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General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Tac on November 11, 2011, 10:31:47 AM

Title: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Tac on November 11, 2011, 10:31:47 AM

Trying to upgrade for cheap from a GT240 .

I'm out of the loop in all video card stuff so I'm just confused at this point.

My system:

MSI 870A-G54 mobo
AMD Quad Core 3.2ghz
16gb DD3 1600 PC3 12800 Ram
GT240 vid card
Winxp 64 bit pro
650W PSU

Obviously the card is the bottleneck and I'd like to upgrade to something medium range performance. I don't want to spend more than 100 bucks as the games I play now don't really require much more (LOTRO, Rise of Flight, WW2OL). All work fine in the GT240 but I'd like a little extra kick...

So far I'm just looking at the vid card memory type and number of processors (like I said i got no clue about vid cards now lol):

$79
MSI R6570-MD2GD3/LP Radeon HD 6570 2GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127612

and slightly above $100 budget:

$114
MSI R6770-MD1GD5 Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127599

and

$129
MSI N550GTX-Ti-M2D1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127577


no clue difference between the radeon and the gtx550 though.

Suggestions?

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Tigger29 on November 11, 2011, 10:44:32 AM

For under $100 you're pretty much limited to a GT440 or an ATI5570/6570.  While both are upgrades over your GT240 they still aren't *THAT* great.

For just a little bit more you can get a MUCH MUCH better card such as GT550 or an ATI5770/6770.  I'm talking $30 more or so.  This is of course assuming have any kind of somewhat decent power supply...

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Tac on November 11, 2011, 10:47:57 AM

Yep. 650W supply. Im good power wise.

I guess what confuses me most is the Radeon vs Nvidia... one uses cores the other 'streaming' cores. Same thing different marketting gimmick? Or is there an actual performance difference?

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: cattb on November 11, 2011, 04:30:37 PM

If your patient enough and look for sales, do some research. Probably pick up a 6850 or 460. Hopefully there be some good deals ahead for christmas. I am looking also.

Couple differences I have seen between nvidia and ati.
Nividia is better with tesselation
ATI multi monitor support

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: MaSonZ on November 11, 2011, 06:01:46 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908
Radeon 6850 for $144.99 plus $6.98 shipping. all said, $151.00. Havent used my new 6850 yet, just got it today, but based on reviews and what ive seen on boards and recommended by TilDeath himself, 6850's are a good card. $50.00 more then your $100 idea, but food for thought.

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Tac on November 11, 2011, 06:38:00 PM

Thanks. Sapphire is a cheapo brand though.. equivalent to PNY when it comes to stuff. It dies within a couple of months. I stick to MSI/ASUS whenever possible.

yay! asus for same price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121419


Now question is.. radeon above or..

MSI N550GTX-Ti-M2D1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127577

?

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Chalenge on November 11, 2011, 06:48:19 PM

Do you have 26 Amps on the 12V rail?

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Tac on November 11, 2011, 08:18:55 PM

*deer in headlights look*  :confused:

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Chalenge on November 11, 2011, 08:59:46 PM

Which PSU do you have?

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Tac on November 12, 2011, 01:32:14 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182132

i see 12v rail not sure about the amps. :P

Title: Re: Upgrading from an Nvidia GT240
Post by: Chalenge on November 12, 2011, 02:44:17 PM

It says 46A so your good. Not that I like Rosewill or anything.