Looking to upgrade Graphics Card, need suggestions/input

[strifex]

I currently have a 8800GT 512mb graphics card in my PC. I was looking to upgrade to a newer series video card.

I am currently looking at the Nvidia A285 and the 9800GTX+

The 9800 is obviously cheaper, and I don't really play the high end games like Crysis, but I do a lot of 3D rendering. My current power supply is this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005 so not sure if power will be a issue or not with the A285.

Any thoughts on this?

Current System:
AMD Dual Core (2.4ghz)
4 GB RAM
Windows XP
8800GT 512MB

 

[strifex]

bump

 

[dirtmountain]

The PC Power and Cooling will handle the GTX285. From a budget perspective and since you already have a 8800GT i'd take a step to a GTX260 over the 9800GTX+ or a GTX280. If you can afford it the GTX285 is a fine option.......as long as you're using it for 1900 + resolution.

 

[Zenthar]

The 9800GTX+ won't be that much of an improvement over the 8800GT, it will be better, but not by far.

As for rendering, I'm not sure how much work is actually done by non-workstation class cards in applications like AutoCAD and/or 3DSMax.

 

[strifex]

My monitor is a 22" Viewsonic that is a couple years old so it only supports 1680 x 1050. So it sounds like the 285 might be a waste of money at this point.

The spec's on the A260 seemed kind of low to me which is why I didn't really consider it. Other then the obvious advantage in memory (896mb > 512) what is its advantages over a 9800 GTX+ ?

 

[Amer_92]

Price mostly, and maybe power usage and heat. Thats about it, the only possible advantege is you have a choice of getting the (1gb) version, sure 104mb wont make much difference, still the 260 will outperform it. I am thinking between 4850hd, or 9800gtx,+. Just the fing size of the 9800, kills the chance of getting it!

 

[meodowla]

Go for GTX260 216 core.. that'll be steps ahead of 9800GTX+
I'm not sure if it bottlenecks your processor or not..
Let me suggest something... keep your 8800GT and go for a processor upgrade... Upgrade to Phenom2 940.

 

[boulard83]

Newest 9800gtx+ are smaller ( depend on teh companie). My BFGs near 2 inch smaller and have only ONE PCI6 connector.

but TODAY my choice would be a GTX260 or 4870 (1gb sligh better in some game) for 1680x1050.

 

[Zenthar]

Before "wasting" money on a GPU, make sure the GPU is actually used by your rendering softwares. To my knowledge, it is much more CPU intensive than GPU intensive unless you have a workstation class GPU. I heard RivaTuner had a GPU load monitor (not sure), if not, you could always monitor the GPU temperature as a derivative measure.

If, as suspected, the GPU is not taxed that much, following meodowla's suggestion and getting a Phenom 2 will give you much better results for your money.

 

[boulard83]

+1 Zenthar. My laptop have a QUADRO gpu and its crap for games !! but good for rendering ... i think

 

[strifex]

Well I do play games, mostly MMO's. World of Warcraft, Star Wars Galaxies, Warhammr and the PvP in those games can get pretty graphics heavy.

Looking at the render programs I use most of that is GPU usage, so not really a concern here.

 

[boulard83]

GTX260 896mb or HD4870(512mb is ok for the game you play) Best for not too much.

If you plan to Try GTA4, the 1gb version of the 4870 is better.

The 4850 isnt bad too. Quite cheap for the performance that it gives.

You cant really go cheaper, your 8800GT is not really far from the GTX+

Sum of FPS Benchmarks 1680x1050 (Q3 2008)
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB : 595.80fps
NVIDIA Geforce GTX 260 896 MB : 587.80fps
NVIDIA Geforce 9800 GTX+ 512 MB : 570.40fps
ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB : 536.50fps
NVIDIA Geforce 8800 GT 512 MB : 488.40fps

 

[boulard83]

The real improvement for you is in the GTX260 or HD4870

 

[strifex]

Thank you for the replys thus far, I really appreciate it.

I know someone spoke of a bottleneck with my MB, this is the MB that is currently in my PC
http://tw.giga-byte.com/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=2310

A processor upgrade is probably on hold until I can afford one of those new Intel chips, and hopefully Windows 7 is out sooner rather then later so i won't have to deal with Vista

Can anyone suggest to me a good Radeon card company? I haven't had a Radeon video card in about 5 years. And back then it was just ATI. Ive never had a problem with either Radeon or Nvidia's so if someone could help this noob (thats me!) what is the main differences between the GTX 260 and the Radeon 4870?

And I guess the questions I have after that are
a) am I even going to benifit from a upgrade (considering my MB)
b) can my power supply handle these cards? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703005


Thank you all again!

 

[Zenthar]

A)Not sure you will benefit from the GPU upgrade (see previous posts)
B)PSU link doesn't work.

 

[boulard83]

2 PCI Express x 16 slot
Supports dual channel DDR2 800/667/533/400 DIMMs
Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core

i dont know why your MOBO is a bottleneck ... you can have DDR2 800 that is enough, support X2 cpu. 16x pcie slot. Your good to go. Not an HIGH end computer .. but OK.

P.S. you PSU link dont work.

YES upgrade teh entire platform can help ALOT, but you ok for the momment, MY opinion.

 

[strifex]

whoops!

PS link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

 

[Zenthar]

PC&C 610W is more than enough for probably any single card and even some dual-GPU setups.

 

[boulard83]

this PSU is nice.

 

[strifex]

So save my money?

 

[Zenthar]

If your main goal is really rendering time, then yes, I suggest you save it toward an i7 system.