Easy Video Card Question

[Dan Morera]

Ok so I got my two finalists (buying new video card), but I just noticed something, these video cards say they are GDDR3, is this in anyway related to my RAM memory (I got DDR2)??? I just want to be 100% sure they are compatible with my PC.

Oh I just thought about something, am I going to need a new power supply with either one of these? (I got the standard Dell one,  almost new)

CARD 1

CARD 2

Thanks
Dan

[Celtman]

The GDDR3 RAM is not affected by your PC RAM, e.g. DDR2.
So you can run a GDDR3 card on a pc with any type of RAM, as long as it meets the minimal requirements (I run a GDDR3 8800GTS on a system with DDR ram).

The type of RAM may affect how fast the card runs, not sure, wait for one of the experts to reply.

Also, for "CARD 2", you may need a new power supply if the Dell one is anything like my old dell one (300W). Open up your case and post the Watts here.

I'd go for "Card 2", as it is DX10 compatiable, but I haven't heard much about the 8500 series, so I can't be too sure.

Celtman

[jimcooper1]

Tough decision!!!

[HugoCampos]

If those are your only 2 options, go for the DX9 one because it performs better on DX9 than the 8600GT. DX10 is extremely demanding in terms of processing power and the 8600 just can't handle ANY DX10 game acceptably. Even the 8800GTX's and Ultras can't run DX10 games as resolutions higher than 1280 x 1024. Nvidia and ATI say their cards are fully DX10 compatible but what that means is they can run DX10 application. What they don't say is that for those cards to run a DX10 game, they have to sacrifice the FPS and resolution. An author of a portuguese magazine put it this way: it's like having to take 100 people from one airport to the other. If you have a 100 seat plane you can do it with one flight, if you only have a 10 seat plane you can still take everybody there but you'll take 10 times longer. So, stick with DX9 for now since the performance is much better and the quality will be almost the same as in DX10 titles for a while. When 2nd and 3rd generation DX10 games come out, as well as more powerful and cheaper hardware, then upgrade to a DX10 card.

[GunnerMan]

Well Hugo we don't have many games to test that theory on. Most DX10 games out now are patched from DX9 to 10such as Dirt. Recoding a game like this requires changing/adding a temendous amount of code and from what I have read is also a major reason why its performance is sub-par. I am sure if the samwe game was coded explicitly for dx10 then it would run much better.

Anyways Nvidias 9 series is due in time for Christmas. They are saying they will reach 1 Teraflop in processing power. This is 3 times faster than the 8800 at 330 Gflops. The ATI R600 is 450 Gflops. So a little more than 2x faster. Ill wait till December  ;D

[HugoCampos]

Well, yea, that theory is based on the few available DX10 titles and demos available: Lost Planet, Call of Juarez, Company of Heroes (Patched).
And I also heard that about the 9000 series. It should be a beast! That's why I'm going to buy an 8800gts or HD2900XT for now so I can have some money saved to buy the new baby when it comes out

[Dan Morera]

Tough decision!!!  How good is DX10 going to be???  The 8600 is DX10 compatible but the 7950 is a fantastic performer:

7950GT =  44.8 GB/sec

8600GTS = 32 GB/sec

It all depends what processor you've got...if your processor can throw more than 32 GB/sec at the card then the 7950GT may be the one to go for.  If not then the 8600 wins by virtue of its DX10 capability.

Power supply:  What DELL do you have and what Graphics card is already fitted?  Both cards require 1 x 6-pin PCIe power connector.

Regards

Jim

Jim, this is my current card RADEON X300 SE 128 MB HYPERMEMORY (ATI) 32 BIT 60HZ, what do you say? PSU ok?

Regarding my CPU is not that good, but eventually I'll go with a dual core, just not yet. Current Intel (R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.00GHZ (2CPUS)

Thanks to all for your replies, going with the 7950GT makes sense.

Dan

[lintonam]

Hey I just bought the 8600GTS superclocked from newegg about 2 weeks ago for $195. Thats slightly less than the BFG tech your looking at, and in my opinon a better card. Go with the 8600GTS if you have or plan to upgrade to vista.

[Dan Morera]

Nah no Vista for me at least not for a couple of years.

[waspiflab]

Go for this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814161093
cheaper and alot better than the 7950GT.

[Dan Morera]

wow that looks like a sweet card, but makes me wonder why so much so cheap? any thoughts? Do you have that one waspiflab?

Thanks
Dan

[jimcooper1]

wow that looks like a sweet card, but makes me wonder why so much so cheap? any thoughts? Do you have that one waspiflab?

Thanks
Dan

If you got to "Tom's Hardware site" and benchmark the 2 cards the nVidia is significantly better

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_ ... &chart=292
and the 7950 is only $9 more (with the rebates)

Regards

Jim

[Dan Morera]

Wow, if that chart is right I'm definitely getting the 7950GT, I see that on your link the 7950GT is 512mb, I'm buying the 256mb one, but still I changed it to the 256 one and it was still better than the 512mb card.

Thanks for that link man, just one more thing (sorry to bother) any idea on the PSU? I'm in a third world country and I would hate to have to wait for the PSU (if I have to buy one) just because when trying to install the new card just did have enough "juice".

Thanks to all

Dan

[jimcooper1]

Wow, if that chart is right I'm definitely getting the 7950GT, I see that on your link the 7950GT is 512mb, I'm buying the 256mb one, but still I changed it to the 256 one and it was still better than the 512mb card.

Thanks for that link man, just one more thing (sorry to bother) any idea on the PSU? I'm in a third world country and I would hate to have to wait for the PSU (if I have to buy one) just because when trying to install the new card just did have enough "juice".

Thanks to all

Dan

Changed the link to point at the correct card.

As far as the PSU is concerned...what is your DELL model?

[Dan Morera]

I know it has the 6-pin connector, but my computer I think its the C521 with the big case, if so I probably have this :280 Watt DC Power Supply. I can't tell for sure until I get home.

Thanks
Dan