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View Full Version : Help on a HTPC GPU card for Bro's rig



DrPop
05-09-11, 07:29 PM
I need some advice for Brandon's rig. His rig is now sporting Joker's HD5830 running Moo! wrapper, with the MSI 870A-G54 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130275&cm_re=msi_870a-g54-_-13-130-275-_-Product) mobo, PhenomII X6 1055 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851&cm_re=1055t-_-19-103-851-_-Product) O/Ced to 3.4GHz, and 4GB Ripjaws DDR3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277&cm_re=4GB_Rip_Jaw-_-20-231-277-_-Product).

Thing is, he says with the 5830 (compared to the 4870), the screen is a little jerky, and so when he goes to watch a movie or something, he has to pause GPU crunching. He is paying the electric on this rig for us, and willing to leave it on 24/7, so I got to thinking - I'd like to split the cost of an "HTPC" type GPU with him to put in the second PCI-e slot and run the monitor off that. Then Joker's HD5830 will be able to run 24/7 crunching Moo! for us, with no interruptions.

One wrench in the plan, well, maybe 2. He bought a Bluray player, so I'm not sure how much GPU power that takes (I don't own one), and...he just bought Need For Speed SHIFT2 unleashed.
The "PC Requirements" page for that game is here: http://www.needforspeed.com/post/shift-2-unleashed-pc-requirementssupported-wheel-list

Any suggestions on what kind of card we should be looking at just to run his monitor, Bluray movies, and maybe that game a little? ATI or NVIDIA is ok - either will work. Looking for a small one to minimize heat and power consumption...the HD5830 will be the main crunching card there.
Thanks!

joker
05-09-11, 07:38 PM
Just a thought..........Perhaps another 4870 card to run stuff????? If it worked before.....Then there is your new favorite card the GTX 460. Cheap and effective. Might even be better to get a 460 and turn it into a cruncher and put the 5830 on running his video stuff. Probably get more credits out of that. Again, just a thought.

Shadow
05-09-11, 07:41 PM
Would this do the trick?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102826

I've got two of them and no slots to put them in. #-o

DrPop
05-09-11, 07:54 PM
Holy cow, YES! That would totally fit the bill - if you would like, shoot me a PM with the price, and I will talk it over with Brandon. He is being really cool about this - he and I have split the $ on all the parts for his rig build up, and he's running it 24/7. Fire$torm's even been controlling it remotely via BAM! for the Pentathlon while I was gone. ;)

@Joker - yeah, if the 4870 from Shadow doesn't pan out, then I suppose you're right about the GTX 460 - less juice and heat than the bigger cards, and good credits. That 5830 of yours is putting out some great MOO! credits, though, I wouldn't write it off! :D

joker
05-09-11, 08:29 PM
As always, just trying to be logical about the acquisition of credits.

DrPop
05-09-11, 08:53 PM
As always, just trying to be logical about the acquisition of credits.

Yes, you are that, and I give YOU FULL CREDIT for kicking off this latest round of upgrades over the past few months, and pulling up Team SETI.USA by the bootstraps, Bro! :D >:D<=D>=D>=D>

joker
05-09-11, 09:33 PM
I did not make anyone do anything!! That is my story and I am sticking to it!

DrPop
05-09-11, 11:23 PM
:P @ Joker :))

Just to let everyone know, Shadow is majorly giving my Bro and I a sweet deal for the team here. Big Thank You in order! :o

Fire$torm
05-10-11, 12:07 AM
:P @ Joker :))

Just to let everyone know, Shadow is majorly giving my Bro and I a sweet deal for the team here. Big Thank You in order! :o

Very cool!!! \m/

Thanks you Shadow :D