Yet another "New GFX-card" advice

[MasterOfThessus]

Hi guys!

I'd love some help with my computer, and I'm kind of noob at the hardware stuff, so don't shoot me

I'm looking at a Nvidia GFX 470, or an Radeon HD 5850, and they are both dirt-cheap, so I'm looking at whats gonna give me best performance for the least amount of trouble.

I've got a crappy old powersupply, 400 W, so I'm looking at replacing this. But it shouldn't be any major problem rigth? Just plug out cables, remove old PS and then in with the new one?

So, the major question is, how do I know if my motherboard can handle the card? I'm sitting on a Nvidia 8600 gs at the moment, and an Intel Q6600 CPU. 3 GB of RAM, and a crappy x32 Vista.

Would I need extra cooling, and would that be hard to install? I've got some normal tower PB case, so nothing fancy there.

Anyways, cheers for the help

[Vrosivs Avgvstvs Rakvs]

Well, I think that the GFX470 is more reliable than Radeon's HD5850, so I suggest you buying Nvidia
I'm not sure about PS, but afaik that's not a big deal...
Have you tried searching your motherboard up on google for the compatibility info?

[Devilmaypoop]

As long as the motherboard has a Pci-express slot you're good to go, and it is highly unlikely it doesnt.

You dont need any extra cooling for the GPU, it should run cool enough on stock. Yes, replacing the PSU should be easy.

May I suggest HD 6870 for the GPU, as it's cheaper/same price as the 5850 but somewhat better in every way.

[Black Fox]

Also when your looking for the PSU dont forget to check what pin connectors its got and if its right for the card, what's your maximum budget?

[MasterOfThessus]

Well, the cards are selling for like 120 £, so that's not a big deal. The problem is that it's hard to find stores in sweden with decent cards in stock. I was thinking about spending about 50 £ on a PS, and a maximum of 200 £ on the card.

The Swedish currency is pretty strong ATM, so I migth be able to get a better deal than most

Is there any other connection except for the GFX that I should worry about regarding the PS?

[mrcrusty]

Can you say where you're buying from?

I'd also suggest upping your power supply budget.

It's not a Swedish site, but I don't trust a budget of 50 Euros for a good power supply. This is probably the cheapest futureproof (Crossfire + overclocking) power supply I'd trust and it's 80 Euros.

As for the cards themselves, the GTX 470 gives a little boost over the 5850, but it's much more power hungry and hot and/or loud. GTX 470 gives more performance but imo 5850 is a better package. Your choice. Raw performance or a well rounded product.

[MasterOfThessus]

Most probable from netonnet.se

Hmm, what kind of PS would the 5850 demand?

[mrcrusty]

500w for single, 650w for Crossfire. This is including overclocking headroom for both GPU(s) and CPU. Probably can run on a 450w or lower if you can find a PSU with 2x 6-pin PCI-e connectors.

[MasterOfThessus]

Would XFX Core Edition 850W do it? It has 2 6-pin and 2 6+2-pin

This one has the same price as the 750W, but they don't have that one in stock.

They also have AXP PSU's, but I've been hearing thoose are bad

[mrcrusty]

850w is beyond overkill, but if it's in your budget and you're okay with it, there's no problem with it. Excellent power supply. You could run 3 5850s with that power supply.

[MasterOfThessus]

Almost exactly 50 Euros of cost, so no problem there And beyond overkill for same price sounds like a win-win for me

Would all needed cables be included with the card? Anything else I migth be forgetting?

Leaning towards the 5850 and the above PSU, at the grand sume of 200 Euro

I'll be combining this with a nice little reformat of my computer, would I be better of installing the card before or after the reformat? Anything special with the installationprocedure?

[PoleCat]

...I'll be combining this with a nice little reformat of my computer, would I be better of installing the card before or after the reformat? Anything special with the installationprocedure?

I'd recommend installing the PSU and video card before formatting. If the current OS is stable then you'll have an easier time of troubleshooting. After you're sure the card and PSU work then format and install Win7. Good luck!

[atraps]

I suggest a Radeon 6850 over a Radeon 5850.

[MasterOfThessus]

I bougth the PSU today, and ordered a 6850, wish me luck!

[Freddie]

The HD6850 is a very good card but the HD5850 should be better value since their fast at stock speeds and in theory should be cheaper with OEM's trying to clear out there inventories.

Edit

In the UK you can pick the HD5850 and HD6850 for the same price but the HD5850 I'm looking at comes with a custom cooler. Oh well the HD6850 does have more features like morphalogical AA, 3D Blu-Ray, 5 way eyefinity etc and it's smaller and uses less power and it overclocks really well so it may turn out to be the better purchase after all.

[Big Boss]

In the UK you can pick the HD5850 and HD6850 for the same price but the HD5850 I'm looking at comes with a custom cooler. Oh well the HD6850 does have more features like morphalogical AA, 3D Blu-Ray, 5 way eyefinity etc and it's smaller and uses less power and it overclocks really well so it may turn out to be the better purchase after all.

MLAA is available on 5850. And 3d blu-ray and 5-way eyefinity aren't really worth talking about because they're far more expensive than just a single card.

[Freddie]

MLAA is available on 5850. And 3d blu-ray and 5-way eyefinity aren't really worth talking about because they're far more expensive than just a single card.

Yeah I think AMD might have just enabled MLAA on 11.2 but I'm not sure if it work properly. Anyway features are features and their there if you want to use them, personally I would love to have an eyefintiy setup with 3 screen all in portrait the only thing that puts me off is the lack of slim line bezal IPS screens.

[atraps]

MLAA is available on 5850. And 3d blu-ray and 5-way eyefinity aren't really worth talking about because they're far more expensive than just a single card.

Are you saying you would get a 5850 over a 6850?

[Big Boss]

Are you saying you would get a 5850 over a 6850?

Depending on the price, yes.

[Jaketh]

for a second i thought the OP was a basement dweller long departed from its dark halls, from his avatar