Low-Power Sufficent Graphics Card

[ShaqFu]

Right now, my only Windows machine is a former HTPC, sporting an e5200, 270W power supply, and integrated GeForce 9400. I'm almost certain that graphics chip isn't enough to handle Civ5, so I'm looking into a good upgrade that'll make the game playable.

Right now, my limits are:

• Must be low-profile capable
• Must be able to run on low wattage

Are there suggestions for such a card? If I order tonight, I can get it by Monday, so I'd like to order ASAP.

 

[bhavv]

Not sure were you can buy one from, but powercolor have a low profile 5770, which would be the most powerful low profile card available:

http://www.techpowerup.com/123610/PowerColor_Low-Profile_HD_5700_Series_Cards_Spotted.html

 

[Hustapha Thool]

Well that is a tall order but I think this would do it in style http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._profile_graphics_card-_-14-187-098-_-Product Notice it does not have a low profile bracket.

Check the power pin

 

[ShaqFu]

I'm looking at this right now.

 

[tokala]

Mmmmh, you guys do not that a HTPC usually is rather compact und not really well suited to more powerful and larger cards

The best choice would be a HD 5570 with GDDR5, if you manage to find one in low profile. Otherwise one with DDR3. Those have 40W TDP, 30 W real life peak load. Should be good for medium to high setting on an average sized monitor.

 

[Hustapha Thool]

I'm looking at this right now.

I think that would be a good choice. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-460-radeon-hd-5570-gaming,2697-7.html

 

[guspasho]

How low of a wattage are we talking about? Are there any cooling limitations?

 

[civ_king]

Maybe the MSI Radeon low profile Radeon HD 5670? 64 watts

 

[MarkJohnson]

Maybe the MSI Radeon low profile Radeon HD 5670? 64 watts

I second this. I have a "Powercolor 5670 Go! Green" on my backup machine and playing Civ V in DX11 on a huge map and a dual core i5 655k chip and the game handles it flawlessly on low settings. The stupid game won't let me crank up the graphics mid-game for a tougher test. but no lag between turns so far.


That 5770 won't cut the muster. That power supply won't handle any video card that needs a PCIe power connector on it. 5670 is biggest I would dare attempt. any bigger and I'd be afraid of blowing up things.

I also tested this card in my old Dell 2450 with a 270watt PSU and run FurMark and the psu was still blowing cool air out of the rear of the computer.

also, your 9400 will handle the game on low settings as well, but expect lag on larger maps. I have a really old Intel 954G graphics (your 9400 is a lot better by far) that handles the game fine, but lag between turns on std map size. adding my 5670 removed lag and improved the video to DX11 and is smooth as glass.

don't forget to try the demo first to see if it's playable enough for you first. you'll be surprised how well it actually runs. You just don't get all the animations is all. and a little less details.

 

[guspasho]

I second this. I have a "Powercolor 5670 Go! Green" on my backup machine and playing Civ V in DX11 on a huge map and a dual core i5 655k chip and the game handles it flawlessly on low settings. The stupid game won't let me crank up the graphics mid-game for a tougher test. but no lag between turns so far.


That 5770 won't cut the muster. That power supply won't handle any video card that needs a PCIe power connector on it. 5670 is biggest I would dare attempt. any bigger and I'd be afraid of blowing up things.

I also tested this card in my old Dell 2450 with a 270watt PSU and run FurMark and the psu was still blowing cool air out of the rear of the computer.

also, your 9400 will handle the game on low settings as well, but expect lag on larger maps. I have a really old Intel 954G graphics (your 9400 is a lot better by far) that handles the game fine, but lag between turns on std map size. adding my 5670 removed lag and improved the video to DX11 and is smooth as glass.

don't forget to try the demo first to see if it's playable enough for you first. you'll be surprised how well it actually runs. You just don't get all the animations is all. and a little less details.

Is the 5670 a low profile card?

 

[MarkJohnson]

The card is low-profile,, but do you need the short and stubby low-profile PCI bracket?

The MSI 5670 is the only low-profile for the 5670 series so far, but no one seems to be selling it yet and it was announced mid July. MSI's website doesn't even list it yet, but the Europe website does. It doesn't show the low-profile bracket, but I'd assume it comes with it. Make sure before you buy.

http://eu.msi.com/index.php?func=prodvgaspec&maincat_no=130&cat2_no=137&cat3_no=&prod_no=2125

You can get plenty in 5570, which should be fine for medium graphics settings.

Here's the most popular one listed at newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874

If you're not in a big hurry, you can opt to wait a while for the 5670 version. It'll give you time to play the demo. If not, the 5570 will be more than adequate.

The 5570 is the same as the 5670, except the 5670 has faster processor(650 vs 775) and memory(DDR5 vs DDR3). but they both have 400 shader processors, which is more important. built in ATI video has around 80 shader processors.

 

[civ_king]

GDDR5 is way faster than DDR3

 

[MarkJohnson]

While DDR5 is faster than DDR3, it does,t process any code, it's just a communication device. That being said, DD3 is a bottleneck for newer cards, but doesn't slow things significantly.

Here are some benchmarks for the 5570 to compare other graphics cards.
http://gizmodo.com/5467822/ati-rade...rks-reasonable-gaming-dx11-performance-for-80

It looks like the 5670 is roughly 25% faster. Most games seem to average 45ish fps on medium settings, which should be pretty good. the 5670 averages 60 fps which is a little smoother play. but Civ V is turn based and the fps shouldn't matter too much. I notice any stuttering while scrolling if anywhere.

 

[bigeeze]

I have a 250 watt PSU. The 5570 looks like it's the only card that I could upgrade to without getting a new PSU. Hoping my computer doesn't blow up.

 

[MarkJohnson]

I have a 250 watt PSU. The 5570 looks like it's the only card that I could upgrade to without getting a new PSU. Hoping my computer doesn't blow up.

well, a 5670 is roughly only 25watts more, so it depends on what components you have already.

What video card do you have? What PSU (Make/Model would help tremendously)?

Those are the two big power draws on your system.

 

[civ_king]

While DDR5 is faster than DDR3, it does,t process any code, it's just a communication device. That being said, DD3 is a bottleneck for newer cards, but doesn't slow things significantly.

Here are some benchmarks for the 5570 to compare other graphics cards.
http://gizmodo.com/5467822/ati-rade...rks-reasonable-gaming-dx11-performance-for-80

It looks like the 5670 is roughly 25% faster. Most games seem to average 45ish fps on medium settings, which should be pretty good. the 5670 averages 60 fps which is a little smoother play. but Civ V is turn based and the fps shouldn't matter too much. I notice any stuttering while scrolling if anywhere.

GDDR5 and DDR3 are vastly different!

 

[MarkJohnson]

GDDR5 and DDR3 are vastly different!

yes, you already said this. Maybe elaborate a little more than a one sentence statement. Examples would be great. Links would be awesome!

 

[bigeeze]

well, a 5670 is roughly only 25watts more, so it depends on what components you have already.

What video card do you have? What PSU (Make/Model would help tremendously)?

Those are the two big power draws on your system.

My computer is a Compaq Presario SR5610F. The current graphics I have is an integrated nvidia 6150se. The PSU I'm not sure I'll have to take a look inside but on the Compaq website it just says 250 watts.

I was looking at all the reviews for the Sapphire Radeon 5570 on newegg and a lot of the people on there said they bought it because they had those slim Dells that had weak PSUs.

So I think it will work ok.

 

[civ_king]

yes, you already said this. Maybe elaborate a little more than a one sentence statement. Examples would be great. Links would be awesome!

GDDR5 has twice the bandwidth at equivalent clock speeds (thus double the effective clock)

 

[MarkJohnson]

My computer is a Compaq Presario SR5610F. The current graphics I have is an integrated nvidia 6150se. The PSU I'm not sure I'll have to take a look inside but on the Compaq website it just says 250 watts.

I was looking at all the reviews for the Sapphire Radeon 5570 on newegg and a lot of the people on there said they bought it because they had those slim Dells that had weak PSUs.

So I think it will work ok.

The key word is slim. The video cards are slim as well and they need a very low-profile to fit in the case. You don't have this issue with yours and you can get the 5670, which is also very low power, but doesn't come in a low-profile yet for the slim cases. So, if you wish your 5670 should run fine.

The 5670 uses 60watts max. Your cpu uses 65watts max, which together is only 125 watts. you still have 125watts for the rest of your system and that is way more than enough. in fact, you will be below 75% of your power supplies ability, which is usually the max you want to go.

get whichever you feel comfortable with. Just make sure the video card or the heatsink doesn't go above the PCI bracket in case you don't have much clearance above your PCIe slots. For example, my Powercolor5670 Go! Green card has a fanless heatsink which is very large and it stick up about an inch or more above the bracket. It may hit the cover on the side of your computer case, so you may need to check inside to make sure you have the extra clearance if you wish to buy a similar card.