Getting a New Graphics Card

**glitch** · July 21, 2011, 12:13 PM

So I'm think about getting a new Graphics Card. I previously got this one, but I had a lot of problems with it. You can read the horror story here. I'm not sure if it was a driver issue or just the card itself, but I kept getting BSODs. Anyway, I'm think about trying my luck with another one. Either the same card, from another manufacturer, or just a entirely different card. I'm not so techy, so any help would be appreciated, here is my info

HP Pavilion a867c Desktop PC Specifications (In-depth)

Windows Xp 32 bit Service pack 3
Pentium 4 Processor
3 g ram
500 w PSU 12VR=18 A
226 g HD -53.3 gigs free
PCI-E
Mobo: ASUSteK

My comp is about 6 years old.

Here are the available 5670s. I keep bring up the 5670s because it's cheap and doesn't require me to install a new PSU- something I really don't want to do. The last functional card I had was the 7600 gt. Thanks for your help.

**Crazyeyesreaper** · July 21, 2011, 12:41 PM

probably a bum card, had it happen many times in the past, just luck of the draw, since only 1 card out of every few thousand actually gets tested.

**_Elysium_** · July 21, 2011, 01:03 PM

I've got the $69.99 Sapphire version off that list, and its amazing. I've recommended it numerous times on here.

Code:

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 555 @ ~3.2GHz
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-U52H
RAM: (2x) 2GB Hynix Single-Channel DDR3 @ 535MHz
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD5670 512MB DDR5
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 320GB @ 7200rpm
PSU: ATX450 450W
Monitor: Samsung Syncmaster P2270 @ 1920x1080

It runs Portal 2 at 1920x1080 with the lowest setting of AA and everything else at maximum, and it runs it really well. Mass Effect 2 can be played very close to maximum settings at the same resolution.

**glitch** · July 21, 2011, 01:54 PM

Is there a big difference between the 512 and the 1 gb?

**irishron** · July 21, 2011, 02:48 PM

In today's games, night and day.

**Devilmaypoop** · July 21, 2011, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by irishron

In today's games, night and day.

^

512mb is obsolete. Even the 5670 will benefit from 1gb VRAM.

**_Elysium_** · July 21, 2011, 03:16 PM

I only got the 512MB version because it was already pushing my budget, and the Sapphire 1GB was another £20. There was an MSI 1GB between the two Sapphires for another £10, but I found ALOT of bad posts and reviews of that card and MSI itself. If the Sapphire 1GB had been a bit cheaper, I definitely would have got it.

Thing is though, my intention was to play nothing newer than Medieval II Kingdoms, at 1920x1080, so I figured I'd be okay with 512MB. I'm still not that bothered about new games or anything being released in the future, but the few demoes I tried showed that my 512MB card is far, far better than I initially aimed for. I tried them more out of curiosity, to try working out how much I'd have had to spend to get them running at a standard that I'd find acceptable. But they all surpassed what I wanted. Now I'm seeing what I can get out of it.

If you can afford it, and you definitely want an HD5670, I think you should get a 1GB version. I certainly don't regret getting the 512MB version, but I've probably got different intentions to you, game-wise.

If you want any screenshots of the games I've got, just let me know. I've got a folder with about 350 from various games.

Originally Posted by Devilmaypoop

512mb is obsolete. Even the 5670 will benefit from 1gb VRAM.

I researched the HD5670 for almost two months before I got it, and not once did I see anyone, on a message board or in a professional review, say that. They all said a 1GB HD5670 would be wasting VRAM, because the card wouldn't be able to cope with games that would need it all. I saw over and over again that a 1GB would only be needed for resolutions above 1600x1200, but the HD5670 couldn't handle those resolutions, so a buyer should only get the 512MB versions.

They were wrong. The HD5670 would benefit from 1GB. Thats from personal experience.

**glitch** · July 21, 2011, 07:21 PM

@Elysium, would you post some pics? Particular of kingdoms and any mods you have with it. Thank you!

is the PCI 2.1 interface compatiable with my old comp ? I assume mine is 1.0

**_Elysium_** · July 22, 2011, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by glitch

@Elysium, would you post some pics? Particular of kingdoms and any mods you have with it. Thank you!

is the PCI 2.1 interface compatiable with my old comp ? I assume mine is 1.0

I can't post the pictures at this very moment, but I'll get them up in a few hours. I haven't played Kingdoms yet, but I'll do a quick custom game and get you some screenshots.

The screenshots I take all have jaggies, but in game they aren't noticable. With things on the screen moving about in game, I don't notice them. I thought I should mention that because the screenshots may look a little unimpressive. It could also be because they were taken on an HD screen and I'm uploading them on a computer with a monitor at a lower resolution.

I can get you screenshots for Medieval II, Kingdoms, Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Age 2 (demo), Mass Effect 2, Portal 2 and Sins of a Solar Empire.

I looked into the PCI-E compatibility when I was getting my card. I'm fairly sure that the slots are backwards compatible, so a 2.1 card should be fine in a 1.0 slot, as long as the slot is PCI-E x16. I've read about speed issues, but its generally quoted as a 2-3% difference when using a 2.1 card in a 1.0 slot, compared to 2.1 in 2.0. My HD5670 is 2.1 in a 2.0 slot. May want to get confirmation on that. I'm no techie.

Be aware that some of the HD5670s are dual expansion slot, despite the images showing single. Here are a couple of pictures of when I installed my card last month. I took them for another message board. I was so proud.

*sniff* Excuse me!