Simviation Forums

hello again...

i just managed to save enough money to buy myself a top-notch video card here, and i've had my eye on a Geforce 8800 GTX for quite a while now...

although i could just buy it now, i was reading reviews about it and was left with some unsettling doubts...

first of all, the GTX model sucks up 160 watts through 2 PCI-E power slots (which my PSU doesn't even have!)
also, it seems the GTX is so large, it won't fit into your average-sized case...

this is a big problem for me, since i'd have to buy a new more powerful PSU plus a new, larger case... which would probably cost me half the price of the card itself... which is impractical here... i've only saved enough to get one 8800 GTX, and the vaults will be bone dry for the rest of this month

so i found that EVGA also makes a supercharged version of the GTX's younger sister, the 8800 GTS superclocked

with 640MB RAM (instead of 768), a core clock only a couple of hertz slower and 96 rendering pipelines instead of 128, this seems to be a lesser, but more feasible alternative... it doesnt draw as much power, and is actually an inch smaller that the GTX model...

i've been comparing specs, and found that although the GTS has less of pretty much everything, compared to the GTX, it is a whole lot cheaper, giving me enough head room to buy whatever hardware is necessary to run this thing

but i'm also worried that my year-old PC might not be worthy of such graphics firepower and might hold back the GPU even if using the GTS model... here are some specs:

Intel Dual-Core 3.4ghz
2gig DDR2 dual-channel RAM
Asus P5LND-SE mobo
200GB SATA 7200rpm HD
400 watt PSU
Win XP sp2 + DirectX 9.0c

i'm stuck now... should i get the lesser, but cheaper, GTS superclocked --with the (remote) possibility of adding a second one in SLI later), or should i wait even longer and really go out on a limb and get the GTX plus all necessary hardware additions? (maybe sell some internal organs --who needs a spleen anyways?)

[rant] i feel sad really, because where i live, computer hardware is ridiculously expensive... it took me months to come up with the cash for the video card, and the prospect of having to spend hundreds, or even thousands more (yes, it can be THAT expensive) to get it working really upsets me... [/rant]

let me know what you guys think

Cheers

HarvesteR

You'll need a new PSU along with that card ........ 400w isn't going to cut it and you'll end up causing more problems than you solve with the better card.

yes, i've come to terms already with the fact that a new PSU is needed in any case...

the problem is now choosing between getting the GTX or GTS superclocked....

i could get the GTS right now.... but i fear it'll be too big a step back
or i could wait a while and get the GTX plus PSU... then i wonder if it'll fit in the case  

better get the measuring tape out now.....  ::)

i've got another idea that if it works, it could save me a lot of money...

instead of replacing my PSU with a beefier one (very expensive), i could have a second dedicated PSU only for the video card...
a 400watt PSU is considerably cheaper than the 800W+ needed to power this rig alone (even using my old PSU as part of the trade)
i have to check if a PSU  on the 400W range with the required current on the 12V line (about 28-30A) actually exists...
if i can find one, it could be a better deal to have 2 PSUs instead of a single powerful one... or am i stretching it too far here?

Cheers

HarvesteR

DO NOT WIRE A HIGH CURRENT VIDEO CARD TO A PSU ALL BY ITSELF


Dual PSU can be used, but the 2nd unit (PSU2) must only power the HDD, CDrom, fans, fan controllers, temp monitors, floppy, or other device that is not plugged into the motherboard via a PCie or PCI slot. It MUST also have a special cable installed connecting it to PSU1 for power-up ,and, so the devices that are being run on PSU1 are given a common return path to both units.

PSU1 must ALWAYS power the motherboard, CPU power, PCI devices and video cards because of the nature of the circuits and the path to ground for the rail.

If you use the GTS card and don

ok ok forget about dual PSUs... seems to be too much trouble anyways

i found an affordable 600W (RMS) PSU with 40A on the 12V lines... will that hold up a single GTX card? or should i spring for a 750W unit?

i don't really have a whole lot of devices that are also drawing power, just 1 SATA HD, DVD drive, floppy drive and 3 case fans (two 8cm and one 12cm diam.), so it seems 600W should be enough, considering the GTX takes about 160W...

again, between a rock and a hard place  ::)

the bright side is that i've decided to go with the GTX model, and cope with the added price of the new PSU, now it's just a matter of power vs price

ok ok forget about dual PSUs... seems to be too much trouble anyways

i found an affordable 600W (RMS) PSU with 40A on the 12V lines... will that hold up a single GTX card?

i don't really have a whole lot of devices that are also drawing power, just 1 SATA HD, DVD drive, floppy drive and 3 case fans (two 8cm and one 12cm diam.), so i think it should be enough, considering the GTX takes about 160W...

there won't be too much room to add a second 8800 later on, but considering my budget, it seems like the best option

Sounds like it may work... post the FULL PSU specs or a link to it so I can get the specs. I need to see all the numbers

A PSU can be rated for 600watts with 40A on the 12v rail, and if the efficiency rating of the unit under full load is < = 69%, that means you get more like 400-480watts and about 28-32A if you are lucky so its more than just the watt/amp rating that matters.


If I can see the load efficiency rating I can tell you if it will work for sure.

i edited my post while you were replying, but your aswer still works  ;)

i went over the specs again for this PSU, and it doesn't really say anything about it's efficiency...  hmm :-?

i'm really not sure here... although i think it could take the strain, i'm gonna check prices on more powerful PSUs just to be on the safe side

EDIT: oh and one more thing... i realized i probably won't go into SLI setups, since by the time i gather enough cash to buy the second card, a more than twice as powerful video card will probably be available (Geforce Series 9, maybe?), so i've realized that unless i have the money to get 2 cards in one go, it's probably not worth it... so, there's really not a great need to have a ton of PSU power right now... a little more than enough should do 8-)

[quote]i edited my post while you were replying, but your aswer still works

ok, it's settled now! i bought the GTX and a 750W PSU, just to be safe

it gets here tomorrow, and then it's smooth sailing from here on 8-)

thanks everyone for all the help... drinks would be on me if i still had any money left

now onto playing FSX with full graphics

Cheers

HarvesteR

...FSX with full graphics...

yes, i know.... but a man can dream right?