Need an Upgrade advice GPU or RAM?

As stated by the title, need to upgrade my hardware soon but only got cash for 1, either a GPU or RAM.

My budget is $250 thats it, can't dish out more.

I currently roll an ancient Inno3D GTX 275 1798mb for a GPU. As for the RAM, I have a Patriot RAM 6gb 3x2gb DDR3.

Currently playing Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion and Shogun 2: Total War. I like my RTS games.

Sins of a Solar Empire runs smoothly at high settings, but starts droping FPS once large scale battles starts or late in game.

Shogun 2 only reaches Medium setting, Antialiasing and Depth of Field are off and I get FPS drop during large scale battles too.

Was considering the Inno3d GTX 560 Ti Gamepack 1gb/256bit ddr5 for the GPU.

Any advice on what to get? Thanks guys.

Upgrade your GPU. Your RAM is fine.

As stated by the title, need to upgrade my hardware soon but only got cash for 1, either a GPU or RAM.

My budget is $250 thats it, can't dish out more.

I currently roll an ancient Inno3D GTX 275 1798mb for a GPU. As for the RAM, I have a Patriot RAM 6gb 3x2gb DDR3.

Currently playing Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion and Shogun 2: Total War. I like my RTS games.

Sins of a Solar Empire runs smoothly at high settings, but starts droping FPS once large scale battles starts or late in game.

Shogun 2 only reaches Medium setting, Antialiasing and Depth of Field are off and I get FPS drop during large scale battles too.

Any advice on what to get? Thanks guys.

aeterna789

Ah, the rest of the specs are on my Sig.

Ah, the rest of the specs are on my Sig.

aeterna789

If you want to stick with Nvidia, GTX 560ti 448

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121480

And for AMD I would pick a 6950 2gb (7850 is slightly slower for same price)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102987

Processor: Intel i7 920 D0 2800mhz Bloomfield

Motherboard: Foxconn BloodRage

Graphics Card: Inno3D GTX 275 1792mb 448-bit DDR3

RAM: Patriot Viper Series 6GB (3x2gb) 1600 DDR3

PSU: Corsair HX620Modular Power Supply

Case: Antec 902 Advance Gaming Enclosure.

Sooo, I was considering the Inno3d GTX 560 Ti Gamepack 1gb/256bit ddr5 for the GPU.

Processor: Intel i7 920 D0 2800mhz Bloomfield

Motherboard: Foxconn BloodRage

Graphics Card: Inno3D GTX 275 1792mb 448-bit DDR3

RAM: Patriot Viper Series 6GB (3x2gb) 1600 DDR3

PSU: Corsair HX620Modular Power Supply

Case: Antec 902 Advance Gaming Enclosure.

Sooo, I was considering the Inno3d GTX 560 Ti Gamepack 1gb/256bit ddr5 for the GPU.

aeterna789

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"][QUOTE="aeterna789"]

Processor: Intel i7 920 D0 2800mhz Bloomfield

Motherboard: Foxconn BloodRage

Graphics Card: Inno3D GTX 275 1792mb 448-bit DDR3

RAM: Patriot Viper Series 6GB (3x2gb) 1600 DDR3

PSU: Corsair HX620Modular Power Supply

Case: Antec 902 Advance Gaming Enclosure.

Sooo, I was considering the Inno3d GTX 560 Ti Gamepack 1gb/256bit ddr5 for the GPU.

wizzyman101

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"][QUOTE="wizzyman101"] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121623 $10 more tc should get itwizzyman101

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"][QUOTE="wizzyman101"] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121623 $10 more tc should get itwizzyman101

You said you had a 6870, and in another thread you were claiming you had the x51. Either actually help or leave.

Ah very nice cards for the budget that im dealing with, thanks for the input guys. I'll propably go with the GTX 560 Ti 448 Core Edition, but then again, if the place has a 7850 for a cheaper price, I might finally go AMD. I'll let you know what I get. Thanks again. =)

[QUOTE="wizzyman101"][QUOTE="04dcarraher"] 7850 is slightly slower then a plain GTX 560ti , let alone a 448 model. also an AMD 6950 2gb is faster then 7850 and is same price.Marfoo

Not to mention the 7850 is 130W compared to 170W for the 560 ti (which means lower electricity bills but more importantly, less heat)

Ah very nice cards for the budget that im dealing with, thanks for the input guys. I'll propably go with the GTX 560 Ti 448 Core Edition, but then again, if the place has a 7850 for a cheaper price, I might finally go AMD. I'll let you know what I get. Thanks again. =)

aeterna789

[QUOTE="Marfoo"]

[QUOTE="wizzyman101"] seriously? my brother has a 560 ti with a i5 2500 and i have a 7850 with a i5 2500k and get higher framerates then him we both have the same asus monitor tobloodling

Not to mention the 7850 is 130W compared to 170W for the 560 ti (which means lower electricity bills but more importantly, less heat)

Ah very nice cards for the budget that im dealing with, thanks for the input guys. I'll propably go with the GTX 560 Ti 448 Core Edition, but then again, if the place has a 7850 for a cheaper price, I might finally go AMD. I'll let you know what I get. Thanks again. =)

aeterna789

Well electricity bill is not really an issue for me, but the temp and power consumption is. Think my Corsair 620W can handle the GTX 560ti 448?

Tbh, you're current system is still great. I'd stick with it, only thing you're getting with new graphics cards is dx11 and that is still rolling out. If you really want to upgrade, buy a used video card. Earlier today, I saw a radeon 6970 going for $200 online which is ridiculously cheap.

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

[QUOTE="Marfoo"] Looks like they kind of trade blows depending on the game. But the 7850 is faster in most. Comparison

04dcarraher

Not to mention the 7850 is 130W compared to 170W for the 560 ti (which means lower electricity bills but more importantly, less heat)

I said more importantly, less heat. Meaning, the savings are not nearly as important. Less heat means more overclocking headroom, or less/more silent case fans. If you overclock it enough, it can easily surpass a 560 ti 448.

The ti 560 448 will need 2 6 pin connectors, but your PSU will do nicely.

By the way, the 560 ti 448 is 210 watts compared to 130 for the 7850. Major difference.

http://www.hwcompare.com/12038/geforce-gtx-560-ti-448-vs-radeon-hd-7850/

Well electricity bill is not really an issue for me, but the temp and power consumption is. Think my Corsair 620W can handle the GTX 560ti 448?

aeterna789

Besides, you don't want your computer to turn into a furnace. If you don't have a lot of air conditioning or you like to play with your door closed, heat can be a big issue. If you do have great air conditioning, then it will have to work more to cool your house down properly, and that can be a lot more costly than the increased power consumption.

Besides, you don't want your computer to turn into a furnace. If you don't have a lot of air conditioning or you like to play with your door closed, heat can be a big issue. If you do have great air conditioning, then it will have to work more to cool your house down properly, and that can be a lot more costly than the increased power consumption.

bloodling

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

Besides, you don't want your computer to turn into a furnace. If you don't have a lot of air conditioning or you like to play with your door closed, heat can be a big issue. If you do have great air conditioning, then it will have to work more to cool your house down properly, and that can be a lot more costly than the increased power consumption.

04dcarraher

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

Besides, you don't want your computer to turn into a furnace. If you don't have a lot of air conditioning or you like to play with your door closed, heat can be a big issue. If you do have great air conditioning, then it will have to work more to cool your house down properly, and that can be a lot more costly than the increased power consumption.

04dcarraher

Oh yeah, I should just shut up instead of giving him the facts, right? Let him make his decision by himself. I'm not forcing him to buy a 7850, but it clearly has some advantages the 560 ti 448 doesn't.

I agree, if the powerbill and current heat/noise concerns aren't an issue he should go for the better peforming card. Marfoo

Uh...

Well electricity bill is not really an issue for me, but the temp and power consumption is.

aeterna789

[QUOTE="Marfoo"]I agree, if the powerbill and current heat/noise concerns aren't an issue he should go for the better peforming card. bloodling

Uh...

Well electricity bill is not really an issue for me, but the temp and power consumption is.

aeterna789

No problem, also lower temps mean more OC headroom.

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

Besides, you don't want your computer to turn into a furnace. If you don't have a lot of air conditioning or you like to play with your door closed, heat can be a big issue. If you do have great air conditioning, then it will have to work more to cool your house down properly, and that can be a lot more costly than the increased power consumption.

bloodling

Oh yeah, I should just shut up instead of giving him the facts, right? Let him make his decision by himself. I'm not forcing him to buy a 7850, but it clearly has some advantages the 560 ti 448 doesn't.

You were making it sound like getting nothing but the 7850 was the only option just because of the heat and power usage. Making it sound like the GTX 560ti 448 isnt worth it. If power and heat concerns the TC, he wouldnt have a GTX 275 begin with now would he? Also a 2gb 6950 performs better then 7850, and costs less. The point is that power draw and heat isnt a concern for most people if their looking for high performance.

04dcarraher

So, you wanna talk about the 6950 now?

"I have a 6950 and a 7850 and the 7850 is faster. Plus it runs cooler, uses less power and overclocks way more."

Check the forums and reviews man, the difference isn't big at all, but the 7850 clearly has more overclocking headroom. The 6950 is nothing special. The 7850 is 2gb as well.

Upgrade your GPU. Your RAM is fine.

Lox_Cropek

I agree with this... 6GB ramo is totally fine.. and if need be you can always upgrade it later if you find the need for it.

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]

You were making it sound like getting nothing but the 7850 was the only option just because of the heat and power usage. Making it sound like the GTX 560ti 448 isnt worth it. If power and heat concerns the TC, he wouldnt have a GTX 275 begin with now would he? Also a 2gb 6950 performs better then 7850, and costs less. The point is that power draw and heat isnt a concern for most people if their looking for high performance.

bloodling

So, you wanna talk about the 6950 now?

"I have a 6950 and a 7850 and the 7850 is faster. Plus it runs cooler, uses less power and overclocks way more."

Check the forums and reviews man, the difference isn't big at all, but the 7850 clearly has more overclocking headroom. The 6950 is nothing special. The 7850 is 2gb as well.

lol, im not denying that the 7850 uses less power and has more OC headhead but the fact remains that the 6950 2gb and gtx 560ti 448 is faster overall then 7850 at stock04dcarraher

I'm not denying that either. In my opinion, the 7850 is still better overall, which is why it's also more expensive. Both are decent options. It depends what you want to pay and what you want to get.