Suggestions on an upgrade from GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB

[Dashel]

I'm looking for a bit more power to run my games. Specifically Warhammer online if that matters. It runs fairly well now but a bit more brute force would be welcome to handle the times when performance and frame rates dip.

So with a ceiling of $400.00 (and 300 would be better) what are my options and how much more power would it give me?

Current specs:

EVGA GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz

ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

Corsair HX520 power supply.

4 Gigs RAM, Vista.


Thanks in advance

 

[vj8usa]

Is your CPU OCed? You might see more of a performance increase from doing that than getting a new video card. The G92 GTS is no slouch, and from what I've read, Warhammer Online is generally more demanding on the CPU than the GPU.

 

[Dashel]

Interesting. No it's not OC'd.

Any advice on how I could tell if my CPU is the bottleneck? I was under the impression that the E8400 was a very nice CPU at the time I bought it (about a year ago now).

 

[vj8usa]

Originally posted by: Dashel
Interesting. No it's not OC'd.

Any advice on how I could tell if my CPU is the bottleneck? I was under the impression that the E8400 was a very nice CPU at the time I bought it (about a year ago now).

If you increase/decrease your resolution but see no difference in framerates, that's a good indicator that your CPU's the bottleneck.

 

[betasub]

The E8400 is still a very nice CPU for gaming, & no slouch at stock 3.0GHz, but it can be easily OCed to 4+GHz (helping in CPU-limited situations).

It was useful that you mentioned that app/game that is driving this upgrade: what resolution do you use? This will be a good indication of whether the 8800GTS-512 is sufficient, or if a faster GPU or larger frame buffer is recommeded.

 

[Dashel]

I run it at 1920x1200. I get anywhere from 45ish FPS to upwards of 90, down to a low of 8-10. A big range, but I'd like to up the bar on the low end if possible. I dont run everything maxed out, I have it on balanced settings but it is on a high resolution.

I typically wait at least 2 generations to buy a new video card, usually buying the 2nd generation once the price drops. I should say I dont *NEED* a new card, but I'd like to see what my options are or if there are other things I should try first like OC the CPU.

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: Dashel
down to a low of 8-10

g80, g92, g94 fog FTW

 

[Corporate Thug]

wait for the 4850 x2 to go on sale again for ~$200AR

 

[Dashel]

Just for comparison's sake, a friend has an 8800GTX running the game at 1680x1050 and he's getting 75 FPS where I get 45. 100 where I get mid 50's to 60. Again though I'm running 1920x1200 so I think I simply need more GPU power, right?

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
wait for the 4850 x2 to go on sale again for ~$200AR

How big a step up is that over the 8800 GTS 512?

Thanks

 

[AzN]

You are pushing it @ 1920x1200. If you do not use AA or 2xAA it should be sufficient. Long as you keep the bandwidth limited situations down the G92 is powerful as GTX 260.

4850x2 should be twice as fast as your current card.

 

[nemesismk2]

How about a GeForce GTS 250? <joke> lol

 

[Dashel]

Originally posted by: Azn
You are pushing it @ 1920x1200. If you do not use AA or 2xAA it should be sufficient. Long as you keep the bandwidth limited situations down the G92 is powerful as GTX 260.

4850x2 should be twice as fast as your current card.

Thanks I found this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=6

At 1680x1050, any of our graphics cards will do just fine with the settings we used. At 1920x1200, gamers will want at least a GeForce GTX 280 or one of the Radeon HD 4870 variants.

and this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=14

But the real stand out has to be the Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB. This unique card really shined and held it's own all the way up to 2560x1600. While a 1GB 4850 might not make much sense (the extra RAM only really helps at resolutions where the 4850 can't keep up in terms of processing power), the 1GB of RAM per GPU on the 4850 X2 2GB really helps make this single card multiGPU option high end.

So sounds good thank you. My only concerns now are: How hot and loud is this card? It runs in crossfire, but it's a single card, is my motherboard a factor here? Will my 520 watt power supply cut it?

 

[Nightsilencer]

He's got an E8400. It's STILL one of the best gaming CPUs out there, and it obviously won't bottleneck a 8800GTS. In fact, it won't bottleneck any GPU, as long as you keep it single GPU. If you're headed for tri-SLI kind of thing, then yes, the 8400 will start limiting the cards. But for regular SLI and single GPU, you're absolutely fine.

 

[Leyawiin]

Before you spend money (which is always fun, but hey).

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

Plus make sure your Vista power plan is set to high performance and not balanced or power saver. These things may be obvious and of no use to you, but you never know.

Might just need a few more resources to get you by until you buy. I'd go for the GTX 285 or HD 4850 X2 (too bad their February rebates are over - and make sure your case has room, it's 11.5 inches long).

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: Dashel

Originally posted by: Azn
You are pushing it @ 1920x1200. If you do not use AA or 2xAA it should be sufficient. Long as you keep the bandwidth limited situations down the G92 is powerful as GTX 260.

4850x2 should be twice as fast as your current card.

Thanks I found this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=6

At 1680x1050, any of our graphics cards will do just fine with the settings we used. At 1920x1200, gamers will want at least a GeForce GTX 280 or one of the Radeon HD 4870 variants.

and this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=14

But the real stand out has to be the Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB. This unique card really shined and held it's own all the way up to 2560x1600. While a 1GB 4850 might not make much sense (the extra RAM only really helps at resolutions where the 4850 can't keep up in terms of processing power), the 1GB of RAM per GPU on the 4850 X2 2GB really helps make this single card multiGPU option high end.

So sounds good thank you. My only concerns now are: How hot and loud is this card? It runs in crossfire, but it's a single card, is my motherboard a factor here? Will my 520 watt power supply cut it?

520 watts isn't going to cut it. You probably need 600watts. With 520 watts you can only push a GTX260 or 4870. GTX 285 needs 550 watts supposedly although I think a 520watts should run it.

 

[imported_Scoop]

Originally posted by: Azn

Originally posted by: Dashel

Originally posted by: Azn
You are pushing it @ 1920x1200. If you do not use AA or 2xAA it should be sufficient. Long as you keep the bandwidth limited situations down the G92 is powerful as GTX 260.

4850x2 should be twice as fast as your current card.

Thanks I found this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=6

At 1680x1050, any of our graphics cards will do just fine with the settings we used. At 1920x1200, gamers will want at least a GeForce GTX 280 or one of the Radeon HD 4870 variants.

and this:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3517&p=14

But the real stand out has to be the Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB. This unique card really shined and held it's own all the way up to 2560x1600. While a 1GB 4850 might not make much sense (the extra RAM only really helps at resolutions where the 4850 can't keep up in terms of processing power), the 1GB of RAM per GPU on the 4850 X2 2GB really helps make this single card multiGPU option high end.

So sounds good thank you. My only concerns now are: How hot and loud is this card? It runs in crossfire, but it's a single card, is my motherboard a factor here? Will my 520 watt power supply cut it?

520 watts isn't going to cut it. You probably need 600watts. With 520 watts you can only push a GTX260 or 4870. GTX 285 needs 550 watts supposedly although I think a 520watts should run it.

Since when doesn't a 520W quality PSU qualify for a single GPU? GTX 285 won't even draw 200W from the PSU so cut the crap. The 4850X2 doesn't draw much more than a GTX285. The problem with the 4850X2 is that with the Corsair 520W you only have to 6-pin PCIe connectors when you need a 6-pin and an 8-pin. I'm not sure if there's a way around this.

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: Azn

520 watts isn't going to cut it. You probably need 600watts. With 520 watts you can only push a GTX260 or 4870. GTX 285 needs 550 watts supposedly although I think a 520watts should run it.

WTH? Any video card is limited by the areas where it can draw power. From the pci-e slot you get 75w, from each 6pin power connector you get an additional 75w and from an 8-pin you get 150w. Since very few cards have 8-pin connectors, the modern video card is limited to 225w (75w x 3).

In reality the 55nm gtx 285 uses less than the previous generation of nvidia chips coming in at 150-160w.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: Schmide

Originally posted by: Azn

520 watts isn't going to cut it. You probably need 600watts. With 520 watts you can only push a GTX260 or 4870. GTX 285 needs 550 watts supposedly although I think a 520watts should run it.

WTH? Any video card is limited by the areas where it can draw power. From the pci-e slot you get 75w, from each 6pin power connector you get an additional 75w and from an 8-pin you get 150w. Since very few cards have 8-pin connectors, the modern video card is limited to 225w (75w x 3).

In reality the 55nm gtx 285 uses less than the previous generation of nvidia chips coming in at 150-160w.

Do you understand that power supply is not 100% efficient. Just because it can output 520 watts @ 30C doesn't mean it will output 520watts @ 50C. Power supplies are rated as such. You also have to consider aging capacitor. All these things factor in when you run your system with an underrated power supply. Nvidia specifically asks for 550watts for GTX 285.

A loaded system with GTX 285 should run with that corsair. Longevity is another question I can't predict. Better be safe than sorry.

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: Azn
Do you understand that power supply is not 100% efficient. Just because it can output 520 watts @ 30C doesn't mean it will output 520watts @ 50C. Power supplies are rated as such. You also have to consider aging capacitor. All these things factor in when you run your system with an underrated power supply. Nvidia specifically asks for 550watts for GTX 285.

A loaded system with GTX 285 should run with that corsair. Longevity is another question I can't predict. Better be safe than sorry.

I certainly understand that too many people overestimate power requirements of the modern system. For his system you're talking less than 350w load most likely much less. So is running at 60% really going to tax a PSU?

I think most PSU capacitors have ratings of 85-105c so running at 50c is kind of a cake walk.

 

[Schmide]

Adding...

His current system at load

8800GTS = 110w
E8400 = 33w
IP35 = 20w
4gig = 4-8w
drives, fans, bling etc = 40w

total = 211w

Changing 8800gts to gtx 285 (160w) + 50w

total = 261w

261/520 = 50% load.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Azn
Do you understand that power supply is not 100% efficient. Just because it can output 520 watts @ 30C doesn't mean it will output 520watts @ 50C. Power supplies are rated as such. You also have to consider aging capacitor. All these things factor in when you run your system with an underrated power supply. Nvidia specifically asks for 550watts for GTX 285.

A loaded system with GTX 285 should run with that corsair. Longevity is another question I can't predict. Better be safe than sorry.

WTF? C'mon, get your facts straight here!

The rated wattage is the DC power the PSU supplies to the system. If it's 80% efficient and can provide 520W to the system then it will pull 650W from the wall (650W*0.8=520W). PSU makers could not get away with stating how much power their unit would pull from the wall, they have to state how much power is available for use in the system.

And by the way, take a look at these power consumption numbers. Even at peak, a heavily overclocked i7 system with dual 4870s in CF or dual GTX 280s in SLI are the only setups that his PSU could not handle. The GTX 295 and 4870X2 would not be a problem so any singleGPU setup is going to work fine.

Regarding the card, I'd go for this Sapphire 4870 1GB for $190 after rebate. Best value in cards today for 1920x1200.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: Azn
Do you understand that power supply is not 100% efficient. Just because it can output 520 watts @ 30C doesn't mean it will output 520watts @ 50C. Power supplies are rated as such. You also have to consider aging capacitor. All these things factor in when you run your system with an underrated power supply. Nvidia specifically asks for 550watts for GTX 285.

A loaded system with GTX 285 should run with that corsair. Longevity is another question I can't predict. Better be safe than sorry.

WTF? C'mon, get your facts straight here!

The rated wattage is the DC power the PSU supplies to the system. If it's 80% efficient and can provide 520W to the system then it will pull 650W from the wall (650W*0.8=520W). PSU makers could not get away with stating how much power their unit would pull from the wall, they have to state how much power is available for use in the system.

I don't even think you understood what I said.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: Schmide
I certainly understand that too many people overestimate power requirements of the modern system. For his system you're talking less than 350w load most likely much less. So is running at 60% really going to tax a PSU?

I think most PSU capacitors have ratings of 85-105c so running at 50c is kind of a cake walk.

I wonder why people over estimate. Could it be people rather play it safe than a bricked computer? I don't think you understand the concept of aging capacitors.

With 520 watts continuous power at 30C that really operates at 50-60C. It would most likely pull 420watts of continuous safe power. Combine with aging capacitors, overclocking 24/7 turned on computer and you are really pushing it.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

The Corsair HX 520W is rated to deliver its full 520W of power at 50 C and with a MTBF of 100,000 hours. It will easily handle a single GTX285 or single HD4850X2, and the HXs come with a five year warranty. He doesn't need to worry about his PSU...

 

[AzN]

I didn't know HX series could output 520watts @ 50C. Thanks for the info.