Mid level video card for older system

[Kerry56]

I have an older computer that I have set up for my nephew to use when he comes to visit, which is fairly frequently. My old Radeon HD 4850 card bit the dust, so I'm going to have to upgrade a little bit for him.

The computer has an AMD 1055t six core cpu, 8gb ram and a Seasonic 400w psu with only a six pin pcie connector. I'm not expecting to run all the modern games, but something a little newer if included with the video card might be nice.

Another problem is the case. It can accommodate a 9 1/2" video card. Nothing more.

I've looked at the EVGA Geforce GTX960 4gb and the similar Gigigbyte card at Newegg. Both fit the needs, but seem overpriced, even with a small help from rebates. Budget should stick to $200. In fact, lets put a hard ceiling there, after rebates.

Both of those cards come with Free Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, but I have no idea if this machine could run it with this older cpu.

Any other ideas?

 

[SPBHM]

I think you can easily play MGS5 with that CPU, worst case is running with the 30FPS lock I think... which is not to bad

the prologue (GZ) was pretty well optimized...

but even a 750 TI would already fit nicely with that PC, run almost any current game well enough and be a good upgrade over the 4850...
(but I think 960 is the cheapest with free MGS5)

 

[Leyawiin]

With that CPU you might want to consider stopping at a GTX 950. Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend one over a GTX 960, but I really don't think the old Thuban can push much more and you might as well keep the $20-$40 in your pocket. There are some quite short ones that would fit your space limitation with ease. Plus Nvidia driver's lower overhead would be helpful for the CPU.

 

[RussianSensation]

I've looked at the EVGA Geforce GTX960 4gb and the similar Gigigbyte card at Newegg. Both fit the needs, but seem overpriced, even with a small help from rebates. Budget should stick to $200. In fact, lets put a hard ceiling there, after rebates.

Every card right now in the $160-200 space is overpriced because R9 290 sells for $230 and R9 290 is 50%+ faster than a GTX960/R9 285, ~70% faster than a $150 GTX950. Still, in keeping with your hard budget and PCB length, I would go with Gigabyte 960 4GB for $200.

Another option is since your nephew was probably satisfied with HD4850's performance is a $100 GTX750Ti 2GB, after $5 off coupon and rebate. That could be a good stop-gap budget gaming card and then you can resell it for $40-50 in 1.5-2 years and get a faster 16nm HBM2 GPU with a whole system overhaul as your processor is getting slow. GTX750Ti ~ GTX480/570 so it would be 2.6X faster than the HD4850.

However, if your nephew/you are interested in the MGS V game, that gives more value towards the 960 level card for you. :thumbsup: I wouldn't purchase a GTX950 at all because it's likely possible to catch a GTX960 2GB on sale for $160-170 with MGS game which makes 950 irrelevant.

 

[happy medium]

With that CPU you might want to consider stopping at a GTX 950. Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend one over a GTX 960, but I really don't think the old Thuban can push much more and you might as well keep the $20-$40 in your pocket. There are some quite short ones that would fit your space limitation with ease. Plus Nvidia driver's lower overhead would be helpful for the CPU.

This guy is right, your cpu wont push a 960 unless its overclocked past 3.4 and at the stock 2.8 it will be good for a gtx750ti.

 

[Kerry56]

Alright, thanks to everyone for your responses. I've been looking for a few days with these constraints in mind and the GTX960 4GB seemed the best choice, and the game will suit his tastes.

Went ahead and ordered the Gigabyte version.

Edit: happy medium posted in there before me. That MSI card is too long physically to fit.

 

[shady28]

edit : nvm!

Grats on the 960. I think you'll be pleased with it.

 

[bononos]

Every card right now in the $160-200 space is overpriced because R9 290 sells for $230 and R9 290 is 50%+ faster than a GTX960/R9 285, ~70% faster than a $150 GTX950. Still, in keeping with your hard budget and PCB length, I would go with Gigabyte 960 4GB for $200.

Another option is since your nephew was probably satisfied with HD4850's performance is a $100 GTX750Ti 2GB, after $5 off coupon and rebate. That could be a good stop-gap budget gaming card and then you can resell it for $40-50 in 1.5-2 years and get a faster 16nm HBM2 GPU with a whole system overhaul as your processor is getting slow. GTX750Ti ~ GTX480/570 so it would be 2.6X faster than the HD4850.
........

Is there anything to look out for with the 290s? Like certain models too avoid because of high VRM temps (up to 120C)? Then theres the black screen failures with early batches using Elpida memory, not sure if its actually due to the memory or a design change which coincidentally used different memory vendors which resulted in much improved VRM temps I think.

 

[TemjinGold]

Err... unless you are buying used, I don't think you need to worry about early batches at this point...

 

[Headfoot]

Is there anything to look out for with the 290s? Like certain models too avoid because of high VRM temps (up to 120C)? Then theres the black screen failures with early batches using Elpida memory, not sure if its actually due to the memory or a design change which coincidentally used different memory vendors which resulted in much improved VRM temps I think.

Get one of the aftermarket models and you should be fine. The best aftermarket models are the Tri-X and Vapor-X by sapphire. The XFX DD has probably worse OC potential but its very quiet. The other various vendor's aftermarket models are all pretty acceptable.

 

[tweakboy]

Grab a 560 GTX , for 130 or soo! You need AGP or PCIexpress ?

Give us more info in signature my friend.

 

[RussianSensation]

Is there anything to look out for with the 290s? Like certain models too avoid because of high VRM temps (up to 120C)? Then theres the black screen failures with early batches using Elpida memory, not sure if its actually due to the memory or a design change which coincidentally used different memory vendors which resulted in much improved VRM temps I think.

Sapphire Tri-X/Vapor-X and PowerColor PCS+ 290s are solid ones if you are buying used. You could also wait for the holidays as Q4 is often when there are the best deals on GPUs. Last year in Q4 we got $200 PowerColor PCS+ 290 and Tri-X 290 and then these prices barely showed up in 2015. R9 390 has already been on sale for $275-280. With after-market 970 going for $290, I am confident we will see a $250 970 this holiday season. Also, if you are interested in MGS V or don't mind selling it on EBay, that would make that particular 970 ~ $255-265 after selling/accounting for the game's value.

 

[AtenRa]

I would go for the R9 380 for the coming DX-12 games but well......

 

[happy medium]

I would go for the R9 380 for the coming DX-12 games but well......

The r9 480 will be out before you see any real direct X 12 games.

 

[AtenRa]

The r9 480 will be out before you see any real direct X 12 games.

Deus Ex : Mankind Divided is scheduled for launch in the end of February 2016 and it is confirmed to be DX-12. I dont believe any 16nm GPUs will be released before then.

 

[happy medium]

Deus Ex : Mankind Divided is scheduled for launch in the end of February 2016 and it is confirmed to be DX-12. I dont believe any 16nm GPUs will be released before then.

For one game that might be released before the new wave of gpu's are released and a 200$ 380 is way to fast for his stock cpu, a waste of money.
But I'm not saying a 4gb gtx960 was not a waste of money also.
He should had just grabbed a 2gb 960 for 159$ with a free Metal gear game that he wanted..

 

[NTMBK]

For one game that might be released before the new wave of gpu's are released and a 200$ 380 is way to fast for his stock cpu, a waste of money.
But I'm not saying a 4gb gtx960 was not a waste of money also.
He should had just grabbed a 2gb 960 for 159$ with a free Metal gear game that he wanted..

On the latest Anandtech podcast, they were saying that their sources were saying that half a dozen big DX12 will be out by spring next year, and over a dozen by this time next year.