Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: Bob_Smith on December 03, 2011, 06:03:09 PM

Title: Choosing a new Graphics card
Post by: Bob_Smith on December 03, 2011, 06:03:09 PM

I've had this hd 5670 1 gig for a while now and would like to get a slightly better one.
This particular graphics card has been very bothersome. Not being able to update the drivers to anything later than about a year ago being the most annoying.
So I've finally hit that point where being unable to update my drivers has hindered me a bit. (Assassin's Creed Revelations missing texture bug of sorts said to have been fixed in the latest driver)

I'm just looking for any advice on choosing a new one. I was thinking of just getting something along the lines of the 5700-5900 series even if it only improves performance slightly.


Asus M2N-E : Motherboard
HD 5670 radeon 1 gig : Graphics Card
athlon ii x4 955 be : CPU
4 gigs of ram
120 gig harddrive + 2 externals (1 tb & 750 gig)
Windows XP Sp3
600 watt : PSU

Title: Re: Choosing a new Graphics card
Post by: Transfusion on December 03, 2011, 07:13:26 PM

You might want to consider the Radeon HD 6850, which currently has the best price/performance ratio of the high-end cards and costs $144 on Newegg. It only requires 1 PCI-E power connector and a 500W PSU.
(http://i.imgur.com/0qw7h.png)
The Radeon HD 6870s can be had for as little as $20 more than the HD 6850s:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006662&isNodeId=1&Description=Radeon+HD+6850&x=0&y=0 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006662&isNodeId=1&Description=Radeon+HD+6850&x=0&y=0)
HD 6850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006662&isNodeId=1&Description=Radeon+HD+6870&x=0&y=0 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006662&isNodeId=1&Description=Radeon+HD+6870&x=0&y=0)
HD 6870


FYI it is a huge leap going from the HD 5670 to the 6850:
http://www.hwcompare.com/5905/radeon-hd-5670-vs-radeon-hd-6850/ (http://www.hwcompare.com/5905/radeon-hd-5670-vs-radeon-hd-6850/)

Title: Re: Choosing a new Graphics card
Post by: Bob_Smith on December 03, 2011, 10:14:56 PM

Ah well that does look like a fine card. Just one last question: Any particular brand you'd suggest for the card itself? My 5670 was an xfx and seemed to run alright.
Is there a certain brand that's known to produce higher quality cards or is it more about just personal preference?

Thanks for the help didn't quite expect that much from one response.

Title: Re: Choosing a new Graphics card
Post by: Bob_Smith on December 04, 2011, 01:37:22 PM

Ok I'll probably end up buying:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-150-563&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=4&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

Thanks again for your help transfusion.