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Topic: Need new graphics card (again)

Memphis
Intoxicated

Joined: 26 Sep 2001
Posts: 20723

Posted: 11-26-2010 08:01 PM

Seems the bearings have now completely borked in my card (never buying PNY again, plastic pile of shite) and i cannot get it to stfu (PC's been on it's side for the past few months).
Going from an 9800GT, what should i be looking at for a flat replace / maybe a slight upgrade?

I fear my PSU may limit my choice somewhat being a mere 375w
q6600, 3 gig, win7 32. (dell xps 420 should full specs help)

Had my eye on a GTS 450, maybe, although that claims it needs 400w or greater to suck on. Would i get away with 375w and/or get any performance increase?
I'd rather not splash out 'cos sooner or later imma need a whole new rig, but right now a quiet one without the threat of going up in smoke is paramount, and if i can get away with a minor upgrade, yay.

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Memphis
Intoxicated

Joined: 26 Sep 2001
Posts: 20723

Posted: 11-26-2010 09:04 PM

i'd also like to quote the following and ask if it's a load of old cobblers....

Quote:
My only concern is the minimum power requirement of 450w. But from what I've read, Dell rates theirs PSUs using sustained power output, so the 375W power supply is actually closer to a 500 or 600W peak power supply

?

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axbaby
axbaby

Joined: 22 Dec 1999
Posts: 17111

Posted: 11-27-2010 02:05 AM

Good day sir
Well .. although cheapish I am happy with the Nvidia Geforce GTS 250
I play Black ops at the highest settings possible at 1980x1020 and it's smooth like buttuh

Sadly not much of an upgrade to the 9800 but Sports most of the newest bells and whistles for Directx 10
Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 150 W
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_ge ... 50_us.html

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Memphis
Intoxicated

Joined: 26 Sep 2001
Posts: 20723

Posted: 11-27-2010 06:10 AM

Cheers Ax,
Though I picked up a 460GTX in the end, as it seemed to cane the 450 in performance and only be 30 beans more. Plus i'd really like to squeeze a bit more from this rig atm.
Now however, i r bloody stuck, as my PSU only has 1 molex connector and the 2nd 6pin adapter needs 2 molex connections (why molex, and why 2 of the buggers ffs?!).
If i can lay my hands on a splitter i can at least see if my 375w will handle the card Never bloody simple is it

Last edited by Memphis on 11-27-2010 09:36 AM, edited 1 time in total.

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Memphis
Intoxicated

Joined: 26 Sep 2001
Posts: 20723

Posted: 11-27-2010 08:14 AM

molex splitter did the trick

DX11 Metro 2033! woot!

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axbaby
axbaby

Joined: 22 Dec 1999
Posts: 17111

Posted: 11-27-2010 10:27 AM

That sounds like a sweet card.
good on ya

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Captain Mazda
i shave my ass

Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 12865

Posted: 11-27-2010 04:56 PM

That Q6600 will bottleneck you nicely.

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SoM
Your Other Daddy

Joined: 03 Dec 1999
Posts: 17533

Posted: 11-27-2010 09:16 PM

dell?, u make me sick

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Tsakali
Elite

Joined: 02 Mar 2000
Posts: 13563

Posted: 12-14-2010 05:34 PM

yeah he should be hanged or something equally debilitating

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^Ghost
Mercenary

Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 217

Posted: 12-15-2010 09:37 AM

Memphis wrote:
i can at least see if my 375w will handle the card Never bloody simple is it

i doubt 375 will be nearly enough (depending on what you'll be doing).. my geforce gtx 275 requires at least 550 watts, my psu burn out after 1 minute of gameplay in crysis.

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Deathshroud
!Berserker!

Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 1986

Posted: 12-16-2010 06:24 PM

I would not run a 375 Watt PSU with that card man. Better be safe and grab something around 600. :/

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Memphis
Intoxicated

Joined: 26 Sep 2001
Posts: 20723

Posted: 12-16-2010 10:25 PM

But...but.. why? It's been fine and dandy so far, playing everything from BC2 (with 16x AA) to Metro 2033 to L4Ds for hours at a time, tested also with STALKER CoS and Clear Sky cranked as well as Just Cause 2.

I figured if it couldn't handle it, the rig would shut down or start giving me some form of gyp. It's done nothing of the sort so far
/shrug

I'm not certain what amps are on the 12vrail for the PSU, but i've read countless posts of folks with Dells getting away with stock when upgrading, although i'd certainly look to change it before attempting to OC the quad or the card, or upgrade anything else.
It's a BTX case though, far as i'm aware replacing the PSU would likely be a bit of a git. 400w is just a guideline from Nvidia and that's obviously gonna have some leeway, playing it 25w under didn't seem like it was that much of a risk.

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obsidian
I'm the dude!

Joined: 04 Feb 2002
Posts: 10423

Posted: 12-17-2010 08:30 AM

Well it's not like PSU manufacturers like to inflate their PSU wattages based on maximum possible load rather than max efficiency so they can confuse the customer to buy their "1000w" product.

nVidia does indeed provide a lot of leeway in their recommendations, especially given how "liberal" PSU ratings can be. Be aware though that you are likely pushing the PSU close to its limits so it may be experiencing additional stress. Just be sure that at any sign of instability to preemptively replace it to prevent it from totally blowing and frying half your system with it.

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molex splitter did the trickDX11 Metro 2033! woot!

That sounds like a sweet card.good on ya

That Q6600 will bottleneck you nicely.

dell?, u make me sick

yeah he should be hanged or something equally debilitating

Memphis wrote:i can at least see if my 375w will handle the card Never bloody simple is iti doubt 375 will be nearly enough (depending on what you'll be doing).. my geforce gtx 275 requires at least 550 watts, my psu burn out after 1 minute of gameplay in crysis.

I would not run a 375 Watt PSU with that card man. Better be safe and grab something around 600. :/

molex splitter did the trick

DX11 Metro 2033! woot!

That sounds like a sweet card.
good on ya

Memphis wrote:
i can at least see if my 375w will handle the card Never bloody simple is it

i doubt 375 will be nearly enough (depending on what you'll be doing).. my geforce gtx 275 requires at least 550 watts, my psu burn out after 1 minute of gameplay in crysis.