New video card

Stuff it. I had to RMA an old card (8800GT 256Mb), and I now have 2 days to pick a new one. Leaning towards 4850, also considering 9800GTX+ or 9800GTX.

Anyone have anything useful to say?

MSI 4850 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127370

EVGA 9800GTX+ Superclocked - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130385


me

I don't.

I gave up on all that stuff years ago.

And if you could include that best budget graphics card bargains... I get paid on Friday

i personally would go with the 4850 myself, although i am away to pick up a 4870x2 as part of my new comp i am building.

nvidia just ain't worth it right now. JMO.

Well, I'm thinking the 9800GTX+ as it puts out quite a bit less heat than the 4850. Everything else (benchies, power, noise) is just about even...

@ AV - the 8800GT 512 Mb is a great card...

Asus for $140 with $20 MIR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121263
(side note - this is my 256Mb card that died, hence the replacement)

PNY has some for $120 off the shelf.

The 8800GT 512Mb is ranked as the best for $150, and it's a bit less than that now (at least here).
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,1987.html

Hell, Im still running a X1900, so no, nothing useful to say, but in the spirit of the CPU forum, I will say something anyway, even if it is useless.

Sounds like the PSU. Even a good PSU only puts out like 85% of its rated capacity, and thats when new.

I've always gone for Antec or Enermax PSUs and never had any problems.

I probably need to reformat and reinstall Windows and the rest of the software I use.
I've had a lot of hardware changes since my last install of Windows.
System is slow but the random shut downs are annoying plus there isn't an error listed for the random shut downs. Start up and shut down take a while. Shut down takes about a minute and start up takes up to three minutes. Windows loads in a minute from a cold boot but AntiVirus software and Catalyst software hold up the entire start process. And Cyberlink software gives a service hang on start up. The service starts but a hang error is always reported. The software is for HD and BlueRay DVD playback.
I removed (a complete removal) of the installed ATI drivers and software for my video card and TV/FM tuner card and did a clean install with 8.7 Catalyst software. I hope it makes a difference.
I'm just not in the mood to do a reformat and reinstall. I'm in the process of moving to my new place and I've already taken my most of my computer stuff to the new place.

I check them all the time.
Hardware is always ok.
Software I have a couple errors logged on start up. A couple of Cyberlink service errors, a SQL certificate verification error and a HTTP error waiting for router identification on a private DNS.

I've installed an update for the Cyberlink Power DVD software that is supposed to address the error I'm receiving but the update hasn't stopped the error from being logged. MS KB gives a simple fix for the SQL error but it works for the first reboot. Subsquent reboots the error returns. The SQL error is addressed in SQL 2008. SQL 2008 Express Edition will be released later this month so I expect verification error to be corrected when I install SQL 2008 EE.
The HTTP private DNS log error corrects itself once Windows loads the service. MS KB states the error is nothing to be concerned with.

If you go back a bit and read the article on Tom's about the 4850, it's an Asus model with an 8% over-clock, so it won't really effect performance that much. But it does dump out way more heat than the 9800GTX+. Everything else (noise / power / performance) was very similar.

I'd recommend going to JohnnyGuru.com and reviewing power supplies there. The only Antec they recommend is the EarthWatts series. I just picked up a 500W one @ Circuit City for $100. It's not much cheaper online. I was at said LAN party and had some odd, bad issues. It turned out to be the video card, but I wanted to make sure I had a good power supply. As you know, when the PSU goes, it can take other hardware with it, and it sound like you have spendy hardware.

SeaSonic seems to be their preferred unit.

I'm kind of partial to Lian Li cases myself. Never had one, friend of mine found a HUGE full tower Best Buy brand case on clearance for $30, but if you look at the label, you can see it's a Lian Li. It's really nice...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112156
Not his, probably the one I'd get.

I don't like OCZ. Then again, I don't like ASUS either.

What's funny is that ASUS doesn't like OCZ (or vice versa) either...

can't really go wrong with a seasonic as they not only make their own but apparently quite a few others as well.

I'm going to get a new power supply after I move.
My gut feels it's a driver or software issue with Windows.
My Antec 550 TP3 doesn't seem to be overheating. The ps case is cool and the vented air is cool.

The Antec TP3, NeoPower and Earthwatts power supplies are built by Seasonic.

I have a dozen different power supply manufactures too choose from.
I've noticed the Seasonic PS are a bit more expensive compared to their Antec counterparts. I'm looking at 650W to 850W power supplies.

I've narrowed down to getting another Antec, an Enermax or Seasonic power supply. I'm going to get a new case too since replacing the ps in my Antec Sonata III case involves removing the motherboard. I can get the ps in and out by removing the processor HSF but it's on well and I don't feel like ƒucking with it.
It looks like I'll be spending over two hundred on a power supply and a case without a ps installed. $150 or more for ps, $50 for case - plus taxes.

Side questions.

I am trying to fit an existing computer into a new Av setup. Needless to say teh Lian is too deep for it.

I was looking at getting a case to fit it in (Standard ATX), any recommendations? I hears SilverStone is good.

Also, anyone have luck doing a VGA to CAT5 on their own? All the Balun's I have seen online are an obnoxious $180 and up. For parts I see peopel calling out at $20 total, this is a rediculous harping in the technical illiteracy of most HT consumers.

Just wondering if anyone has done that and had any success (shielded vs. unshielded, etc).

A video card question, a power supply question and a case question.

All in one thread.

In the 'other'.

...for mugz sake...this place is going to turn into the CPU forum

...someone called???...

...*approaches*...

Good morning hooter-person.

Hope this helps.

Wingding.

That's what they keep saying.

We like to toot our own horns on occasion-- and no, that's not a phallic referene.

I do have one question, though. Jef, what do you mean you RMA'd? Don't you get a warranty replacement or repair? Or, are you using its absence as an excuse to get a new one?

I RMA'ed it, but they don't carry it anymore, so I get a new product at or below the price of my original.

I have an old 8600 in there at the moment.

Oh, I see.

Werehouse?

There house.

There castle.

I thought you wanted to!

One box my father got from newegg via you guys was so destroyed, the OEM burner, still in the trademark newegg bubble wrap, was actually dented. Of course his CPU, RAM, video card, and hard drives were in this box also. Amazingly enough, everything still worked perfectly. [/not meant as a knock]