low graphics Windows Experience score
I am just wondering how much credibility and importance should be placed on the Windows Experience Index as regards graphics. I am trying to get maximum performance from my windows 7 32-bit desktop computer for quite heavy office based work including flash, photoshop, illustrator. My scores came in as follows:
Processor 7.4
Memory 7.4
Graphics 2.3
Gaming graphics 4.9
Primary hard disk 7.7
The low one there being graphics at 2.3 whilst the majority are in the 7 bracket. I have a Sapphire Radeon HD5450 graphics card. I went and updated the drivers right now and got an even worse score!! - on updating the windows experience it is now down to just 2.0 with the drivers update.
What I am interested in is improving the speed of my pc. I am wondering whether a purchase of a better graphics card might help. Do you think that would be a good idea? I don't really understand why I am only getting a 2.0 for graphics. I mean it's not a bad graphics card, got a lot of 5 stars here on amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-11166-02-20R-5450-DDR3-Graphics/dp/B0036DD4CO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
I don't actually notice any noticeable poor performance on graphics, but that 2.0 score is a worry. However it does sometimes hour glass when moving a load of objects in Flash. I always just thought it would be the cpu trying to do its tasks, but could it actually be the graphics card causing the delay? Would it be logical to suggest that a better card would get a better score and better overall pc performance?
Thanks for any comment/advice.
Processor 7.4
Memory 7.4
Graphics 2.3
Gaming graphics 4.9
Primary hard disk 7.7
The low one there being graphics at 2.3 whilst the majority are in the 7 bracket. I have a Sapphire Radeon HD5450 graphics card. I went and updated the drivers right now and got an even worse score!! - on updating the windows experience it is now down to just 2.0 with the drivers update.
What I am interested in is improving the speed of my pc. I am wondering whether a purchase of a better graphics card might help. Do you think that would be a good idea? I don't really understand why I am only getting a 2.0 for graphics. I mean it's not a bad graphics card, got a lot of 5 stars here on amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-11166-02-20R-5450-DDR3-Graphics/dp/B0036DD4CO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
I don't actually notice any noticeable poor performance on graphics, but that 2.0 score is a worry. However it does sometimes hour glass when moving a load of objects in Flash. I always just thought it would be the cpu trying to do its tasks, but could it actually be the graphics card causing the delay? Would it be logical to suggest that a better card would get a better score and better overall pc performance?
Thanks for any comment/advice.
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Although it is supposed to be neutral when a pcx is installed it would be better if disabled the onboard graphics card from your pc's BIOS. This way you insure there are no hardware conflicts.
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Could be. I have a Lenovo Windows 7 commercial desktop with Intel Graphics and a score of 4.9 and the other scores similar to you.
If you see a performance issue for your stuff, by all means upgrade. But if you are satisfied, you may not need to spend the money. At this point, Windows 7 is at end of life (security patches only now) and you may wish to wait and invest in a Windows 10 machine in 6 months or so.
If you see a performance issue for your stuff, by all means upgrade. But if you are satisfied, you may not need to spend the money. At this point, Windows 7 is at end of life (security patches only now) and you may wish to wait and invest in a Windows 10 machine in 6 months or so.
Those cards above yours are high-end gaming graphics cards. So, you probably don't need to spend that much.
Personally, my nVidia GeForce GTX 750Ti is great bang-for-the-buck, and is efficient, as it does NOT require an additional power connection from the power supply.
I would suggest the nVidia GeForce GTX 750 for your needs. Just over $100, and it will DRASTICALLY improve your graphics performance, won't require any additional power nor a different power supply, and it will increase your PassMark score more than 10X, according to:
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+750&id=2825
You can see it is near the top of the pile at this Value Comparison:
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_value.html
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Dual-Link-Graphics-01G-P4-2751-KR/dp/B00IDG3NDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424642820&sr=8-1&keywords=GeForce+GTX+750
Personally, my nVidia GeForce GTX 750Ti is great bang-for-the-buck, and is efficient, as it does NOT require an additional power connection from the power supply.
I would suggest the nVidia GeForce GTX 750 for your needs. Just over $100, and it will DRASTICALLY improve your graphics performance, won't require any additional power nor a different power supply, and it will increase your PassMark score more than 10X, according to:
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+750&id=2825
You can see it is near the top of the pile at this Value Comparison:
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_value.html
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Dual-Link-Graphics-01G-P4-2751-KR/dp/B00IDG3NDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424642820&sr=8-1&keywords=GeForce+GTX+750
I don't think using win10 or win7 would have impact on vcard performance ,that should not be a consideration.
What should be though is whether you are satisfied with your video performance or not.
That said ,you should note that vcard performance would not affect data transfer speeds in copying files or installing new programs or downloading from the web. It would only affect video related functions such as video games rendering ,or divx video playback or similar stuff. So this is the field where you should check if you are satisfied with in respect of your video card's performance.
On any case I don't think your video card should give a result of 2-3 in performance but rather a 4-5 at the least.
So you should check your motherboard drivers as well as your graphic card's and do turn off any extra unused hardware that would be potentially cause hardware conflicts.
Check your motherboard's chipset drivers.
Do check video performance before and after installing your video card. You see even the built in card on your board should get a score of more than 2.0 !
What should be though is whether you are satisfied with your video performance or not.
That said ,you should note that vcard performance would not affect data transfer speeds in copying files or installing new programs or downloading from the web. It would only affect video related functions such as video games rendering ,or divx video playback or similar stuff. So this is the field where you should check if you are satisfied with in respect of your video card's performance.
On any case I don't think your video card should give a result of 2-3 in performance but rather a 4-5 at the least.
So you should check your motherboard drivers as well as your graphic card's and do turn off any extra unused hardware that would be potentially cause hardware conflicts.
Check your motherboard's chipset drivers.
Do check video performance before and after installing your video card. You see even the built in card on your board should get a score of more than 2.0 !
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Thank you for all the excellent advice, which has been very helpful reading it all. I think that I will get a better graphics card for the timebeing. However I think my intentions over the next few months will be to then get a more powerful computer. It will pay for itself in no time.
Everyone has been helpful, I'll share points equally.
Thanks.
Everyone has been helpful, I'll share points equally.
Thanks.
@RupertA - You are very welcome and I was happy to assist.
ASKER
yeah I would have thought that it would be better as well. I mean the graphics card was just put into the motherboard and downloaded drivers program run and I def got the correct exe from the sapphire site. I don't actually have to disable the onboard graphics on the Asrock N68c-s ucc motherboard do I?
Thanks.