Is it still worth keeping my soundcard or gpu ?

[melon]

Radeon 5850
Audiophile 2496

I wanted to start build last year and picked these up thinking id physically improve enough to eventually do it - but I havent .

As things have no doubt moved on since then , Im wondering if I might just as well buying a prebuilt system instead rather keeping the soundcard or GPU and trying to use it using it to cut corners ( save a bit of ££ )

GPU is really mainly for games (surprise ) and the Soundcard for light music production

What do you think , would I be better trying to sell these or use them instead ?

m

[dacads]

Well what games do you currently play and intend to?

[melon]

Well what games do you currently play and intend to?

None...

Ive been on small advent netbook for the past 18 months or so, so I just want a pc that aint going to be extinct in 2 yrs time and capable of playing the latest games . ( Usually MORPG / RPG / strategy types and occasionally FPS )

I tried a couple of gaming laptops earlier this year but I cant handle the chiclet keyboard layout , so PC is really my only option .

m

[Phage]

Hmmmm.
My 0.02 is that the 5850 is a good card but well out of date now. It would be disappointing in any recent game. I'd sell it. There are some bargains to be had when at 6950 can be had for ~£100 2nd hand. I know nothing about sound cards though.
On the laptop front - why not use a usb keyboard with it ?

[melon]

Hmmmm.
My 0.02 is that the 5850 is a good card but well out of date now. It would be disappointing in any recent game. I'd sell it. There are some bargains to be had when at 6950 can be had for ~£100 2nd hand. I know nothing about sound cards though.
On the laptop front - why not use a usb keyboard with it ?

I did try that too but it seems a bit pointless as it uses up a lot of extra room and doesnt offer the same upgrade options .

Also I admit Im not a big fan of the size of these laptops even if their basically non- portable I just dont like the whole layout , Id rather the extra bulk round the keyboard was reduced like on a netbook and stuck elsewhere so you didnt have that long hand rest that restricts your wrists.

m

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Hmmmm.
My 0.02 is that the 5850 is a good card but well out of date now. It would be disappointing in any recent game. I'd sell it. There are some bargains to be had when at 6950 can be had for ~£100 2nd hand. I know nothing about sound cards though.
On the laptop front - why not use a usb keyboard with it ?

I have an HD5850 1GB and run recent games?? I assume you mean the Super Linear Shooter3,aka,BF3??

I seem to be fine with Metro2033 and Crysis2 under DX11 at 1680X1050 and the 28% OC headroom on my example helps!!

None...

Ive been on small advent netbook for the past 18 months or so, so I just want a pc that aint going to be extinct in 2 yrs time and capable of playing the latest games . ( Usually MORPG / RPG / strategy types and occasionally FPS )

I tried a couple of gaming laptops earlier this year but I cant handle the chiclet keyboard layout , so PC is really my only option .

m

TBH,I would be looking at an HD7950 3GB for around £230 to £250 if you really want something to last a few years. However,I would overclock it though.

The HD7850 is not a massive improvement,but if overclocked will be a decent improvement. However,you would need HD7950 Boost Edition or HD7970 to get twice framerates on average when compared to an HD5850 1GB.

[melon]

I have an HD5850 1GB and run recent games?? I assume you mean the Super Linear Shooter3,aka,BF3??

Aye , that would be the one Cat

Just like that Johnny Cash song

I seem to be fine with Metro2033 and Crysis2 under DX11 at 1680X1050 and the 28% OC headroom on my example helps!!

I was playing 2033 2 yrs ago on my old system , are things that bad for FPS shooter these days ???

TBH,I would be looking at an HD7950 3GB for around £230 to £250 if you really want something to last a few years. However,I would overclock it though.

The HD7850 is not a massive improvement,but if overclocked will be a decent improvement. However,you would need HD7950 Boost Edition or HD7970 to get twice framerates on average when compared to an HD5850 1GB.

Thats what I feared - just bit more than Id want to spend. It seems for now keeping it might be a better idea until those prices come down, and focus on trying to find a prebuilt that would just let me add the gpu & soundcard instead ( unless theirs some good deals lurking around for a complete system )

m

[dacads]

Check out the AVForums classifieds section always a bargain there

[Phage]

6950s are going for ~£110 on the bigger forums now.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/295?vs=293

[Bagnaj97]

Build a system using your 5850 and see how it runs the games you want to play at reasonable settings. There's no point buying a brand new card without giving the one you already own a shot. Best case scenario is that you save a lot of money (which you can add to over time for a bigger upgrade later on), worst case is you have to buy a new card which you're preparing to do anyway!

[melon]

Build a system using your 5850 and see how it runs the games you want to play at reasonable settings. There's no point buying a brand new card without giving the one you already own a shot. Best case scenario is that you save a lot of money (which you can add to over time for a bigger upgrade later on), worst case is you have to buy a new card which you're preparing to do anyway!

Thats what I think Im just going to try to do , the card isnt as far out of date as I thought- the other option is to just get a value system like Scans that doesnt have onboard gpu / soundcard so I could include my own.

m

[melon]

Check out the AVForums classifieds section always a bargain there

I just checked em out and read this

Not that I havent been scammed before , but what sort of backup do you get if it happens ?

m

[Domestic_Ginger]

My 0.02 is that the 5850 is a good card but well out of date now.

Way to go making me feel insignificant

Mines still runs okay. Not that bothered about upgrading yet. If I did it would be for a second hand 7850 or 7870 when they come down a little to around £100.

[dacads]

Well I bought my current CPU+ram+GPU+HDD+PSU off there without getting scammed Also there an iTrader system in place so you can be confident of your purchase by looking at the feedback the seller has been given.

And if you ever are in an unfortunate situation then there's a dispute/problem section where the moderators will take necessary action on the forum and help with legal action.

Nobody should be breaking the rules and it's common sense not to buy from a new user Unless they send the item first ofc

http://www.avforums.com/forums/view_trading_rules.htm

[melon]

Well I bought my current CPU+ram+GPU+HDD+PSU off there without getting scammed Also there an iTrader system in place so you can be confident of your purchase by looking at the feedback the seller has been given.

And if you ever are in an unfortunate situation then there's a dispute/problem section where the moderators will take necessary action on the forum and help with legal action.

Nobody should be breaking the rules and it's common sense not to buy from a new user Unless they send the item first ofc

http://www.avforums.com/forums/view_trading_rules.htm

good to know , the only drawback is that most ads Ive seen so far seem to be for pickup only ,so I doubt Id find a desktop on there , unless you meant for GPU?

m

[dacads]

Hehe yeah I usually scavenge around the computer classifieds for components rather than the desktop and laptop section

So what is your budget for a prebuilt without GPU & soundcard?