Maximum PC

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

Hey,

So I was thinking about upgrading my video card to the new 5770 and was curious to know if you guys think a 400W PSU is enough to manage this card. I know under the system requirements it calls for 450W or greater but I figure I would ask. Thanks in advance,

~Josh

My current specs if you need to know:

Windows 7 (64-bit)
Intel E5200 @ 3.15Ghz
Gigabyte EP45-UD3R
Mushkin 4GB RAM
PNY Nvidia 9600 GT
WD 400GB & Seagate 160GB
Corsair 400CX PSU

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3398

A Corsair can probably do it. A good pointer is PCIe plugs. The 5770 pulls it's 75W from the bus and has a 6-pin PCIe connector. Therefore, if the PSU has a 6-pin connector, it was at least designed to be able to power a card like the 5770, and since Corsair PSU's are good quality, it should do it.

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

The 9600 GT that I have now has a 6-pin PCIe connector as well, and yes my PSU has the connector on it as well. Do you think that the 5770 is a good upgrade for light gaming? I'm sure it's a big boost over the 9600 GT for sure.

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3398

a 5770 has pretty similar power consumption to a 9600GT, so you should be perfectly fine. As for whether it'll help, what resolution do you play at?

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

1680 x 1050

Tedster · Team Member Top 100 Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 1093

It should work. I've run and folded with a BFG GTX 280 OC on a 500 W PCP&C PSU.

Ted

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3398

yeah a 5770 is a pretty good fit for that resolution. a 4890 would be some 20% faster, but has higher power consumption and no DX11. Even with a 5770, that's a significant upgrade over a 9600.

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

I've done some looking around and like the idea of a faster card but I just don't really have the need for it, nor the power. As you say the 5770 is a significant upgrade from the 9600, and for the light amount of gaming that I do I think the 5770 will be perfect. And the DX11 is a nice feature. Any card larger then nine inches will cramp my case a little more than I would like.

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3398

go 5770. A great card, and with your situation, I think it's the best route then.

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

So I got the 5770 in today and installed it and downloaded the drivers and everything. The card makes a noise when it's idling but when I put it under a full load like running a benchmark or just playing a game the noise goes away. Even when I run prime95, which a CPU only test (correct?) the noise goes away. I am wondering if this is normal or whats going on here because it's kinda bugging me.

~Josh

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3398

Did you install the HDMI drivers?

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

Yes I did, should I have not?

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3398

try uninstalling just the HDMI driver if you're not using it. That always gives me trouble with my 4870.

JoshVaughan · 8086 Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

I unistalled the HDMI driver and I'm still getting the noise. Do you have any other ideas or have I just got to deal with it you think?

Spartacus · Northwood Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 3398

make sure your speaker's wires aren't running parallel to any other cables.