Graphics card help for a (semi) old duffer

[uncle fester]

Like to do some gaming on my 5/6 year old pc

stuff like call of duty etc - upgraded the graphics card a few years ago and works fine for games like CoD MW3

would like to move on to a few of the more modern games and would prefer just to upgrade graphics card again rather than buy a new machine

Current card is NVIDIA Geforce 512mb PC-I and am looking at modest upgrade to something like Radeon HD750 1GB but am getting confused about GDDR5 and DDR3 etc etc

don't want to buy the wrong thing so would appreciate any advice from anyone

Cheers

Fes

 

[Packrat]

If you could put down the spec and case of your pc first , please.
Then I'm sure someone would be able to help.

 

[uncle fester]

If you could put down the spec and case of your pc first , please.
Then I'm sure someone would be able to help.

Yes I thought as much (after I made the original post)

Pentium dual core 2,7Ghz
4 GB RAM
Desktop

fairly bog standard bit of kit - upgraded the graphics as above and as Im so lazy Im hoping to do the same again without too much impact

if it looks like I need to change power unit etc then I prob wont bother to be honest

 

[Centurions]

We would need to know what your power supply is for a start. Plus what's the case like? A 7950 (I presume is what you meant?) needs decent cooling.
GDDR5 is just fast memory made specifically for graphics cards, DDR3 is usually the computer memory although could be used on a graphics card.
Also what resolution are you expecting to use? What OS do you have?

 

[Dogtanian]

We would need to know what your power supply is for a start. Plus what's the case like? A 7950 (I presume is what you meant?) needs decent cooling.
GDDR5 is just fast memory made specifically for graphics cards, DDR3 is usually the computer memory although could be used on a graphics card.
Also what resolution are you expecting to use? What OS do you have?

And this is why people just plump for a console when it comes to gaming :(

 

[dazdon]

Download this...it genuinely is perfectly safe.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.piriform.com/speccy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.piriform.com/speccy</a>

Then screenshot your specs and post on here.

 

[uncle fester]

Download this...it genuinely is perfectly safe.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.piriform.com/speccy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.piriform.com/speccy</a>

Then screenshot your specs and post on here.

ok thanks for that

think this is it

Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Pentium E5400 @ 2.70GHz 38 °C
Wolfdale 45nm Technology
RAM
3.00GB Single-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (5-4-4-14)
Motherboard
eMachines EMCP73VT-PM (CPU 1) 27 °C
Graphics
W1934 (1440x900@60Hz)
512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS (ASUStek Computer Inc) 58 °C
Storage
298GB Seagate ST332041 8AS SCSI Disk Device (SATA) 36 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH41N SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

As I say if it gets too much like hard work I'll prob not bother

thanks for your help

 

[Centurions]

There's no doubt a more modern card will help enormously but you still don't say which card you're considering. I'm taking a guess on the Radeon HD 7750 card which retail from £68 to £100. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007AKF288/?tag=pcp0f-21.

One thing to keep in mind is will it physically fit? Lengthwise it looks about the same as your existing setup but it is wider and may take up the next slot on the motherboard. There's no additional power lead required as it takes all it's power via the motherboard slot so as long as your PSU isn't already at the limit you should be fine. Can you see any power ratings on the PSU at all?

 

[Centurions]

Is the 8400 GS graphics you have built into the motherboard or is it a separate card? You do have a PCIe slot for a discrete card?
If it's built in it's possible that the 512MB of memory it uses is reserved from your (odd) 3GB of system memory which will benefit you if using a standalone card.

The long slot above (PCIe x 16) is required for a modern graphics card.

 

[uncle fester]

Colin

thanks for that - yes I am looking at the Radeon 7750

The 8400 Gs is a standalone card that I bought some time ago - Ideally what i am looking to do is pull out the 8400 and put the Radeon back into the same slot

thanks again


Fester

 

[Centurions]

Just for reference here is a graphics card hierarchy chart from Tomshardware.com which lists graphics cards relative to the different graphic power tiers. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

Your existing 8400 GS is in the 30th tier(?), the 7750 with GDDR5 memory is in the 11th tier.

 

[dazdon]

And sort your RAM out m8.

8gig of RAM on two sticks (2x4gig) should suffice.

If you're unsure of the type of RAM and RAM speeds then remove a stick of RAM and take it with you to Maplins or any shop that deals with computer parts.

 

[uncle fester]

Quick update

Bought a new card fitted no probs connected up

Monitor goes into power save mode grrrrrrrr........

according to LG website graphics resolution too high not supported by monitor

reverted back to original card and try and convince myself about the need for a new monitor

cheers for all the replies

 

[dobobobo]

Quick update

Bought a new card fitted no probs connected up

Monitor goes into power save mode grrrrrrrr........

according to LG website graphics resolution too high not supported by monitor

reverted back to original card and try and convince myself about the need for a new monitor

cheers for all the replies

If you watch a lot of stuff online then I recommend getting a new monitor. I was umming and arrring for a long time till one day I punched my monitor whilst playing Battlefield 3 and instantly broke it. One could rightly say that it is a silly thing to do, but i'm glad it forced me into getting a widescreen monitor because it's great. And, delaying the need for me to replace my old widescreen CRT TV, it's bulky and heavy but the picture and sound is as good as the day I brought it.

This is my monitor and I love it: ASUS VE278Q 27 inch LED Widescreen Full HD 1080p http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0041RXPQY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Does you graphics card enable you to have dual monitor (two monitors connected to computer). If you do and you have the room you won't waste your current monitor that way.

 

[Centurions]

Quick update

Bought a new card fitted no probs connected up

Monitor goes into power save mode grrrrrrrr........

according to LG website graphics resolution too high not supported by monitor

reverted back to original card and try and convince myself about the need for a new monitor

cheers for all the replies

If you watch a lot of stuff online then I recommend getting a new monitor. I was umming and arrring for a long time till one day I punched my monitor whilst playing Battlefield 3 and instantly broke it. One could rightly say that it is a silly thing to do, but i'm glad it forced me into getting a widescreen monitor because it's great. And, delaying the need for me to replace my old widescreen CRT TV, it's bulky and heavy but the picture and sound is as good as the day I brought it.

This is my monitor and I love it: ASUS VE278Q 27 inch LED Widescreen Full HD 1080p http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0041RXPQY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Does you graphics card enable you to have dual monitor (two monitors connected to computer). If you do and you have the room you won't waste your current monitor that way.

I bought the 21.5-inch version of that last year http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0097I6R5I/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and can confirm it's an excellent picture. The sounds pretty lousy but I use the PC output anyway.

 

[dobobobo]

Quick update

Bought a new card fitted no probs connected up

Monitor goes into power save mode grrrrrrrr........

according to LG website graphics resolution too high not supported by monitor

reverted back to original card and try and convince myself about the need for a new monitor

cheers for all the replies

If you watch a lot of stuff online then I recommend getting a new monitor. I was umming and arrring for a long time till one day I punched my monitor whilst playing Battlefield 3 and instantly broke it. One could rightly say that it is a silly thing to do, but i'm glad it forced me into getting a widescreen monitor because it's great. And, delaying the need for me to replace my old widescreen CRT TV, it's bulky and heavy but the picture and sound is as good as the day I brought it.

This is my monitor and I love it: ASUS VE278Q 27 inch LED Widescreen Full HD 1080p http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0041RXPQY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Does you graphics card enable you to have dual monitor (two monitors connected to computer). If you do and you have the room you won't waste your current monitor that way.

I bought the 21.5-inch version of that last year http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0097I6R5I/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and can confirm it's an excellent picture. The sounds pretty lousy but I use the PC output anyway.

Oh hell yeah! The sound is shocking. Why they bothered with it I don't know. I'd rather the time have been spent on an adjustable stand, which is the only major criticism I have of the monitor.

 

[uncle fester]

If you watch a lot of stuff online then I recommend getting a new monitor. I was umming and arrring for a long time till one day I punched my monitor whilst playing Battlefield 3 and instantly broke it. One could rightly say that it is a silly thing to do, but i'm glad it forced me into getting a widescreen monitor because it's great. And, delaying the need for me to replace my old widescreen CRT TV, it's bulky and heavy but the picture and sound is as good as the day I brought it.

This is my monitor and I love it: ASUS VE278Q 27 inch LED Widescreen Full HD 1080p http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0041RXPQY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Does you graphics card enable you to have dual monitor (two monitors connected to computer). If you do and you have the room you won't waste your current monitor that way.

I bought the 21.5-inch version of that last year http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0097I6R5I/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and can confirm it's an excellent picture. The sounds pretty lousy but I use the PC output anyway.

Oh hell yeah! The sound is shocking. Why they bothered with it I don't know. I'd rather the time have been spent on an adjustable stand, which is the only major criticism I have of the monitor.

Was close to buying the 21.5 inch in curry's of all places today amazingly enough though no VESA fittings on the back. Given that I spent a fair amount of effort tracking cables for wall mounting etc looks like this one is ruled out

 

[Centurions]

I bought the 21.5-inch version of that last year http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0097I6R5I/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and can confirm it's an excellent picture. The sounds pretty lousy but I use the PC output anyway.

Oh hell yeah! The sound is shocking. Why they bothered with it I don't know. I'd rather the time have been spent on an adjustable stand, which is the only major criticism I have of the monitor.

Was close to buying the 21.5 inch in curry's of all places today amazingly enough though no VESA fittings on the back. Given that I spent a fair amount of effort tracking cables for wall mounting etc looks like this one is ruled out

You can fit a VESA wall mounting bracket, it's got standard 100mm spacing screwed holes behind little rubber bungs in the back.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cantilever-...687&sr=8-1&keywords=100mm+vesa+mounting+plate £14.75 complete with all screws.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...=aps&field-keywords=100mm vesa mounting plate, here's a selection of different mounting arms and even just the plates if you've already got an arm fitted.