Solved Is it time to buy a new CPU (or MB)?

[pintree3]

I thank you all. For the time being I think I will buy an SSD card then a little later a new GPU (when did a VGA card start being called gpu?) I have new question but will have to start a new thread regarding it. thanks again

 

[mjf]

(when did a VGA card start being called gpu?)

I generally just call it the "graphics card". You can argue that the GPU is the specialized graphics processing chip on the card. But I think we are all talking about the physical graphics card.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep basically a issue of semantics VGA GPU it all gets down to a graphics processing feature.

 

[Boozad]

VGA (Video Graphics Array) is virtually obsolete, the majority of new GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) don't carry VGA ports at all anymore. GPU is a generalisation for the hardware that processes the graphics and applies to all discreet graphics cards, VGA is the lowest common denominator for compatibility and really was only used in the last few years for the Windows splash screen (hence why it was always low res up to and including XP) until the dedicated graphics drivers took over when it was loaded.
Vista and above use of the VESA BIOS extension support which is why the splash screens appear in a much higher res.

Basically VGA is old, outdated and not used anymore.

 

[pintree3]

Based on comments made here I will buy a new video card. As written above my current MB is the 'Asus P7P55D-E LX' and my CPU is an '2.80 gigahertz Intel Core i5 760''.
'I'm aiming at buying the ''MSI R7 260X 2GD5 OC Radeon R7 260X 2GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 HDCP Ready CrossFireX". the most I could afford at the time being.
Could I assume this card will fit my current PC? I wrote to Asus yesterday but have yet to receive a reply.

 

[Boozad]

Your motherboard has the relevant PCIe slot although it is only PCIe 2.0 while your card is PCIe 3.0. That doesn't really matter, it will still work as the PCIe 3.0 is backwards compatible with the PCIe 2.0 slot.

Presuming this is the card you've bought, it measures 20.3cm in length so measure the space you have in your case from the rear I/O panel where your ports on the card will sit up to the HDD cage (or front of the case) to make sure it will physically fit.

 

[pintree3]

I'm confused. You've said, therefore to me it seems to be, that just about any newer GPU card is better than mine since technology changes so quickly. So I did 2 things, I moved up from R5 to R7 and at newer models. And yet when I compare the specs of my R5 card it seems to be better than this newer and higher R7 card.
Mine:
MSI R5770 Hawk (ATI Radeon HD 5770)
Core/Memory : 875MHz Core / 1GB GDDR5 4800MHz
Interface: PCI Express x16 2.1
Memory Size(MB): 1024
Memory Interface: 128bit
Card Dimension(mm): 208 x 111 x 35
Compared to:
Diamond Boost AMD R7 240 PCIE GDDR5 1GB Memory Low Profile Graphics Video Card
Memory: 1GB GDDR5 -------- The same as mine
Memory Interface: 128-bit --------- The same as mine
Bus Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x16 ---------- Irrelevant to me because of my MB uses 2.0 (though I will add a 3. card)
Core Clock: 780 MHz (780 MHz with Diamond Boost) ---------- Seems to be lower than mine
Memory Clock: 1150 MHz x 2 (2300 MHz) --------- Lower than mine
Can anyone please explain how this card could be better than my older and lower card
I've seen R7 cards at twice the price of the above card but the specs don't seem to differ much.
Thank you

 

[badger906]

its not any better. the r7 240 is an extreme budget card. in the relms of internet browsing and hd movies only.

heres a comparison:
http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R7-240-vs-Radeon-HD-5770

the r7 260x would be the a slight improvement on you current card.
comparison here:
http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R7-260X-vs-Radeon-HD-5770

the r9 270x would be a fairly decent choice:
http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R9-270X-vs-Radeon-HD-5770

but personally id get an nvidia gtx 750ti.. it walks the park with you current card and really doesnt cost a lot for the performance

 

[pintree3]

thanks badger. My answer to the following question, "Would you trust a 2nd hand used card from eBay" would be, '2nd hand is always taking a risk, you don't know how it was handled or what work/stress it was put under" What would be your reply to this question. For there is a card there for 1/3 the price.
Also in re: to your gtx PC mag and other sites actually rate the R9 higher but I truly do trust your opinion based on your input here and elsewhere.

 

[badger906]

well thw r9 cards are more powerful than the gtx750 buut the gtx75ti is only like £130.. small change for the performance it gains.
if your willing to pay for an r9 270x then by all means get one!!

yeah buying second hand is a risk, but ebay and paypal will cover you if its defective in the post. also manufacturer warranties will still apply, and considering they are less than a year old your still good.
if its really a 3rd of the price id call it a worth while risk! I always sell my cards so I guess some people take the risk! other wise id have piles of old cards dating back to the 1990s!!

 

[pintree3]

Badger I thank you and when I say thank you I mean I really, really, really sincerely thank you

 

[pintree3]

Oh my I found one almost for free. Would you trust this one?
XFX Radeon R9 270X 2GB Dual FAN Video Card | eBay
OR this one
MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB GDDR5 Great Condition | eBay

 

[badger906]

remember these are at auction, so the price could soon sky rocket! but i hope you get a bargain!

 

[pintree3]

I had noticed that only after the fact Do I want to wait four days only to find out it's going to sell for $5 less than its listed price? I've tried bidding on a few occasions only to end up with a price not worth it at all for me to continue bidding. Thanks for telling me BTW for if I had not noticed......

 

[ICIT2LOL]

well thw r9 cards are more powerful than the gtx750 buut the gtx75ti is only like £130.. small change for the performance it gains.
if your willing to pay for an r9 270x then by all means get one!!

yeah buying second hand is a risk, but ebay and paypal will cover you if its defective in the post. also manufacturer warranties will still apply, and considering they are less than a year old your still good.
if its really a 3rd of the price id call it a worth while risk! I always sell my cards so I guess some people take the risk! other wise id have piles of old cards dating back to the 1990s!!

Ebay mate you are staring trouble down the barrel as my brother over in the UK can testify to. Its ok covering it in the post but will the seller come to the party? Personally for the small extra go new as I find Ebay stuff really expensive even from the dealers and they have to because of the slice that Ebay and PayPal take. Plus I would be concerned the manufacturer wold not hold to that agreement

I went for the Radeaon stuff to NVidia and haven't looked back . Currently I am running GTX 650i's in my machines and really good value for money and believe m stuff out he is really expensive compared to what most of the others can get.