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9791
July 27th, 2014 03:00
Area51 ALX upgrade questions
Hello all you smart, tech-savvy people...
I've been thinking about upgrading my Area 51 ALX, purchased in 2007 (if I remember correctly). It has an AMD 6800 eries graphics card (which shows up twice in the config, for some reason) and the specs detailed below.
I've been having trouble with some newer games. Watchdogs, for example, crashes incessantly and gives all kinds of video grief, KSP 24 stutters (and I know this happens with a lot of Windows users), and even games like Skyrim have been giving me trouble.
I have thought about both upgrading the RAM and the video card. I'm pretty sure I could do that, but I'm not sure whether it's a good idea, which video card to get (GTX 780? HD7970?), or whether I should have two, which seems to be a subject.
Any hep would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and sorry that the system config file below is in French, but I assume anyone who knows enough to answer my question would know what the relevent bits are.
Système d’exploitation Microsoft Windows 7 Professionnel
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
Informations supplémentaires Non disponible
Éditeur Microsoft Corporation
Ordinateur OFFICE
Fabricant Alienware
Modèle Area 51
Type PC à base de x64
Processeur Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 970 @ 3.20GHz, 3201 MHz, 6 cœur(s), 12 processeur(s) logique(s)
Version du BIOS/Date Alienware A10, 27/04/2010
Version SMBIOS 2.5
Répertoire Windows C:\Windows
Répertoire système C:\Windows\system32
Périphérique de démarrage \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Option régionale France
Couche d’abstraction matérielle Version = "6.1.7601.17514"
Mémoire physique (RAM) installée 6.00 Go
Mémoire physique totale 5.99 Go
Mémoire physique disponible 2.88 Go
Mémoire virtuelle totale 12.0 Go
Mémoire virtuelle disponible 7.90 Go
Espace pour le fichier d’échange 5.99 Go
Fichier d’échange C:\pagefile.sys
Cass-Ole
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July 27th, 2014 14:00
Hi, your system's dossier reads as if your desktop is post 2009 (not 2007)(Core i7 - bios a10 etc).
General info here regarding a top video card upgrade (single hd7990):
discussion consists of power supply, motherboard version (revision two might be best), possible enhancements (evga powerboost & y-splitter cables), correct connector chart:
Your socket 1366 mthrbrd can support 12gb (3x4Gb) @ 1600MHz (pc3-12800) or 6Gb (3x2Gb) @ 1866MHz (I've used pc3-14900 & pc3-15000 ... you may overclock to 1866, maybe get to 2000Mhz, maybe not get to 2133Mhz, see note below):
My note: GO TO BIOS > Enable XMP profile for 1600/1866 etc, see if it boots, if not, go to bios:
My note: memory ratio / multiplier:
OC on A-51 for typical bios screenshots:
http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&docid=117679&doclang=en&l=en&s=gen&cs=
A friend is running dual-7990's but heat build-up has his system very loud from all the fans, which he's problem solving > you may want to try a single card beast as opposed to dual cards ... ? We know a 7990 can work, so can dual-7990's, r9 290 works in Aurora. I can't tell you what to get or how many or what brand, but whatever you get, post back here if you have problems getting it (them) to work
Typical 2014 VidCard Hierarchy (copy/paste link):
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html
grumpyoldguy
3 Posts
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August 1st, 2014 02:00
Thank you very much. You're right, having considered, it might well have been 2009, or even early 2010.
So far, I started by upgrading the RAM (3 x Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX Mémoire RAM DDR3 1600 for a total of 12). I had to reset CMOS for it to boot into BIOS and it seems to run fine with the settings you suggested (it won't run on the default settings). However, whenever I reboot, BIOS forgets the new settings and hangs. It's not the battery on the motherboard - I changed it to make sure and I get the same thing. I assume there's some other adjustment that has to be made in BIOS, but I can't figure out what it is.
Oh, and I orderd a PNY XLR8 GeForce GTX 760 at the suggestion of Dell tech support (I spoke to them before I changed the RAM).
Thanks!
Cass-Ole
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August 1st, 2014 02:00
the system board has a 99% chance it will boot 1600MHz w/xmp on ... it gets iiffy with 1866 & generally requires uncore to +160-200mv &mem multiplier too.
what I should have said, is begin by:
It sounds like you want to enable xmp. If you loaded bios defaults (after a battery change), then enable ahci (sata controller). Report back? If you're in France, it's almost 5am here, I have to be to work in an hour, I can get back to you in 10 hours about this, lol.
grumpyoldguy
3 Posts
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August 1st, 2014 03:00
Talk about a fast response, thanks! What's even better, it worked. Seriously, you've been great. I'm not sure I have all the overclock I'd like, but I'll mess with it. Anyway, it was enabling the XMP profile that did the trick.
By the way, if you're bored, I have another RAM question. I consistently have 2.5 to 3 go RAM utilisation, although task manager processes may only sum up to 200k. I was vaguely concerned that I had a trojan running in the background, but other sources on teh web seem to indicate this is OK. This has held constant both with the 6go RAM and now the 12.
Thanks again!
Cass-Ole
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August 1st, 2014 14:00
I'm glad your memory works, & it sounds like you got a nice v-card to work with.
I usually run a lean Windows install (1.92Gb @ idle) so my memory & useage may differ from yours, I do not know what to make of the 2.5-3Gb vs 200k. Wait for someone to jump in who'll rattle that cage - or - start a new thread & see who wants to jump in with advice.
Personally, I'd run a good virus program, perhaps do "clean boot" trials ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 ), alternatively, if you have a spare drive to work with, you could reinstall Windows on it & compare... you could load an old system image on it to compare also. You could image your drive (acronis etc) then fall back on your earliest restore point etc, see what's what.