Upgrading GPU

[BlackFang]

Hi Guys

I have decided to upgrade my gpu just need a little advice I'm currently running the below rig:
EVGA GTX660 2GB SuperClocked Edition 192-Bit PCI-E 3.0 28nm

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz LGA1155 Quad Core Ivy Bridge CPU

MSI Z77A-G43 LGA 1155 ATX Intel Z77

XFX ProSeries P1-550S-XXB9 Core Edition 550W 80 Plus Bronze Certified Desktop PSU

G.Skill F3-1600C9D-8GAB 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz 1.5V

I was thinking of either going for: http://www.wootware.co.za/powercolo...it-pci-express-3-0-desktop-graphics-card.html

So is it a good idea my current gpu is constantly giving me problems like kernel drivers stop working etc.

Edit*
My budget is R3500 max

 

[RyanvF]

Hi Guys

I have decided to upgrade my gpu just need a little advice I'm currently running the below rig:
EVGA GTX660 2GB SuperClocked Edition 192-Bit PCI-E 3.0 28nm

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz LGA1155 Quad Core Ivy Bridge CPU

MSI Z77A-G43 LGA 1155 ATX Intel Z77

XFX ProSeries P1-550S-XXB9 Core Edition 550W 80 Plus Bronze Certified Desktop PSU

G.Skill F3-1600C9D-8GAB 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz 1.5V

I was thinking of either going for: http://www.wootware.co.za/powercolo...it-pci-express-3-0-desktop-graphics-card.html

So is it a good idea my current gpu is constantly giving me problems like kernel drivers stop working etc.

Edit*
My budget is R3500 max

I would also make that choice. I'm not too sure about Powercolor though? I've never used anything except Gigabyte. Is it a trustworthy brand? I know that there would definitely be a difference in the temperatures because of Gigabytes Windforce technology.

 

[Lothy]

Honestly bud, I would recommend an Nvidia card. It seems EVERY game coming out is biased towards NVIdia and AMD, although a good card is not optimized for these games. If I were u, save an extra month or 2 and get a decent NVidia.

 

[Bodhi]

I would also make that choice. I'm not too sure about Powercolor though? I've never used anything except Gigabyte. Is it a trustworthy brand? I know that there would definitely be a difference in the temperatures because of Gigabytes Windforce technology.

Nothing wrong with Powercolor, I know of many people who are very happy with their cards

 

[hideinlight]

I'd personally go the Galax GTX960 just because every game seems to support it better atm.

But that card is the best alternative option for that price range.

 

[Kwaai]

Nothing wrong with Powercolor, I know of many people who are very happy with their cards

+1, other than needing a fan replacement after a year I have no complaints with this brand.

I'd personally go the Galax GTX960 just because every game seems to support it better atm.

But that card is the best alternative option for that price range.

Both the 280x and 960 are a decent upgrade to his card, although if it were me and I had to upgrade today I'd put a bit more towards the budget and buy the 290 for 4000 - Link

 

[hideinlight]

+1, other than needing a fan replacement after a year I have no complaints with this brand.



Both the 280x and 960 are a decent upgrade to his card, although if it were me and I had to upgrade today I'd put a bit more towards the budget and buy the 290 for 4000 - Link

Bit too power hungry for my liking though.
But yeah Nvidia could use a R4000 card. Maybe wait for GTX960 ti?

Is there even gonna be one? But your so close to a GTX970 (2nd hand) when you go towards that price range.

 

[Kwaai]

Bit too power hungry for my liking though.
But yeah Nvidia could use a R4000 card. Maybe wait for GTX960 ti?

Is there even gonna be one? But your so close to a GTX970 (2nd hand) when you go towards that price range.

That depends on when OP needs the new card, it'll be worthwhile to hold out a bit longer .

With his max budget being 3.5, it was already a stretch suggesting a 4k card. The second hand 970 will probably be another 500 on top of that.

 

[Slitza]

Hi Guys

I have decided to upgrade my gpu just need a little advice I'm currently running the below rig:
EVGA GTX660 2GB SuperClocked Edition 192-Bit PCI-E 3.0 28nm

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz LGA1155 Quad Core Ivy Bridge CPU

MSI Z77A-G43 LGA 1155 ATX Intel Z77

XFX ProSeries P1-550S-XXB9 Core Edition 550W 80 Plus Bronze Certified Desktop PSU

G.Skill F3-1600C9D-8GAB 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz 1.5V

I was thinking of either going for: http://www.wootware.co.za/powercolo...it-pci-express-3-0-desktop-graphics-card.html

So is it a good idea my current gpu is constantly giving me problems like kernel drivers stop working etc.

Edit*
My budget is R3500 max

I dont even care what the rest of the posts here say. If you're getting a stronger card like a 280X, i would make sure that your 550W power supply will run it sufficiently. Radeon high end cards in the 280x/290x range draw significantly more power and produce more heat than similar specced nvidia cards. Also, for R3500, by now you can pretty much just import a GTX 970 for slightly over budget, or you can import a 290/290x or a newer model for around R3000-3500

 

[BeoTeK]

Bit of a necro'd thread isn't it? this thread is over a year old since the first reply!

The thread is a week old!

 

[Bodhi]

The thread is a week old!

He's obviously from the future, DUH!

 

[Slitza]

The thread is a week old!

haha I read the OP's post date over and over and in spite of thinking its over a year old, i didnt register the 2015 as 2015"whistling: nice gif btw. Regardless, my reply to the op was up to date and appropriate to context

 

[Slitza]

OP

search around- all your questions are already answered.

In regards to your 550W power supply:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1834929/280x-psu-requirement.html

In regards to the R9 280X model you are interested in:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-r9-280x-r9-270x-r7-260x,3635.html
(this review contributed to my decision to not go for a 280x when I upgraded)

Look at some benchmarks. Without upgrading your power supply, I'd think you're roughly constricted to a 750 Ti or a 270x.

 

[Bodhi]

OP

search around- all your questions are already answered.

In regards to your 550W power supply:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1834929/280x-psu-requirement.html

In regards to the R9 280X model you are interested in:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-r9-280x-r9-270x-r7-260x,3635.html
(this review contributed to my decision to not go for a 280x when I upgraded)

Look at some benchmarks. Without upgrading your power supply, I'd think you're roughly constricted to a 750 Ti or a 270x.

The recommended supply for the Powercolor R9 280x on wootware's site is 500Watt, I think the OP's 550Watt will do just fine?

The first URL you linked says you'll need a 750W to crossfire 2 x R9 280x, and the guy asks if his 620watt will be enough for a single card(its obviously more than enough, even a smaller PSU will do)

And the 2nd URL basically says that these cards are rebranded cards from the 7000 series.

The OP asked what card he should get, not sure how these answer his question, unless I missed something

 

[Slitza]

a bronze rater 550Watt with a k series cpu and a heat and power heavy card? Thats begging for a burnout. power supplies run efficiently at almost double the power draw wattage. that 550W bronze rated can at most draw 440W of power. Thats all before even looking at what type of psu it is ie single rail or not.

Yes, the point of the second like is to remind OP that the "new 280x" is not based on current architecture

 

[BlackFang]

I was thinking of upgrading power supply but really don't want to due to budget.

 

[RyanvF]

Hi Guys

I have decided to upgrade my gpu just need a little advice I'm currently running the below rig:
EVGA GTX660 2GB SuperClocked Edition 192-Bit PCI-E 3.0 28nm

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz LGA1155 Quad Core Ivy Bridge CPU

MSI Z77A-G43 LGA 1155 ATX Intel Z77

XFX ProSeries P1-550S-XXB9 Core Edition 550W 80 Plus Bronze Certified Desktop PSU

G.Skill F3-1600C9D-8GAB 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz 1.5V

I was thinking of either going for: http://www.wootware.co.za/powercolo...it-pci-express-3-0-desktop-graphics-card.html

So is it a good idea my current gpu is constantly giving me problems like kernel drivers stop working etc.

Edit*
My budget is R3500 max

This is what I was looking at, you're pretty much at the same price range as me.
http://www.rebeltech.co.za/geforce-gtx-900-series/9063-gigabyte-gigabyte-geforce-gtx-960-windforce-2x-2gb-ddr5-pci-express-30-batman-arkham-knight-gigabyte-geforce-gtx-960-gv-n960wf2o.html

 

[Slitza]

I was thinking of upgrading power supply but really don't want to due to budget.

Having a bronze rated psu already is good. If you can replace it with a gold rated psu for R1000-1500, you will make up the initial higher upfront cost over I'd guess 2-3 years, all because of running your machine at an efficient power draw level. As RyanvF said below my previous post, the gtx 960 isnt a bad alternative, but my strongest suggestion would be importing a gtx 970 for R4000, because it has a generally lower power draw, so over the lifespan that you use it, you'll at the very least save the difference of that R500 higher budget and have a stronger card to boot!

 

[hideinlight]

550w bronze should be enough R9 280x, but your gonna have limit the components in your PC, but the amps on your 12v rail is gonna be more important since you gonna want most of the watt to be on the 12v.

Once you go above that though (R9 290X), you gonna need to consider a 620w+, a decent PSU in that range would cost you R900 (seasonic).

Any good 450w/550w would cost you around R600 (Maybe +R100-R200 for 550w)

R9 280x amps required is 30, that's give and take +2A safety net.