Need Help with Video Card Selection

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johnsonsinutah

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#26670 30-Sep-2008 04:24

I have just gone through a very frustrating experience that led to the conclusion that my PCI-e slot in my computer had gone dead. So, I'm now left with two relatively new graphic cards, and a new computer. I now have a Gateway GT5692 which has a Phenom processor, and onboard Radeon 3200HD graphics. Now in reserve I also have a Radeon 3600HD with 1GB of DDR onboard memory, and an Nvidia 8500GT with 512mb of onboard memory. I can try them all out and see which works best, but I'm worried that I don't know, what I don't know. Which card do you think is best or should I stay with the onboard graphics?

As far as gaming, probably the most intensive game right now is Crysis Warhead.

Thanks all comments welcome.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#167984 30-Sep-2008 13:40

I think you mean HD3650?

HD3650 Fastest by a large margin, 8500GT and HD3200 similar speed, maybe 8500 slightly faster but not sure.

8500GT is a bit slow for games, no one buys it for games because its only a bit cheaper than the much much faster 8600GT. I know that the HD3650 is comparable to an 8600GT (maybe a bit slower i think). So the faster card is the HD3650.

I would sell the 8500GT because it is popular with HTPC users because it can do H264, so it shouldn't be too hard to sell on trademe.

If the onboard graphics is fast enough and the HD3650 is brand new then i would try and sell it rather than using it. Then i would buy something faster at a later date otherwise just stick with the HD3650.

I think the 8500GT and onboard HD3200 are probably similar speed (can't find a comparison on google), so no point in using the 8500GT when you already have onboard gfx that is just as fast. So definitely ditch the 8500GT (unless you want to do HDTV which is a different story)

NOTE: If you made a mistake and mean HD3450 then that can do crossfire with the HD3200 so that would be good.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

johnsonsinutah

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#168048 30-Sep-2008 16:50

I set up the computer this evening with the 8500GT in it and it seems to work fine, it runs Crysis Warhead on minimum settings very smoothly. The other card is an HD 3650 with 1GB of onboard DDR memory. I'll probably toss it in tomorrow and see if there is a noticible difference in performance. I'll let you know what it looks like when I do.

Thanks for the input!!

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

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#168123 30-Sep-2008 19:53

i reckon the 8500gt is so close in performance to the onboard hd3200 that it is a waste perhaps to use 8500gt.

the onboard HD3200 on my motherboard is very overclockable (30% speed increase), so you might be able to overclock it.
info here - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-780g-chipset,1785-8.html

NB - overclocking will void your warranty and you should not overclock unless you understand what you are doing, and also make sure the chip doesn't get too hot.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

johnsonsinutah

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#168303 1-Oct-2008 12:35

I put the 3650 in and can run Crysis one graphics level up seamlessly and two levels up with only minor disruptions.

Thanks for the input, you were right.

johnsonsinutah

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#168325 1-Oct-2008 13:42

One other question. I just realized that my son's have Radeon 3450HD Sapphire cards in their computers. Would the combined capability of the 3450 and my onboard 3200 be better than the 3650?

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

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#168371 1-Oct-2008 16:00

I doubt you can crossfire those two cards, because they dont match, but you could try.

HD3650 is sposed to be twice as fast as onboard HD3200.

HD3200 crossfire is sposed to be 50% speed increase

Therefore the HD3650 is likely to be faster than a crossfire of HD3200 + HD3450

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

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#168374 1-Oct-2008 16:03

PS: Google is your friend - http://www.yougamers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=899874

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

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johnsonsinutah

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#168387 1-Oct-2008 16:17

Thanks I appreciate your help!!

eXDee

4032 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#168403 1-Oct-2008 17:24

kiwijunglist: I doubt you can crossfire those two cards, because they dont match, but you could try.

You can crossfire the HD3450 and HD3200, See Here. Seperate GPUs of the same series are also supported, eg 3850 and 3870 i believe.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

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#168409 1-Oct-2008 17:44

eXDee:
kiwijunglist: I doubt you can crossfire those two cards, because they dont match, but you could try.

You can crossfire the HD3450 and HD3200, See Here. Seperate GPUs of the same series are also supported, eg 3850 and 3870 i believe.

i refer to 3650 XF 'd with onboard 3200 = Unlikely possible,

but you can definitely XF 3450 with onboard 3200 to get a 50% or less speed boost. Still slower than a stand alone 3650.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

johnsonsinutah

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#168519 2-Oct-2008 04:39

Thanks! My son's hopes will be dashed however, he was excited at the prospect of giving me his 3450 in exchange for my 3650, but after all of your inputs....not gonna happen!!

charley

183 posts

Master Geek

#168523 2-Oct-2008 05:39

I read that the hd4850 and hd4870 can work in crossfire but the hd4870 gets underclocked to hd4850 specs. Bit of useless info for ya!