Looking for graphics card upgrade advice

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would consider the HX450W a better PSU since it has more power and has modular cabling.

You said you wanted to upgrade in the future and this would give a bit more leeway in what components you can choose.

It also has a pair of PCI-E power connectors so if you were to get a card like an HD4870 or GTX260 it can power them with no problems.

Here is a review of the PSU translated from German:

http://www.google.com/translate?lang...threadid=28332

OTH,if funds are quite tight I would get this OCZ 400W PSU:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152505

It has an excellent review:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/794

I would rate the unit a bit better than the Corsair CX400W although both are excellent 400W PSUs.

However both the 400W units only come with one PCI-E power connector.

[Pob255]

My case only has a grill big enough for an 8cm fan for the psu so would I be better off with a new case? Could go up to £150 total budget maybe. Card and psu seem good otherwise though.

??? these psu's don't have the fan at the back of the psu, they have them on the bottom, they wirk by blowing air into the psu, which then goes out the back as it's the only way the air can go.

ATX power supplies are a standardised dimentions so any should fit, unless your current case does not use a standard ATX.
Get a ruler out and measure your PSU, if it's 150mm Wide x 86mm High x 140mm long then it's standard ATX and any of the PSU's we've sugested should fit.

If you still want a new case I'd sugest (from ebuyer, might as well get them all from one source to reduce delivery costs)
Sunbeam Quarterback
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150297
Coolermaster Elite 330
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127584
CaseCom 6788
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172779
All are £25
Or the plane black Sunbeam freezer £26 (if you don't like the quarterback)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150298

Or the antec 300 which is still a very good case for £42
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143854

[Cottie]

Thankyou both for all the help figured out the psu thing after seeing the upside down pic of the 400w ocz I feel a little dumb now. My current psu is the same so all good there no need for a new case.

Found a cheap XFX HD4850 1GB on ebay so bought that and the 450w psu from Scan.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thankyou both for all the help figured out the psu thing after seeing the upside down pic of the 400w ocz I feel a little dumb now. My current psu is the same so all good there no need for a new case.

Found a cheap XFX HD4850 1GB on ebay so bought that and the 450w psu from Scan.

Looks like a good upgrade!

[Nick [D]vB]

The 5850 needs x2 6 pin connections?? I'd also check the +12v current rating on that PSU!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The HX450W can provide upto 33A on the 12V line:

http://www.corsair.com/products/hx450/default.aspx

It also a pair of 6+2 pin PCI-E power connectors too.

The HD5850 has much lower power consumption than an HD4870:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5850/28.html

http://www.techspot.com/review/206-h...50/page11.html

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3650&p=13

An HX450W will run an HD4870 or HD4890 fine.

[Nick [D]vB]

Well that told me! lol I should learn to read, I was just skimming the thread quickly, I missed the fact he'd actually upgraded the PSU.

I thought he was about to plug a shiny new 5850 into that Atrix pos, it would have been a shame to kill it, there still aren't that many about! lol

I'm running a similar setup myself actually, 5850 + Seasonic 500W, in fact that Corsair PSU might even have the same Seasonic guts as mine??

[Pob255]

And no he said he got a 4850 which is lower still.

[Nick [D]vB]

Like I said, I really should learn to read, or just stop drinking in the afternoons...