Help buying a new graphics card

[apocalypse_888]

Hello!
I need advice. I have two computers at home, mine and my sister's. I'm renovating mine a bit (I've changed the motherboard, cooler, case, and did some overclocking) and what I've removed from mine I'm putting on my sister's.
The thing is that my sister's current motherboard has integrated graphics, and the one I had and want to put on hers doesn't. So I don't know what to do. Whether to buy a normal one and put it on my sister's, or get something better, put my old one on my sister's, and keep the new one for myself.
The graphics card I have is an ATI Shappire 1600 Pro 256Mb PCI Express. Since I got it it has worked perfectly and I haven't missed anything more powerful. I usually watch some movies and don't play much, and if so, Age Of Empires III, Call of Duty Modern Warfare...
I don't want to spend a lot of money, just enough to be able to make my sister's computer work with my old motherboard.
I've seen graphics cards for 30€ new on pc box, which probably, although compared to what the market offers they will be normal, compared to the one I have now they will be superior.
I've also noticed that they are all HD and I won't use it since my 17" screen doesn't support more than 1280x1024.
I don't know what to do, let's see what you recommend. I've also thought about buying something second-hand, but again, I don't know what, something cheap to make my sister's computer work, or something better than my current graphics card to put on mine...
Regards, and thanks in advance for the answers! AGUR

[apocalypse_888]

I am looking at different websites, an Asus HD 5450 1Gb DDR3 PCX HDMI, the average price is around 30-35€, what do you think? In principle, it should be better than my current one, right? Thanks

[Fassou]

In raw power they are practically on par, but the support for more DirectX modes and better memories, are noticeable, although you should not expect much.

Personally I would save to buy something from the same segment as what you have, an HD66xx (~70€).

Salu2!

PD: The signature is a maximum of 4 lines at 1280x1024

[Sylver]

Hello, it's not too bad, if you comment that the use your sister will give it will be minimal, I think you have enough and it's enough for her.
If it's for your computer, I recommend that you don't invest in something so outdated, it would be a better idea to put a decent graphics card in your computer, like a 6870 or even one of the good 7xxx series with a view to a future platform update, and leave the one you have to your sister, because you have a computer in condition to move a graphics card much superior to such a basic one as the 5450 with GDDR3 memory.

Regards

[ferelxyx]

Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 1GB GDDR3 Refurbished - 45 euros

greetings

[apocalypse_888]

Finally, and for the price, I will probably pass the graphics card I have to my sister and buy a new one for myself. As you have recommended, I am looking at graphics cards from the Radeon 6670 series, which are around 75€. I have several questions about it, will my power supply be able to handle it without problems? I don't know where I read that some graphics cards need a minimum of 400W and my power supply is very basic, it came with the first case I bought, and it is 350W, I won't have problems, right? Then, there are different brands that mount the radeon 6670, like asus, msi, sapphire, etc... which is better, which is worse? Which do you recommend? goodbye, and thanks

[Franziskaner]

before the first question http://www.amd.com/es/products/desktop/graphics/amd-radeon-hd-6000/hd-6670/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-6670-overview.aspx#3
and before the second one, with the same characteristics, the cheaper one.
regards
P.D the first one is indicative but it's not a bad idea to have a power supply in good condition: active PFC, 80 efficiency, etc.

[apocalypse_888]

Thanks for the info, the official AMD website recommends a minimum of a 400W power supply, so I'll have to change the power supply too. I'll look into possibilities, any recommendations? Regards and thanks, goodbye

[Sylver]

Some OCZ of 500W or Silverstone of similar power. The Corsair are also a very good choice and have quite a guarantee, but they are usually more expensive.

Greetings

[Franziskaner]

hello, well I have little this or this which is a bit better (12v rail 53A). anyway it's always the same, you have to look at the pfc being active, that it is efficient at 80% (at least) the 12v rail (the amps) and the warranty and that it is a known brand then that it is modular and other things but these are usually "small whims" that are paid for.
regards

[apocalypse_888]

I am looking at this:
TACENS Radix V 450W Power Supply - PSU
It is quite well priced, it has an efficiency of 85%, a two-year warranty, and as for the amperage on the 12V rail, it has two rails, one with 22A and the other with 20A (I'm not sure if that's a lot or a little)…
In general, what do you think of the power supply? Thanks and goodbye! Agur

[Franziskaner]

cheap cheap Tacens Radix V 450W 1RV450 Power Supply for my tacens is not a bad brand ( I have a Valeo II W and I am delighted ) a relative has a Radix and has no problems is it good good? I don't know what to tell you if you don't intend to set up a crosfire later or to do a very serious OC it can serve you, especially considering that you look at the money issue a lot. but it wouldn't be bad to look for something better
regards

[amd125]

@apocalypse_888:

Estoy mirando esta:
TACENS Radix V 450W Fuente de Alimentación - PSU
Está bastante bien de precio, tiene una eficiencia del 85%, garantía de dos años, y lo del amperaje en el raíl de 12V, tiene dos railes, en uno 22A y en otro 20A (que no se si es mucho o poco)…
En general, qué os parece la fuente? Gracias y un saludo! Agur

As you indicate OCZ is a better brand in general. Even NOX has decent power supplies that are not very expensive. Tacens had a better reputation years ago, but a few years ago some not very good models came out, and since then it is a brand that I usually do not recommend. Any brand can fail, I had a Corsair fail on me with a year :llorar:, but in general OCZ and Nox are decent power supplies at a not very high price.

[apocalypse_888]

So, we ruled out Tacens. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but now that I remember, at the same time I bought my Cooler Master Hyper 212+ for my computer, I got a Tacens Gelus Lite III for my sister's computer, it seemed to have a good look and the price was more than acceptable, but I was not at all satisfied. It came from the factory with a fan, and I bought a second fan, but even so it doesn't cool enough, so coincidence or not, here we have a small sample that Tacens, and in general, cheap things, don't turn out good...
Money is not a problem, in quotes. If what I'm going to buy is for my sister's computer (as I initially thought about the graphics card) then the only thing I care about is that it works and little more, but if what I'm going to buy is for my computer, and what I take from mine to give to my sister, then I don't mind spending a little more money, but I'm also not going to leave hundreds of euros...
I've been looking at OCZ power supplies but the cheapest one goes up to 60€. Considering that I already have a budget that hovers around 75€ with the Radeon 6670, it seems to me a bit high.
Another brand you mentioned is NOX, and of those that have active PFC only one has an efficiency of 80% and it's 600W and again more than 60€.
You recommended me a Thermaltake line a few lines back. It has an efficiency of more than 80%, active PFC, 530W, and it's around 55€, three years warranty, http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model_Specification.aspx?id=C_00001799 What do you think? Is it better than this cooler master?? Efficiency 86%, active PFC, three years warranty, and it's around 48€. GX Lite 500W - Cooler Master.
Thank you very much for your help, this is what makes it enjoyable!! Regards

[apocalypse_888]

You also commented that Corsair is a good brand, what do you think of this power supply from them? Builder Series™ CX500 V2: power supplies with 80 PLUS® certification - CX Series - Power Supplies

[Franziskaner]

@apocalypse_888:

So, we ruled out Tacens. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but now that I remember, at the same time I bought my Cooler Master Hyper 212+ for my computer, I got a Tacens Gelus Lite III for my sister's computer, it seemed to have a good appearance and the price was more than acceptable, but I was not at all satisfied. It came from the factory with one fan, and I bought a second fan, but even so it doesn't cool enough, so coincidence or not, here we have a small sample that Tacens, and in general, cheap things, don't turn out good…
Money is not a problem, in quotes. If what I'm going to buy is going to be for my sister's computer (as I initially considered the graphics card) then the only thing I care about is that it works and little more, but if what I'm going to buy is going to be for my computer, and what I take from mine to give to my sister, then I don't mind spending a little more money, but I'm also not going to leave hundreds of euros...
I've been looking at OCZ power supplies but the cheapest one is over 60€. Considering that I already have a budget that is around 75€ with the Radeon 6670, it seems a bit high.
Another brand you mentioned is NOX, and of those that have active PFC only one has an efficiency of 80% and it's 600W and again more than 60€.
You recommended me lines back a Thermaltake. It has efficiency superior to 80%, active PFC, 530W, and is around 55€, three years warranty, http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model_Specification.aspx?id=C_00001799 What do you think? Is it better than this Cooler Master?? Efficiency 86%, active PFC, three years warranty, and is around 48€. GX Lite 500W - Cooler Master.
Thank you very much for your help, it's nice to have it!! Regards

let's see …. Tacens is not a bad brand, the problem it has, is to bring out very cheap and not very good power supplies :troll: I would never buy a 25 euro power supply (because I know what happens later) if you want a good Tacens, you have to spend the money, like with all the other brands. In this life you will find everything, from the one who has spent almost 200 euros on a FA and says it's crap (because of a bad purchase or simply because it came out bad) and the one who spent 50/70 or less on a FA and is super happy.
Regards

[apocalypse_888]

I've looked a bit more closely at the three sources I mentioned earlier, and I think I'm going to go for the Corsair. It seems to me the most complete, besides, it says that it comes with all the cables covered, and that they are longer, which worries me because when I changed the case, I had to extend the 4-pin ATX cables because they didn't reach the motherboard…
The bad thing is that they don't have it at PCBox or PCCoste (both have a store in my town), so I would have to buy it online. At PC Componentes it's for 57€ + shipping costs (about 5€), and at coolmod they only have the 600W one and we're already talking about 65€ plus shipping costs…
Do you know any other reliable website to buy computer components? Do you think the Corsair is a good choice? Regards and thanks! Agur

[Sylver]

Good choice, Corsair has a good warranty and is very effective.
Amazon is also a good place to get any component at a much lower price compared to other stores, it is proven firsthand. By activating the premium one-month free trial, you have fast shipping in 2 to 3 business days, or in 24 hours for €2.99 which is not bad, if you order today it arrives tomorrow. Then you deactivate the premium upgrade and that's it.

Regards

[Franziskaner]

well here you have a list
regards
P.D the option that Sylver mentions is very good.

[apocalypse_888]

Thanks for the Amazon link, on PC components it costs 57€ and on Amazon only 50€ (as I am not registered yet in any of the two, I can not see the shipping costs or the total cost of the operation).
Tomorrow with more time I will look well and I will order it where it comes out better, and once I have the source working, we will return to the root topic of this post, the graphics card! Regards and thank you very much for your help, agur