It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
The Witcher 2Looking to upgrade system(22 posts)(22 posts)
(22 posts)
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Posted May 19, 2011
avatar
mushy101: Man that sucks, thank god your PC didn't go though, had a few friends who lived that night mare.

The names to matter, since they indicate the company making the card. Some manufacturers, like powercolour, usually are not good for more costly parts, since the quality of components, and more importantly, the support and warranty period can be all over the place.

Game wise, the 6790 will be a huge, huge step up from your 9600 GS, so it can crunch through any current game thrown at it. Looking to the future (and release schedule) only ArmA 3 will truly test it, but that's coming next year. Battlefield 3 is coming out, but I'm not sure if you are into that. TW2 will run comfortably with it at high settings, though you might need to wait for a performance patch or two, heck the rest of us are. ;)

Realistically, the 6790 will be useful for 2 years, since the majority of high budget PC games will be console based. Overclock it, and it will last longer.

I looked around a bit more, and found a fantastic 6790, which is highly overclockable and cheap to boot. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/266519
avatar
Bbtufty: I've found http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-11194-00-20G-6790-GDDR5-Graphics/dp/B004TQPZV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305839954&sr=8-1 on amazon, which looks like pretty good, and would http://www.amazon.co.uk/500-WATT-ATX-POWER-SUPPLY/dp/7135799313/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1305840103&sr=1-1 for a power supply be fine?

Thanks for all the support you've given me so far anyways, it's nice to know there are lovely helpful people on the internet =)
That's possibly the worst power supply I've seen in a month. It would be a fire hazard even if you ran it at only half power. If you want to buy from Amazon UK, this is the least I would consider: Corsair 500CX, and this one is much better: Seasonic S12II 520

I'll make no secret of disliking the "Barts" GPUs. They were a hasty redesign that came about when ATI's foundry, TSMC, decided they weren't going to produce ATI's original 32nm design. ATI had to rework their designs in 40nm, meaning Barts and Cayman came out at no advantage from their "Evergreen" predecessors.

Go with an HD 5850 in AMD/ATI or a GTX 460 in nVidia instead. If those are too spendy, get an HD 5830, a GTX 460 SE, or the 768MB GTX 460 instead. You will get a better GPU.

Palit GTX 460 1GB
Post edited May 19, 2011 by cjrgreen
Posted May 19, 2011
avatar
mushy101: Man that sucks, thank god your PC didn't go though, had a few friends who lived that night mare.

The names to matter, since they indicate the company making the card. Some manufacturers, like powercolour, usually are not good for more costly parts, since the quality of components, and more importantly, the support and warranty period can be all over the place.

Game wise, the 6790 will be a huge, huge step up from your 9600 GS, so it can crunch through any current game thrown at it. Looking to the future (and release schedule) only ArmA 3 will truly test it, but that's coming next year. Battlefield 3 is coming out, but I'm not sure if you are into that. TW2 will run comfortably with it at high settings, though you might need to wait for a performance patch or two, heck the rest of us are. ;)

Realistically, the 6790 will be useful for 2 years, since the majority of high budget PC games will be console based. Overclock it, and it will last longer.

I looked around a bit more, and found a fantastic 6790, which is highly overclockable and cheap to boot. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/266519
avatar
Bbtufty: I've found http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-11194-00-20G-6790-GDDR5-Graphics/dp/B004TQPZV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305839954&sr=8-1 on amazon, which looks like pretty good, and would http://www.amazon.co.uk/500-WATT-ATX-POWER-SUPPLY/dp/7135799313/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1305840103&sr=1-1 for a power supply be fine?

Thanks for all the support you've given me so far anyways, it's nice to know there are lovely helpful people on the internet =)
First of all the good news, that card is perfectly fine, well priced and has a 2 year warranty! I don't see any problem with that card and would buy it in a heartbeat.

Now the bad news, that PSU seems very poor, simply because I don't believe it can power your system adequately at it's peak power, with a 6790. The thing with PSU's is that it can be rated 600w, at only 20 quid, but it's the amps, and the 12V rails that count. Also the shutdown features and quality of components are a major factor. This PSU does not convince me at all. It also does not mention anything about sound, last thing you want is a PSU that sounds like a jumbo taking off. Finally it's not 80+ certified, so you'll pay high electricity cots when a more expensive, energy efficent one can save you costs in the long run.

I liken a PSU to a set of brakes on a car, now you don't need breaks that often, but they play a crucial, and life saving role in an accident or avoiding one. bad breaks can kill you, whilst good ones can do the opposite. Same with a PSU. A good, decent PSU will shutdown gracefully in the event of a power surge, overload or overclock saving your precious components.


If you want a cheap. good PSU, antec earthwatts and corsair do PSU's that sell from the £40-60 price range.

EDIT: Found a cheap corsair one, which has the factors I think are important, energy efficiency, ability to power, and good aftercare support: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPSU-600CX-600W-Power-Supply/dp/B0045Y1EKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1305842189&sr=1-1
Post edited May 19, 2011 by mushy101
Posted May 19, 2011
avatar
Fayth: What resolution is your monitor? I'm thinking a GTX 460 or a 6870 would be within reach, although I'm not sure about the market for computer hardware in your area. Also, do you know the wattage of your power supply? That is quite important when buying a new video card.
avatar
Bbtufty: My monitor resolution is normally 1600x900, VGA, and I have a 300W power supply. And since I'm in the UK, I can easily order from amazon
ONLY 300 WATTS!? If you're going to have a video card that will support playing this game properly, you will need at least a 500-600 Watt...PSUs are the single most important device in your computer! BTW, I have at least a 750 watt PSU and will upgrade it to 1000 watt later on in the year.
Posted May 20, 2011
avatar
Bbtufty: I've found http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-11194-00-20G-6790-GDDR5-Graphics/dp/B004TQPZV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305839954&sr=8-1 on amazon, which looks like pretty good, and would http://www.amazon.co.uk/500-WATT-ATX-POWER-SUPPLY/dp/7135799313/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1305840103&sr=1-1 for a power supply be fine?

Thanks for all the support you've given me so far anyways, it's nice to know there are lovely helpful people on the internet =)
avatar
mushy101: First of all the good news, that card is perfectly fine, well priced and has a 2 year warranty! I don't see any problem with that card and would buy it in a heartbeat.

Now the bad news, that PSU seems very poor, simply because I don't believe it can power your system adequately at it's peak power, with a 6790. The thing with PSU's is that it can be rated 600w, at only 20 quid, but it's the amps, and the 12V rails that count. Also the shutdown features and quality of components are a major factor. This PSU does not convince me at all. It also does not mention anything about sound, last thing you want is a PSU that sounds like a jumbo taking off. Finally it's not 80+ certified, so you'll pay high electricity cots when a more expensive, energy efficent one can save you costs in the long run.

I liken a PSU to a set of brakes on a car, now you don't need breaks that often, but they play a crucial, and life saving role in an accident or avoiding one. bad breaks can kill you, whilst good ones can do the opposite. Same with a PSU. A good, decent PSU will shutdown gracefully in the event of a power surge, overload or overclock saving your precious components.


If you want a cheap. good PSU, antec earthwatts and corsair do PSU's that sell from the £40-60 price range.

EDIT: Found a cheap corsair one, which has the factors I think are important, energy efficiency, ability to power, and good aftercare support: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPSU-600CX-600W-Power-Supply/dp/B0045Y1EKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1305842189&sr=1-1
Thanks so much, as soon as I find the money I'll get on to ordering those =)
So once I've installed all of that stuff, I should find I can run it on high, even with my pretty poor CPU then? That'd be awesome

Oh, and EDIT: It'll fit in http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?cc=uk&lc=en&dlc=en&product=3818713 this, won't it?
Post edited May 20, 2011 by Bbtufty
Posted May 20, 2011
avatar
mushy101: First of all the good news, that card is perfectly fine, well priced and has a 2 year warranty! I don't see any problem with that card and would buy it in a heartbeat.

Now the bad news, that PSU seems very poor, simply because I don't believe it can power your system adequately at it's peak power, with a 6790. The thing with PSU's is that it can be rated 600w, at only 20 quid, but it's the amps, and the 12V rails that count. Also the shutdown features and quality of components are a major factor. This PSU does not convince me at all. It also does not mention anything about sound, last thing you want is a PSU that sounds like a jumbo taking off. Finally it's not 80+ certified, so you'll pay high electricity cots when a more expensive, energy efficent one can save you costs in the long run.

I liken a PSU to a set of brakes on a car, now you don't need breaks that often, but they play a crucial, and life saving role in an accident or avoiding one. bad breaks can kill you, whilst good ones can do the opposite. Same with a PSU. A good, decent PSU will shutdown gracefully in the event of a power surge, overload or overclock saving your precious components.


If you want a cheap. good PSU, antec earthwatts and corsair do PSU's that sell from the £40-60 price range.

EDIT: Found a cheap corsair one, which has the factors I think are important, energy efficiency, ability to power, and good aftercare support: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPSU-600CX-600W-Power-Supply/dp/B0045Y1EKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1305842189&sr=1-1
avatar
Bbtufty: Thanks so much, as soon as I find the money I'll get on to ordering those =)
So once I've installed all of that stuff, I should find I can run it on high, even with my pretty poor CPU then? That'd be awesome

Oh, and EDIT: It'll fit in http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?cc=uk&lc=en&dlc=en&product=3818713 this, won't it?
The only issue with that computer is the PSU might be a hazard when removing it, but I only experienced this with dell computers, not HP ones. Since it's not a slimline computer, the GPU will fit in, though please make sure you use the cable ties with the psu to ensure it has a good airflow. Unfortunately mass produced computers have one hell of a messy interior, so time is needed to sort it out and get a good airflow around the case. The PSU will fit as well, though it'll be tight.

Take a look at the PSU, if a warning states that you need a technician to remove it, then just go to your local repair guy and tell him to change the PSU, GPU and tidy the case. If not, then you could do it yourself, but if you want help please PM me. :)

Onto the CPU, I do think you'll be able to run it on high fine, TW2 seems to favour cores over CPU speed. From what I read on the forums so far, people with quad cores are getting better FPS then people with dual. Since the recommended requirements ask for a quad, you'll fit in fine. Core 2 quad are better then the AMD equivalent, even the lower end ones.

In fact, with the new GPU, you'll be above recommended, so running it on high should not be a problem. Just don't enable ubersampling!
Post edited May 20, 2011 by mushy101
Posted May 20, 2011
avatar
Bbtufty: Thanks so much, as soon as I find the money I'll get on to ordering those =)
So once I've installed all of that stuff, I should find I can run it on high, even with my pretty poor CPU then? That'd be awesome

Oh, and EDIT: It'll fit in http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?cc=uk&lc=en&dlc=en&product=3818713 this, won't it?
avatar
mushy101: The only issue with that computer is the PSU might be a hazard when removing it, but I only experienced this with dell computers, not HP ones. Since it's not a slimline computer, the GPU will fit in, though please make sure you use the cable ties with the psu to ensure it has a good airflow. Unfortunately mass produced computers have one hell of a messy interior, so time is needed to sort it out and get a good airflow around the case. The PSU will fit as well, though it'll be tight.

Take a look at the PSU, if a warning states that you need a technician to remove it, then just go to your local repair guy and tell him to change the PSU, GPU and tidy the case. If not, then you could do it yourself, but if you want help please PM me. :)

Onto the CPU, I do think you'll be able to run it on high fine, TW2 seems to favour cores over CPU speed. From what I read on the forums so far, people with quad cores are getting better FPS then people with dual. Since the recommended requirements ask for a quad, you'll fit in fine. Core 2 quad are better then the AMD equivalent, even the lower end ones.

In fact, with the new GPU, you'll be above recommended, so running it on high should not be a problem. Just don't enable ubersampling!
Thanks so much, I have replaced a PSU and a GPU before, it's just I'm useless at choosing things. Especially since the last GPU I bought didn't fit into the slot, my old computer didn't have a PCI slot. And I've heard about some issues with Witcher 2 and AMD graphics cards, poor performance and things, but they'll likely be fixed
Time to find some money, I guess. I could always cash my gold or use payday loans with their 1780% APR typical =P

EDIT: Unfortunately, the washing machine chose this afternoon to give up the ghost and collapse 'pon its sword. So it's on hold for a bit, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can
Post edited May 20, 2011 by Bbtufty
Posted May 23, 2011
avatar
mushy101: The only issue with that computer is the PSU might be a hazard when removing it, but I only experienced this with dell computers, not HP ones. Since it's not a slimline computer, the GPU will fit in, though please make sure you use the cable ties with the psu to ensure it has a good airflow. Unfortunately mass produced computers have one hell of a messy interior, so time is needed to sort it out and get a good airflow around the case. The PSU will fit as well, though it'll be tight.

Take a look at the PSU, if a warning states that you need a technician to remove it, then just go to your local repair guy and tell him to change the PSU, GPU and tidy the case. If not, then you could do it yourself, but if you want help please PM me. :)

Onto the CPU, I do think you'll be able to run it on high fine, TW2 seems to favour cores over CPU speed. From what I read on the forums so far, people with quad cores are getting better FPS then people with dual. Since the recommended requirements ask for a quad, you'll fit in fine. Core 2 quad are better then the AMD equivalent, even the lower end ones.

In fact, with the new GPU, you'll be above recommended, so running it on high should not be a problem. Just don't enable ubersampling!
avatar
Bbtufty: Thanks so much, I have replaced a PSU and a GPU before, it's just I'm useless at choosing things. Especially since the last GPU I bought didn't fit into the slot, my old computer didn't have a PCI slot. And I've heard about some issues with Witcher 2 and AMD graphics cards, poor performance and things, but they'll likely be fixed
Time to find some money, I guess. I could always cash my gold or use payday loans with their 1780% APR typical =P

EDIT: Unfortunately, the washing machine chose this afternoon to give up the ghost and collapse 'pon its sword. So it's on hold for a bit, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can
Damn, that's a shame. No problem man, just hope you get to play this awesome game soon enough. :)
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Community
The Witcher 2Looking to upgrade system(22 posts)(22 posts)
(22 posts)