GPU Upgrade (What can I run with what I've got?)

[Saurdaukar]

Surprisingly, the company that built my machine will not offer upgrade advice or opinion for liability reasons... very strange "customer service."

I am in the process of researching now and would appreciate any relatively elevated wisdom since I stopped building my own machines when a 66Mhz processor was considered "fast."

What I've got:

Core2Duo E6850 @ 3Ghz
Asus P5N-E SLI nForce 650I MB
1GB DDR2 PC6400 (x2 = 2BG total)
nVidia 8800GT 512MB PCI-E
Windows XP Pro SP3
Coolermaster 600-Watt PS

I will be adding an additional 2GB of memory in conjunction with the GPU upgrade.

My question is this...

What is the best, single-slot, nVidia GPU I can buy with consideration given for the limitations imposed by my processor(s), operating system and power supply?

Its time for an upgrade, but I want to avoid wasting money by installing a 2,000HP DB-605 into a VW Beetle, so to speak.  The car (PC) would never make full use of the engine (GPU).

Thoughts? 

[Skuzzy]

I think your power supply will be the limiting factor.

[gyrene81]

Find the exact model number and specs on this:

Coolermaster 600-Watt PS

and it will be easier to give you some suggestions.

[Ruler2]

Surprisingly, the company that built my machine will not offer upgrade advice or opinion for liability reasons... very strange "customer service."

I am in the process of researching now and would appreciate any relatively elevated wisdom since I stopped building my own machines when a 66Mhz processor was considered "fast."

What I've got:

Core2Duo E6850 @ 3Ghz
Asus P5N-E SLI nForce 650I MB
1GB DDR2 PC6400 (x2 = 2BG total)
nVidia 8800GT 512MB PCI-E
Windows XP Pro SP3
Coolermaster 600-Watt PS

I will be adding an additional 2GB of memory in conjunction with the GPU upgrade.

My question is this...

What is the best, single-slot, nVidia GPU I can buy with consideration given for the limitations imposed by my processor(s), operating system and power supply?

Its time for an upgrade, but I want to avoid wasting money by installing a 2,000HP DB-605 into a VW Beetle, so to speak.  The car (PC) would never make full use of the engine (GPU).

Thoughts? 

I would get some more RAM if I were you first, unless that 1GB was supposed to be 4GB.

9800GTX+'s are pretty good cards from what I have read, but I just jumped from an 8800gts to an HD5870, so I don't know how the cards in-between would stack up.

[Ghastly]

I almost did the same, but he has 2 GB - he just specified it differently than you or I would have.
Another GB or two isn't going to be big bang for buck for AH.

<S>

[Saurdaukar]

Power Supply:

CoolerMaster 600Watts eXtreme Power Power Supply Unit
Code: PS-117-101
Model    RP-600-PCAR (Non-PFC)
Type    ATX from factor 12V V2.01
Input Voltage    90~132V / 180~260 V (Selectable)
Input Current    6.3A@230Vac / 10A@115Vac
Input Frequency Range    47~63Hz
Fan    Sleeve bearing 120mm fan
Power Good Signal    100-500ms
Hold Up Time    >17ms
Efficiency    >70% typically
MTBF    >100,000 hrs
Protection    OVP / OPP / Short Circuit Protection
Dimension    Standard ATX PS2 150 x 140 x 86 mm
Operation Temperature    5~50°C
Safety    Safety Nemko / TUV / cUL / CE / BSMI / FCC / CCC


I was going to add another 2GB of DDR2 anyway, but I think Im just going to spring for 4GB of "better" RAM considering DDR2 is so cheap.


(AH runs very well on my machine 95% of the time but I'm anal about random FPS drops)

[1701E]

For quick reference:

Output     +3.3V@25A,   +5V@30A,   +12V1@18A,+12V2@18A,   -12V@0.8A,    +5VSB@2.0A

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171013&Tpk=eXtreme%20Power%20600W

Didn't see the 12V rail(s) listed yet, so I looked em up...saves others time.  Internet is being slow for me right now so I'll leave the suggestions to others (Don't want to suggest something you can't use because I cant check specs).

[Saurdaukar]

All of that is Greek to me... thanks.  

Also - and I apologize for this stupid question... I am confusing myself with all the different iterations of PCI Express.

x16
2.0
2.1
x16 2.0
x16 2.1

So on and so forth... I can find multiple references to my MB supporting multiple PCI types... I can also find different versions of the 8800GT described as all of the different types of PCI... that's making me nuts.

[Saurdaukar]

Newegg does not accept orders by phone, chat, email, fax or mail. Also, please note that Customer Service can not offer any Sales, Compatibility or Technical Support. For this information, please visit the manufacturers contact page.

What is it with these companies?

I want to give them my money and they cant even help me spend it appropriately? 

[Saurdaukar]

Relevant to the above:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2853608&CatId=2541

Asus P5N-E SLI Motherboard
You know that when building the perfect PC, the motherboard is as important as anything. That's why you should check out this Asus P5N-E SLI mobo. This motherboard supports the latest IntelŪ Quad-core processors in LGA775 package. It's excellent for multi-tasking, multi-media and enthusiastic gamers! It's designed for great performance and overclocking! With an NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI chipset and a front side bus capable of 1333/1066/533 MHz, your machine will be ready to chew up anything you feed it. Four 240-pin DIMM sockets support up to 8GB of DDR2 non-ECC unbuffered memory. DDR2 is the next generation memory technology to replace the current DDR. With the highest speed up to 800MHz, DDR2 memory provides great performance for 3D graphics and other memory demanding applications. This great platform has 2 PCI Express x16 slots, 1 PCI Express x1, and 2 PCI 2.2 slots! There's Gigabit LAN, support for up to 8 USB 2.0 ports, and tons more features! Check out the detailed specifications for all the goodies in this powerful motherboard. Don't settle for something less. Pick up the Asus P5N-E SLI motherboard today!

Does this mean I am not limited in the "PCI" area?  The above is the clearest definition I could find.

[1701E]

"Also - and I apologize for this stupid question... I am confusing myself with all the different iterations of PCI Express."


There are a few to know:
PCI/PCI-E(xpress)

PCI - the primary expansion slot for thing like Wireless Network Card, Sound Cards and the likes.
PCI-E x1 - The smallest physical slot, a higher-bandwidth PCI slot used for Sound Cards primarily.
PCI-E x16 (1.x) - Expansion slot for GPUs
PCI-E x16 (2.0) - Newer Expansion Slot for GPUs, has a higher bandwidth than 1.x, primarily used for newer generation cards (Examples: GTX 260/280/295 & ATI HD 57xx/58xx/59xx).

PCI-E x16 1.0-2.0 are compatible with each other, you can use a GeForce 8800 (1.x) in a 2.0 slot or a GTX 280 (2.0) in a 1.x slot.

[BaldEagl]

It looks like you've got enough power to run any reasonably priced video card (you know... not the $400-500 models) as long as you have the right power connectors for it.  Most take a single six pin but some take combinations of multiple six and/or eight pin connectors so open up the case and see what you've got.

You've got 36 amps on the 12V rails.  To be safe don't exceed about a 28 amp power requirement but that's going to include most everything.  If it's not listed at the site you buy the card at go to the manufacturers site to be sure what the card needs.

PCIe x16 and PCIe X16 2.0 are cross compatible but 2.0 offers double the bandwidth.  No matter which your motherboard supports get a 2.0 card so you have the option of swapping it into a 2.0 supported motherboard at a later date.

Other than that make your decision based on these factors (in order from most to least important.  A bigger number is always better):

Memory type (GDDR2, GDDR3, etc.) and bandwidth (128 bit, 256 bit, etc.)

Memory speed (in Mhz)

Core clock speed (in Mhz)

Pixel Pipelines

Memory amount (in Mb or Gb)

[gyrene81]

This is just off the cuff and you did say:

Its time for an upgrade, but I want to avoid wasting money by installing a 2,000HP DB-605 into a VW Beetle, so to speak.  The car (PC) would never make full use of the engine (GPU).

I'm only recommending this because you did specify Nvidia and you have an Nforce chipset mobo, and I have owned several PNY Nvidia chip video cards with their "lifetime limited" warranties without a single failure.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133270

If you were able to go ATI that would be a different story...but on an Nforce mobo, that is a massive headache.

[Masherbrum]

This is just off the cuff and you did say:I'm only recommending this because you did specify Nvidia and you have an Nforce chipset mobo, and I have owned several PNY Nvidia chip video cards with their "lifetime limited" warranties without a single failure.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133270

If you were able to go ATI that would be a different story...but on an Nforce mobo, that is a massive headache.

Too much card.   GTX 260's require around 36 amps.   

Mazz, I'd say with your CPU get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339&cm_re=9800gtx-_-14-130-339-_-Product

It'll do what you need, with the CPU you have, without too much "bottlenecking" all around.   The company is great to RMA stuff to, if need be as well.   Not to mention a Lifetime Warranty.

[gyrene81]

Well Mash, considering the 8800 and 9800 have the same chipsets and memory specs...that 9800 is gonna be like trading a Buick 4 cylinder for a Buick 4 cylinder that has an aftermarket fuel injection system...I would have recommended the 250GT but that's not much of a step up from either the 9800 or 8800, and I know it's not quite the performance gain he is wanting.