Switching To New GPU Questions
September 26th, 2013
I’m going to be buying a new gpu sometime (sadly, won’t be able to until after x-mas) soon. Instead of going with Nvidia again, I think I might go with an ATI Radeon (second link on bottom). I want to get a gpu as close as possible (possibly a bit better spec/performance wise) to the gpu I currently have at the cheapest price.
So here’s my questions:
1. How would you suggest the steps to take in order to switch cards without issues? I assume using Driver Sweeper first in safe mode –> Shut Down –> stick in new gpu –> Boot into Windows –> Install new drivers. Would that be the preferred way?
2. What if my GPU dies before I receive the new gpu? Would sticking the new gpu in and using the steps above still work without issues? Or is there another way I should go about doing it?
**Note: I have no integrated graphics.**
3. Would you suggest me picking another gpu than the one I selected (in second link) below? My budget is $120 max. No more than that but less would be great. “I want to get a gpu as close as possible (possibly a bit better spec/performance wise) to the gpu I currently have at the cheapest price.” This doesn’t have to be answered. My main concerns are the questions above.
Current GPU
http://us.msi.com/product/vga/N9800GTX-PLUS-T2D512-OC.html
Possible next GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102898
PS – I’m not really a noob with computers, but still, I don’t have that much experience working with hardware…
EDIT: PC Specs:
2x 2GB G.Skill DDR2 1000 (technically, they're overclocked 800's but newegg stated they were 1000 when purchased. However they are running at 800 right now since I had issues trying to get them at the specified 1000)
GA-EP45-DS3L Mobo
Zalman 1000 Watt PSU (will have to look for model number but positive this will not be an issue with upgrade)
Intel E8400 @ 3.00 GHz
There are no links there?
What’s your full system spec including PSU make and model/power rating.
Also are you sure it’s the GPU failing?
Might be a simple software issue or a number of things.
What I normally do:
1. Uninstall the old driver before new graphic card installation.
2. If the driver isn’t uninstalled before the new video card is installed, all is not lost.
Boot into safemode and do a uninstall.
3. Reboot after uninstall and with the new graphic card in, install the new driver and reboot again.
Always get the newest drivers from graphic card website, AMD or Nvidia (depends on your card obviously).
With a program like Steam and your using AMD graphics card, you can just use the built in update program and let it do the dirty work instead of visiting the website (of course you would first have an older driver installed otherwise it can’t figure out what video card your using).
jock_juffalo replied: There are no links there?
Ahhh, did some spell check in Word before posting…I know I had the links there but for some reason when I copied over everything to make the post, it didn’t add them for some reason. They’re there now. Thanks for pointing out.
What's your full system spec including PSU make and model/power rating.
2x 2GB G.Skill DDR2 1000 (technically, they’re overclocked 800’s but newegg stated they were 1000 when purchased. However they are running at 800 right now since I had issues trying to get them at the specified 1000)
GA-EP45-DS3L Mobo
Zalman 1000 Watt PSU (will have to look for model number but positive this will not be an issue with upgrade)
Intel E8400 @ 3.00 GHz
Also are you sure it's the GPU failing?
Might be a simple software issue or a number of things.
Pretty sure it’s the GPU. Been having this issue even after a couple reformats. When I try to make PCSX2 graphics look alot better, the video card drivers crash almost instantly. Event Viewer shows: “Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.” The driver(s) actually never fully recover. I need to restart to play emulated PSX/2 games again. And when I tried to play an older (2000 something) PC game months ago, after the driver crashed I got a pop-up saying something about OpenGL…sorry, can’t remember exactly what it was…been a while since I seen this error.
To Plowshares – Thank you for your input.
The cheapest graphics card you should buy will be the 6870.
The 6850 and even lower models will use old mosfets for its power regulation.
Reference 6870’s use low RDS-on mosfets (you can tell by how many pins the mosfet is using, 3 for older ones, 4 for newer ones) which switch on higher frequencies, this improves efficiency.
The cooler from the reference design is fine as it vents the air out to the back of the case.
Some Asus coolers blasts the hot air inside the case which is no good.
Dood if your looking to play games, don’t get anything below a GTX 460 1Gb =D
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2964-7.html
I recommend a 560 Ti
did you try uninstalling and reinstalling the latest video drivers ?
missed it if you said you did !
Swords To Plowshares replied: The cheapest graphics card you should buy will be the 6870.
Thanks for the reply. However, as stated above, my budget is $120 USD and below….nothing higher than that. All 6870’s seem to be out of that range from what I could find in google/newegg.
The 6850 and even lower models will use old mosfets for its power regulation.
Reference 6870's use low RDS-on mosfets (you can tell by how many pins the mosfet is using, 3 for older ones, 4 for newer ones) which switch on higher frequencies, this improves efficiency.
I uhhh…well…hmmm…you just confused the heck outta me lol. I understand (at least I think I do) that what you’re talking about deals with the electricity that runs through the card? Honestly, I don’t even know what else to say regarding this besides…does it really make that much of a difference between the old and new mosfets?
The cooler from the reference design is fine as it vents the air out to the back of the case.
Some Asus coolers blasts the hot air inside the case which is no good.
I’m not exactly that worried about the hot air being blown in my case since everything else stays pretty cool. But at the same time, I don’t want a gpu that runs hot to the point where I’m gonna have to worry about it over heating. All but one fan in my case I purchased separately when I first built this PC and well….it sounds like a jet plane is taking off in my room when I have it on lol.
edwoodweb replied: did you try uninstalling and reinstalling the latest video drivers ?
missed it if you said you did !
I did not mention this. But yeah, I’ve been having this problem with my GPU for about a year. Not quite as bad as it is now but I was still unable to play PC games. So to answer your question, yeah I have uninstalled the drivers many, many times with Nvidia’s setup installer and after the needed reboot (sometimes a reboot wasn’t needed), it would install the new drivers.
I have an alternative solution that will save you a lot of money,Stick with your current and fix it!
First thing you should do is rule out a heat problem,You’ll have to remove the heatsink/fan and clean it up,Also
clean up the thermal paste with pure alcohol (90% or higher) and apply a new one (I recommend you use arctic cooling MX4)
If this doesn’t do the trick,It means the damage is internal,Sometimes high levels of heat for prolonged time can detach
some of the internal soldering points,But there’s a fix,Before I tell you what it is,I have to point out that I’m being 100%
serious and not joking,Bake it in the oven! At 385F or 200C (Depending on your country’s temperature standard) for
9 minutes,Then take it out and let it cool off for at least an hour before putting it back in,You’ll have to put an aluminum
foil on the tray used and make a few aluminum balls too for isolating the card from the on-tray foil,Refer to the pics
on the following thread:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1421792
There are no guarantees any of this would work,But I’d say you got at least an 80% chance,And it could save you a lot of money if it’d
work out.
Applying a bit of pressure to push the chip onto the board while baking could help too..
..and don’t forget to put the fish under the griller while yer at it
Using a hot air gun is another way way of re flowing solder on those sort of chips
Roberto400 replied: I have an alternative solution that will save you a lot of money,Stick with your current and fix it!
First thing you should do is rule out a heat problem,You'll have to remove the heatsink/fan and clean it up,Also
clean up the thermal paste with pure alcohol (90% or higher) and apply a new one (I recommend you use arctic cooling MX4)
If this doesn't do the trick,It means the damage is internal,Sometimes high levels of heat for prolonged time can detach
some of the internal soldering points,But there's a fix,Before I tell you what it is,I have to point out that I'm being 100%
serious and not joking,Bake it in the oven! At 385F or 200C (Depending on your country's temperature standard) for
9 minutes,Then take it out and let it cool off for at least an hour before putting it back in,You'll have to put an aluminum
foil on the tray used and make a few aluminum balls too for isolating the card from the on-tray foil,Refer to the pics
on the following thread:
There are no guarantees any of this would work,But I'd say you got at least an 80% chance,And it could save you a lot of money if it'd
work out.
Interesting method to fix my card lol. Idk if I really feel comfortable doing this yet though. I think I’ll wait till I have the money for a new card first in case I screw it up. I never took apart a video card but it can’t be too hard. I’ll try cleaning it out when I get a chance. And yeah my video card does idle around mid 60C which is pretty hot for it to be idling. When I first got the card, it would idle in the low 40’s. Since I noticed the idle temps were hot, I’ve been leaving the gpu fan run at constant 75%…which brings it down to 49-51C at idle.
Nel replied: Applying a bit of pressure to push the chip onto the board while baking could help too..
..and don't forget to put the fish under the griller while yer at it
Using a hot air gun is another way way of re flowing solder on those sort of chips
Haha…Got any good fish recipes?
Don’t got a hot air gun…so I’ll try Roberto’s oven trick.
Appreciate the replies fellas. I’ll try all this when I have money for another card (wont be till after x-mas) in case I screw it up somehow. I’ll reply back probably next year sometime and let you know if this actually works. Bookmarked so I don’t forget.