Recommend me a new Graphics card!

[DevilsRefugee]

i think my current one is dying. Recently playing a lot of bc2 i have been getting random freezes (in game, but mainly in the server browser) & CTDs so naturally i blamed the game (of course!) however, this morning i decided to install the ati 10.2 drivers for my card, then decided to try out bc2 again, see if its cool to play..when i got in a server, i played for 10 minutes, then my whole pc just shut down.

Naturally, still blaming the game, i decided to download GPU-ID (i think it is) and checked the sensors and my card was hitting 120oc, fan running at 100% and NO load on the card..so i shit myself & assumed my card was melting lol.

So now i downgraded my video drivers to 10.1 and now the card is running at 90odd Oc whilst idle. I know ati cards can handle it, but clearly when playing bc2 (no probs with either mw1 or tf) it makes my card work hard, and thus the temp probably goes way over 120oc which i am sure is not a good thing.

So, with that all in mind, im thinking i should probably look into getting a new card, or sorting some extra cooling out.

My specs are:
E8400 @ 3Ghz
Radeon 4850 (512mb)
4gb ddr2 ram
win7 ultimate 64bit


any other needed please feel free to ask!

Thanks guys!

edit:
My budget is probably around 100-150 pound.

[lifeless]

bc2 is a 100% gpu load game.  had gpu-z loaded up while playing SP the other day, only went down during loading screens.

temp wise, they are defo high. 120 will be very near the limit.

you could try take out the card and cleaning the fan area, see if that makes a diff.  are you sure the fan is actually turning?  maybe worth taking the side off for a bit, see if its a case air flow issue.

and to answer your question, whats your budget?

[DevilsRefugee]

yeah i will be doing the cleaning tmr, but i remember trying to get the card into my machine and it was really awkward (dont have the most nimble fingers!  ) but yeah, tmr i shall my entire pc a good cleaning.

The fan is defo turning because when i used the ati overdrive i turned the fan speed up a notch and it sounded like a jet taking off. I will give it another stress test tmr, once cleaned..frankly i am not comfortable with any game making my card go over 110max, my old man says ati cards are known for it, but still...

My budget is probably around 100-150 pound.

[DeathByDribbling]

There are numerous reports of bugs with the ati drivers, but this sounds like your card is overheating.  Obviously cleaning all the gunk off it will shave 10 degrees or so off the temps but your card is so hot it may well be the case that the heat sink has come loose and isn't cooling properly at all.  When you take it out to clean it up check it's screwed down properly (or however it's attached).  Don't actually take it off unless you want to re-seat it which requires you to clean off the old heat sink paste and put some more on.
It could also be that the inside of your case is getting very hot? - try taking the side panel off and see if that helps.

[DrKagon]

Pictures would likely help a ton if you want us to help you effectively during the cleaning, etc. process Rocky.

[Zeus]

read http://www.techspot.com/article/255-battlefield-bad-company2-performance/ rocky

I planning upgrade to i5@ 3.8-4.0GHz as my E8600@4.5ghz is holding my GTX295 back imo

[Humbug]

recommended gfx card is a GTX260 or ATI 4870.  so at least one of those

[DevilsRefugee]

recommended gfx card is a GTX260 or ATI 4870.  so at least one of those

i saw what you did there! 
I have a 4850 now, so it should be capable but i think its just screwed.

thanks for all the suggestions guys, now how about preferences/recommendations? 


good article btw zeus, gave me some food for thought...mainly i need a new job lol *wants the 5870*

[frymaster]

temps in the 90 range should be fine for a gfx card but it really shouldn't be idling that high, unless there's some rediculously-overagressive "quiet mode" settings there

first thought... gpu-z is using the wrong calibration for the card and it isn't actually that high

second thought... you have a serious cooling issue

[Zeus]

recommended gfx card is a GTX260 or ATI 4870.  so at least one of those

But thats only 10-15FPS increase over his present GPU

[lifeless]

good article btw zeus, gave me some food for thought...mainly i need a new job lol *wants the 5870*

best off save your self £100 and get a 5850

[Humbug]

recommended gfx card is a GTX260 or ATI 4870.  so at least one of those

But thats only 10-15FPS increase over his present GPU

sigh.. yes.. i know

[DevilsRefugee]

ok, i managed to clean out my entire pc today and it was a lot of dust...

managd to stress test and gpu temp did not go over 110 and remained stable, so i am happy.

when i left my idle temp was 75c, still high imo for just an idle temp, but much better than 90c.

I am now holding off on getting a card, until my bday in may *cough hint hint /cough* when hopefully i can get a good upgrade and basically put more money into a shiny new one.

thanks for the help guys.

[Enef]

The question is though, has this stopped the crashing?

[DevilsRefugee]

The question is though, has this stopped the crashing?

ahhh the million dollar question!!!

have not tested bc2 yet, but the optimist in me is hopefully.

will be home to hopefully finally get a good game on!

also
is a Asus gtx260 nvidia graphic card better than my current card? Might have chance to buy one for a tenner (used of course)