Need upgrade advice

[blackangst1]

Ive got a dying GTS8800 640 (in fact, it blue screens when drivers are applied, so now running with no drivers...no gaming ATM ) so need a replacement. I was thinking either the GTS250 or the 4870. Mostly I play MMO's and some video playback. Although I currently have a 23" wide LCD I am planning on a 26" soon.

The rest of my system:
C2D 6600
Abit AB 9 Pro mobo
4 gigs mid range Patriot memory
Vista 32 bit

Thanks guys-

 

[AVP]

gts250 = 9800gtx so for the money the 4870 is more powerful but I gather that it can be hot and power hungry...not sure though.

 

[SickBeast]

Shouldn't your card be covered under warranty?

If I were getting a card right now it would be the 4890 if you can actually get them for $215AR.

I suggest you try running the card under XP before you get rid of it.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Shouldn't your card be covered under warranty?

If I were getting a card right now it would be the 4890 if you can actually get them for $215AR.

I suggest you try running the card under XP before you get rid of it.

Yeah I didnt think about the warranty...I'll check on that.

The reason I know the card is going is when the driver is loaded right as Vista starts loading there are vertical lines across the screen, then it blue screens. When I unload the driver (it is seen as VGA device now) it doesnt, and Windows loads. I've of course tried 3 different drivers, with clean uninstalls. Ive been running this setup for about 18 months.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Shouldn't your card be covered under warranty?

If I were getting a card right now it would be the 4890 if you can actually get them for $215AR.

I suggest you try running the card under XP before you get rid of it.

Yeah I didnt think about the warranty...I'll check on that.

The reason I know the card is going is when the driver is loaded right as Vista starts loading there are vertical lines across the screen, then it blue screens. When I unload the driver (it is seen as VGA device now) it doesnt, and Windows loads. I've of course tried 3 different drivers, with clean uninstalls. Ive been running this setup for about 18 months.

You've gotta try XP. I had tons of problems with my NV card under Vista.

Do you have the latest service pack installed for Vista?

When did this problem start?

It's bizarre for a GPU to crap out like this unless you overclocked it to the point of ripping it a new one.

BTW what is "black angst"?

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Shouldn't your card be covered under warranty?

If I were getting a card right now it would be the 4890 if you can actually get them for $215AR.

I suggest you try running the card under XP before you get rid of it.

Yeah I didnt think about the warranty...I'll check on that.

The reason I know the card is going is when the driver is loaded right as Vista starts loading there are vertical lines across the screen, then it blue screens. When I unload the driver (it is seen as VGA device now) it doesnt, and Windows loads. I've of course tried 3 different drivers, with clean uninstalls. Ive been running this setup for about 18 months.

You've gotta try XP. I had tons of problems with my NV card under Vista.

Do you have the latest service pack installed for Vista?

When did this problem start?

It's bizarre for a GPU to crap out like this unless you overclocked it to the point of ripping it a new one.

BTW what is "black angst"?

Nevermind about the username...its a long and drawn out story lol...

I started using Vista in beta, and have been running it ever since (17 months?) without a flaw. Literally not one BSOD. Everything is up to date (pathces, etc). I dont have SP2 however (hasnt been available in regular updates yet...at least that Ive been notified of). Problem started tonite. It wouldnt wake up from idle, so I hard booted down. When I started it back up, is when I got the BSOD. I was able to get into safe mode (noticing the lines on the screen) and uninstall the driver, and boot back in just fine. Thats when I tried fresh install of 3 other drivers.

edit: and no its not OC.

editII: I know bad memory can cause wierd glitches and ran memtest for 2 hours also error free. Just trying to rule out hardware.

 

[palladium]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Shouldn't your card be covered under warranty?

If I were getting a card right now it would be the 4890 if you can actually get them for $215AR.

I suggest you try running the card under XP before you get rid of it.

Yeah I didnt think about the warranty...I'll check on that.

The reason I know the card is going is when the driver is loaded right as Vista starts loading there are vertical lines across the screen, then it blue screens. When I unload the driver (it is seen as VGA device now) it doesnt, and Windows loads. I've of course tried 3 different drivers, with clean uninstalls. Ive been running this setup for about 18 months.

You've gotta try XP. I had tons of problems with my NV card under Vista.

Do you have the latest service pack installed for Vista?

When did this problem start?

It's bizarre for a GPU to crap out like this unless you overclocked it to the point of ripping it a new one.

BTW what is "black angst"?

Hmm, does OC without changing the volts damage your vid card......?

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: palladium
Hmm, does OC without changing the volts damage your vid card......?

OC = extra heat = shorter lifespan

Unless you also increase fanspeed to cool it down better, but even then you can face fan failure sooner. So unless you need the extra horsepower it's generally better not to OC.

But if your card is from BFG, XFX or EVGA - and you registered within their specified time from purchase - you should be covered by a lifetime warranty. If your card is from PNY, MSI or one of the other "teir two" producers you're out of luck at the 1.5 year mark.

If not covered by warranty, grab a 1GB GTS 250 (<$150) or a 4890 ($200+) depending on your price range. Those are probably the best value in cards right now (unless you can find a GTX 260 in the $150 range).

 

[MrK6]

Originally posted by: palladiumHmm, does OC without changing the volts damage your vid card......?

Not noticeably. It will probably shorten the lifespan of the part a bit, but it's life span will still be WAY beyond its "useable" life. For instance, a card may last 10+ years and overclocking it with out a volt mod may reduce that to 8+ years. Eight years is still generally well beyond what most people would use a single graphics card for, never mind an enthusiast graphics card, so I wouldn't worry.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: palladium
Hmm, does OC without changing the volts damage your vid card......?

OC = extra heat = shorter lifespan

Unless you also increase fanspeed to cool it down better, but even then you can face fan failure sooner. So unless you need the extra horsepower it's generally better not to OC.

But if your card is from BFG, XFX or EVGA - and you registered within their specified time from purchase - you should be covered by a lifetime warranty. If your card is from PNY, MSI or one of the other "teir two" producers you're out of luck at the 1.5 year mark.

If not covered by warranty, grab a 1GB GTS 250 (<$150) or a 4890 ($200+) depending on your price range. Those are probably the best value in cards right now (unless you can find a GTX 260 in the $150 range).

Its an EVGA. I honestly dont remember if I registered or not (dumb). Im planning on calling them later this morning. Im leaning towards the 4870 1GB I think. Looking at clocks, shaders, etc, its still a nice upgrade from my 8800 640 and you cant beat the price. Especially considering I paid $350 for the 8800 : /

 

[Face2Face]

Your 8800 GTS 640 is comparable to a 9600 GT 512. So any card faster than a 9600 Gt would be a upgrade for you. GTX 275 or 4890 would be a healthy upgrade..Or save some money and go GTX 260 Core 216 or 4870 1 gb.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: Greenhell6
Your 8800 GTS 640 is comparable to a 9600 GT 512. So any card faster than a 9600 Gt would be a upgrade for you.

Lies and slander. Here's mine:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=10647685

Granted, that's with an aggressive overclock, but you'd be hard pressed to get the same results out of a 9600GT even with an overclock.

That being said, I agree, the GTX 275 or 4890 would definitely be a good upgrade.

I tested the 4850 and wasn't that impressed. Frame rates were higher, but had some driver issues, and the reference cooling on the one I got was just crap.

 

[Face2Face]

Lies and slander ? Dude come-on.

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=258508

 

[lavaheadache]

Originally posted by: zagood

Originally posted by: Greenhell6
Your 8800 GTS 640 is comparable to a 9600 GT 512. So any card faster than a 9600 Gt would be a upgrade for you.

Lies and slander. Here's mine:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=10647685

Granted, that's with an aggressive overclock, but you'd be hard pressed to get the same results out of a 9600GT even with an overclock.

That being said, I agree, the GTX 275 or 4890 would definitely be a good upgrade.

I tested the 4850 and wasn't that impressed. Frame rates were higher, but had some driver issues, and the reference cooling on the one I got was just crap.

3dmark06 is a horrible benchmark for different systems fyi

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: Greenhell6
Lies and slander ? Dude come-on.

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=258508

lol...that thread sounds like an argument we would have. Considering the proponents on both sides I'm willing to admit they sound about the same, with the 8800GTS 640 probably having some advantages at higher resolutions.

As you can tell from that thread, us 640 owners are pretty attached to our cards

-z

 

[blackangst1]

Well, I found an unopened MSI GTX 260 OC on Craigslist for $150 so Im gonna get that. Looking at the specs it looks like it will be a pretty big upgrade from my 8800 GTS 640.

 

[blackangst1]

Man, this GTX260 is very nice...but damn its LOUD!!!

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Man, this GTX260 is very nice...but damn its LOUD!!!

my msi gtx260 oc is almost dead silent and has never ramped up during gaming.

 

[MrK6]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Man, this GTX260 is very nice...but damn its LOUD!!!

What are your temps like? If they're fine, you should re-write the fan profile using Rivatuner to have the card run quieter :thumbsup:.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Well, I found an unopened MSI GTX 260 OC on Craigslist for $150 so Im gonna get that. Looking at the specs it looks like it will be a pretty big upgrade from my 8800 GTS 640.

If it's the same one I have in my sig, yes this card is about 2 - 2.5x as fast in terms of minimum frame rates from my old 8800gts 640 SSC (the one with 112 sp). Fan becomes audible over the normal PC hum at ~ 60%. My card idles ~ 43C and goes to 64C with the fan never going up from it's default 40% at the stock clocks of 655/1408/2100. However, I run the fan at a higher 85% when running at my OC setting (can't hear it with headphone/mic anyway).

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: MrK6

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Man, this GTX260 is very nice...but damn its LOUD!!!

What are your temps like? If they're fine, you should re-write the fan profile using Rivatuner to have the card run quieter :thumbsup:.

Yeah temps are fine. I'll adjust in rivatuner

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: brencat

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Well, I found an unopened MSI GTX 260 OC on Craigslist for $150 so Im gonna get that. Looking at the specs it looks like it will be a pretty big upgrade from my 8800 GTS 640.

If it's the same one I have in my sig, yes this card is about 2 - 2.5x as fast in terms of minimum frame rates from my old 8800gts 640 SSC (the one with 112 sp). Fan becomes audible over the normal PC hum at ~ 60%. My card idles ~ 43C and goes to 64C with the fan never going up from it's default 40% at the stock clocks of 655/1408/2100. However, I run the fan at a higher 85% when running at my OC setting (can't hear it with headphone/mic anyway).

85% is insanely loud and not even needed. I can play Crysis with my card at 710/2300 and it doesnt even get to 80C when left at stock 40% speed. if I put it at 50% it doesnt go over 65C even when overclocked.