Video Card UpGrade

[Wizer]

After several days in the Beta Arena, I have discovered that I need to upgrade my video card (no question about it).  I  currently have a PNY  Nvidia GEForce 8500 GT (512 MB) that just is not cutting it in the Beta.  I am considering a BFG Nvidia GEForce 9500 GT (1 GB) DDR2 PCI-Express Card or a PNY Nvidia GEForce 9800 GTX OC (512 MB) GDDR3 PCI-Express Card.  However, I don't have the technical knowledge to determine which of these cards is the better card.  I always thought the X versions of the video cards were the lower end.  Secondly, I like the 1 GB of display memory in the 9500 GT version.  I am leaning towards the GEForce 9500 GT which cost $10.00 more, but my primary concern is whether or not it can run upcoming upgrade to AH2.  I would like to hear the opinion of anyone who has either of these video cards or anyone with technical knowledge of them. 

Note to Skuzzy:  I was not sure if I should post this in the Beta Forum.

[BaldEagl]

Note that the clock speeds are slower on the 1 Gb 9500 GT and will most likely give you lower performance than your current card due to lower memory bandwidth (the speed at which information can be transferred in and out of memory).  The 9800 GTX (X are the high end versions of these cards) is vastly superior (not even a contest) in a number of ways but you need to be certain that you have an adequate power supply to run it.

[Anodizer]

This site has an excellent reference for performance on both ATI and Nvidia....

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/132

Memory is not really what you should be looking at to judge a video card..
While it's important, it's not as important as how the card itself performs....

9800 series is a great card..  May be a bit more than that 9500, but totally worth it..
The 9800 series is in a completely different universe altogether..

[Tigger29]

Don't let the memory size fool you... bigger isn't necessarily better anymore.  Companies like to MARKET larger memory sizes, but what they don't tell you is the LARGER memory is also SLOWER memory.  Plus, Aces High will not even touch the 512MB, so going to 1GB is overkill.

DDR3 is MUCH better than DDR2.  The Architecture of the 9800 GTX is MUCH MUCH better than the 9500 GT.  I personally have a 9800GTX DDR3 'OC' version and I can promise you, it's nothing short of.. WOW.  My GF has a 9500 (GT I think) and it seems to do well enough, but still can't touch my 9800.

For some reason, I'm seeing great deals on the 9800GTX lately (I got mine last month for $100 after rebate)... maybe because they've released the next generation NVidia cards...

Just make sure your Power Supply is good enough to handle the 9800....

[Masherbrum]

Don't let the memory size fool you... bigger isn't necessarily better anymore.  Companies like to MARKET larger memory sizes, but what they don't tell you is the LARGER memory is also SLOWER memory.  Plus, Aces High will not even touch the 512MB, so going to 1GB is overkill.

DDR3 is MUCH better than DDR2.  The Architecture of the 9800 GTX is MUCH MUCH better than the 9500 GT.  I personally have a 9800GTX DDR3 'OC' version and I can promise you, it's nothing short of.. WOW.  My GF has a 9500 (GT I think) and it seems to do well enough, but still can't touch my 9800.

For some reason, I'm seeing great deals on the 9800GTX lately (I got mine last month for $100 after rebate)... maybe because they've released the next generation NVidia cards...

Just make sure your Power Supply is good enough to handle the 9800....

Damn Tigger, excellent post!    Video Card memory WILL affect the "System Memory Total" in Windows as well (XP 32 bit platforms).

[Lusche]

Speaking of upgrade... my AMD X2 4200 needs a new one. I have in mind either 9600GT (Leadtek PX9600GT Power Efficient) or 9800GT. But I'm thinking that my PSU might be no powerful enough for a 9800GT ?



Unfortunately, upgrading both GPU and PSU is impossible.

[humble]

your showing a max of 29@'s on the 12V rails....my understanding is that you need a MIN of 31@ and recommended 36@....but someone else may be able to clarify that.

The other issue is that 29@ at 12v is 372W so even if you can pump the current at 70% eff your PS is only pushing 315W of continuous power. This is why guys like TD often seem to be overboard on the PS in the builds. As the loads get higher the margins get fuzzy. In the old days a 400W ps had plenty of head room with much of the usage on the other rails...now the 12V rails dominate the consumption and a top end VC will suck up over 400W's at peak. So a 650W 80% PS pushing 520W of clean continuous power may be overtaxed in a robust system...

[humble]

9800GTX is a much better card...

[Lusche]

9800GTX is a much better card...

And mostly not available here anymore - which doesn't matter as it's far out of my budget.

[humble]

Was replying to wizer there (why I seperated it). I'd be very careful with your PS. I have a 7900GT laying around. I'll know within a week or so if I need to keep it. I'd offered it to a squaddie but he declined and my intent is to offer it within the squad 1st if anyone needs an upgrade but is strapped for funds...otherwise your more then welcome to it if it fits your needs...

[Masherbrum]

And mostly not available here anymore - which doesn't matter as it's far out of my budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130485&Tpk=512-P3-N856-LR

You have more than enough PS for this card.   (The minimum requirement is 350W/18A).

EDIT:  Upon further searching, the Leadtek you're interested in has a minimum of 400W (which puts the eVGA in a better spot), my guess is that the Ampere rating is low 20's.

[humble]

yup, should work just fine....

[amariani]

I've just installed a BFG GeForce 9500GT on my computer this past weekend (the exact same one your describing) an so far it is performing very well on the beta...but again, this is the beta - not the final product!

PS: Don't know if this matters but I also boosted the ram from 1G to 2G's.

[633DH98]

Is that 18A from a single rail or the total of all +12v rails? 

[Boozeman]

Speaking of upgrade... my AMD X2 4200 needs a new one. I have in mind either 9600GT (Leadtek PX9600GT Power Efficient) or 9800GT. But I'm thinking that my PSU might be no powerful enough for a 9800GT ?

(Image removed from quote.)

Unfortunately, upgrading both GPU and PSU is impossible.

Lusche, if you are mostly using the new video card for AH, I think the 9600GT will match better with your CPU since it will be the limiting factor. On less CPU intense games you may get more fps benefits from a 9800GT.

Your PSU will handle a 9800GT fine.