Price difference on same-name video cards? (Sapphire 6870)

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:31 pm

scratch all that; there's no way that GPU will fit inside my case. From the way the motherboard is built, it would be hanging over all the RAM and then some, reaching all the way up to the HD. Looks like i'll have to explore Skyrim another day Sad

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:33 pm

imouse wrote:

LORD! GARTH! wrote:

it doesnt hurt to have lots of extra power capacity

..BTW make sure you power supply has the connectors you need for all your pieces ,, GPU drives etc..

Just jumping in to say thats a trap i've just fallen foul of. I've just got a Nividia Geforce 8800 Ultra gpu and found that it only just fitted into my case (10inch card)
I'm now getting a message on each startup that my card isn't recieving enough power so performance has been reduced. My psu is rated at 500Watt with a single pcie 6pin. I connected a second adapter, but still cant provide enough.
I did a bit of research into psu's, and all i can say is be careful. Some psu's do provide high amp ratings, but go for a dual rail psu as each rail is rated separately. A single rail 'can' provide xxxamps, but with all other devices relying on the same rail, the ratings go to pot.
So, on top of the gpu cost, i'm now having to shell out on a better quality psu.
Another thought for you is cooling. Make sure you have enough airflow or temperatures will rise, sometimes rising to the point of system failure.

Yup. Looks like that's exactly what I'll have to do. Sad

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:40 pm

bazzer101 wrote:

you also will need to be running a 64bit windows OS to avail of adding that much RAM. 32 bit can only use max something like 3.5gb so you are just wasting ram if you dont have a 64bit windows.

Wonderful; yet another problem in my way. Well, thanks for the heads-up. Looks like I'll just have to buy/build a whole new computer.

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:42 pm

if you board and CPU is capable of PAE, phys address extension you can use more than the 4gigs that the win32 kernal was designed for

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:46 pm

LORD! GARTH! wrote:

if you board and CPU is capable of PAE, phys address extension you can use more than the 4gigs that the win32 kernal was designed for

I have no knowledge whatsoever of whether it is or not. However, an idea just occurred to me: I could just go with the Radeon 6850. That one appears to be about 3 inches shorter, and can be overclocked to match the performance of the 6870. What say you: Should I take the plunge?

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:04 pm

overclocking a device makes it generate more heat , and reduces the MTBF [mean time before failure] so you want to make sure you have good heat exhausting, and the GPU, will have reduced lifetime, but probably wont burn before its obsolete.

theres a lot of considerations that have been covered here, and it looks like your getting into a whole system design, so you may want to consider things from that angle, in addition to the angle of upgrading spec to run a game Very Happy

BTW imouse is bringing up an important poit, re PSU..[bipolar vs dual cathode supplies]
the bench specs can be fudged by the manufacturer so it looks awesome at half the price, but has no balls!! and other devices can have the same done as well.

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:10 pm

LORD! GARTH! wrote:

overclocking a device makes it generate more heat , and reduces the MTBF [mean time before failure] so you want to make sure you have good heat exhausting, and the GPU, will have reduced lifetime, but probably wont burn before its obsolete.

theres a lot of considerations that have been covered here, and it looks like your getting into a whole system design, so you may want to consider things from that angle, in addition to the angle of upgrading spec to run a game Very Happy

yup. I was really just hoping to grab the 6870, game with it until I went to college, then get myself a 360 and have a field day there. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that will be happening. Well, waddaya gonna do. I really can't build a whole new system currently, so it's back to crappy games, I suppose.

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:18 pm

you could get this pretty cheap it should play the game no problem on a quad core.sorry this is what i got not the sapphire,had to check receipts as i gave that machine to one of the nephews.it was a 6 core though but could play rage with no problems so played skyrim on high.

http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6670DIS1GD5/#specifications

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121442&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-ASUS-_-14121442

it should fit in that box nicely since only about 7" and if the PSU is a 400w you wouldn't need to upgrade it but probably should.if you could get a decent modular one that would help some with airflow.

the recommended requirements for skyrim:

Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)
Processor: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU
4GB System RAM
6GB free HDD space
DirectX 9.0c compatible NVIDIA or AMD ATI video card with 1GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher).
DirectX compatible sound card
Internet access for Steam activation

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:21 pm

Nemokhan please use the edit function rather than double and triple posting.

I have a 6850 and I can run skyrim well enough (30 FPS with a custom .ini file for greater than maximum IQ) This is mostly due to the fact that the game is CPU limited for the most part so with medium/high settings and a 6850 i expected you'd be about the 50FPS range. My card is not overclocked at all and by the sound of it neither you're PSU nor your case would be conducive to any overclocking. overclocking creates more heat and it doesn't sound like there's a lot of room in your case for good airflow.

The game (unless it's been patched recently) can not support 4 gigs of RAM at any rate and will only use 1.8 maximum without applying a LAE patch (a software not a hardware thing) so 32 bit windows XP is not a problem in your case. because the game was designed to be run on consoles, unless you are using a custom .ini file for your settings using a memory patch is uneccesary.

your PSU will require a 6 pin PCI-e power cable for the card and I'm not sure you'll find one on a 400W PSU so double check that before you pruchase anything.

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:32 pm

lndestructible wrote:

Nemokhan please use the edit function rather than double and triple posting.

I have a 6850 and I can run skyrim well enough (30 FPS with a custom .ini file for greater than maximum IQ) This is mostly due to the fact that the game is CPU limited for the most part so with medium/high settings and a 6850 i expected you'd be about the 50FPS range. My card is not overclocked at all and by the sound of it neither you're PSU nor your case would be conducive to any overclocking. overclocking creates more heat and it doesn't sound like there's a lot of room in your case for good airflow.

The game (unless it's been patched recently) can not support 4 gigs of RAM at any rate and will only use 1.8 maximum without applying a LAE patch (a software not a hardware thing) so 32 bit windows XP is not a problem in your case. because the game was designed to be run on consoles, unless you are using a custom .ini file for your settings using a memory patch is uneccesary.

your PSU will require a 6 pin PCI-e power cable for the card and I'm not sure you'll find one on a 400W PSU so double check that before you pruchase anything.

Quite honestly I don't know what you mean by using the edit function, as this is only my second original thread on isohunt. Maybe i should check a basic rules stick or something.

But thanks for the info, although unfortunately my PSU is only 280W (I checked the sticker on the inside of the case)

iamnephilim wrote:

you could get this pretty cheap it should play the game no problem on a quad core.sorry this is what i got not the sapphire,had to check receipts as i gave that machine to one of the nephews.it was a 6 core though but could play rage with no problems so played skyrim on high.

http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6670DIS1GD5/#specifications

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121442&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-ASUS-_-14121442

it should fit in that box nicely since only about 7" and if the PSU is a 400w you wouldn't need to upgrade it but probably should.if you could get a decent modular one that would help some with airflow.

the recommended requirements for skyrim:

Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)
Processor: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU
4GB System RAM
6GB free HDD space
DirectX 9.0c compatible NVIDIA or AMD ATI video card with 1GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher).
DirectX compatible sound card
Internet access for Steam activation

Awesome, this is great! Thanks so much, nephilim, you've been my savior twice now Very Happy

Let me just measure to double-check that 7 inches should be fine...
Not so sure. With the current setup, that card would still be hanging over a couple slots of RAM. A probably solution, i believe, would be to utilize the last remaining unused RAM slot in my motherboard. If I went out and bought 1x 4GB DDR2, would that compromise performance in any way?

Also, I'd have to buy a new PSU regardless. I'll probably go with a 400-500W model.

Posts megred

Ok, coolio; i believe i get it now. Like this, right?

Alrighty, so I now know i should get the Radeon 6670, if I can manage to fit it in my case. In order to fit it in my case, I may have to remove the 3x 1GB DDR2 in the slots closest to the PCIe slot in the case, and instead get a 1x4GB DDR2 (or DDR3?) for the farthest RAM slot from the PCIe slot.
I don't imagine that this will cause any performance difficulties, but if y'all have a better idea, i'd greatly appreciate any input.

And then I need a PSU of at least 400W, but no greater that 500W. If possible, I'd like to keep expenses under $200 (GPU is $100). Thanks very much Smile

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:40 pm

Quote:

Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post ...

on the top right of the post the Edit/Delete this post link will allow you to modify your post.

I'll demonstrate on the above double post Wink

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:41 pm

what he means is there is an edit function in the upper right hand side of a post.you can use it too add more to the original rather than making another.here's the thread about it.it's also in the rules not to do it.

https://isohunt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=312985&highlight=double+posting

EDIT okay not sure if this is it but couldn't find a better pic.if this is what the inside of the pc looks like the card will face downward so it should run just below your ram slots.it should not cover any,you don't want to move the ram from the first two slots as it looks to be color coded for dual channel memory,with those two the same color.

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:47 pm

iamnephilim wrote:

what he means is there is an edit function in the upper right hand side of a post.you can use it too add more to the original rather than making another.here's the thread about it.it's also in the rules not to do it.

https://isohunt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=312985&highlight=double+posting

EDIT okay not sure if this is it but couldn't find a better pic.if this is what the inside of the pc looks like the card will face downward so it should run just below your ram slots.it should not cover any,you don't want to move the ram from the first two slots as it looks to be color coded for dual channel memory,with those two the same color.

Awesome! That is exactly what the inside of my computer looks like, although they seem to have a second HD in there or something. If it will be facing downwards, then great. I think, because I'll be heading to college in a little while, that I'll just add an extra GB of RAM and leave it at that. And if the Radeon 6670 can play Skyrim at medium-to-high quality, then I am set.

Just need to find a power supply now. Looks like they run from about $40-$75 for the type I need. Any suggestions on what I should look for?

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:24 pm

80+ bronze 500w would be where i started.i personally like thermaltake because you can't hear them running.you may be able to find a similar corsair 500w 80+ certified the same price or maybe a little cheaper.

beware buying too cheap,remember this has to run the card and everything else efficiently.i put a 500w antec that i got local because i needed to fix someones pc and it was so loud i ended up tossing it in the other room to only use to check stuff.it's pretty much brand new but i'll never use it unless i don't have a choice or someone doesn't want to spend much and doesn't mind the noise.

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:37 pm

iamnephilim wrote:

80+ bronze 500w would be where i started.i personally like thermaltake because you can't hear them running.you may be able to find a similar corsair 500w 80+ certified the same price or maybe a little cheaper.

beware buying too cheap,remember this has to run the card and everything else efficiently.i put a 500w antec that i got local because i needed to fix someones pc and it was so loud i ended up tossing it in the other room to only use to check stuff.it's pretty much brand new but i'll never use it unless i don't have a choice or someone doesn't want to spend much and doesn't mind the noise.

Well, so far these are three I've found:

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-500-Watt-Certified-Compatible-Platforms/dp/B004W2T2U6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-ATX12V-Compliant-Power-Supply/dp/B0058FAYQC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326076361&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Strider-Active-Supply-ST50F-ES/dp/B0034XRDUU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326076361&sr=8-1

Silverstone seems solid (although that's only based on two reviews), but it's a little more than the other two. The thermaltake has no reviews, but you've had experience with them before, so I'm willing to take a risk. And the Corsair seems to have a few lemons shipped from the factory, so i'm not sure I'd like to go that way.

Question: What's the significance of 80+ and certified?

I'm leaning towards the silverstone or corsair, if only because they have reviews.