HD 4670 needs to go...

Okay I tested the idle voltage so far and its at about 12.37v. I will test the gaming after 15 minutes voltage now.

I first tested my 4670 for a minute and it drops it down to about 12.33v. Now for the 4830.

4830 drops it down to about 12.23v so roughly 0.1v so far... still testing. (also note that the card makes high pitched sounds when playing intro video)

After testing for about 15 minutes I noticed that it changed between 12.23v and 12.27v. It would fluctuate. Now it's at about 12.32v.

What does all this mean?
 
Last edited:
It means your PSU most likely isn't the issue. It would have to be below 12v completely to be making your PC screw up, it's not even close.
 
omg im so pissed now idk what to do. maybe sims 3 was a lot heavier of a game than you guys thought. or maybe this card isnt as good as you guys thought... idk... should i do some benchmark stuff and see what kind of ratings im getting with this card?
 
Links don't work for me.

So is the first one with stock CPU clocks? And the second one, overclocked to what speed? CPU overclock? Or the card overclocked? Or both?
 
cpu is overclocked at about 3.8 both times. first time the card is at stock. second time the card is overclocked.
 
Hmm, how much overclock? Seems a little low on graphics performance for that card. I would expect more like 15k overclocked with a Phenom II quad at 3.8ghz.

Have you tried playing the game overclocked?

Also, with no AA or AF, set your resolution in the game to 1600x900. Just curious if that makes a difference. What FPS are you getting anyway?
 
Do this regardless:

  1. Uninstall the ATi drivers using the standard approach.
  2. Download the latest ATi drivers: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
  3. Download and install DriverSweeper: http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D---Driver-Sweeper-(Setup)-download-1655.html
  4. Run it for ATi drivers
  5. Restart
  6. Install the latest drivers.
  7. Restart

Please then make sure you have

  1. DirectX updated: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displaylang=en
  2. Windows Updates
  3. Game updates: http://easims.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...&p_sid=VmE4Oo7k&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=

According to this http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2333572,00.asp that 3DMark06 score is about right (and they use a much more powerful CPU). I think that GPU may be underpowered for that resolution, as its closest comparison is probably an 8800GT or similar, which I know from experience cant handle much past 1400 x 900. It should really play Sim3 though, please use FRAPS to record your FPS during play: http://www.fraps.com/download.php

Also, keep the multimeter connected to the 12V rail while gaming and just monitor it over a longer timeframe.

Finally, you may have a heterosexual HD4830 which is refusing to play such a gay game ;)
 
Last edited:
They used a QX9650, at stock clocks of 3ghz. A Phenom II quad at 3.8ghz is easily superior to a core 2 quad at 3ghz.

Also, an 8800gt/4830 can play 1920x1080 just fine. I play COD WAW, which I'm sure is more graphically challenging than sims 3, and I've owned several 8800gt's, it plays that game just fine never below 40 FPS and about 70 FPS average.

I do however agree with your last statement :D
 
I would like to see evidence of that, but the point is that the CPU isn't going to bottleneck that GPU, thus the 3DMark06 scores are comparable. That GPU is not great.

plus i too have owned a 8800GT (similar performance) and it struggles at that resolution. I think the simple answer here is that the GPU is underpowered and was a bad suggestion.

however to the OP, please try my suggestions as this may help.
 
Last edited:
Also, 3DMark06 is very clockspeed dependant, even though it's multithreaded. My dually E6300 at 4ghz scores higher overall than my athlon quaddy at 3.5ghz, even with RAM that's twice as fast.

Infact in 06 GPU matters very little :o more like a CPU/clockspeed benchmark.
 
The simple fact is that this guy was recommended a card that hasn't provided the benefit that was promised. Synthetic benchmarks aside, arguments and about what CPU is better is irrelevant.

To the OP, unfortunately, you may have been given crap advice. Try the updates as I suggested in post #71 and get back to us. Otherwise if you need improved FPS you will need to upgrade to a better GPU and PSU or play at a lower resolution or graphical settings.
 
bigfellla said:
I would like to see evidence of that, but the point is that the CPU isn't going to bottleneck that GPU, thus the 3DMark06 scores are comparable. That GPU is not great.

plus i too have owned a 8800GT (similar performance) and it struggles at that resolution. I think the simple answer here is that the GPU is underpowered and was a bad suggestion.

however to the OP, please try my suggestions as this may help.
Click to expand...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=49


Thats at stock 3.4ghz clocks, and the 965 wins most of the benches. Add another 400 mhz and it will win in 90% of those benches easily.

I agree, cpu not a bottleneck. But he's also stated that it's only using 75% of the GPU. If it was underpowered, it'd be pegged at 100% the entire time. There has got to be something else wrong.

I've owned over 2 dozen video cards in the last 6 months alone, all playing on 1080p....I know what cards are capable of what performance.

He needs to try 1600x900 resolution in the game and see if that makes a difference. That will show if the GPU is simply underpowered or not. But like I said, he's only getting 75% GPU usage which leads me into thinking something else is wrong.

A 4830 overclocked is similar to 4850 performance, which is the same performance as a 9800GTX.....which plays 1080p no problem. Something else is wrong.

linkin said:
Also, 3DMark06 is very clockspeed dependant, even though it's multithreaded. My dually E6300 at 4ghz scores higher overall than my athlon quaddy at 3.5ghz, even with RAM that's twice as fast.

Infact in 06 GPU matters very little :o more like a CPU/clockspeed benchmark.
Click to expand...

I've taken the clockspeed into account. I've benched a few cards on 06' with a Phenom II quad at 3.9ghz, so I know what scores can be compared.








I do have a question to anyone else who's played this sims 3, is this game a Nvidia swayed game? If the game likes NVidia cards over ATI, that will make a huge difference and cause the ATI card to not use 100% of the GPU core.
 
Last edited:
durkmusic said:
Okay so I got the 4830 and it's not running the sims 3 at full settings well at all. Better than what I had but not good enough to run sims 3 at full settings. I even overclocked it and couldn't get it to run well on full settings. You guys said it would have no problem running sims, what am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...

Dont know what it takes to play sims at full settings, never played the game:P. But with that said, going from a 4670 to a 4830 isnt what I would call a (big) upgrade or to say its (alot) stronger.

Its a better card and if you didnt have either one, sure the 4830 is the better choice, but if you already had the 4760 is was sorta of a waste of money to me. You went from a mediocre card to a little better one.

Should have waited and saved up some more and atleast got something like a 5770.
 
The jump from a 4670 to a 4830 is quite large. It's a 40-50% stronger card, thats a lot better.

A 4830 is just a cut from a 4850, which is in a different league than a 4670 completely. The 4850 is the same as a 9800GTX, which plays just about any game at 1080p just fine. An overclocked 4830 is equal to a 4850.


http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4830-review-his-technology/9

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/811/5/

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4830-review-his-technology/13

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4830-review-his-technology/8

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/his_radeon_4670_4830_4850_mid_range_round-up/7

http://www.neoseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rid=174481


I can get more links showing 40-50% frame rate increases if you want :rolleyes:

Strangehold you may know more about power supplies than me, but forget it when it comes to video cards.
 
Last edited:
I feel sorry for the OP!

87dtna said:
The jump from a 4670 to a 4830 is quite large. It's a 40-50% stronger card, thats a lot better.

I can get more links showing 40-50% frame rate increases if you want :rolleyes:

Strangehold you may know more about power supplies than me, but forget it when it comes to video cards.
Click to expand...

ok, fine, im not saying this is conclusively a bad decision, a bit arrogant, but you have a million times more experience then everyone right, at least a dozen GPUs recently, well.....

durkmusic said:
Will the 4830 play sims 3 at full settings flawlessly? What about photoshop and after affects?
Click to expand...

87dtna said:
Absolutely, it's overkill man you will have no trouble at any settings and even if you got a larger monitor you wouldn't have any trouble.
Click to expand...

durkmusic said:
Okay so I got the 4830 and it's not running the sims 3 at full settings well at all. Better than what I had but not good enough to run sims 3 at full settings. I even overclocked it and couldn't get it to run well on full settings. You guys said it would have no problem running sims, what am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...

wanna tell us why he has crappy FPS then? Strangle has an excellent reputation and I agree with him. You talked down several suggestions different to yours 87dtna, but now we have a situation where the OP is not getting what you said he would. That is a much better gaming experience.

Well, we have excluded the PSU and the CPU isnt the problem according to 87dtna , so I may be wrong but it is likely that the HD4830 is underpowered for that game at that resolution.

I agree with Strangle, it wasn't a good decision. Now, it is unlikely that he will spend money on a another GPU, so my suggestion is to ensure the software is up to date - the only real option left.

bigfellla said:
Do this regardless:

  1. Uninstall the ATi drivers using the standard approach.
  2. Download the latest ATi drivers: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
  3. Download and install DriverSweeper: http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D---Driver-Sweeper-(Setup)-download-1655.html
  4. Run it for ATi drivers
  5. Restart
  6. Install the latest drivers.
  7. Restart

Please then make sure you have

  1. DirectX updated: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displaylang=en
  2. Windows Updates
  3. Game updates: http://easims.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...&p_sid=VmE4Oo7k&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=

According to this http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2333572,00.asp that 3DMark06 score is about right (and they use a much more powerful CPU). I think that GPU may be underpowered for that resolution, as its closest comparison is probably an 8800GT or similar, which I know from experience cant handle much past 1400 x 900. It should really play Sim3 though, please use FRAPS to record your FPS during play: http://www.fraps.com/download.php

Also, keep the multimeter connected to the 12V rail while gaming and just monitor it over a longer timeframe.

Finally, you may have a heterosexual HD4830 which is refusing to play such a gay game ;)
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
87dtna said:
The jump from a 4670 to a 4830 is quite large. It's a 40-50% stronger card, thats a lot better.

A 4830 is just a cut from a 4850, which is in a different league than a 4670 completely. The 4850 is the same as a 9800GTX, which plays just about any game at 1080p just fine. An overclocked 4830 is equal to a 4850.


http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4830-review-his-technology/9

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/811/5/

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4830-review-his-technology/13

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-4830-review-his-technology/8

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/his_radeon_4670_4830_4850_mid_range_round-up/7

http://www.neoseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rid=174481


I can get more links showing 40-50% frame rate increases if you want :rolleyes:.
Click to expand...

Tell me something I dont already know. Your missing the whole point. You start with a lowend midrange card and go to a semi upper midrange, thats not what I would spend money on, calling it a upgrade. Doubling crap frame rates, big deal.

If you were building computers for customers that wanted a upgrade. It better be a big noticeable difference or you have people coming back pitching a fit (like here). You be honest with people, like this dude, yes its a upgrade. But worth the time and money, No! Better to wait till you have money for a better card to be a large noticeable difference

87dtna said:
Strangehold you may know more about power supplies than me, but forget it when it comes to video cards.
Click to expand...

Dont really care. You do know I'm involved in a computer shop and have a part time business of my own. Been doing this for 16 years. Probable bought more video cards in the last year then you have owned computers in your life.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top