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

[cusideabelincoln]

Right in the middle of their web page:

http://www.corsair.com/products/hx/default.aspx

Guaranteed to deliver rated specifications at 50ºC.

 

[Dashel]

Thanks for the advice. I'm looking at this page:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3523&p=4

and seeing the comparison they do for Age of Conan, which is probably the most similar game of those they tested. At 1920x1200 with high settings and 4xAA they get ~57 FPS with a 4850 x2. Wow that's not too shabby.

War is probably less graphics intensive than AoC and I just want to run medium settings so it's appealing.

Interesting conversation on the power supply, I'm going to assume my PS can handle one but someone mentioned the pins are lacking. I know the Corsair is modular and has a bunch of pins. I'll need to look into that further.

Assuming the PS is all set, any other issues I need to worry about? Motherboard is ok for this card? The Crossfire bit is throwing me here i think. I dont know if I'll pull the trigger on this card, but I'm considering it. If a price drop happens it might be too tempting

I suppose I really SHOULD try a lower resolution first but... darn it I sprang for a nice big display and I'd like to fully utilize it!

 

[Wreckage]

GTX260 @ $200 is the best bang for the buck right now.

However you can get the fastest GPU for around $300 (GTX285) if you are looking for that extra horsepower.

 

[vj8usa]

Originally posted by: Dashel
I suppose I really SHOULD try a lower resolution first but... darn it I sprang for a nice big display and I'd like to fully utilize it!

Did you at least try running the game at a lower resolution, though? I'm curious to see what your performance is at 1680x1050 compared to your friend's performance.

 

[Dashel]

If I had a choice I'd probably opt for a single GPU card but it seems like for 1920x1200 though the ATI x2's are better for my needs:

http://www.anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=5498

What is the Nvidia equivalent of the 4850/4870 x2's?

 

[Dashel]

Originally posted by: vj8usa

Originally posted by: Dashel
I suppose I really SHOULD try a lower resolution first but... darn it I sprang for a nice big display and I'd like to fully utilize it!

Did you at least try running the game at a lower resolution, though? I'm curious to see what your performance is at 1680x1050 compared to your friend's performance.

I didnt get a chance last night but I will definitely do it tonight and post my results.

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: Azn
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.

I would say more people buy into the hype of the industry that you need to have big numbers no matter what you run. You also need big numbers so people feel safe with their overestimation.

Certainly there were some dog PSUs out there, especially when the capacitor plague hit around the turn of the century. There were also some cheep PSU makers that overrated their wattage numbers to levels nowhere near what their PSU could achieve. My bets are on this latter phenomenon being the reason nVidia lists a 550w PSU as the requirements for their cards. I truly think the failure rate of PSUs is more than overrated with many high quality producers failing in the 0.5-3 percentile.

I've purchased a bunch of PSUs in my time and I think only a couple have gone bad and that was only after years of stress. They were both Antec SmartPower brand which had a failure rate in the 10-20% for the mid part of this decade. I've used some cheep came with the case PSUs until the only reason to get rid of them was to upgrade. I'm an avid overclocker as well. I'm also an avid estimator and keep tabs on what system components can do. Clamp Meter FTW.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: Dashel


What is the Nvidia equivalent of the 4850/4870 x2's?

GTX295

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/16229/14

Speaking of performance crowns, if there's a dual-slot, dual-GPU, single-card performance crown, then the GeForce GTX 295 has snagged that one.

 

[Dashel]

At 1920x1200 I was getting 42FPS, changed to 1680x1050 and got 64FPS.

Definitely the card and resolution right?

 

[bryanW1995]

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.

not correct. an hx 520 will handle that VERY easily. the 4850x2 should draw about 200w, but the cpu at stock is only, what, 65w or less? I have an hx 520 running my q9450 at 3.4 24/7 crunching seti and have had no problems with it. If the OP is unsure, I recommend posting a question about this in the psu forums.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: 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.

also incorrect. My hx 520 has 2 6+2 pin connectors. if your hx520 only came with the 6 pin connectors then corsair will ship you 2 x 6+2 pin connectors for just the cost of shipping. contact yellowbeard or redbeard if you need them.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: 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.

dude, seriously, stop commenting on things about which you are ignorant. The hx520 is rated for 520w at 50c.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: Dashel


What is the Nvidia equivalent of the 4850/4870 x2's?

GTX295

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/16229/14

Speaking of performance crowns, if there's a dual-slot, dual-GPU, single-card performance crown, then the GeForce GTX 295 has snagged that one.

nvidia has only one sandwich card. they don't really have anything that is competitive with the 4850x2 at or near its price point. unless you think $509 plus shipping is equivalent to 289 with f/s (or 259 for the 1gb version).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&Description=hd4850+x2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...me=GeForce%20GTX%20295

wreckage, how have you managed to stick around here for so long? at least rollo was entertaining.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

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.

not correct. an hx 520 will handle that VERY easily. the 4850x2 should draw about 200w, but the cpu at stock is only, what, 65w or less? I have an hx 520 running my q9450 at 3.4 24/7 crunching seti and have had no problems with it. If the OP is unsure, I recommend posting a question about this in the psu forums.

Again I didn't know HX520 could output 520watts at 50C. I was figuring 520 watts @ 30C or whatever most power supplies rate their power supplies. With typical 520watts a x2 is pushing it and so is the GTX 285. That's what I was basing my assumption on.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

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.

dude, seriously, stop commenting on things about which you are ignorant. The hx520 is rated for 520w at 50c.

Would you mind reading some later posts before replying back?

 

[vj8usa]

Originally posted by: Dashel
At 1920x1200 I was getting 42FPS, changed to 1680x1050 and got 64FPS.

Definitely the card and resolution right?

Yup, it's the video card that's holding you back. You should see some nice gains from a 4850x2 or something similar.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: Schmide

Originally posted by: Azn
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.

I would say more people buy into the hype of the industry that you need to have big numbers no matter what you run. You also need big numbers so people feel safe with their overestimation.

Certainly there were some dog PSUs out there, especially when the capacitor plague hit around the turn of the century. There were also some cheep PSU makers that overrated their wattage numbers to levels nowhere near what their PSU could achieve. My bets are on this latter phenomenon being the reason nVidia lists a 550w PSU as the requirements for their cards. I truly think the failure rate of PSUs is more than overrated with many high quality producers failing in the 0.5-3 percentile.

I've purchased a bunch of PSUs in my time and I think only a couple have gone bad and that was only after years of stress. They were both Antec SmartPower brand which had a failure rate in the 10-20% for the mid part of this decade. I've used some cheep came with the case PSUs until the only reason to get rid of them was to upgrade. I'm an avid overclocker as well. I'm also an avid estimator and keep tabs on what system components can do. Clamp Meter FTW.

Power supplies are not all created equal. People buy a typical 550watter that operates @ 30C but in reality it only output 400 watts @ 50-60C. HX series is one of those higher quality power supplies I didn't really check the specs on. No wonder it's more expensive than their 650watt TX series.

Put a crappy power supply into your system and you get an unstable system or risk of frying. So that's where Nvidia recommended based on these cheap no name power supplies that output 300watts when they rated for 550watts? I really doubt that when Nvidia has a certified power supply lists on their web site.

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: Azn
Power supplies are not all created equal. People buy a typical 550watter that operates @ 30C but in reality it only output 400 watts @ 50-60C. HX series is one of those higher quality power supplies I didn't really check the specs on. No wonder it's more expensive than their 650watt TX series.

Put a crappy power supply into your system and you get an unstable system or risk of frying. So that's where Nvidia recommended based on these cheap no name power supplies that output 300watts when they rated for 550watts? I really doubt that when Nvidia has a certified power supply lists on their web site.

I never said all power supplies are equal and if you're an enthusiast you should get an enthusiast PSU, especially if you're overclocking. I do not buy into the FUD that tier 2 and below PSUs will not provide enough power for the modern system and will therefore damage your hardware. If you're on a budget get a budget PSU. Seriously if a mediocre 550w PSU can only pump out 400w at extreme temperatures the point would be moot as the original posters system would only need around 260w.

All this over-certification reminds me of SLI certified system memory. WTH does the type of memory have to do with running a SLI system. Nothing. It's all marketing.