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Might have to finally throw my Ultra in the trash.

V

Via

Diamond Member
The one second black screens that have been plaguing my 8800 Ultra have gotten worse; the other night I had 3 or 4 in a ten minute span while playing a FPS. They use to happen maybe 3-4 times a week.

I ahve a 6400+ and a NeoHe 550. Can I use that for something like a 285? Or a 4890?

And would either of those cards extend my PC life for another 2 years?

Or is it time to think about a total overhaul? I sure would love to just spend $200-$300 rather than what it would take to build a new PC.
 
As others have suggested on these forums, you're best bet is actually to get something cheaper like a GTX 260 216c or a 4870 as the newer cards will be coming out at the end of this year.

I suggest you get a 260 now, save up for several months and then do a complete system overhaul at the end of the year.

That's also when the cheaper i5 is coming out.
 
I'd get in on that $160 4890 Deal. That should help your system out a bit too. An i7/deneb/c2d/c2q would be the only better platform choices. a 4890 would probably max out the potential of an overclocked x2 6400+
 
Just for comparison's sake, I had an X2 6400+ paired with an 8800 GTX. In September I bought a GTX 260 (192) factory overclocked to 666 Mhz. At 1680x1050 I saw very little improvement - just a couple FPS more (games were slightly smoother, that's all). I think a GTX 260 (216) or HD 4870 1GB are just about the ceiling of what our CPUs can make use of. Since you are replacing a dying card and not just upgrading it gives you a little more leeway in trying something better (and if its not that much better in performance you still needed a new video card anyway).

The GTX 280 seems like a good deal. Might want to consider a GTX 275 or HD 4890 if you are in that price range. Both are a little more sophisticated design-wise.
 
What resolutions do you play at? That would help us determine if you will be bottlenecked or not.

Also I think you should be fine with a 280 and that PSU, but don't quote me on that.
 
Originally posted by: Via
I have a 22" widescreen that tops out at 1680x1050.
Click to expand...

Then there's no need to spend more for a GTX 280

Just get a 260 - trust me, it'll be plenty.
 
I think you'd be surprised how much a decent CPU upgrade can do for you. It is very noticeable when going from Athlon X2 to my Quad Phenom2. I'd perhaps go with the cheapest 4890 you can find and perhaps a Phenom X3 if your board can take it.
 
Hey Via, is there any possible way you could send me your dead (dying) card, instead of throwing it in the trash? I'm quite the tech enthusiast and getting my hands on any tech dead or alive is always great. Plus I could salvage parts for little projects.

I live in BC Canada..
 
I second that, buy cheap graphics card (no need to overkill for that resolution) and then work on CPU / memory /motherboard upgrade.

it also seems like fairly good timing to jump on the AM3 train in the near future.
 
Suggest a GTS 250 today and wait until the end of the year/early next year for full refresh.

GTS 250 is a rebadge of the 9800GTX+ which runs a bit faster than an 8800 Ultra, consumes less power/generates far less heat while doing it. And costs less than a GTX 260, which is going to be cpu-bound until you upgrade the rest of your system. By early next year the next generation GPUs will be out and so will i5 so you will be able to make a large step forward in performance.
 
Originally posted by: Denithor
Suggest a GTS 250 today and wait until the end of the year/early next year for full refresh.

GTS 250 is a rebadge of the 9800GTX+ which runs a bit faster than an 8800 Ultra, consumes less power/generates far less heat while doing it. And costs less than a GTX 260, which is going to be cpu-bound until you upgrade the rest of your system. By early next year the next generation GPUs will be out and so will i5 so you will be able to make a large step forward in performance.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Originally posted by: Denithor
Suggest a GTS 250 today and wait until the end of the year/early next year for full refresh.

GTS 250 is a rebadge of the 9800GTX+ which runs a bit faster than an 8800 Ultra, consumes less power/generates far less heat while doing it. And costs less than a GTX 260, which is going to be cpu-bound until you upgrade the rest of your system. By early next year the next generation GPUs will be out and so will i5 so you will be able to make a large step forward in performance.
Click to expand...

The only 'problem' I see with this is that the GTS 250 will be a total waste. I'd just get a Radeon 4890 now and actually just upgrade to whole system to something like Q8400 or Phenom II 940 or go all out and get the Core i7 920 D0 while you can.
 
Make sure you pick up an eVGA or XFX branded card, especially if you live in the US. I prefer eVGA, but I have no experience with XFX's CS or warranty. eVGA's lifetime warranty, great CS. Many eVGA motherboards and graphics cards have died on me and I call them up, submit and RMA, and get a replacement back. If they do not have your card anymore, they send a card of "equal" value. I sent back a 7950GT and got back an 8800GT. Just make sure to register online and upload a scan of your invoice within one month of your purchase date.
 
I can't see going with a GTS 250 or HD 4850. The 8800 Ultra is the equal of those two in almost any situation (and can best them on occasion). You will see some benefit over the 8800 Ultra with a GTX 260 (216) or HD 4870 even with an X2 6400+. No need to short-change yourself as cheap as video cards are these days.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161265

Cool, quiet, capable and reasonably priced. Will make sure you getting the absolute best FPS your CPU can support with the most eye-candy possible.
 
Man, I had no idea the 6400+ is such a bottleneck.

I upgraded from a 4200+ last Summer and the difference was incredible; I figured I would be fine with the 6400+ for at least another year or two (as long as I didn't expect very high on Crysis).

Anyway - thanks for the input. By now I'm considering just running the Ultra until it burns out and then throwing in my old GTS 320 backup card while I piece together a new system.
 
Originally posted by: Via
Man, I had no idea the 6400+ is such a bottleneck.

I upgraded from a 4200+ last Summer and the difference was incredible; I figured I would be fine with the 6400+ for at least another year or two (as long as I didn't expect very high on Crysis).

Anyway - thanks for the input. By now I'm considering just running the Ultra until it burns out and then throwing in my old GTS 320 backup card while I piece together a new system.
Click to expand...

Hopefully everyone has their GTS 320mb as a backup. Mine is sitting right here.

Thanks to Anandtech i only paid $79.99 for it a year ago.
 
I noticed quite a bit of a performance boost using same 8800gtx, when I upgraded from my X2 @2.7 to a q6600 about 1.5 years ago. So I would think your current cpu is bottlenecking even your ultra.

On the other hand my old 8800gtx is indestructible. It blew up a component (inductor i think close to power circuitry) due to short circuit. Not carring to bother I just bridged it. Still works without any problems.

Try downclocking your Ultra to gtx speeds. Mine came factory overlocked to 630 on the core (actual clocks were 621/1415). With those clocks exatly at 84c it started to artifact.
 
I saw in some forums that putting your 8800 card in a conventional oven can revive the card. http://www.hardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1421792 << It worked for quite a lot of people, you may want to give it a try, after all you don't have anything to lose.

my 8800gtx died a little over 3 months ago. went ahead and ordered a new video card because i figured the card is completely dead without having to pay to send it in and get it repaired because i didnt register it when i bought it initially(dumb, i know...). anyway, i am posting this message running off my 8800gtx!

"i got the idea from another forum, because some guy in the UK bought a dead 8800gtx off of ebay that had red vertical lines through the screen...my card had the same symptoms...one day it locked up on me, rebooted, then locked up on me even quicker...rebooted, red lines all over the screen and windows wouldnt even boot. i tried the card in a friends computer with the same result...

sooooooo, i removed all bits from the card including the i/o shield and placed it gpu side down with the card raised up on 3 sides by tiny balls of aluminum foil and placed it on a very thin cookie sheet. i preheated the oven to 385f, put the card in and waited around 8-10 minutes. i carefully removed the cookie sheet and placed it on top of the oven to cool down naturally. waited about an hour and voila! =D"
 
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