Upgrading to nvidia GeForce, $150 budget

[ahmax3d]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:
this week

BUDGET RANGE:
$150 or less

USAGE:
(3ds max/maya 2012 [ modelling+rendering+simulations+dynamics] , realFlow 2012, after effects cs5, premiere cs5, photoshop cs5)
(( Don't care about Games ))

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY:
intel G45/G43 Express Chipset 1024Mb
300-watt ATX Power Supply – PFC/non-PFC with a 115v/230v line switch (varies by country/region)

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS:

Operating System: Windows XP -Service Pack 3
Number of processors in system: 1
Active cores per processor: 4
Disabled cores per processor: 0
Processor Name: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8300 @ 2.50GHz
Type: 0
Family: 6
Model: 17
Stepping: A
Revision: A07
Maximum CPUID Level: D
L1 Instruction Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L1 Data Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L2 Cache: 2 x 2 MB
Packaging: LGA775
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep(R) Technology: Yes
MMX(TM): Yes
Intel(R) SSE: Yes
Intel(R) SSE2: Yes
Intel(R) SSE3: Yes
Intel(R) SSE4: Yes
Intel(R) AES-NI: No
Intel(R) AVX: No
Enhanced Halt State: Yes
Execute Disable Bit: Yes
Intel(R) Hyper-Threading Technology: No
Intel(R) 64 Architecture: Yes
Intel(R) Virtualization Technology: Yes
Expected Processor Frequency: 2.50 GHz
Reported Processor Frequency: 2.50 GHz
Expected System Bus Frequency: 1333 MHz
Reported System Bus Frequency: 1333 MHz

System board with Intel G45 Express chipset
Intel I/O Controller Hub 10R (ICH10R)
Intel WG82567V Ethernet controller
Intel GMA X4500HD graphics
Realtek audio
(3) PCI Express x1 slots
(1) PCI Express x16 2.0 slot
(4) DDR2 DIMM memory slots 4 GIGA BYTE MEMORY installed
(4) Serial ATA data connectors
(10) USB Ports
1394 Firewire, SPDIF coaxial In/Out

PARTS PREFERENCES:
i need nvidia geforce with PhysX ( NO ATI )

OVERCLOCKING:
Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE:
NOOOOOOOO

MONITOR RESOLUTION:
1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
i just work on ONE PC and ONE monitor and work most of the time on 3ds max and maya .. games is not my concern

List of GPUs I'm currently considering because they are recommended by AUTODESK for 3ds max 2012 & Maya 2012
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 256
NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 1024
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1024
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 1024
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 1792
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 1024
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 1536
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 1536

 

[Ben95]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133383

best 4 ur money

 

[purple stain]

Maybe something like this is what you need.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195107&Tpk=firepro

Their are also lesser version if you want to conserve on your budget.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

You think that will run on a 300W PSU ?

 

[purple stain]

Well the OP is considering a lot of cards that use much more power than that I just assumed their was already going to be a new PSU bought.

The V7900 consumes power related to what a 6870 would consume but is much better at these types of tasks.I watched that video on newegg about it they say it will adjust itself to what type of application your using and increase performance for what that application needs.Quite interesting.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Yeah, saw it to.
But he would have to buy an other psu indeed for those. Only the 220 and maybe 250 will do with only 300 i believe.
Maybe he allready knew that and was planning on buying a new psu, maybe he doesn't know anything about that and f.... up his psu and gpu.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

O, just saw that a 520 and 440 also will do.

 

[purple stain]

Yah.I think the OP knows.

 

[ahmax3d]

Thanks guys . .you are really great
i didn't pay attention to the power supply thing ...
If i won't upgrade my PS ..
please recommend the best card within my budget ($150 or less) and can be installed with the current 300W PS

 

[DRMB]

Maybe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195095 ?

edit: I don't think it requires power from the PSU.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Thats quite an stupid advice, the op stated he wants nvidea because of the PhysX and your advicing the lowest possible card ATI there is. Maybe read before you say stupid things.
The gt 220, 240.http://nl.hardware.info/reviews/1565/12/nvidia-geforce-gt-220-test-stroomverbruik
Maybe this one ; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130619

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

This is the Gddr5 version ; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130645, only here is no minimum powersupply adviced so can't guarantee it will work. ( don' think the difference between 3 and 5 according to the power use is that much more.)

 

[DRMB]

Thats quite an stupid advice, the op stated he wants nvidea because of the PhysX and your advicing the lowest possible card ATI there is. Maybe read before you say stupid things.
...

It was an honest mistake, you don't have to be an ass about it (not to mention someone else mentioned an ati card, and it was even out of the budget range).

Back on topic, you could also get a decent 4-500W PSU for fairly cheap ($30-40), and still fall within your budget (w/ a better card than you could get within budget and w/o a new PSU). I don't really know which consumer cards perform well for what you're looking for, but based on the cards you and other people mentioned, these might work:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125380
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125391
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162058
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=55409&vpn=N460GTX%20HAWK&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar&promoid=1365
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125367

Edit: Supposedly the GTX 400/500 series cards are terrible (i.e. they perform much worse than even 8800/9800 series cards) for 3ds max/maya (probably on purpose so people buy quadro cards). I say go with a GTX 260.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Yeah, well, having the monday blues i guess. Been a shitty day. I don't like mondays, just wanne shoot the whole day down, down, down, shoot it all down :lol: But still, some people give terrible advice just by not reading right or assuming things, like advising a power hungry card for a 300W PSU assuming the one who buys it knows he also has to upgarde his psu. ( i also made some mistakes by not reading right, so i shouldn't be that bitchy, i know ) ( i'll shut up now ) :lol:

Btw if the op wants to upgrade his psu ; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035, don't go cheaper than that.

 

[DRMB]

I'd generally agree as a PSU upgrade can last for quite a while, but the highest rated 500W PSU on newegg (not that that should be your only criterion ) costs $40 (w/ free shipping to boot!). Although, it does only have a 1 yr warranty...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817154026

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

That's not a good psu. Don'y give a .... bout the rating. One quote from the site :

"Pros: worked out of box, very quiet when not at full load. 2x PCI-E connectors, powered GTX460 no problem.
Cons: gets hot fast and loud at peak load, not very ideal for gaming. 65% efficiency, not "green" for those who care about higher electric bills.
Other Thoughts: generally its pretty good, i recommend a 80+ to all those who will actually need its 500 watt outage, however."

The psu is one of the most important things not to go cheap on. It has to deliver te excact needed volts and amps in a stable way. For high end cards you best have a 80+ certified. And the Antec is only 20 bucks more and WILL defenitely last you longer. If the op upgrades mobo and high end gpu later, he can do that with the Antec for just 20 dollar more, easy choice if you ask me.

 

[DRMB]

Fair enough, and I agree I guess (although it doesn't have to be 80+)... it's just that it goes over $150 w/ the GPU I recommended then (of course most people can be a little flexible on that). In fact, I think the 260 might even take a little more power than the 460 (in which case the one I linked should be avoided), not sure though. If it only needs a ~400W PSU however (and it probably doesn't), it would be fine.

 

[purple stain]

Honestly your not going to find much from Nvidia at the lower end,most of the their cards are very power hungry compared to AMD.

On a 300 watt PSU you would need a very low wattage card.Espically if you want to run a PhysX card with it.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Fair enough, and I agree I guess (although it doesn't have to be 80+)... it's just that it goes over $150 w/ the GPU I recommended then (of course most people can be a little flexible on that). In fact, I think the 260 might even take a little more power than the 460 (in which case the one I linked should be avoided), not sure though. If it only needs a ~400W PSU however (and it probably doesn't), it would be fine.

Yeah, but still, a hell of a lot more quality for 20 bucks extra . . .

But let we not forget that the op has no interest in playing games, only 3ds max/maya 2012 [ modelling+rendering+simulations+dynamics] , realFlow 2012, after effects cs5, premiere cs5, photoshop cs5

Aqquired for 3dsmax is Direct3D 10 technology, Direct3D 9, or OpenGL-capable graphics card (256 MB or higher video card memory, 1 GB or higher recommended)
Looking at this the 220 is even enough ; http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/cert?siteID=123112&id=16391880&results=1&product_group=6&suite_group=&release=2012&os=8192&manuf=1&cclass=&card=&opt=0
The same for realflow ; http://www.realflow.com/rf_min_sys_req.php
Also photoshop ; http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404898.html

And so on, and so on.

So the 220 or 240 will do fine and the op saves money by not having to buy new psu.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Ooooo, wait, wait, wait ; now i made a mistake i believe, did look at it again and the 220 is not certified or reccomended. It's only in the list, if this means it won't run i dunno, have to look further into that. I'll be back. . .

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

According to this it's oke if i understand it correctly. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/cert/details?siteID=123112&catID=16303594&id=16391880&product=17&os=8192&card=253
But it doesn't guarantee it ; http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=16318759

It's gonne be a bit of a gamble i'm afraid.

 

[purple stain]

The best card you can get with your current PSU is the 6670.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Op wants nvidea because of PhysX my dear purple dream. ( :lol: sorry for that, someone else didn't see that today and i was in a bad mood and not nice to this guy, so to compensate for that i'm being extra sweet now, all love and joy )

 

[purple stain]

With what card is the OP trying to PhysX? And what about the power restrictions?

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

I think this one will do ; http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_gt_220_us.html, on the other hand the other, official reccommended cards are using also round 60W i believe, or at least some of them, too lazy to check em all, op can do that for himself.