What's the best video card my PSU can handle?

[suklee]

PSU: VX550W
Question: what's the fastest/best video card my rig can handle? Most likely for FPS gaming.

1) if budget was not a concern
2) best bang for buck

Currently have a Dell 2208WFP 22" Monitor (1680x1050) but would probably consider adding a 24" 1920x1200 in the near future since my other 20" seems to have died.

PS. Anandtech forums is a dangerous place for me. Every couple of years or so I come on and then find myself wanting to, and then eventually upgrading my rig

 

[RussianSensation]

VX550 Testing

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4.0ghz with various Cards at Load

So any videocard, except 4870 X2.

 

[suklee]

Thanks for the links! :beer:

How do I interpret the 2nd link?

 

[mpilchfamily]

Actually it will handle the 4870X2. You wouldn't be able to OC the system but it can handle it.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Thanks for the links! :beer:

How do I interpret the 2nd link?

The 1st graph is total system power consumption at idle.
The 2nd graph is total system power consumption at load.

Actually it will handle the 4870X2. You wouldn't be able to OC the system but it can handle it.

Yes you are right it would, but then you are in a very dangerous territory running your PSU near its max capacity for 2-3 hours of gaming at a time (I personally wouldn't be comfortable to run that). But Corsair's website does indeed reaffirm that you are correct -- either the Corsair HX520W or VX550W both support:

1) Intel Core 2 Quad Overclocked up to 30% (i.e. 3.0ghz over 2.4ghz stock)
2) 3 Hard drives (what OP has)
3) HD 4870 X2

Corsair PSU Finder

 

[scheibler1]

Get an EVGA GTX 260 that is onsale @ newegg.com. They can easily be overclocked to perform equivilant to a gtx 280. Or go with an ATI HD4870 if you can find it cheaper then the GTX 260

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: scheibler1
Get an EVGA GTX 260 that is onsale @ newegg.com. They can easily be overclocked to perform equivilant to a gtx 280. Or go with an ATI HD4870 if you can find it cheaper then the GTX 260

:thumbsup:

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: scheibler1
Get an EVGA GTX 260 that is onsale @ newegg.com. They can easily be overclocked to perform equivilant to a gtx 280. Or go with an ATI HD4870 if you can find it cheaper then the GTX 260

For future SLI/CF, is either the GTX260 or 4870 superior to the other?

PS. Notice you have the BenQ 24" G2400W. How do you like it?

 

[RussianSensation]

SLI doesn't support dual monitors, until Big Bang 3 drivers are released. Other than that, they'll trade wins depending on the game:

Tech Report

 

[scheibler1]

I wouldn't recommend SLI/Crossfire b/c of microstuttering issues. I WOULD HOWEVER RECOMMEND THE BENQ G2400W....excellent monitor. Best viewing angle for a TN, high response time, good colors, no dead pixels, and was much better then MVA panels I demo'd and Samsung/HP/Dell TN's

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: scheibler1
I wouldn't recommend SLI/Crossfire b/c of microstuttering issues. I WOULD HOWEVER RECOMMEND THE BENQ G2400W....excellent monitor. Best viewing angle for a TN, high response time, good colors, no dead pixels, and was much better then MVA panels I demo'd and Samsung/HP/Dell TN's

Thanks scheibler1. I had been looking at the FP241W due to the perfect score from trustedreviews but your comment may be enough for me. I'll take a look at the G2400W in person, and if it's better than my current Dell 2208WFP, then with the US$200+ saved I can get a decent video card. I might even be able to squeeze in an additional 4GB of DDR2

By the way, does the G2400W produce decent colors with gradients? ie. No banding issues? This was one of the big problems with my Dell LCD.

As for Crossfire/SLI, I'm thinking I would need a PSU and mobo upgrade so that's at least 2 years down the line for me, hopefully longer. But by then there'll probably another "best bang for buck" single-slot video card that will beat the horses out of whatever I am getting, be it a GTX260 or 4850 or 4870.