Where's the current "sweet spot" for some moderate gaming?

[Creig]

Looks like you got the gist of it. :thumbsup:

 

[crisium]

Where are you finding a 2900 Pro for less than a 3850? I only see a 256-bit version. The 512-bit ones are more than a 3870, ie not worth getting.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: Crisium
Where are you finding a 2900 Pro for less than a 3850? I only see a 256-bit version. The 512-bit ones are more than a 3870, ie not worth getting.

Here

and FWIW, it IS a 256-bit/512MB card

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
The GeCube 3850/512 for $200.00 ($180AR) is the best bankg for the buck.

Probably.

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
The 8800GT 512MB card is a no compromises solution, but both it and the 3870 are getting price gouged right now.

Yes, though the 3870 is averaging around $240 so not as bad. If you're patient, then just wait for a hot deal to drop on your lap (check Hot Deals forum). Best Buy often has the 3870 for $215 (web site only). There's a cheap Gigabyte 3870 with a Zalman style cooler, but it uses slower memory. On occasion the 8800GT 512MB will be available for $240-range.

 

[zeroburrito]

newegg used to have the 512bit 2900pro(another sapphire, that HIS is WAY overpriced) for 169..they kept selling out extremely fast. i doubt the 256bit version is any slower as most other cards are also 256bit.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Creig

Originally posted by: taltamir
@2 hours a day gaming and 5 hours a day general use

Originally posted by: taltamir
And I DOUBT you only use your computer for 2 hours of gaming and 5 hours of general on an average day

I hope you're thinking that he uses his computer for business purposes. Because nobody I know that works 40 hours per week is going home and sitting in front of the computer for 7+ hours every single day. 1-2 hours would be the limit for most people.

Originally posted by: taltamir
but then you have the occasional 14 hours in a row of playing a specific game, right?)

Wow! And I though I played too many video games. I haven't even come CLOSE to that. Must be nice to have that kind of free time.

Except that I later found out that the 2900Pro is supposedly an underclocked XT.. so it probably takes twice as much more power then I used for the calculation when compared to 3850.
I also made assumptions about your usage. You might have heavier or lighter usage, and differing power costs. Ideally you should use my methology and calculate it yourself.
But if you think its worth 15 to 30 more a year in operational costs then go for it.
I still don't see how it would. Its not the XT, and I am guessing it will be harder to OC... that and you have to make sure your PSU is beefy enough to handle such a monster.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Update:

Well I was giving some VERY serious consideration to the HD2900Pro, expecially the 512-bit version (which I did find for about $170.00) after I read it can be BIOS flashed to a 2900XT. Then I scurried on over to eXtreme Outer Vision and used their Pro PSU calculator for a harsh reality check.

THAT 2900 IS A POWER HUNGRY BEAST!!!

Calculating my system with an HD2900XT came out to 582 WATTS!!! Since I'm running a Corsair VX550, that's just a litte more than my PSU is rated for.

Even the HD2900Pro came in at a whopping 552W!
The 8800GT calculated out to 506W
and the HD3870 came out to 496 W.

So there it is - I want a little more poop then the 3850 256MB brings (of course the 512MB version is still a consideration for the right price ), I don't want to pay for an 8800GT, and I don't want to tax out my PSU (even if it IS a Corsair) with a 2900 just to save a little bit of change upfront.

Thanks for everyone's input and suggestions. I feel like I can now make a well-informed decision! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

JR..

 

[Syntax Error]

Where did you read that an 8800GT ate up 506W, unless if that's the entire system power load, in which case, they must be running really power-hungry components in their box...

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: Syntax Error
Where did you read that an 8800GT ate up 506W, unless if that's the entire system power load, in which case, they must be running really power-hungry components in their box...

No, that's my entire system spec'd out w/ the graphics card. Not the card itself - sorry if that was a little misleading.

I listed some of the system specs in my OP, but here's how I spec'd it using the calculator:

System Type: Single Processor
Motherboard: High End - Desktop (ABIT IP35 Pro)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Kentsfield
Overclocked: 3200 MHz, 1.3V
CPU Utilization (TDP): 85% TDP

RAM: 4 Sticks DDR2 SDRAM
Video Card: 3870HD, 2900XT, 2900Pro, 8800GT/512

IDE HDD 7200rpm: 1HDD
SATA HDD: 2 HDDs

DVD-RW Drive: 1 Drive

Sound Blaster w/ Front Bay: Yes
PCIe X1 Card: 1 Card

USB: 2 Devices
IEEE-1394: 2 Devices
Front Bay LCD Display: Yes

Fans
Regular: 1 Fan 120mm; 1 Fan 250mm
LED: 3 Fans 120mm;
High Performance: 1 Fan 92mm

Keyboard and Mouse: Yes

System Load: 90%

Capacator Aging ( + W %): 20%

 

[krnmastersgt]

The 2900Pro outperforms the 3870 when they're both overclocked, the main difference from what I can remember is that the 3870 uses less power and is a lot cooler, the 2900Pro runs pretty hot, especially when you stress it.

 

[taltamir]

thats what i meant though... wouldnt the extra heat on the 2900 proove detrimental to overclocking? heat = instability, instability = crashing, crashing = reducing your maximal OC... that or the dark side, I forgot

 

[krnmastersgt]

It runs pretty hot but the max overclock is still higher than the 3870s, of course the inside of your case turns into a mini-oven if you don't have adequate airflow but the 2900Pro can take the heat it creates, just worry about how that heat is dispersed and how the other components near it can handle it.

 

[zeroburrito]

the pro is the exact same card as the xt, same pcb, same core, same cooling, same everything. the only difference is with the 256bit version. it takes zero effort to oc to stock xt speeds. there is also no need to flash. you can just raise a slider up to reach the speeds of the xt or higher. you are doing something wrong with your watt calculations. there is no way a 3870 uses that much. it will run on a 400 watt with most systems. do you have like 20 hd's and optical drives? your vx550 should run an xt perfectly fine.

edit. i just checked your system specs..there is no way your system would be using that much power. i am running a 2180 at 3ghz a 3870 a sata and ide hd and an optical drive. i am running this on a 400watt psu.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
the pro is the exact same card as the xt, same pcb, same core, same cooling, same everything. the only difference is with the 256bit version. it takes zero effort to oc to stock xt speeds. there is also no need to flash. you can just raise a slider up to reach the speeds of the xt or higher. you are doing something wrong with your watt calculations. there is no way a 3870 uses that much. it will run on a 400 watt with most systems. do you have like 20 hd's and optical drives? your vx550 should run an xt perfectly fine.]

edit. i just checked your system specs..there is no way your system would be using that much power. i am running a 2180 at 3ghz a 3870 a sata and ide hd and an optical drive. i am running this on a 400watt psu.

I updated this just above, but you may have missed it durring the edit.

Here's how I spec'd my system using the calculator:

System Type: Single Processor
Motherboard: High End - Desktop (ABIT IP35 Pro)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Kentsfield
Overclocked: 3200 MHz, 1.3V
CPU Utilization (TDP): 85% TDP

RAM: 4 Sticks DDR2 SDRAM
Video Card: 3870HD, 2900XT, 2900Pro, 8800GT/512

IDE HDD 7200rpm: 1HDD
SATA HDD: 2 HDDs

DVD-RW Drive: 1 Drive

Sound Blaster w/ Front Bay: Yes
PCIe X1 Card: 1 Card

USB: 2 Devices
IEEE-1394: 2 Devices
Front Bay LCD Display: Yes

Fans
Regular: 1 Fan 120mm; 1 Fan 250mm
LED: 3 Fans 120mm;
High Performance: 1 Fan 92mm

Keyboard and Mouse: Yes

System Load: 90%

Capacator Aging ( + W %): 20%


FYI
PSU is rated as follows:
+3.3V / 30A
+5V / 20A
+12V / 41A (single rail)
-12V / 0.8A
+5VSB / 3A

 

[zeroburrito]

can you give me the link to this calculator? so which card are you going for?

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
can you give me the link to this calculator?

It's at Extreme Outer Vision.

I used the Pro verison with actually tells you your amperage on each rail (paid for it a long time ago), but you should be able to get the same general wattage calculations using the free version.

And to answer your other question; based on what I've calculated, probably the HD3870 simply because of the power consumption.

JR..

 

[SlowSpyder]

I have an Antech 550 watt power supply. I run my 2900 Pro at 800mhz core/1600mhz memory (512bit). I run a dual core opty, 4x512MB of memory, 2 hard drives, DVD Burner, fans, blah blah blah without any problems. I'm also only using the 2x6 pin power connectors. I'm not telling you that the 2900 Pro is necessarily the best buy out of the bunch or trying to steer you towards it, but I think that it's power useage is being made into too big of a deal.

 

[zeroburrito]

well if you can afford the 3870 then there is really no reason not to get it. if you can only spend 200. then i would say the 2900pro. thing is, you can save another few days and just get the 8800gt which isn't really much more than the 3870 but a good bit faster.

http://www.ncixus.com/products...X/Galaxy%20Technology/

8800gt 512 $214 after rebate...

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
well if you can afford the 3870 then there is really no reason not to get it. if you can only spend 200. then i would say the 2900pro. thing is, you can save another few days and just get the 8800gt which isn't really much more than the 3870 but a good bit faster.

http://www.ncixus.com/products...X/Galaxy%20Technology/

8800gt 512 $214 after rebate...

I've been eyeballing that card all day today. I also read a lot of complaints on their NCIXUS forums about the fan being pegged at 100% all the time. Apparently it's annoying enough that some people are actually RMA-ing the card over it!

In short people are saying the thing sounds like a vaccuum cleaner if you're unlucky enough to get the model with the long plastic HSF.

I don't know, still seems like a good price on a very nice video card. OTOH, I'm already running an Antec 900 w/ 5 case fans so would it really make a difference if it IS loud? (Although I've got all the case fans set to medium speed just to keep it reasonably quiet).

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
I have an Antech 550 watt power supply. I run my 2900 Pro at 800mhz core/1600mhz memory (512bit). I run a dual core opty, 4x512MB of memory, 2 hard drives, DVD Burner, fans, blah blah blah without any problems. I'm also only using the 2x6 pin power connectors. I'm not telling you that the 2900 Pro is necessarily the best buy out of the bunch or trying to steer you towards it, but I think that it's power useage is being made into too big of a deal.

Couldn't agree more, back to the question at hand, the 2900Pro outperforms the 3850, overclocks higher, and the power difference is insignificant for most people, and since you said you have 5 case fans running the heat probably won't be that big of an issue for you either Jolly. The 8800 GT does look like a nice buy though

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
the pro is the exact same card as the xt, same pcb, same core, same cooling, same everything. the only difference is with the 256bit version. it takes zero effort to oc to stock xt speeds. there is also no need to flash. you can just raise a slider up to reach the speeds of the xt or higher. you are doing something wrong with your watt calculations. there is no way a 3870 uses that much. it will run on a 400 watt with most systems. do you have like 20 hd's and optical drives? your vx550 should run an xt perfectly fine.

edit. i just checked your system specs..there is no way your system would be using that much power. i am running a 2180 at 3ghz a 3870 a sata and ide hd and an optical drive. i am running this on a 400watt psu.

if that is the case, it will add a lot more in the cost of ownership per year then I calculated. I assumed 50 watt increase over the 3850...
but The 2900XT is 78watts more on idle and and 123 watts more on load.

So you can pretty much double my figures.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
I have an Antech 550 watt power supply. I run my 2900 Pro at 800mhz core/1600mhz memory (512bit). I run a dual core opty, 4x512MB of memory, 2 hard drives, DVD Burner, fans, blah blah blah without any problems. I'm also only using the 2x6 pin power connectors. I'm not telling you that the 2900 Pro is necessarily the best buy out of the bunch or trying to steer you towards it, but I think that it's power useage is being made into too big of a deal.

Couldn't agree more, back to the question at hand, the 2900Pro outperforms the 3850, overclocks higher, and the power difference is insignificant for most people, and since you said you have 5 case fans running the heat probably won't be that big of an issue for you either Jolly. The 8800 GT does look like a nice buy though

Yeah I'm pretty sure I can get by the heat issue pretty easily by cranking up the speed on the case fans a bit. But then there's the noise tradeoff too. Of course I can't ignore heat because I'm already OCing a Quad. All things equal though, I guess my biggest concern with the 2900 is for my PSU.

By the time you figure in an OC'd quad, 3 HDD's, 4 Sticks of Ram, fans galore, and a partridge in a pear tree; this system already pulls down some power w/o help from a video card with a monster-truck sized appetite.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
the pro is the exact same card as the xt, same pcb, same core, same cooling, same everything. the only difference is with the 256bit version. it takes zero effort to oc to stock xt speeds. there is also no need to flash. you can just raise a slider up to reach the speeds of the xt or higher. you are doing something wrong with your watt calculations. there is no way a 3870 uses that much. it will run on a 400 watt with most systems. do you have like 20 hd's and optical drives? your vx550 should run an xt perfectly fine.

edit. i just checked your system specs..there is no way your system would be using that much power. i am running a 2180 at 3ghz a 3870 a sata and ide hd and an optical drive. i am running this on a 400watt psu.

That seemed high to me too, but I tried to be as honest as possible when using that calculator. So either I'm just stupid (which is a very distinct possibility !) or that calculator is terribly inaccurate.

I just wish I knew of a more accurate way to gauge things.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
the pro is the exact same card as the xt, same pcb, same core, same cooling, same everything. the only difference is with the 256bit version. it takes zero effort to oc to stock xt speeds. there is also no need to flash. you can just raise a slider up to reach the speeds of the xt or higher. you are doing something wrong with your watt calculations. there is no way a 3870 uses that much. it will run on a 400 watt with most systems. do you have like 20 hd's and optical drives? your vx550 should run an xt perfectly fine.

edit. i just checked your system specs..there is no way your system would be using that much power. i am running a 2180 at 3ghz a 3870 a sata and ide hd and an optical drive. i am running this on a 400watt psu.

That seemed high to me too, but I tried to be as honest as possible when using that calculator. So either I'm just stupid (which is a very distinct possibility !) or that calculator is terribly inaccurate.

I just wish I knew of a more accurate way to gauge things.

You're running a 900 watt PSU right? I would assume that even with that many things plugged into it the PSU should be able to power a 2900Pro, probably even 2, I really don't think the calculator is accurate if it says you're drawing that much power . But if you feel that it won't be able to power the 2900 are you considering getting a new PSU along with the 2900? A 1600 watt would probably last you a really really long time :thumbsup:

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
the pro is the exact same card as the xt, same pcb, same core, same cooling, same everything. the only difference is with the 256bit version. it takes zero effort to oc to stock xt speeds. there is also no need to flash. you can just raise a slider up to reach the speeds of the xt or higher. you are doing something wrong with your watt calculations. there is no way a 3870 uses that much. it will run on a 400 watt with most systems. do you have like 20 hd's and optical drives? your vx550 should run an xt perfectly fine.

edit. i just checked your system specs..there is no way your system would be using that much power. i am running a 2180 at 3ghz a 3870 a sata and ide hd and an optical drive. i am running this on a 400watt psu.

That seemed high to me too, but I tried to be as honest as possible when using that calculator. So either I'm just stupid (which is a very distinct possibility !) or that calculator is terribly inaccurate.

I just wish I knew of a more accurate way to gauge things.

You're running a 900 watt PSU right? I would assume that even with that many things plugged into it the PSU should be able to power a 2900Pro, probably even 2, I really don't think the calculator is accurate if it says you're drawing that much power . But if you feel that it won't be able to power the 2900 are you considering getting a new PSU along with the 2900? A 1600 watt would probably last you a really really long time :thumbsup:

Um.. no, I'm running a Corsair VX550 (550 Watts). Where did you read 900? I'm using an Antec Model 900 Case, was that it?