Need to upgrade 8800gt for photography

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wakkoguy

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Feb 10, 2003
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My 8800GT just died and I need to buy a new card. My current specs are:
Q6600
2tb
4gb DDR 2
425w PSU

I use my computer for photography (editing, etc) and gaming (starcraft 2, L4D2, TF2)
I was looking at upgrading my PSU to this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

and getting somewhere between a GT450 or GT 460 and was wondering what to get as well as if I should go 768mb or 1Gb?

TIA
 
Ken g6

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
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Dec 11, 1999
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That's a good PSU; but what kind do you have now? I'm running a Q9400, 1 disk, 4GB DDR2, and a GTX460 768 overclocked on a Corsair 450W PSU. If your current PSU is any good, a GT450 should be no problem with it Watt-wise.

Edit: Looks like an 8800GT uses more power than a GT450! This PSU would unquestionably support a GTX 460 1GB for less $$$; unless you're thinking about SLI in the future.

VRAM seems to be linked to display size. So how big is/are your monitor(s)?
 
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wakkoguy

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Feb 10, 2003
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Ken g6 said:
That's a good PSU; but what kind do you have now? I'm running a Q9400, 1 disk, 4GB DDR2, and a GTX460 768 overclocked on a Corsair 450W PSU. If your current PSU is any good, a GT450 should be no problem with it Watt-wise.

Edit: Looks like an 8800GT uses more power than a GT450! This PSU would unquestionably support a GTX 460 1GB for less $$$; unless you're thinking about SLI in the future.

VRAM seems to be linked to display size. So how big is/are your monitor(s)?
Click to expand...

My current PSU is 425w. The minimum for either card is 450w.
 
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wakkoguy

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Feb 10, 2003
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happy medium said:
This is the best card for your mony right now.

gtx460 768 for 110$ with rebate and coupon code. EMCZZYR24

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3332167&SID=

What kind of psu do you have (name brand)? It might be good enough if your not overclocking.

Edit: out of stock allready never mind
Click to expand...

It is a Dell PSU but I have two dvd drives. Two caviar black 1tb drives. 3 external drives and all the other peripherals. I don't mind upgrading the PSU.
 
Teizo

Teizo

Golden Member
Oct 28, 2010
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wakkoguy said:
It is a Dell PSU but I have two dvd drives. Two caviar black 1tb drives. 3 external drives and all the other peripherals. I don't mind upgrading the PSU.
Click to expand...
What type of Dell do you have? You are going to have to factor in space as most of their cases are quite cramped.

Look at the specs and find one that is 5.9x5.5x3.4 inches, which will be best. They are all going to be 5.9 wide and 3.4 tall, but it's the length at 5.5 that is going to make huge difference in regards not to brushing up against your dvd drive with the 24 pin connector.

Seasonic is an awesome brand, and for the price this is a good unit as well, and is the perfect size for good clearance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151094
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

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Aug 23, 2007
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With the price difference being not that great between the GTX450 and GTX460, why bother with the 450?
 
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wakkoguy

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Feb 10, 2003
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Teizo said:
What type of Dell do you have? You are going to have to factor in space as most of their cases are quite cramped.

Look at the specs and find one that is 5.9x5.5x3.4 inches, which will be best. They are all going to be 5.9 wide and 3.4 tall, but it's the length at 5.5 that is going to make huge difference in regards not to brushing up against your dvd drive with the 24 pin connector.

Seasonic is an awesome brand, and for the price this is a good unit as well, and is the perfect size for good clearance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151094
Click to expand...

xps 420
 
Termie

Termie

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Aug 17, 2005
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wakkoguy said:
I would much rather get a GTX460 but is the 1gb gts450 a better card than the 768mb GTX460?
Click to expand...

GTS450 is much slower than the GTX460, and at this point they are only $30 apart. But for photography, the speed doesn't matter much (both will accelerate Photoshop equally, I believe). And the GTS450 uses a bit less power at idle and much less power at load (which you admittedly will not hit often with your uses).
 
Zap

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
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Termie said:
GTS450 is much slower than the GTX460, and at this point they are only $30 apart. But for photography, the speed doesn't matter much
Click to expand...

The OP mentioned playing Starcraft 2, TF2 and L4D2, so a better card would be noticed in those games.

Then again, a GTS 450 would be an upgrade to an 8800 GT already.
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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wakkoguy said:
My current PSU is 425w. The minimum for either card is 450w.
Click to expand...


If your current power supply is a 80%+ then the GTS450 should work.

I have a 380watt 80%+ and was running a 9600GSO (96sp) and a Q6600 with 2 harddrives just fine.


Now the GTX460 seems it would need a new PS. I just ordered a GTS450. I also looked at the GTX460 but that added up that I would need a new power supply. So the GTS450 at $100 after rebate shipped won out.
 
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Termie

Termie

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Zap said:
The OP mentioned playing Starcraft 2, TF2 and L4D2, so a better card would be noticed in those games.

Then again, a GTS 450 would be an upgrade to an 8800 GT already.
Click to expand...

Sorry - forgot about the gaming use, but that brings me to the other issue...

Marlin1975 said:
Now the GTX460 seems it would need a new PS. I just ordered a GTS450. I also looked at the GTX460 but that added up that I would need a new power supply. So the GTS450 at $100 after rebate shipped won out.
Click to expand...

While the Dell 425w PS might handle the GTX460, it's pretty close (and the GTX460 needs two PCI power plugs, which the Dell probably doesn't have). I wouldn't bother with upgrading the PS in a Dell...too much work really. Go for the GTS450 for $95. You'll get about a 30-50% improvement over the 8800gt, and if you were already ok with the performance and just need to replace a dead card, you're better off not going through the trouble of buying and installing a new PS.
 
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wakkoguy

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Feb 10, 2003
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Termie said:
Sorry - forgot about the gaming use, but that brings me to the other issue...
While the Dell 425w PS might handle the GTX460, it's pretty close (and the GTX460 needs two PCI power plugs, which the Dell probably doesn't have). I wouldn't bother with upgrading the PS in a Dell...too much work really. Go for the GTS450 for $95. You'll get about a 30-50% improvement over the 8800gt, and if you were already ok with the performance and just need to replace a dead card, you're better off not going through the trouble of buying and installing a new PS.
Click to expand...

Replacing a PSU is not hard. I don't mind if the GTX460 is a significant performance upgrade that when I build a new one (I am running a Q6600, slow compared to the desired i5/i7) I can place these components in that build. However, would it be better to buy the GTS450 and then when I build the new computer (timeframe - 6 months to year) would it be better to get the higher card then?
 
Rayb

Rayb

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Dec 31, 2008
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If you're planning on a future build, save your pennies now and get the GTS450 until then. In 6 months there would be much better hardware to chose from, settle on a budget and start planning for your new PC.
 
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wakkoguy

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Feb 10, 2003
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Rayb said:
If you're planning on a future build, save your pennies now and get the GTS450 until then. In 6 months there would be much better hardware to chose from, settle on a budget and start planning for your new PC.
Click to expand...

How much power does a GTS450 need?
 
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Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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wakkoguy said:
How much power does a GTS450 need?
Click to expand...


Not much compared to the high end cards.

I have a dual core 3ghz C2D, 4gigs ram, 2 harddrives, 1 dvd writer, and a GTS450 on a 380watt 80%+ power supply.

I would have had to upgrade my PS if I got a 58XX ati card or a GTX460.
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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wakkoguy said:
I think I am going to go with the GTS450 for now and plan for a new computer later. I am looking at this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=

Should I wait until cyber monday/black friday or is that price pretty solid?
Click to expand...


That one or the gigabyte one...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125342

will be fine. They both use the standard heatsink so I would compare based on price and warranty.
I got the GTS450 from ECS as it had a good rebate, buts its experied. I just installed it last night. Only had time to update my Win7 windows experaice. It went from a 6.5 (Gt240 overclocked) to a solid 7 at default.
 
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