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graphics card upgrade help

Post Date: 2008-12-03
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mitc1111 View Drop Down
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Posts: 16 		  Quote mitc1111 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: graphics card upgrade help
    Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 8:56pm
I bought my DigitalStorm PC right when the 8800GT (512) card came out, so it's been about a year I guess.  (by the way, my PC is great, I very happy with my purchase).  And now, with some extra money, I'm thinking of upgrading my graphic card, but I'm not sure which way to go.  I could get another 8800GT and run 2 of them (I have SLI mobo).  Or I could replace my card with a GTX 280.  I dont mind spending the money on it, but will the GTX280 perform substantially better than two 8800GTs?

And if I get another 8800gt, what must I consider when buying?  it has to be the same card, with the same memory, same model number??

Or maybe I should go with some third option?  Any help would be great.  Thanks


basic specs:
MoBo: evga NF68 (nforce 680i SLI)
DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo E6850, 3000 MHz
1x GeForce 8800GT (512)
2 GB DDR2-800
Windows Vista home ed.
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 9:07pm
What's your power supply and monitor resolution?

I'd recommend a GTX 260 Core 216. It's $200 less than the GTX 280 and if you overclock it, it'll rival the GTX 280 in performance.

You can check out the VGA charts @ Guru3D
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 11:10pm
GTX 260 Core 216 get my vote here for you also

Nvidia Drivers----AMD Drivers
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mitc1111 View Drop Down
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Posts: 16 		  Quote mitc1111 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 11:48pm
thanks for the replies. 
And thanks for the link to the guru of 3d page.  I'm reading now... and I'm looking into the GTX 260 core 216. 

If I do get the GTX 260, can I use two of them later on (I have SLI mobo) ... they're not too big to fit?  And do I have enough power with 600w?  I dont have much extra in my pc.  One harddrive, one DVD player, one sound card...
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Clinton View Drop Down
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Posts: 298 		  Quote Clinton Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 11:54pm
Yes, you could get another 260 later on and use SLI, but you would need more than 600w. I'd say 750 at the least.
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 11:55pm
well I think the 260 gtx is about 1 to 1 1/2 inches longer then your 8800s, see if you have room for that lenght and I think you should be able to fit 2 if the lenght will workout.

your psu is on the very low side, lowest psu DS recommends is 750w for 2 x 260 gtx.

you can use the Power Supply Calculator to see what you need for your system

Edited by DST4ME - 03 Dec 2008 at 11:57pm

Nvidia Drivers----AMD Drivers
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 11:58pm
Depends on the quality of your PSU... you want atleast 50A on the 12v rails.

GTX 260 Core 216 is 10.5" long so you can measure if it will fit in your case yourself.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
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mitc1111 View Drop Down
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Posts: 16 		  Quote mitc1111 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 04 Dec 2008 at 1:09am
Thanks everyone.  I had forgotten how good this forum was. 

If I get two cards I'm going to have to upgrade my power supply I guess.  I've never done that before.  Seems like it might be difficult; I guess I'll find out.

As far as "you want at least 50A on the 12v rails" ... I'm not sure what that means.  I know I have a Thermaltake PurePower 600

And thanks for the measurments on the card.  It will fit in my PC as long as any cords connecting to the end can bend sharply (does that make sense?) because I dont have much extra space.
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OlBull View Drop Down
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Posts: 125 		  Quote OlBull Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Dec 2008 at 4:33pm
Been a while since I have posted.  Have a DS system I got a little over a year ago, and I love it.  Way better than anything I expected.  Presently I have 8800 gts in SLI, with a Samsung 2254 lw at 1680 X 1050, 850W Thermaltake, Q6600 2.4 oc'd to 2.7, stage 3 silent artic cooling (twistedbost overclocked) and a 680i Core 2 Quad. All stuffed in a Cooler Master Stacker case.  What video cards would be a good upgrade?
 
So far games run just fine, but like most forks...I want more.  lol 
 
Thank you
 
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Dec 2008 at 7:07pm
you can go 2 x 260+ gtx

or

you can go 2 x 280 gtx

your best bet money/performace would be:

2 x 260+ gtx

Nvidia Drivers----AMD Drivers
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OlBull View Drop Down
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Posts: 125 		  Quote OlBull Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Dec 2008 at 7:45pm
Thanks for the feedback.
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Dec 2008 at 11:57pm
good luck, let us know how it all went

Nvidia Drivers----AMD Drivers
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acs262 View Drop Down
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Posts: 150 		  Quote acs262 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 13 Dec 2008 at 6:32pm
You said you dont mind spending the little extra money on the 9800gx2...
Eventhough the people above me support the 260 [and i see their point of view] if you have the money ..and you dont worrie about that extra cost...Id personally would go for the 9800gx2, that card rivals the performance of the 280 and its around the price of the 260. And later on you can SLI them for some digital SICKNES. Make sure you have enough room in youre case wichever card youre chooseing becouse those are some monsters!! and check ur power supply also!
 
-ranger OUT
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Rad!caL View Drop Down
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Posts: 292 		  Quote Rad!caL Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 13 Dec 2008 at 9:40pm
Sorry the 9800GX2 isn't even close to a 280 let alone a 260. Take a look at these benches: http://www.digitalstormonline.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=5017&PN=1
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acs262 View Drop Down
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Posts: 150 		  Quote acs262 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 14 Dec 2008 at 1:59pm

Wrong. Scroll down and check out the video. Look at the benchmarks.

 
No hard feelingsThumbs%20Up
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Rad!caL View Drop Down
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Posts: 292 		  Quote Rad!caL Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 14 Dec 2008 at 11:11pm
Haha bro, that is an really outdated video/benchmark. Notice the benches I posted use the newest drivers (released in the last couple weeks).
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acs262 View Drop Down
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Posts: 150 		  Quote acs262 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 15 Dec 2008 at 5:41am
Sry didnt think the new drivers would make such a difference..Geek. My bad! Regards
 
-Alex
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