccat ryos mk fx
Software windows 10
additional 4gb ram would be good too.
 
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
8,068 (1.40/day)
Location
Hillsboro, OR
System Name Main/DC
Processor i7-3770K/i7-2600K
Motherboard MSI Z77A-GD55/GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Cooling Phanteks PH-TC14CS/H80
Memory Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) LP /4GB Kingston DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Asus GTX 660 Ti/MSI HD7770
Storage Crucial MX100 256GB/120GB Samsung 830 & Seagate 2TB(died)
Display(s) Asus 24' LED/Samsung SyncMaster B1940
Case P100/Antec P280 It's huge!
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply SeaSonic SS-660XP2/Seasonic SS-760XP2
Software Win 7 Home Premiun 64 Bit
Right now, I would wait to buy a new GPU. Both AMD and Nvidia are coming out with new GPU's that should push the price of the GPU's that you are considering down even more. October maybe?
 
Joined
Nov 30, 2006
Messages
1,002 (0.16/day)
Location
NorCal
System Name Modest Box
Processor i5-4690K @ 4.7 Ghz
Motherboard ASUS Z97-C
Cooling Noctua NH-D15
Memory G.Skill Ares DDR3-2400 16GB
Video Card(s) Colorful GTX 950
Storage OCZ Vertex 460A 480GB
Display(s) HP w2558hc
Case Cooler Master Stacker 830
Audio Device(s) Onboard Realtek
Power Supply Gigabyte 750W Gold
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
Software Windows 10 64 Bit
This will give you performance on-par or within 5% of the GTX770 in most common games out there today

the same perf of a 770 (+/-5%)

Its more like 10-15% in favor of the GTX 770 ( R9 280X is about on par with the GTX 770), but the R9 280 is still an excellent buy as far as performance vs cost goes.
 
Last edited:

OneMoar

There is Always Moar
Joined
Apr 9, 2010
Messages
8,741 (1.71/day)
Location
Rochester area
System Name RPC MK2.5
Processor Ryzen 5800x
Motherboard Gigabyte Aorus Pro V2
Cooling Enermax ETX-T50RGB
Memory CL16 BL2K16G36C16U4RL 3600 1:1 micron e-die
Video Card(s) GIGABYTE RTX 3070 Ti GAMING OC
Storage ADATA SX8200PRO NVME 512GB, Intel 545s 500GBSSD, ADATA SU800 SSD, 3TB Spinner
Display(s) LG Ultra Gear 32 1440p 165hz Dell 1440p 75hz
Case Phanteks P300 /w 300A front panel conversion
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply SeaSonic Focus+ Platinum 750W
Mouse Kone burst Pro
Keyboard EVGA Z15
Software Windows 11 +startisallback
if you can get that cpu clocked to at least 3.6Ghz then I see no problem with a 280 or even a 290x
 
Top