1920 x 1200 gaming Video card upgrade question

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TheWhoDat

Member
May 7, 2001
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Hello all,

I am in need of some suggestions/help.

I currently have a 24" LCD, and I started playing at 1920x1200, instead of lower resolutions.
2 8800 GTX in SLI (currently 1 8800 GTX other one died)
I have a 1k watt power supply, however it only has 4 6-pin PCI-E power cables. I would rather not replace it.
I am running Core2 QX6800 at 3.2GHz.
Also my MB is a 680i.

I play most of the new games (Mass Effect, Company of Heroes, Crysis, SupCom, Sins of Solar Empire, etc.)

I have experienced some micro-stuttering (Is this the correct word?) in some games, and by up'ing the resolution and some of the eye candy, some games have slowed down.

Just recently one of the 8800 GTX were causing lockups, crashes and reboots. The card is overheating, just not working much anymore. Good news, the warranty just ran out. Why wouldn't it?

So looking at my options of upgrading, I could buy another 8800GTX and hope I do not have anymore problems.

Instead I have decided to upgrade. I am trying to choose between:

  • GTX 260 SLI <- since they only take 2 6-pin - which is what I have.
    GTX 280 <- I have read that using 6-pin to 8-pin adapter does not always work, and some companies like evga recommend not using them
    4870 x2 <- fastest, but more heat/power and still 6-pin to 8 pin adapter problem, and most cards do not come with the adapter

What does everyone suggest? I really doubt I will ever go 30", so I am only concerned with 1920x1200. I would like to keep this solution for at least 2 years, and play upcoming games at 1920x1200.

I am worried about the 6-pin to 8-pin adapter, and really don't know where I would get one, if it is not included with the card. Does anyone know where you can buy one?

Any suggestions will be appreciated,

Thanks

WhoDat



 
M

MarcVenice

Moderator Emeritus <br>
Apr 2, 2007
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I suggest you try RMA-ing your broken 8800gtx. If it's from a company like evga, bfg or xfx, chances are they might replace it. Who knows, it's worth trying ...

GTX260 SLI roughly equals 4870X2, so I think it's a tossup between those two. You'd have to look for a good deal on a HD4870X2, I think they can be had for less then $549. Two gtx260's cost roughly $470-$500 , which is cheaper. Then again, the HD4870X2 does have even more vram, which I suppose is nice to have for the future. You do have an older sli mobo, I wonder if it takes a performance hit with dual gtx260's.
 
apoppin

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
First of all, i have a 850w OCZ with the 6-pin connectors. You can "fool" CCC by connecting the uncovered pins to ground with an alligator clip to make it work well with 4870x2; i am guessing you can fool Nvidia's CP the same way

imo, my single 4870 is not enough for 19x12 [i have both and a HD4870x2]. Heck, my X2 is barely enough for me with max details - and Crysis runs ~20 FPS at Very high [0xAA/16xAF] but it is also my CPU's limitation at only 3.33Ghz; when i up the MSAA to 8x it only drops 2 FPS].

So i would say, i personally need 4870x3 with a 4.5Ghz CPU :p
- just for 19x12

that or GTX280 sli

if i had it to "do over". i would get a single GTX280 and look to get a second one for sli
- i still might
rose.gif


 
phexac

phexac

Senior member
Jul 19, 2007
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Outside of Crysis, one GRX260 or better video card will suffice at 1920x1200.
 
C

chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
9,537
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As Marc said I'd look into RMA'ing that 8800GTX first. You could always turn around sell it if you were looking for a change/upgrade anyways.

Since you're already coming from multi-GPU and seem fine with it, GTX 260 SLI or a single 4870X2 would give you the biggest performance boosts over your 8800GTX SLI set-up. A single GTX 280 would be somewhere inbetween.

The 6-pin to 8-pin adapters are generally included and although EVGA doesn't recommend extended usage, many people have used them from launch without issue. Just make sure your card comes with one if you need it, as XFX's did not at launch. A 1kW PSU with 4 6-pin is plenty for any of those set-ups you listed.

With a high-end SLI board, GTX 260 would be a very appealing option. The 4870X2 would be as well. If you'd like to get away from multi-GPU, the GTX 280 is also great at 1920 and leaves the option for a 2nd in SLI later.
 
apoppin

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: chizow
As Marc said I'd look into RMA'ing that 8800GTX first. You could always turn around sell it if you were looking for a change/upgrade anyways.

Since you're already coming from multi-GPU and seem fine with it, GTX 260 SLI or a single 4870X2 would give you the biggest performance boosts over your 8800GTX SLI set-up. A single GTX 280 would be somewhere inbetween.

The 6-pin to 8-pin adapters are generally included and although EVGA doesn't recommend extended usage, many people have used them from launch without issue. Just make sure your card comes with one if you need it, as XFX's did not at launch. A 1kW PSU with 4 6-pin is plenty for any of those set-ups you listed.

With a high-end SLI board, GTX 260 would be a very appealing option. The 4870X2 would be as well. If you'd like to get away from multi-GPU, the GTX 280 is also great at 1920 and leaves the option for a 2nd in SLI later.
Click to expand...

i am not so sure a GT260 or a HD4870 is such a major upgrade from a 8800GTX - nor , logically, would a X2 or 260 SLI be such a major upgrade; like ~+20% performance - i did that upgrade :p

i'd go for a 280 with an eye to a 2nd
 
apoppin

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
Originally posted by: apoppin
Originally posted by: phexac
Outside of Crysis, one GRX260 or better video card will suffice at 1920x1200.
Click to expand...

if your standards are normal :p
Click to expand...

fixed, not everybody needs to run 16xAA 32x AF on 1920x1200.
Click to expand...

Nope you broke it for me

if i had to run with less detail and no filtering, i might as well go back to 16x10 :p

but then some of you love size over quality

Many of the new games - besides Crysis - will not run over 30 FPS as an absolute minimum on the DX10 pathway with max details and even 4xAA/16xAF .. nevermind your exaggeration of what i run

and it is going to get more demanding with the new games - like Alan Wake - not less

the only reason i like *even more* Crossfire/SLI filtering, is to get away from AFR and micro stutter with multi-GPU setups

my own opinion
rose.gif




 
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