My first video card upgrade in years

Golbeze · Oct 22, 2009, 10:19 PM

So, I finally, after I think three years, am getting a new video card, and my first high-end one at that, even if it is a generation old. Order has already been placed for a Radeon HD 4850 from Newegg, it's gonna be replacing a Geforce 8600GTS, which while it has served me well over the last few years, is showing it's age, especially since it was a mid-range part.

Gonna be interesting trying out a Radeon again. My last Radeon I got I think about five years ago, an x600 that fried after only two weeks. It was then that I had switched to nVidia and been using their stuff since.

So, I know already this is gonna be a huge leap forward in performance for me, but I was wondering exactly what I could expect from it. The games I'm currently playing are;

Champions Online
Lord of the Rings Online
Fallout 3
ES 4: Oblivion

I will likely also go back to City of Heroes at some point in the future, though I'm taking a break from that game for the time being.

Also, before anyone asks why I didn't go with a 5xxx series instead, I had an absolute limit of $110, and the cheapest high-end 5xxx card I saw was $129.

SeraphicSorcerer · Oct 22, 2009, 10:21 PM

Congratulations on your new purchase, just do not forget to uninstall nvidia display drivers PRIOR to installing your card to eliminate ANY issues, and the 9.10 Cats are out, they are easier to install then Ever. So good luck and enjoy it

Chaos · Oct 22, 2009, 10:22 PM

4850 is a decent card but be prepared for the fact they tend to run hot. Does the card use the stock cooler or does it have modified cooling?

Golbeze · Oct 22, 2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeraphicSorcerer

Congratulations on your new purchase, just do not forget to uninstall nvidia display drivers PRIOR to installing your card to eliminate ANY issues, and the 9.10 Cats are out, they are easier to install then Ever. So good luck and enjoy it

Yup, already planning on completely uninstalling the nvidia drivers and running Driver Sweeper to get rid of any remnants. And in anticipation I already have the Catalyst 9.10s downloaded. >.> I'm so excited, I can't wait til it gets here. There's actually a good chance it'll arrive tomorrow, too bad I have to work. At least I'll come home to my new video card waiting for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos

4850 is a decent card but be prepared for the fact they tend to run hot. Does the card use the stock cooler or does it have modified cooling?

I THINK it uses modified cooling, I'll have to recheck.

Edit: Newegg.com - POWERCOLOR AX4850 512MD3-PH Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards <-- This is what I ordered, on the product page it says it has "professional cooling", dunno if that means it's different from stock or if it's just marketing.

~~CitySlicker~~ · Oct 22, 2009, 10:47 PM

make sure there is enough airflow in your chassis - this card is heating quite a bit as others said.

Golbeze · Oct 22, 2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CitySlicker

make sure there is enough airflow in your chassis - this card is heating quite a bit as others said.

Oh yah, definitely gonna keep monitoring that. Got two fans running in there along with the psu's outtake. I recently took a can of air to my case and have all the cables tied and pushed aside as best I can to keep airflow unobstructed, but I'll make sure to keep a close eye on temps to make sure nothing gets too toasty.

Chaos · Oct 22, 2009, 11:35 PM

That is far better then the stock cooler, I hope you enjoy the new card.

Golbeze · Oct 22, 2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos

That is far better then the stock cooler, I hope you enjoy the new card.

Me too.

Newegg says the card's been shipped, and the shipping I chose says it'll be delivered in one day, so chances are good that it'll arrive tomorrow. Unless UPS screws up.

~~CitySlicker~~ · Oct 23, 2009, 12:24 AM

Keep in mind intake fans are less important - outtake fans play the major role in preventing your box from overheating

Judas · Oct 23, 2009, 05:07 PM

make sure your power supply is up to the task...

4850 should have it's own 16-18amp 12v rail (i think it pulls 15amp at max, so your generally want a little bit of extra room to work)

SeraphicSorcerer · Oct 23, 2009, 05:43 PM

Well let us know if it does it for you :P

If not there's always the 5850.

haha. N-joy

Golbeze · Oct 23, 2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

make sure your power supply is up to the task...

4850 should have it's own 16-18amp 12v rail (i think it pulls 15amp at max, so your generally want a little bit of extra room to work)

Yah, my psu should cut it. It has four 12v rails at 18 amps each. When I got the psu I made sure I would have plenty of room to upgrade. Right now I'm waiting for the ups guy to get here. And, my mom just had me order a family 3-pack of Windows 7 (yay!) which will prolly be here Monday or Tuesday.

Annnddd... my card arrived while I was typing this.

And I gotta go to work...

Ah well! I'll let you guys know how it works tonite after I've installed it and played a game.

Chaos · Oct 23, 2009, 11:15 PM

Well i sure hope you enjoy the card and that things work out well when your Windows 7 Family Pack arrives. Dont forget to make sure to remove the NVIDIA stuff or you will probably have issues

Golbeze · Oct 24, 2009, 03:04 AM

Well, install went without a hitch, except for when I turned on my computer and discovered the SATA cable to my program HDD was unplugged. Oops.

Made sure to uninstall the nVidia drivers beforehand and clean em out using Driver Sweeper. Gonna go play a few games and see what this puppy can do.

Golbeze · Oct 24, 2009, 06:28 AM

Man this card is nice. Been playing Champions Online and Lord of the Rings Online, both with 4x anti-aliasing and all other graphics settings maxed out. LotRO especially looked beautiful maxed out like that. Rode my horse around the Misty Mountains, my framerate averaged 30-60 fps, with an occasional dip into the 20s, very playable. My old card would choke on those graphics settings.

Champs Online I averaged 20-40 fps, again very playable, just flying around and checking out the view, though a couple spots my fps dropped to 13. May have to lower a setting or two in that one, will see how the card handles combat.

~~CitySlicker~~ · Oct 24, 2009, 06:58 AM

check the ATi ccc overdrive tab for card's gpu temperatures and keep an eye on the case temperature - it may rise quite a bit..depending on room temp

my 4850 plays fine in 1920x1080 very high detail/full AA and glimmers

Golbeze · Oct 24, 2009, 07:16 AM

GPU is currently holding at 64 degrees Celsius, CPU is 60 and 61 for both cores, I'm running Champs in windowed mode. (I play windowed so I can chat on msn at the same time). Not really surprised at my performance in champs though, that game seems to be really unoptimized. It doesn't have as good graphics as Lord of the Rings Online, but seems to use a lot more resources.

~~CitySlicker~~ · Oct 24, 2009, 07:45 AM

sounds to me your in-case temp is a bit dear..maybe open the chassis and see how much temps can improve. Probably a good idea to get more exhaust fans installed?

Golbeze · Oct 24, 2009, 07:59 AM

I'd actually be worried if the temp was hitting 70, I've been playing with these temps for a while now with no problem (no random resets or anything of the sort, and my cpu is overclocked from 2.33GHz to 2.66GHz). As for exhaust fans, I already have as many fans as my case can hold, one for intake in the front, one in back for outtake, plus my psu that also serves as outtake. But If it'll make you feel better, I'll lower the overclock to get temps down and see how it performs.

Oh, also for reference, my idle temp for cpu and gpu is 40.

Golbeze · Oct 24, 2009, 08:26 AM

Well, no change in performance in champs, though cpu temps are lower. Put cpu back to stock, temps are 53 for both cpu cores, , video card fluctuates between 62-64 but isn't going any higher. Idle is 37. I have noticed that champs seems to use a lot of cpu time; always at 94% or higher usage, so I'm thinking that's what's holding me back. Luckily it seems these drops below 20 fps are rare and only in certain areas.

Oct 22, 2009, 10:19 PM	#1
Golbeze HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 276 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	My first video card upgrade in years So, I finally, after I think three years, am getting a new video card, and my first high-end one at that, even if it is a generation old. Order has already been placed for a Radeon HD 4850 from Newegg, it's gonna be replacing a Geforce 8600GTS, which while it has served me well over the last few years, is showing it's age, especially since it was a mid-range part. Gonna be interesting trying out a Radeon again. My last Radeon I got I think about five years ago, an x600 that fried after only two weeks. It was then that I had switched to nVidia and been using their stuff since. So, I know already this is gonna be a huge leap forward in performance for me, but I was wondering exactly what I could expect from it. The games I'm currently playing are; Champions Online Lord of the Rings Online Fallout 3 ES 4: Oblivion I will likely also go back to City of Heroes at some point in the future, though I'm taking a break from that game for the time being. Also, before anyone asks why I didn't go with a 5xxx series instead, I had an absolute limit of $110, and the cheapest high-end 5xxx card I saw was $129.

Oct 22, 2009, 10:21 PM	#2
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 156 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years Congratulations on your new purchase, just do not forget to uninstall nvidia display drivers PRIOR to installing your card to eliminate ANY issues, and the 9.10 Cats are out, they are easier to install then Ever. So good luck and enjoy it __________________

Oct 22, 2009, 10:22 PM	#3
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,269 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years 4850 is a decent card but be prepared for the fact they tend to run hot. Does the card use the stock cooler or does it have modified cooling? __________________

Oct 22, 2009, 10:47 PM	#5
~~CitySlicker~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 183 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years make sure there is enough airflow in your chassis - this card is heating quite a bit as others said.

Oct 22, 2009, 11:35 PM	#7
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,269 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years That is far better then the stock cooler, I hope you enjoy the new card. __________________

Oct 23, 2009, 12:24 AM	#9
~~CitySlicker~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 183 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years Keep in mind intake fans are less important - outtake fans play the major role in preventing your box from overheating

Oct 23, 2009, 05:43 PM	#11
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 156 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years Well let us know if it does it for you :P If not there's always the 5850. haha. N-joy __________________

Oct 23, 2009, 11:15 PM	#13
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,269 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years Well i sure hope you enjoy the card and that things work out well when your Windows 7 Family Pack arrives. Dont forget to make sure to remove the NVIDIA stuff or you will probably have issues __________________

Oct 24, 2009, 03:04 AM	Thread Starter #14
Golbeze HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 276 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years Well, install went without a hitch, except for when I turned on my computer and discovered the SATA cable to my program HDD was unplugged. Oops. Made sure to uninstall the nVidia drivers beforehand and clean em out using Driver Sweeper. Gonna go play a few games and see what this puppy can do.

Oct 24, 2009, 06:28 AM	Thread Starter #15
Golbeze HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 276 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years Man this card is nice. Been playing Champions Online and Lord of the Rings Online, both with 4x anti-aliasing and all other graphics settings maxed out. LotRO especially looked beautiful maxed out like that. Rode my horse around the Misty Mountains, my framerate averaged 30-60 fps, with an occasional dip into the 20s, very playable. My old card would choke on those graphics settings. Champs Online I averaged 20-40 fps, again very playable, just flying around and checking out the view, though a couple spots my fps dropped to 13. May have to lower a setting or two in that one, will see how the card handles combat.

Oct 24, 2009, 06:58 AM	#16
~~CitySlicker~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 183 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years check the ATi ccc overdrive tab for card's gpu temperatures and keep an eye on the case temperature - it may rise quite a bit..depending on room temp my 4850 plays fine in 1920x1080 very high detail/full AA and glimmers

Oct 24, 2009, 07:16 AM	Thread Starter #17
Golbeze HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 276 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years GPU is currently holding at 64 degrees Celsius, CPU is 60 and 61 for both cores, I'm running Champs in windowed mode. (I play windowed so I can chat on msn at the same time). Not really surprised at my performance in champs though, that game seems to be really unoptimized. It doesn't have as good graphics as Lord of the Rings Online, but seems to use a lot more resources.

Oct 24, 2009, 07:45 AM	#18
~~CitySlicker~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 183 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years sounds to me your in-case temp is a bit dear..maybe open the chassis and see how much temps can improve. Probably a good idea to get more exhaust fans installed?

Oct 24, 2009, 07:59 AM	Thread Starter #19
Golbeze HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 276 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years I'd actually be worried if the temp was hitting 70, I've been playing with these temps for a while now with no problem (no random resets or anything of the sort, and my cpu is overclocked from 2.33GHz to 2.66GHz). As for exhaust fans, I already have as many fans as my case can hold, one for intake in the front, one in back for outtake, plus my psu that also serves as outtake. But If it'll make you feel better, I'll lower the overclock to get temps down and see how it performs. Oh, also for reference, my idle temp for cpu and gpu is 40.

Oct 24, 2009, 08:26 AM	Thread Starter #20
Golbeze HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 276 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: My first video card upgrade in years Well, no change in performance in champs, though cpu temps are lower. Put cpu back to stock, temps are 53 for both cpu cores, , video card fluctuates between 62-64 but isn't going any higher. Idle is 37. I have noticed that champs seems to use a lot of cpu time; always at 94% or higher usage, so I'm thinking that's what's holding me back. Luckily it seems these drops below 20 fps are rare and only in certain areas.