8500GT almost dead.....considering GT240 or 9800GT

[gearsx8]

Hello, first time poster here. My 8500GT is on the brink of death and I was looking at either the BFG 9800GT or Galaxy or EVGA GT240 512MB Card. I really like that the GT240 consumes less power, produces less heat, and has an HDMI. My concern is the 9800GT would be too long and sits right under the system RAM. Could the heat cause any damage to the system memory from a 9800GT?

I am not a heavy PC gamer, but want to play the Mass Effect series and a few other titles.

Is the GT240 going to be sufficient?

System Specs:

Intel Core 2 Due E3400 1.8Ghz
3 GB RAM DDR3
300W PSU (I was thinking of upgrading to a 500-550W)

 

[Arkaign]

I really wouldn't bother with either of those. Depending on what kind of deal you were looking for, a 5750 would be an epic improvement while using very little power and putting very little heat out.

Nvidia has kind of a blank spot until the 460, but the GTS250 is a good card if you can find one of those rebate deals where the thing ends up $60 or less.

 

[Arkaign]

And yes, upgrading your PSU might be a good idea, I've always used Antecs and haven't had one die on me yet.

 

[nenforcer]

Like Arkaign said I think the issue here is your power supply.

You could probably get a 9800GT but it possibly wont work or may strain your system.

The GT 240 is newer and built on a 40nm process so it consumes less power but is definitely slower.

If you can wait 1 more month, the end of August I believe, nVidia comes out with its GF106 based video card (GTX 450?) which will support DX11 and be in your $100 price range or same bracket as the AMD 5770.

I would wait one more month to check out that card if you can.

 

[Leyawiin]

Given your E4300 a GT 240 is about all you need and would be a big step up from an 8500 GT in performance. Would save you upgrading the power supply as well.

 

[RussianSensation]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130533
EVGA GT240 512mb - $30 Mail in Rebate makes it $54.99

Add the card to your shopping cart. Apply $25 off coupon code: HARDOCP721A

Total Price: $30

 

[TurtleCrusher]

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=42772

Looks like your E3400 is much faster than 1.8ghz. It's 2.6ghz.

 

[Emulex]

yeah the gt240 eats a crapton of power and runs really warm. i have one of those. its kinda weak for gaming and way way way overkill for htpc.

htpc i'd do the $19 GT210 passive or $9 ATI HD 5450 models. i've got a 220,240,5450,3650 to try out in my htpc build to see which works best. i have a feeling the $9 hd 5450 will rock out with the most features per $ and WATT(heat not money)

 

[Leyawiin]

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=42772

Looks like your E3400 is much faster than 1.8ghz. It's 2.6ghz.

Looks like a typo in the OP's post (transposed those two numbers). The E4300 is the 1.8 Ghz he listed.

 

[hnzw rui]

Looks like your E3400 is much faster than 1.8ghz. It's 2.6ghz.

Since he mentioned Core 2 Duo, I'm guessing he actually has a Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz Allendale and not a Celeron E3400 2.6GHz Wolfdale.

@gearsx8
If you're planning on upgrading the power supply anyway, I suggest the GTS 250. Newegg has the MSI N250GTS Twin Frozr 512MB for $100 ($70 after MIR) which is basically a 9800GTX+. Quite an upgrade from the GT 240. Performance is in line with the HD 5750 and I haven't seen any good sales on those lately. If you can wait, though, the upcoming GTS 450 looks like it might be a decent option.

 

[edplayer]

If you can wait 1 more month, the end of August I believe, nVidia comes out with its GF106 based video card (GTX 450?) which will support DX11 and be in your $100 price range or same bracket as the AMD 5770.

Not sure how you figured that he is in the $100 price range. By the cards he posted, it looks like its the $40~60 range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130533
EVGA GT240 512mb - $30 Mail in Rebate makes it $54.99

Add the card to your shopping cart. Apply $25 off coupon code: HARDOCP721A

Total Price: $30

it was even cheaper yesterday for a very short period of time. I bought one for $13.60AR.

yeah the gt240 eats a crapton of power and runs really warm.

Maybe you are thinking of a different videocard? The GT240 is VERY power efficient.

 

[gearsx8]

Since he mentioned Core 2 Duo, I'm guessing he actually has a Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz Allendale and not a Celeron E3400 2.6GHz Wolfdale.

@gearsx8
If you're planning on upgrading the power supply anyway, I suggest the GTS 250. Newegg has the MSI N250GTS Twin Frozr 512MB for $100 ($70 after MIR) which is basically a 9800GTX+. Quite an upgrade from the GT 240. Performance is in line with the HD 5750 and I haven't seen any good sales on those lately. If you can wait, though, the upcoming GTS 450 looks like it might be a decent option.

I did screw up the numbers, it is a E4300 Core 2 Duo that I have. I was at CompUSA yesterday and they had a E7600 3.06 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB for $119 that I was thinking of also upgrading the CPU to.

I picked up a 550W PSU and the BFG 9800GT.

Is the GTS 250 a much better card than the 9800GT? Any difference between the 512MB and 1GB GTS 250 cards?

 

[daveybrat]

I did screw up the numbers, it is a E4300 Core 2 Duo that I have. I was at CompUSA yesterday and they had a E7600 3.06 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB for $119 that I was thinking of also upgrading the CPU to.

I picked up a 550W PSU and the BFG 9800GT.

Is the GTS 250 a much better card than the 9800GT? Any difference between the 512MB and 1GB GTS 250 cards?

The GT 240 and the 9800GT are pretty much the same performance but less power draw for the 240.

The GTS 250 is noticably faster than the 9800GT but the difference between 512MB and 1GB on a card of that power is virtually zero.

Since BFG's video card division is out of business, i would not have picked that brand for a video card due to warranty concerns.