Friend looking for a new video card (again), need 2nd opinon

[rditto48801]

I redid the FurMark benchmark at max, this time making sure MSAA actually was set at 8X, since I think before it was set at None, despite the results saying it was 8X. The difference in results are noticeable.

[Blín D'ñero]

Okay. I redid both tests with CCC at default settings.
There is a slight problem, I did have MSAA at None, but it still popped out that it was at 8X. I did a quick test, regardless of what I set it at, it runs the test with MSAA at 8X

Weird.

Edit:
Forgot to mention I was using the multi-GPU shortcut, since GPU-Z reads the card as having 3 GPUs, or at least it has 3 different GPU temps listed, so I guess it has several GPUs.

Nope, there you messed up. Your card is ONE GPU. If GPU-Z reads otherwise it's crazy, but i'm sure it doesn't.
I have 2 cards (2 GPU's), in crossfire.

Edit 2:
Is it possible FurMark is reading the 'current' CPU speed at the time of the test, and not the max speed? Don't CPUs basically 'slow down' a bit when their full power isn't needed?

During a benchmark or any 3D application, the full speed is always actually used.
But during detecting (so that's before the test is run) the speed at the time of detecting is used, and if in BIOS throttling is enabled, that will of course differ from the max speed. I have Intel Speedstep disabled. But the bug is nothing extraordinary as Windows can't read the speed properly either.

Your results are far too low. This time use the proper shortcut please.

[rditto48801]

Er... oops, my bad.
I redid it.
Hit 80c temp and had a minimum fps of 78 and a max of 145, MSAA actually reads '0X'.
I am guessing those are much better results.

Also, I noticed what FurMark has listed for my CPU speed is almost identical to what is listed under System Properties when I right click on My Computer. (2.71GHz vs 2,707MHz)

Is it possible for damage to occur on a computer because the '12 volt rail' has to little power?
The person that was helping me out on the Mod the Sims site (and who thinks I need a new PSU ASAP) says the power fluctuations and being below the normal mark for the '12 volt rail' can cause damage.

[Blín D'ñero]

Well i'm no PSU expert, but i believe only fluctuations above 12V can be risky. causing more heat, or even burning electrical components. If a PSU is under-delivering how could that damage the card.
But you could upgrade the PSU to a high-end one just to feel better.

Your results still seem low.

With Extreme settings:


And again my earlier results at Standard settings.
Cards at Default speeds:

at the CCC Overdrive limits (900/1300):

[rditto48801]

Here is what I was told on the other forum (Mod the Sims site)

Underpowering your graphics card can definitely damage it. More than that though, you're overloading your power supply, which eventually will lead to power supply failure. When a power supply goes it is not uncommon for it to take out other components along with it. Worse case scenario, you could literally fry every component in your tower. You shouldn't hurt it just doing basic tasks, but anytime you start to really utilize your graphics cards, like playing games, you push it closer towards its breaking point. Exactly what that breaking point is impossible to know for sure, so just be aware this is the risk you take. Since money is not easy to come by for you, it would be a shame to be impatient and cost yourself a lot more replacing damaged parts.

I am wondering if I should just pull the video card out and go back to the 4670 for now.
I got maybe one game that could really utilize the new video card, The Orange Box, which lists 1GB under recommended for video. One or two have 512MB for recommended VRAM, most of the rest have 256MB or less recommended for VRAM)
the rest work alright with the older one, and I am not going to be able to buy newer games if I have to save up yet more money for computer parts.

After mentioning plans to possibly go for a Phenom CPU in the future, they recommended a few PSUs higher than the previous ones, to give me a bit more room to work with for future upgrades.
This one looks the best, in terms of cost, and that I know and would trust the Corsair brand.
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

[Blín D'ñero]

Take the 750 HX instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139010. Modular, (so you plug only the cables you actually use, keeping free air space in your PC case) and improved build over the old TX series. So, better futureproof as well.
This is truely high-end, and certainly much more powerful (+12V@60A) and stable than your current PSU.

[rditto48801]

It looks interesting, but it's a good 50% more expensive, which would mean taking even longer to save up to get it. With cooler weather coming, my monthly budget is going to start shrinking as heating expenses go up.
On the flip side, it looks like it would be easier to install it, which could allow me to do it myself, and avoid $60-90+ in labor.

The only real obstacle now is my friend who I normally have order stuff online for me. He's heading back to college, which is going to limit his ability to order stuff online for me.
I guess one alternative would be to go to a store I know sells 'rechargeable cash cards', which are meant to be used for things like online shopping.

At least I will have other things to keep myself busy. One problem with getting the new PSU anytime soon was due to sinking $90 into preorder a limited edition game, since I was not expecting any serious problems to pop up so soon. That leaves with with $10 to start off for saving up for a new PSU this month...

I am still debating just swapping out my new video card for the previous one for now, to be on the safe side. Either that, or just avoid playing PC games in general, or stick to the older ones that need little graphics power, or even 'oldie but goodies' (and some newer ones) that don't have 3D graphics at all.

It's been ages since I have played Sim City 2000, and some time since I have played Sim Tower, Master of Orion II, or Missionforce Cyberstorm... or any number of console games. Heck, I still got games that would run to fast if I had a single core at 1% speed... I might need to break out DOSBox.

The whole 'your PSU could croak and fry your computer' bit has been weighing a fair bit on my mind.

On a side note....
Holy crap look what's on the upper end of the supported CPU list for my MB.

Phenom IIX6 1090T(HDT90ZFBK6DGR),3.2GHz,125W,rev.E0,SocketAM3,6-Core

I think I know my goal to aim for by next summer... a Phenom II...
Maybe the 1090T if my budget allows when it has more wiggle room next summer.
Particularly this one... AMD Phenom II 1090T Black Edition Processor w/ Ultra ChillTec Black CPU Cooler Bundle

[Blín D'ñero]

hmmyes choices choices. Reverting to the previous card for peace of mind's sake... but running the preordered game on an underspec machine? or could you have the new PSU before that game's release date... ' avoid playing PC games in general'...could you?

[Blín D'ñero]

Oh i realised, to give a fair comparison, i should have done the Furmarks with only one card!
Here, with crossfire disabled.

the standard run



and the Extreme run


Considering your PC's specs, with -however a new motherboard- but an old athlon xp 64 5200+ on it, at stock speed, it's no suprise seeing a result of about 65% of mine.

[rditto48801]

hmmyes choices choices. Reverting to the previous card for peace of mind's sake... but running the preordered game on an underspec machine? or could you have the new PSU before that game's release date... ' avoid playing PC games in general'...could you?

The preordered game is not for PC.
It is Halo Reach Limited Edition for X-Box 360.
I am a gamer in general, not just a PC gamer.
I do focus more on PC games, though, since I tend to find more games I like on PC, but there are enough games I like on consoles to do console gaming also. I happen to be a Halo fan, for starters.

Right now, I think The Orange Box is the only game (pack) that really would benefit from having a 1GB video card.
Being that I am going to have to upgrade more, I am not going to be able to get the games would would be playing with the new card to great benefit, such as Supreme Commander 2, and Civilization 5 (the later which has 512MB and 4800 or higher listed as recommended for Radeon cards).
About the only game I would still get (if I ran across it, anyways) would be PC version of Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion. Lack of console commands and unofficial patches make the X-Box 360 version less than playable at times.
There is something wrong when the gamer community helps create PC version unofficial patches that fixes over 2,000 bugs and 70,000 item placement errors (floating trees? floating plants that are stuck under water?) ...but then again, the developers were probably obsessed more with work on Fallout 3 and less on fixing Oblivion.

Anyways, I am still stuck between not using games with 3D, or putting the 4670 back in.


Edit:
How does this look for a Phenom II CPU I should possibly aim toward getting?
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
I was told the 3.4GHz speed for a single core will be handy with (newer) games that (still) don't support multi-core CPUs.