GTS250 or one of the new ATIs?

[Synomenon]

Ok, system:

SilverStone SG05 w/ 300W 80+ PSU
Zotac GF9300 mITX mobo..
8GB DDR2
300GB VelociRaptor


The GTS250 is at the limit of what the SG05 can fit and what the PSU can power. I'm thinking of going w/ the GTS250 because I have three monitors to drive (two on the GTS250 and one on the motherboard's onboard GeForce 9300).

With the GTS250, the motherboard's onboard GeForce 9300 can still be used and drivers can be installed for both the GTS250 and onboard GeForce 9300.

I'm using Windows 7 RC x64. Can I use the motherboard's onboard GeForce 9300 AND an ATI card simultaneously? I'm not looking to do CrossFire or SLI.

 

[Vertibird]

http://www.ewiz.com/query.php?...p&ref=dynamitedata.com

Why not get the $122 5750 and use Eyefinity for triple monitors.

5750 is faster than GTS250 and much easier on the power consumption.

 

[Synomenon]

So a single 5750 or 5770 can run three monitors simultaneously (all at their native resolutions and independently)?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I've seen people talk about failing to use their onboard video + video card for more than 2 monitors and failing and the consensus was it was impossible to have both the onboard and off active at the same time. I don't remember what make and model of cards they were talking about, but I'd make absolutely certain that it will work the way you want before investing in it.

 

[Synomenon]

Well, w/ my previous motherboard (also had an onboard GeForce 9300) I had no problem running the onboard GeForce 9300 + a GTX260-216. What I've been reading is that Windows 7 allows simultaneously using ATI + NVIDIA GPUs, but I can't find anyone that can confirm that.

 

[Synomenon]

One little detail I overlooked that will prevent me from jumping on the ATI bandwagon (for now at least). I need a card that takes up only one slot (one bracket on my case). I need that second open slot bracket for a four port USB bracket to USB header cable and this Gigabyte GTS250 allows me to do that.

I hope AMD's board partners come out with a HD5770 later on that has one DVI, one DisplayPort and one HDMI, all on a single slot bracket.

 

[SmCaudata]

5750 is a signle bracket card I think. The heatsink and fan are too thick to place another card next to it, but you should be able to get a USB header in there. Take a look at the pics.

 

[Dribble]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
So a single 5750 or 5770 can run three monitors simultaneously (all at their native resolutions and independently)?

It's not quite that simple - one of the monitors has to be display port, it can only drive 2 VGA or DVI monitors.

 

[Synomenon]

Originally posted by: SmCaudata
5750 is a signle bracket card I think. The heatsink and fan are too thick to place another card next to it, but you should be able to get a USB header in there. Take a look at the pics.

Every 5750 and 5770 I've seen uses two slot brackets.

Originally posted by: Dribble

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
So a single 5750 or 5770 can run three monitors simultaneously (all at their native resolutions and independently)?

It's not quite that simple - one of the monitors has to be display port, it can only drive 2 VGA or DVI monitors.

I've got three monitors:

Dell U2410 (DisplayPort - 1920x1200)
Dell SP2309W (DVI - 2048x1152)
LCD TV (VGA - 1360x768)

 

[nyker96]

get 5750 instead of gts 250, about same price, dx11 support, cooler, less power, faster. no contest there.

 

[thedosbox]

Isn't the GTS 250 a dual-slot card also?

 

[Synomenon]

Ok, let me clear some things up. These are the slots on the back of my case:
http://images.bit-tech.net/con...tone-sg05-review/8.jpg

This is the GTS250 (takes up the first slot bracket):
http://www.gigabyte.us/Product...ec.aspx?ProductID=3115


This is the PCI USB bracket (takes up the second slot bracket):
http://media.uxcell.com/uxcell...8120500ux0015_ux_c.jpg


Most GTS250s take up two slot brackets, however there are board partners that don't use the reference cooler and have released GTS250s that take up only one slot bracket (like this Gigabyte GTS250). I'm betting ATI's board partners will release 5770s and 5750s that will take up only one slot bracket.

 

[ZimZum]

Originally posted by: nyker96
get 5750 instead of gts 250, about same price, dx11 support, cooler, less power, faster. no contest there.

+1

 

[Synomenon]

Thanks for the helpful comment. :roll:

Current 5770s and 5750s won't work as I've mentioned above.

Mods. please lock thread. Thanks.

 

[Ben90]

Who the hell is going to buy a 5750 and use eyefinity

 

[MarcVenice]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
Ok, let me clear some things up. These are the slots on the back of my case:
http://images.bit-tech.net/con...tone-sg05-review/8.jpg

This is the GTS250 (takes up the first slot bracket):
http://www.gigabyte.us/Product...ec.aspx?ProductID=3115


This is the PCI USB bracket (takes up the second slot bracket):
http://media.uxcell.com/uxcell...8120500ux0015_ux_c.jpg


Most GTS250s take up two slot brackets, however there are board partners that don't use the reference cooler and have released GTS250s that take up only one slot bracket (like this Gigabyte GTS250). I'm betting ATI's board partners will release 5770s and 5750s that will take up only one slot bracket.

The thing is, even with the GTS 250 taking up 1 slot bracket, doesn't the cooler still block the part where whatever piece of hardware would be, that could possibly take up the second slot bracket?

Also, not sure about the price, but you could buy a aftermarket cooler for the 5770? Depending on where the holes are, I bet older aftermarket coolers will fit just fine, you'd just have to find out for sure. Eyefinity would be a great feature for you, I bet it's a lot less hassle and works better then having to use the gts250 AND the onboard video.

 

[Synomenon]

I've tried it already. The cooler on this Gigabyte GTS250 doesn't block the use of the 4-port USB bracket. You could put an aftermarket cooler on a 5770, but it would still use up both slot brackets since it has ports on both brackets.

 

[MarcVenice]

Ah ofcourse, then I'm afraid you're sol. Because I don't think they can put three outputs on a single slot bracket. I mean, for the HD 5870 six edition, they had to use six mini-displayport outputs to get all of them on the two bracket slots.

I'm not sure how important powerconsumption is, but otherwise the GTS 250 would be just fine. It could be that it's the fastest single slot bracket consuming videocard there is.

 

[Synomenon]

Yeah, for now I'm SOL. I know ATI's board partners will be releasing 5770s that take up just a single slot bracket. A couple of reviews have mentioned this too. They'd have to drop one of the connectors, but they've done this for previous cards.