Graphics Card Recommendation

[perennialartist]

hey, I can't help but ponder at the 9800 gx2. It doesn't look like it can keep cool very easily, judging from observation. Does anyone have any experience with the temps on a gx2?

 

[johngalt]

Not that card, per se, but I know that using most nVidia based cards you can use RivaTuner to adjust thresholds for the fan. on my 8800 GTS I use eVGA Precision, since my card is made by eVGA, and on startup it changes the fan speed to 75%, netting me a temp in the high 40s instead of the default 68 or 69 at idle.

 

[HyperL]

i would get the 8800gt from bfg...great quality and meets ur requirements listed above

I personal agree with 8800GT from bfg, it's on of the best at this price range and it's way better than ati radeon in any test
The only ATI card that is better than this one is Radeon HD 3870 X2 which is more than 320$

 

[grimreaper]

Just wanted to put in my 2 cents...go with BFG or EVGA's 9800 GTX (OC,OC2,OCX) and you'll never look back...temps are good, and performance is insane, don't know why I even bought 2 of these bad boys..lol...and nVidia's drivers are stable 175.16 (Vista X64).
One is enough.

 

[HyperL]

Just wanted to put in my 2 cents...go with BFG or EVGA's 9800 GTX (OC,OC2,OCX) and you'll never look back....

I agree but in my experience at a hardware store I can tell you that is not really recommended to get an Overclocked video card. Is better to get one with the default clocks and if that isn't enough for you then just use riva tuner and overclock it yourself. I think that an 9800GTX with standard clocks is more than enough for current and future (1-2years) games at reasonable quality and resolution.

 

[Brink]

Hi HyperL,

You may save money getting a stock clocked card and overclocking it yourself, but in most cases this will also void the warranty when it is OC'd. On a packaged OC card, you will still have the warranty with it already OC'd.

I suppose it just depends on what is more important.

Shawn

 

[HyperL]

You have a point there Shawn, the OC does void the warranty, but I personally still would choose a stock clocked card. And anyone who uses OC has to know that isn't safe, so it really depends on the owner.

 

[grimreaper]

Hi HyperL,

You may save money getting a stock clocked card and overclocking it yourself, but in most cases this will also void the warranty when it is OC'd. On a packaged OC card, you will still have the warranty with it already OC'd.

I suppose it just depends on what is more important.

Shawn

....and that's why I bought an over clocked GPU...why risk a lifetime warranty to OC from stock yourself, unless of course $$ is no issue..lol

 

[Spd2Last]

I own an 8800gt and its been an awesome stable card. Though with the current prices, an 8800gt is a steal, and the 9600gt is also very similar in performance but does not work as well with higher resolutions. My top preference would be either an 8800gt or the newer 8800gts. 9800gtx imo costs too much for being a revamped 8800gts.

 

[grimreaper]

9800 GTX costs and performance compared with 8800 GTX is worth every penny...1 8800 GTX costs alot more than 1 9800 GTX..figure that one out?
As for the 8800 GT, I'd stick with that one over the 9600 GT for sure...not much of a difference, and 8800 GTS is also a very good GPU, but depends on your personal video requirements and budget.

 

[johnwillyums]

Hi Shawn. I'm really pleased with my BFG 8800GTS OC 512mb. It runs all my games well and I've not really had any driver issues since installing 175.16. Mind you it also ran well with 169.25. It is quite hot I suppose-late 60s early 70s in Crysis- but even after a couple of hours doesn't get any hotter. Running videos doesn't trouble it at all and visualisations in Winamp run at 57C.
Previously I had a Gigabyte 8800GT which was lovely and had a large Zalman cooler attached as standard. However it kept crashing and BSODing so I returned it and got the BFG. That was running 169.25 but prior to SP1. I think a lot of people were having driver problems at the time so I don't know whether it was a duff card or the whole design was flawed or I was just having driver problems.
Certainly the 8800GTS is a real bargain over here and from tests I've read you'ld have to go quite high priced in the 9 series to better it.

Cheers, John

 

[Luposian]

I have an Intel DG33BU motherboard with an Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 (revision: "G0 SLACR), 5Gb of DDR2 533Mhz RAM (all configured as dual-channel), a 40Gb 7200RPM SATA HD, and an MSI PCIe 16x GeForce 6200TC video card.

Now, I tested everything, before adding the 6200TC card and (according to Microsoft's Vista Experience meter) I was getting 3.9 Aero score and 3.0 3D graphics score via the integrated Intel GMA3100 graphics. All latest Intel drivers installed and everything.

When I plugged in the 6200TC and installed the latest nVidia drivers for it, I was shocked that my Aero score DROPPED to 3.5 and my 3D graphics score never budged even a single point! It was *STILL* at 3.0!

This leads me to believe that an nVidia 6200TC video card is no better (and worse, in the Aero department) than integrated Intel GMA3100 graphics!

I never would have suspected this to be the case, but it seems to be.

Of the people here, can you tell me what your Aero/3D graphics scores in Vista 64 are and what video card you're using and getting that score? Anyone getting 5.9 (the highest score possible) Aero *and* 3D graphics? What is the lowest end card that will get that score?

I'm running Home Premium (OEM), if that makes any difference.

BTW, as a small OT mention, I installed Vista, and it told me I had a 3 day Activation limit. Well, four days later (I'm still messing around with it, off-line), I boot it up and it now tells me I have 25 days remaining!

Any idea why it did this? Is it an OEM "grace period" thing? An OEM "glitch"? Or is it something that is related to it not being on-line, so it can't enforce the Activation time limit or something? If I let it time out in 25 days, will it give me another 25 days? Just curious.

Needless to say, I haven't gone online with it, since the day it was first installed, so it hasn't "bonded" itself to my motherboard, yet. I'd like to get it configured hardware-wise, just the way I want it (or can afford to make it), before I allow it to go online and, thus, permanently bond itself to my motherboard.

So, Speaking about Graphics Cards... Does anyone have any info about Nvidia's new Lineup.. the GTX 280 and GTX 260 or whatever.. thats the names we've been hearing.. 256 stream processors. fun stuff like that..

If anyone kno's some more info on these new bad boys feel free to share, I've been waiting and finding info on them is still a rare thing.. so share the info if have any..

Thanks!

AnandTech gave 'em a quick runup and the nVidia GX2 (dual GPU?) video card(s) beat 'em, everytime, in FPS speed. If top speed gaming is your thing, the GX2's apparently are THE card to own, for that.

The Physix co-processor (or whatever it is) in the GTX's, however, does offer an interesting edge, when games start really taking advantage of 'it.

Luposian

 

[xguntherc]

Ya I posted that a while ago.. I have the scoop on all that now.. and sadly to say, I think that the Vidfeo card you added is actually much worse than the integrated.. and it shuts the integrated off when you plug it in.. so you might want to stick with what is onboard til you can get something else..

also question. how are you running 5GB in Dual channel? 2x2GB sitcks and 2x512MB sticks?? Dual channel is recommended to stay the same speed.. so having 2 2GB sticks and then 2 512's is probably worse off then just having the 2x2GB sticks.. just a thought. let me kno what ur using.

also as to the score. Witch doesn't matter.. (just makes ur e-Peen bigger to have a 5.9) the lowest and best card from Nvidia that will get the 5.9 score is the 9600 GT.. thats what I'd get it I was you.. that or the 8800GT or GTS.. the new GTX280 I was talking about are like $649.00 WAY to much money. I'll never spend that on a videocard..

I have the 8800 GTS and I have 5.9's all across the board.
the 8600GT will NOT get a 5.9 so I'd get the 9600GT or the 8800GT.
What will you be using it for. do you play lots of games. or do any serious encoding. if not then those 2 above will work fine for anything. there is some new stuff comming out soon. but not really needed unless your a enthusiasts.. ya kno. I'd get one of those 2 above. or get the 9800GTX+ make sure it's the + (Comes out in 2 weeks for $229.00 and thats a damn good price for that).

whatever you do let us kno how it turns out.
Good luck!

 

[SCSIraidGURU]

ATI 4870 is $309. Two of them are 25% faster than a 280 @ $700.

 

[FPSguy]

Yeah, I was checking out some specs on the 8800 GT OC 512 MB models, and they seem to perform better than most of the 8800 GTS 640 MB models. Plus, it's cheaper. What do you think?

GeForce 8 Series

and

VGA Charts 2007 | Tom's Hardware

I'm running one and love it. No capability issues so far. I'd say go for it. The price is right for sure!!

 

[xguntherc]

ya the 8800 GT 512 is better than the 640 because it's a newer Technology. with the G92 chip not the G80.. they run cooler, and faster. beat the 640's in all area's. get a 8800 GT or GTS and you will be happy.. or for a few bucks more wait a few weeks and get the 9800GTX+ the plus version will be a great card here soon!

 

[knightron]

Hi guys just a quick question for all you gamers out there.Why buy A pre overclocked card that is trying attain levels above it`s allocation when you can buy a standard card that is not overclocked and do it your selves to probably a better standard than the manufacturer?

 

[Spd2Last]

While I bought mine at stock clocks and overclocked it myself, some people simply buy it OC'ed because they either don't know anything about computers but have a heavy wallet and assume that OC typically means higher performance, or because when you buy an OC'ed card you know it will run at those higher clock speeds for sure. There's always a gamble when purchasing a stock card, you don't know for sure if it might reach those higher clock speeds and remain stable.

 

[03hdfatboy]

I Just bought a 3870x2 and I love it so far

 

[xguntherc]

a what.. a 9870... That wont be here for a WHILE from ATI.. are you sure.. lol didn't you mean a 3870x2. and ya it probably works pretty good for ya.. enjojy

and yes getting a Pre OC'd version of a card is usually for the people that don't kno anything about PC's. or with a heavy wallet as you can get just as high.. or higher with a stock card and OC'n yourself..