Update my graphics card

[Brendan M]

Hi there
I have recently updated my motherboard, chip and ram but I am still running my 6 or 7 year old graphic card.
Not being all the tech savvy I was wondering what graphics card my system could run and I should buy. I do video editing from Gopro and using Cyberlink powerdirector. I also use photoshop.
I don't play many games but my kids are starting to play games and my daughter wants to use Kodu.
Currently Kodu crashes my pc and so I think it may help to update the graphic card.

My system is as follows;
Operating System
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i5 4440 @ 3.10GHz 42 °C
Haswell 22nm Technology
RAM
32.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 666MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. Z97X-UD3H-CF (SOCKET 0) 28 °C
Graphics
DELL P2310H (1920x1080@60Hz)
Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Gigabyte)
1024MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 5800 Series (ASUStek Computer Inc) 43 °C
Storage
232GB Samsung SSD 840 Series ATA Device (SSD) 28 °C
931GB Western Digital WDC WD10EVDS-63N5B1 ATA Device (SATA) 35 °C
931GB Western Digital WDC WD10EVDS-63N5B1 ATA Device (SATA) 35 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 ATA Device
ELBY CLONEDRIVE SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
AMD High Definition Audio Device


Any advice/suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
What is your budget ?
Post the exact model pc you have
Measure the case and post a picture of the inside of it
There's plenty of killer deals on real NVidia GTX gpu's that will do far better than Radeon will

The picture we must know what wattage power supply you have
There a tag on the psu that states this please post it for recommendations

 

[AddRAM]

Well, workstation cards can be very expensive, you have to decide if you want a workstation card or a low or high end gaming card.

Look at PNY for a workstition card.

https://www.pny.com/mega-consumer/shop-all-products/nvidia-quadro-graphics-cards

Or I recommend EVGA or MSI for a good NVidia gaming card. Something in the 900 series.

EVGA - Products - Graphics

MSI USA TITAN Series&category_no=1042

And please post your Power Supply as Mike has asked.

 

[Brendan M]

Thank you both for your replies. I will take pictures and post the requested information as well as take out a tape measure to see what room I have.
The computer is not an off the shelf one, but one that I had built to order many years ago. Recently the computer died and needed a new motherboard hence the updated motherboard and ram.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,

PSU Corsair ATX 850W

With a 850w psu you have many options available all we need is a budget

 

[Brendan M]

I still have the Corsair ATX 850W psu.
I am attaching picture of my pc so you can get an idea of the room I have available.
Budget - say around £200 UK

 

[Mellon Head]

Nice case.

The other guys can recommend a good Nvidia card for you, since I'm not very knowledgeable in that area, but one thing I would also consider in addition to a video card is an aftermarket CPU cooler. It will make your CPU run cooler and last longer.

Just a thought.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Here's one for about that 300.us
EVGA - Products - EVGA GeForce GTX 970 GAMING ACX 2.0+ - 04G-P4-3973-KR

 

[Brendan M]

Hi Thrashzone

Here is a link to shop in the UK with cards and prices,

Search Results - CCL Computers

Is there anything on this page that you think is a big yes or a big no?
I really appreciate the help.
Cheers

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
This one is pretty good and so is the price with a free game or 2 ?
EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX Edition Boost Graphics Card - 04G-P4-3975-KR - CCL Computers

Same as this one
EVGA - Products - EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+ - 04G-P4-3975-KR

 

[ThrashZone]

Just under your budget here this one
EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0+ Boost Card - 04G-P4-3967-KR - CCL Computers

Same as this one
EVGA - Products - EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+ - 04G-P4-3967-KR

 

[Brendan M]

Thrashzone, thank you for the quick reply.

A few more questions and my apologies if some of these are dumb questions;
Does this card support 3D games?
Do I need a card that supports 3D stuff (haven't needed it yet)?
Are graphics cards just plug and play or do I need to alter stuff like bios? (I am a bit clueless).
Melonhead suggested an aftermarket cooler fan. Using Realtemp, my pc seems to be cool enough even when stress testing. Should I get a better cooler?

Once again my apologies for bothering you.
Cheer.

 

[Brendan M]

Sorry forgot to add, can this card be overclocked and why would I want to overclock a graphics card?

 

[ThrashZone]

MellonHead is correct
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler - RR-212E-16PK-R1 - CCL Computers

OC'ing
Well if you do get an evga gpu/ graphic's card you can register and sign into evga's site not to mention register your new card,
https://secure.evga.com/US/login.asp?id=1FD08E1895E946E6947B95EBE5DF4AE4

Then go to downloads and download Precision X I believe it is that will allow you to oc the gpu if you wish too,
It's not really necessary too they do it with the boost clocks automatically if you buy a oc version card which both I posted are

Yes they are plug and play pretty much they come with a software disk but you can after installing it it will work and just go to G-Force and download the recent driver or review this thread here,
http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/602-latest-nvidia-forceware-video-drivers-windows-7-a.html

And also review this tutorial as well
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/327414-nvidia-drivers-avoid-problems.html

 

[AddRAM]

You also might want to consider selling your 1333 ram and getting some 2400

And did you put the Zalman cooler in yet ?

 

[AddRAM]

Sorry forgot to add, can this card be overclocked and why would I want to overclock a graphics card?

There`s no reason to OC a video card, it has its own boost feature.

3D Games ? Like What for example ?

Do you own a 3D Ready Monitor ?

You`re not gonna change anything in the bios, your gonna remove all the amd software then pull the card, install the nvidia card then do a custom clean install of the new nvidia drivers, just read the screen during the install, take your time and you`ll see what I mean.

Get the nvidia drivers downloaded before you do that so you have them ready to go.

Welcome to NVIDIA - World Leader in Visual Computing Technologies

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yep which monitor do you have ?
Most cards will do 3D but how well it looks depends on the monitor be used
This is a reasonably priced monitor and is pretty darn good too I have 1 myself about to get a second or one that has G-Sync on it for the maximum performance in games,
ASUS VG248QE 24" 1080p 144Hz 3D Gaming LED Monitor 90LMGG001Q022CUL - Micro Center

AOC G2460PG 24" G-SYNC 3D-Ready Ultimate Performance Gaming Monitor 1ms (GTG) 144 Hz DisplayPort Widescreen LED Backlight - Newegg.com

 

[Indianatone]

Just under your budget here this one
EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0+ Boost Card - 04G-P4-3967-KR - CCL Computers

Same as this one
EVGA - Products - EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+ - 04G-P4-3967-KR

I have one of these and can concur it is an excellent card. I am only a casual gamer but have numerous things going on at once and the card is smashing.
GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+ 4GB

EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Graphics Card (4 GB, GDDR5, PCI Express 3.0, HDMI, DVI-I, 3 x Display Port): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

[ThrashZone]

Free Hero's of the storm game too