Need to replace my NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS

[timbo1]

My NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS card just died on me (tech said it overheated) and I need a new PCI-express card to replace it.

I stayed up till midnight last night going through a pile of cards on Newegg, and couldn't make up my mind, nor am I really comfortable with my scanty knowledge on current trends or technology. All I really know is that I want a trouble free card that will not give issues with Windows 7 (64), is compatible with my other hardware, will give me all the grunt I need to work with high end video editing and photo image processing, and as a secondary consideration, will allow me to stream net content via HDMI. There were some nice discounts available on certain units, and I came up with two lists, one around the $50 - $60 range, and another for slightly higher priced cards in the $70 - $100 range.

I was leaning towards the XFX card, but a number of people made comments about how hot it runs, and as I've just had one meltdown I don't need another.

If people would lend a view to help me make the best bang for buck choice I'd appreciate it - importantly, I don't want to pick a card that won't work well with my system.

Thanks for reading.......Tim

Motherboard – ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+
Graphics - NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS (died and gone to PC heaven!)
Sound - Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS
RAM - Corsair XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB)
DVD - Lite-on DVDRW LH-20A1L SCSI
HD - Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB
Power - Cooler Master Real Power Pro RS-750-ACAA-A1 750W
OS – Windows 7 Ultimate (64)



To $60
GIGABYTE GV-N430OC-1GL GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card $50
.
EVGA 01G-P3-1431-KR GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $55

SAPPHIRE 100289VGAL Radeon HD 5670 1GB DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP $55

PNY VCGGT4301XPB GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card $50



$70 - $100

SAPPHIRE 100328L Radeon HD 6770 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $100
.
ASUS ENGT440/DI/1GD5 GeForce GT 440 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $80
.
EVGA 01G-P3-1351-KR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $90

EVGA 01G-P3-1450-TR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $95
.
XFX HD-567X-ZNF3 Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $70
.
Palit NE3TS25EFHD02 GeForce GTS 250 E-Green 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $85

 

[edalbkrad]

Dont get the GT 430, its a sh*tty card, very slow compared to your old 8800gts. Its comparable to an 8600gt performance.
HD5670 is about the same as 9800GT but with DX11 so that's pretty good for the low price.

HD6770 and GTS 450 are about equal in performance with a GTX260 but they have DX11 so if you're willing to spend more, get any of those two.
GTS 450 might be faster in video encoding because lots of software support nvidia cuda.

 

[timbo1]

Thanks for all that. Much appreciated.

Two questions though. Firstly, I'm not familiar with the 9800GT so how would the 5670 compare to my old card? Secondly, the two EVGA GTS 450 cards are only five dollars apart in price and almost identical. The slightly more expensive model is marginally faster - worth it?

Thanks again.......Tim

 

[edalbkrad]

The 9800GT is a rebranded 8800GT and the 8800GTS is faster than 8800GT.
your 8800GTS should be slightly faster than HD5670 but the 5670 has ongoing driver support so it might pull ahead with newer programs/games. It wont be much of an upgrade though.


The difference between the two EVGA GTS450 is just that the more expensive one is factory overclocked. I would just get the cheaper GTS450, its already a huge upgrade and should run crysis 2 at high settings 1080p. (I dont edit videos so I can only give gaming performance)

EVGA 01G-P3-1351-KR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $90
Core Clock: 783 MHz
Shader Clock: 1566MHz


EVGA 01G-P3-1450-TR GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $95
Core Clock: 822MHz
Shader Clock: 1645MHz


If you dont game at all and just need a card for video editing, take a look at these:
Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Video Cards & Video Devices, Professional Graphics / Video Cards, $100 - $200

Those workstation cards render video faster than gaming cards but they will run like crap with games

 

[timbo1]

Thanks a bunch for that - you've been very helpful. Plus you live and learn - I didn't know that they made cards specific to video editing. That's where I was getting a little bit nervy, because so much of the feedback I was looking at was on game performance, and I know how much juice it can take to produce BIG picture files. I create a lot of mosaic photographs, some of which can range in size up to a gig, and they give the PC an absolute heart attack to process time wise.I also do a lot of video recording, editing, and burning and that can stretch things as well. Gaming wise though, I just don't have the time, even though I enjoy it when I can. Hardly cutting edge stuff though!

Many thanks again.

Tim

 

[edalbkrad]

your welcome tim
I do graphic design for websites/print ads and honestly didnt notice a speed difference going from a 6600GT to 9800GT to HD5670.
Going from dual to quadcore made the most difference, photoshop opens in less than 2 seconds with my current quad.

If your 8800gts didnt die, I would have recommended buying a Phenom 1055T 6 core cpu instead.
Your Athlon X2 6000+ is fast for gaming but video rendering benefits a lot from multiple core cpus.
Look at this review. Video encoding in less than a minute Phenom II X6 1055T and 1090T review

 

[Equinox]

You could try to go for a Radeon 6870. I own one and so far it runs all of my PC games at max quality, with Metro 2033 being the only exception.

 

[timbo1]

Given the board I've got, you probably wondered why I had such a game-orientated unit when I'm not much of a gamer at all. Simple - I inherited it! The previous PC I built burnt out about 10 months ago, and I was pondering building a new Intel-based system when I happened upon this particular PC selling on Craigslist for $200. I did a quick costing and research on all the components, figured it was too good to pass up at the price, and bought it as an interim unit. No complaints with at all - until the damn video card up and died on me! Only prob was the CPU seems to run a little hot, and I was on the point of pulling it out to reseat it with some fresh Arctic silver when the video card went kaput.

I noted your point about the CPU - interesting. For $150 it seems like a fairly good unit, and it obviously has a good rep judging from the comments made by purchasers at Newegg. Now if only I can sneak it into the computer - and on my credit card - without my wife noticing!

As for Photoshop loading in two seconds - please! On my previous PC it used to take over a minute because I had so many filters and other add-ons thrown in. This time around I dispensed with 90% of them as I barely ever used them.

Take care.......Tim