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Chat => Entertainment & Technology => Topic started by: Eagle on November 16, 2011, 06:48:13 AM

Title: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 16, 2011, 06:48:13 AM
I'm currently running the following:

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT (512Mb I think) on an Intel Quadcore Q6600 @2.4GHz, Vista 64.

Current games run maxxed-out at 1920x1200 just fine with no stutter but the fan whines like a bitch.  Any suggestions for a decent modern upgrade that'll take the heat without complaint?  :worried:

Budget max of around £150 ish I guess...
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on November 16, 2011, 10:11:40 AM
If you want quiet and awesome performance you want an 6870, preferably the XFX dual fan black edition (pretty much silent in normal operation) or the MSI Frozr version, or the Asus dual fan equivalent.

Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 16, 2011, 10:24:51 AM
As Clocked pointed out.

The 6870 Black Edition seems to have been discontinued and its replacement is no longer a pre-oc'd card, but it still has the Dual Fan (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-xfx-hd-6870-double-d-cooling-4200mhz-gddr5-gpu-900mhz-1120-stream-processors-2x-dvi-hdmi-2x-mini).
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 16, 2011, 11:54:15 AM
Cheers. When you say 'normal operation' do you mean just 2D?  I don't want to splash out and find I still get noise with games.

What's causing the fan to go at top speed all the time anyway - is it just operating near the limit?

:)
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on November 16, 2011, 12:14:59 PM
No I mean gaming too :) I have mine running bitcoin miner 24x7 with no noise and every game i've thrown at it the fan never gets above 40% (silent pretty much). The only time I had the fan speed up was when I ran furmark benchmark on max settings for 30 mins and core temp shot up to 90C.

I.e. unless you're stress testing it you'll get no noise.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 16, 2011, 12:26:29 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on November 16, 2011, 12:14:59 PM
No I mean gaming too :) I have mine running bitcoin miner 24x7 with no noise and every game i've thrown at it the fan never gets above 40% (silent pretty much). The only time I had the fan speed up was when I ran furmark benchmark on max settings for 30 mins and core temp shot up to 90C.

I.e. unless you're stress testing it you'll get no noise.

I'm going to agree again, these cards are excellent, just make sure your PSU is upto the job!
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 16, 2011, 13:56:42 PM
What will I need? Mine's a Corsair 620W jobby...
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on November 16, 2011, 14:23:26 PM
That's fine, I'm running on a Corsair 550W. Bacon makes a big deal out of PSUs for graphics cards :P
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 16, 2011, 15:15:25 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on November 16, 2011, 14:23:26 PM
That's fine, I'm running on a Corsair 550W. Bacon makes a big deal out of PSUs for graphics cards :P

Ok, next time you spend £500-1000 on system just buy a generic uncertified £15 psu and see how long it lasts you :P
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on November 16, 2011, 16:03:45 PM
I'm just taking the pee. You need a good, efficient brand, but no need to go shell out on a new PSU every time a graphics card upgrade comes along provided you have a decent one to begin with :)

I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to run a modern system on less than a decent brand of 500W+
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: soopahfly on November 16, 2011, 17:28:28 PM
You want one of these bad boys

(http://images.icecat.biz/img/norm/low/439503-6266.jpg)

When they go BANG (and they will) it will destroy anything plugged into it :D
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 16, 2011, 17:41:02 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on November 16, 2011, 17:28:28 PM
You want one of these bad boys

(http://images.icecat.biz/img/norm/low/439503-6266.jpg)

When they go BANG (and they will) it will destroy anything plugged into it :D

I remember a time when everyone bought those! :D
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 16, 2011, 19:05:29 PM
Cheers chaps - boughted.  :thumbup:

That should do my usual 'midlife upgrade' before the next full system build in 2012.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 17, 2011, 18:56:11 PM
Well, it's certainly quiet.   Fired-up EVE Online ship hangar which usually sends the fan crazy and....  :worried: not a peep.  :w00t:  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 00:24:28 AM
Quote from: Eagle on November 17, 2011, 18:56:11 PM
Well, it's certainly quiet.   Fired-up EVE Online ship hangar which usually sends the fan crazy and....  :worried: not a peep.  :w00t:  :thumbup:

Glad you like it, did you buy the one i linked above or? :)
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 00:28:58 AM
No, that was on pre-order/overdue so I went with eBuyer:

http://www.ebuyer.com/285980-xfx-hd-6870-dd-1gb-dual-dvi-dual-displayport-hdmi-pci-e-graphics-hd-687a-zddc

:D
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 00:47:00 AM
Ah nice one, next will be the CPU/Mobo upgrade then :P
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 00:57:42 AM
Some memory first - DDR2 8Gb if I can find some in Crucial/Corsair flavour.  Not having much joy there though.

Will probably do the full monty late next year when the rig's about 5 years old; new case, mb, the works!
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 01:40:13 AM
Quote from: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 00:57:42 AM
Some memory first - DDR2 8Gb if I can find some in Crucial/Corsair flavour.  Not having much joy there though.

Will probably do the full monty late next year when the rig's about 5 years old; new case, mb, the works!


I think you will be hard pushed to find well priced 4GB sticks of DDR2 as 2GB sticks were more predominant in that era of computing, my recommendation would be to ignore the extra 8GB until the new pc build, unless something really well priced pops up.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 02:23:52 AM
Yeah, fair one.

Irony; getting really bad stutter now on DEUS EX HR whereas before it was smooth as silk, fully maxxed!  Seems to be a common problem though, judging by a quick search...

:)
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 05:29:25 AM
Quote from: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 02:23:52 AM
Yeah, fair one.

Irony; getting really bad stutter now on DEUS EX HR whereas before it was smooth as silk, fully maxxed!  Seems to be a common problem though, judging by a quick search...

:)


New drivers came out yesterday, did you update to them or use the ones on the disk? Not saying it will fix it but worth giving it a shot :D
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 08:13:12 AM
I'm using the latest Cat 11.11 from guru3d but do you mean the latest from the manufacturer?
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: soopahfly on November 18, 2011, 11:13:56 AM
Quote from: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 01:40:13 AM
Quote from: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 00:57:42 AM
Some memory first - DDR2 8Gb if I can find some in Crucial/Corsair flavour.  Not having much joy there though.

Will probably do the full monty late next year when the rig's about 5 years old; new case, mb, the works!


I think you will be hard pushed to find well priced 4GB sticks of DDR2 as 2GB sticks were more predominant in that era of computing, my recommendation would be to ignore the extra 8GB until the new pc build, unless something really well priced pops up.

I got 2 sticks of Ebuyer Value 2Gb DDR2 yesterday, came to just less than £30
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on November 18, 2011, 12:32:36 PM
Quote from: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 08:13:12 AM
I'm using the latest Cat 11.11 from guru3d but do you mean the latest from the manufacturer?

Are the guru3d ones optimised or something or is it just a mirror? AMD released new Catalyst drivers about two days ago and that seems to be the same version number 11.11 - can't say I've tried Deus Ex with these latest ones but its always ran brilliant for me, max everything.

If you're still having trouble later I'll fire it up and see.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 13:16:42 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on November 18, 2011, 11:13:56 AM
Quote from: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 01:40:13 AM
Quote from: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 00:57:42 AM
Some memory first - DDR2 8Gb if I can find some in Crucial/Corsair flavour.  Not having much joy there though.

Will probably do the full monty late next year when the rig's about 5 years old; new case, mb, the works!


I think you will be hard pushed to find well priced 4GB sticks of DDR2 as 2GB sticks were more predominant in that era of computing, my recommendation would be to ignore the extra 8GB until the new pc build, unless something really well priced pops up.

I got 2 sticks of Ebuyer Value 2Gb DDR2 yesterday, came to just less than £30

Thats nice, but Eagle wants 4GB sticks so go and look at the price for those. ;) If they sell them.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 15:41:22 PM
Well, I have four slots, so I might just do it.
Title: Re: Re: Suggestions for new GC?
Post by: soopahfly on November 19, 2011, 10:09:29 AM
Quote from: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 13:16:42 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on November 18, 2011, 11:13:56 AM
Quote from: Bacon on November 18, 2011, 01:40:13 AM
Quote from: Eagle on November 18, 2011, 00:57:42 AM
Some memory first - DDR2 8Gb if I can find some in Crucial/Corsair flavour.  Not having much joy there though.

Will probably do the full monty late next year when the rig's about 5 years old; new case, mb, the works!


I think you will be hard pushed to find well priced 4GB sticks of DDR2 as 2GB sticks were more predominant in that era of computing, my recommendation would be to ignore the extra 8GB until the new pc build, unless something really well priced pops up.

I got 2 sticks of Ebuyer Value 2Gb DDR2 yesterday, came to just less than £30

Thats nice, but Eagle wants 4GB sticks so go and look at the price for those. ;) If they sell them.

I'm saw the price of those. Why do you think I went for 2x2gb? :)

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