I need help with buying a new GPU!

[kudohlol]

Hey, my BFG Nvidia 280 gtx is dying from over heating i think. Im running Speed fan and it says its under 58 degree's all the time with fan running at 100% that i turn up from Afterburner.. Regardless when i take the card out of my mobo its pretty hot, its most probably hotter then the computer thinks it is.


My computer is 4 years old, i think its time to upgrade some of it anyway...

I was really happy with my GPU before, and i think i'd like to set the bench mark at that level again except my mother board was a single PCI E 16 Slot and it wasnt using the cards full potential (SLI) or PCI E 2.0.

My usage is primarily for gaming, i play League of legends, CoD Black ops, Left 4 Dead, World of Warcraft, pretty much anything thats multiplayer and popular.

My powersupply is XION Power Real 1000W ATX Power Supply

My motherboard: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&cc=us&site=null&product=3442913&key=null#N94

the pc is a hp pavilon m8125x.

Websites to order from would be preferred if they were Canadian based so i don't have 2 pay for ridiculous shipping, how ever if they are far cheaper on the us sites it might be worth just paying for the shipping.

Overclocking : Probably not, and im not even sure what SLI or Crossfire means.

Resolutions: High resolutions 1080p 1920x1080



Additional Commentary: If its really worth it i'd like to buy a cooling system a new mobo and a new graphics card, maybe even new ram and a case.. haha

Basically if i can find a good mobo / video card, and someone tells me some good cooling systems, i wouldnt mind finding / buying a new tower case and making this "new pc" my budget would ideally be like 700$ for those 4 items. I don't want a high end GPU that has little benefit at the moment bcuz games arent even demanding the specifications it offers and still paying like 400$ for the card despite it being useless for a year. Like i said 280 GTX was great, if something similar is out there for like 180$ would be cool.




Side note: i just ordered a Galaxy nvidia 9500 just for the moment to have something to play anything on and ill probably return it within 15 days, is this card worth keeping at all?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Budget ?

 

[kudohlol]

I put it in the additional Comment.

For just a GPU im not sure what i should benchmark.

My budget is pretty much what will give me a GPU that will last for 2 years in standards to quality games coming out?

I think i paid like 180$ for my GTX 280 and thats a good card, is there something similar to that now in standards and price?


Also if someone can recommend a Card / Mobo / Processor, i might just buy a combo or something.. make my own tower.

 

[kudohlol]

bump, anyone..

Graphics cards atm, theres so many i have no idea where to start!

 

[purple stain]

9800GT is a good quick patch but not a long term soultion.

These are the best graphics cards for the money right now(in order of performance)

1)XFX 6850(Lifetime Warranty) $185=175After MIR/$5 Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150505&cm_re=6850-_-14-150-505-_-Product

2)Evga GTX460 SuperClocked $210=$200 After MIR+Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130571

3)MSI 5770 $155=$144 after MIR+Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490&cm_re=5770-_-14-127-490-_-Product

I would reccomend the 6850,very good card and in a year or 2 when it starts showing it's age you can crossfire them and they will be like new again.The gtx460 come cheaper than the one listed but all they are showing right now are the SuperOverclocked versions...

What type of Heatsink are you looking for?Water or Air?And are you looking to O.C. is that why you need a new cooler?
As for a case i would reccomend going with a HAF 912 or a HAF 922.Personally i'm looking to buying a HAF 922.They have tons of space and width for a Mid Tower(10" width compared to the usual 7"-8").Big enough to accomadate even the largest Air Cooling devices.

 

[purple stain]

Also all those cards listed can max out all of the games you have listed.And i meant to say 9500gt not 9800gt.

Could you plz list all of your pc specs currently.(mobo/ram/CPU/etc.etc.)

 

[kudohlol]

thanks for the reply, ill probably go with the FXF 6850 then if you say its best bang for buck..

But does it work with my mobo and if im gonna get a case, i'd like to get a new Mobo and have basically a brand new computer running, got any recommendations?

I have no heatsink my computer has 2 fans, one for the PSU and 1 for the Mobo, and the graphics card had its own small fan.. clearly not enough for the tower.

Air sounds less expensive then water and less fragile haha, is water much better / less power consuming ?

Not really looking to over clock, as long as it runs most games at full frames / high quality

 

[purple stain]

Yes i think the 6850 is a really good card for a non-overclocker.I have a 6870 myself and it's fantastic.If you did however want to O.C. the GTX460 has more potentional for O.C.ing.And yes the card will work with your current mobo.The new cards are 2.1 and yours is 2.0,should not have any problems.

I don't really have any recomendations for a mobo because that isn't a speciality,so i'm sorry i can't be of any help there.The only think i can say about getting a new mobo , is make sure it has the same RAM as your previous mobo did so that you can re-use the RAM.

Either the HAF 912 or the HAF 922 Case's,are the best options in my opinion.
HAF912$50/$10 Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912

HAF922$$100/$10 Shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197&cm_re=haf_922-_-11-119-197-_-Product

Out of the 2 i would suggest the HAF912,it's more of a beginier level type of case but still has lots of room and good cooling.

For cooling go with a Hyper 212+,they are cheap,small and provide really good cooling for it's price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212-_-35-103-065-_-Product

Water is exetremly better and usually only the "pro's" use them.Water cooling allows for a higher O.C.
Their are closed loop types of water cooler's that are made for the novice.Very simple to install.But if your not going to O.C. then i would suggest the Hyper 212.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181010&cm_re=h50-_-35-181-010-_-Product

What type of CPU do you have etc. Plz list your full system specs.It will help us better to help you

 

[purple stain]

So if your Budget is $700 then you have about $400 left to spend on a mobo.So i'd say you did pretty good.

$200 for XFX6850
$60 for HAF 912
$40 for Hyper212+
Total is at $300 so far...

EDIT:Forgot to mention that you are probably going to need some new* fans for the case.The HAF 912 only comes with 1 fan.You could either buy new fans or upgrade to the HAF922.Personally the HAF 922 offers better cooling because of it's bigger fans but buying extra fans for the 912 would be cheaper.

 

[kudohlol]

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.100218-0019)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion
System Model: GM441AA-ABA m8125x
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 1189MB used, 5129MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 6.00.6000.16386 32bit Unicode

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 280
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_05E1&SUBSYS_099819F1&REV_A1
Display Memory: 2286 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1007 MB
Shared Memory: 1279 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 8.17.0012.6099 (English)
DDI Version: 9Ex


Probably going to go with Hyper 212, bcuz yeah im not gonna overclock if its not necessary at all.


is it possible to buy a new mobo and take my processor and put it in the new mobo? or they come attached to your mobo.

 

[kudohlol]

is there anything more that you can derive from the specs? or what you suggested is good, and now i should head on over to the Mobo Forum section, ask the question there based on the information you given me.

Ie. XTX 6850 GFX with the haf922 case, and my ram / processor etc.

And theyll hopefully give me the best option for my price range.

 

[purple stain]

Yea i would say to post in the mobo section.They will be able to help you select the best mobo for your prossesor while still keeping your current ram.

But was just thinking and it doesn't really seem like you need a new mobo unless you get a new prossesor.I don't see anything wrong with it.It is PCI-Express 2.0.With the money that you have i'm sure you could upgrade to a i5 and use the memory that you have for it.
What do you think the reason for getting a new mobo is?

 

[kudohlol]

Because if i get a new mobo that has SLI or Crossfire compatibility i can be safe for the next 2 years?

But other then that, i thought my mobo didnt use my current GPU's power to the fullest, i didnt realize it was "Fine" in standards for my GPU.

A side reason would be.. its really small, like everything on it is really jam packed n close, i think thats one of the reason its hot in my tower, it also has a stupid TV connector card in it and i don't know how to take it out, and its relatively useless to me.


Edit: If i just don't have the $$ ill just get the case and card and cooling system for now, and just transfer my current parts into a bigger case that will have more room for cooling.

 

[kudohlol]

Best answer selected by Kudohlol.