Planning on a new card.

[itszutak]

So. Right now, I have an nvidia 7800 GTX, which is nice and has lasted me two years, but I would like a new graphics card.

My restrictions are:

-Under $210 ($260 at Fry's)
-needs to be usable with a 375w PSU
-Needs to be better than my current one
-Needs to be one I can keep for a while (Few years)

Will I even need a new card? Or should I wait for more graphics-intensive games to come out?

[Snowy]

-Get 9600GT for ~180
-Use the other ~$80 for a new power supply.

[itszutak]

New power supply = + heat generated = + chance of overheat.

Not taking that risk. :/

[alby]

A new power supply won't overheat, and the 9600GT is cooler then the 7800GTX.

Here's the link (http://shop4.outpost.com/product/5504510?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG)

Edit:If you're "doesn't afraid of anything" then why would you not take that risk...

[InnerGoat]

New power supply = + heat generated = + chance of overheat.

Not taking that risk. :/the fans in the PSU almost alway spit the heat right out the back. It doesn't add any to the case... :p


edit- ugh don't get a PNY...

[itszutak]

the fans in the PSU almost alway spit the heat right out the back. It doesn't add any to the case... :p


edit- ugh don't get a PNY...
Heh, well my reasoning is this...

-I have no clue how to hook up a new PSU and will be relying on sites like wikihow if I do

-My computer is under a desk, where most of the air (and heat) is recycled back into the system. There's about a square foot of room behind the case, the right side is blocked by a wall, and my legs take up the left side. I get the feeling ventilation would be a problem there.

also: Why not a PNY?

[alby]

also: Why not a PNY?
PNY sucks, but it was the only one available at frys.

Read up on some reviews (http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/501/)

[Snowy]

Heh, well my reasoning is this...

-I have no clue how to hook up a new PSU and will be relying on sites like wikihow if I do

-My computer is under a desk, where most of the air (and heat) is recycled back into the system. There's about a square foot of room behind the case, the right side is blocked by a wall, and my legs take up the left side. I get the feeling ventilation would be a problem there.

also: Why not a PNY?
A new power supply isn't going to cause for any more heat. And it most certainly won't cause for "great risk for over heat". I would think that the 9600GT runs cooler than your 7800GTX. Putting in a new power supply is like putting together legos, except easier. You would have to be a complete idiot in order to screw up by trying to put a molex connector into a 6pin power source.
New power supplies are much more efficient then old ones. My Zalman HP-600 runs extremely cool.

[Xetsuei]

Why the hell are you guys suggesting a 9600GT to him? Needs moar $189.99 HD3870 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103050) tbh. Outpreforms 9600GT more than half the time and is priced lower. Not to mention you can also overclock it to hell and back and it will still stay stable and under 50C. Also, use the extra money for a new PSU at Fry's, although I'm fairly sure it will work on your 375W PSU.

[alby]

Xetsuei™;228363']Why the hell are you guys suggesting a 9600GT to him? Needs moar $189.99 HD3870 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103050) tbh. Outpreforms 9600GT more than half the time and is priced lower. Not to mention you can also overclock it to hell and back and it will still stay stable and under 50C. Also, use the extra money for a new PSU at Fry's, although I'm fairly sure it will work on your 375W PSU.
After rereading his first post I now see that it can be from somewhere other then frys. I thought it was under 210 at frys only. In that case get the 3870 which like Xetsuei says can overclock easy and runs cooler then the 7800 GTX that you have now.

[InnerGoat]

Xetsuei™;228363']Why the hell are you guys suggesting a 9600GT to him? Needs moar $189.99 HD3870 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103050) tbh. Outpreforms 9600GT more than half the time and is priced lower. Not to mention you can also overclock it to hell and back and it will still stay stable and under 50C. Also, use the extra money for a new PSU at Fry's, although I'm fairly sure it will work on your 375W PSU.9600gt is cheaper, lulz.

Also, 8800gt for 199. Go hit that.

[itszutak]

I look it up, and I get conflicting reviews: Can I use an 8800 GT with my 375w PSU?

[InnerGoat]

If its a good PSU, yes.

Also, you're not going to see much improvement in anything with that pentium D...

[InnerGoat]

If you havn't bought anything yet, you can get an 512mb 8800GT (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3427124&CatId=1558) for 189, or a 512mb 9600gt (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150277) for 149 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3618454&CatId=1558)


making room for the new cards

[itszutak]

I looked at the 9600GT...

But you commented earlier on my processor; would I see a noticeable difference using the 9600 on, say, portal or Crysis, or would I have to get a new one of those as well?

(1280x1024 rez)

EDIT: Wow, PSUs are cheap. I would just buy one, but I keep worrying about heating.

My case is a standard Dell XPS 400 case, from 2006.

Are you sure that a larger power supply dosn't mean more heat? As far as I know, power is converted to heat after use, no matter how much power is used.


EDIT 2: Ah, I see. There appears to be an efficiency rating. Is that the answer to my heat problem? If so, it's damn expensive D:


ADDENDUM: So. Should I buy a:
1)New power supply
2)New processor
3)New graphics card
4) New case

or save my money until I can afford two or all four of the above?

[Warsaw]

At that rate, you might as well buy a new PC. With just a graphics card, you will see a notable improvement. The CPU will just bottleneck it, lowering the maximum potential for increased performance.

[itszutak]

In what way will the CPU bottleneck it? FPS, loading times, or something else?

[InnerGoat]

Mainly FPS dips that become unplayable, and some games (soruce engine games, for example) wouldn't be any faster at that resolution. Since you mentioned waiting for more money to rebuild most of it, you should just do that.

[itszutak]

Alright, thanks. Saved me a lot of money. :)

[Warsaw]

Things like AI, mission scripts, physics, etc. will be slower because your CPU is not as powerful. That may lead to a decrease in frame-rates. Graphically speaking, it will be fine. Loading times should be OK too, provided you have ample RAM. It's the stuff under the hood that will be impacted.