Looking for an Nvidia card only to replace 9600GT...

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 16:12

My 9600GT failed and I am looking for a replacement. I might as well get something a bit quicker, and I want to stick with nvidia.

My power supply is a 450w Corsair which has 30A on a single 12v rail, and just ONE PCI-E power cable. This rules out some cards which I would otherwise consider, like the GTX 260 because they need two cables plus I think my PSU would be too stretched. It is already powering an energy hungry Q6600 CPU.

Would the GTS 250 be a good choice? This for example for £85...

http://overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-199-AS

Can anyone confirm that this is 55nm and that it only requires one PCI-E power connection? From the image that seems to be the case. Also is this card normal spec or poverty spec because it seems cheap? It says the memory is 1100MHz effective, which I assume? is an error because it should be 2200MHz effective. The 70GB/sec bandwidth figure is accurate I believe and tallies with the correct 2200MHz effective memory speed.

I have looked at various reviews of the GTS 250 and some of them say the card is very power hungry. I gather some of them you can buy are still 65nm so maybe that is why.

Is the GTS 250 a good card, is the one I linked to in particular a good card, or is there another alternative which will work in my system with my PSU and one PCI-E cable?

wellibob · 26 Jun 2009 at 16:26

i would hunt down a cheap 8800GT tbh

MeatLoaf · 26 Jun 2009 at 16:57

I ran an 8800GTX off a VX450 and it ran great, had to use a 2xmolex to 6 pin pci-e plug tho

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 19:09

Anyone know about the GTS 250 please?

kylew · 26 Jun 2009 at 19:59

dirtydog said:
Anyone know about the GTS 250 please?

It's just a rebranded G92 graphics card. Basically a 9800GTX+ with a new sticker and model name.

I don't get why you want to stay with nvidia, you'll get better value if you get a 4870, they're around the same price as a GTS250 for a lot more performance.

I'd say you're just wasting your money for nothing other than a petty dislike otherwise.

Dauthi · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:03

kylew said:
I don't get why you want to stay with nvidia, you'll get better value if you get a 4870, they're around the same price as a GTS250 for a lot more performance.

.

+1 as the 4870's come with a molex to 6 pin connector

or go for a 4670 and put the remaining cash towards a future PSU.

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:03

kylew said:
It's just a rebranded G92 graphics card. Basically a 9800GTX+ with a new sticker and model name.

I know that much

I was hoping for some answers to my specific questions.

I don't get why you want to stay with nvidia, you'll get better value if you get a 4870, they're around the same price as a GTS250 for a lot more performance.

I'd say you're just wasting your money for nothing other than a petty dislike otherwise.

So the only reason people buy nvidia cards is a petty dislike of ATI... right.

I was hoping for a few sensible replies to my questions, if you don't know the answer or aren't willing to give the answer, please don't waste my time replying.

Raikiri · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:04

I have got to agree with the 4870 1GB (£105) or a used 8800GT (£40-45), the 4870 is the only worthwhile upgrade without spending a fortune and the 8800GT is a slightly faster, cheap replacement.

dirtydog said:
So the only reason people buy nvidia cards is a petty dislike of ATI... right.

Well then why aren't you a bit more forthcoming with information? The more you tell people the more they can help.

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:06

If only people would read the OP, and have the respect not to ignore and disregard what I've said...

Dauthi · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:07

the gtx 250 u posted has only 1 pci-e socket on the picture so should be fine connectorwise

kylew · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:09

dirtydog said:
I know that much I was hoping for some answers to my specific questions.

So the only reason people buy nvidia cards is a petty dislike of ATI... right.

I was hoping for a few sensible replies to my questions, if you don't know the answer or aren't willing to give the answer, please don't waste my time replying.

I'm working with limited information, care to elaborate? Or are you just going to insist I'm wasting your time?

If you're willing to spend £100 odd on a GTS250, while stating no ATi when the 4870 is a lot faster, what else do you expect people to conclude?

It's fact that buying a GTS250 over a 4870 is a poor value/waste of money.

Quite a bit less performance for the same money? What else do you expect me to think. :confused:

There's so many people on these forums with irrational or impossible reasons for insisting that they stay away from a certain brand.

It's not even a case of I'm saying the 4870 explicitly, a 4850 is still better value than the nvidia counterpart.

I'm pretty sure a 450w PSU, especially with it being a corsair, would have no problem with a 4870, you get a 6pin PCI-E to 2 molex adapter anyway.

A friend of mine is running 2900s in crossfire with a 600w PSU, I know it's an additional 150w, but 2900XT crossfire surely uses a lot more power than a single 4870.

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:13

People can conclude whatever they like, so long as they keep their thoughts to themselves and don't trash my thread.

Raikiri · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:14

dirtydog said:
If only people would read the OP, and have the respect not to ignore and disregard what I've said...

dirtydog said:
My 9600GT failed and I am looking for a replacement. I might as well get something a bit quicker, and I want to stick with nvidia.

Why?

dirtydog said:
My power supply is a 450w Corsair which has 30A on a single 12v rail, and just ONE PCI-E power cable. This rules out some cards which I would otherwise consider, like the GTX 260 because they need two cables plus I think my PSU would be too stretched. It is already powering an energy hungry Q6600 CPU.

450w with from a good brand like Corsair is more than powerful enough for basically any single GPU card. You can get molex > PCI-e adapters.

dirtydog said:
Would the GTS 250 be a good choice? This for example for £85...

http://overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-199-AS

No, not when the 1gb 4870 is only £20 more (or £6 more if you get the one in B-grade). Unless you have a valid reason not to buy ATi I wouldn't get it, if you do have a valid reason it's an alright deal.

dirtydog said:
Can anyone confirm that this is 55nm and that it only requires one PCI-E power connection? From the image that seems to be the case. Also is this card normal spec or poverty spec because it seems cheap? It says the memory is 1100MHz effective, which I assume? is an error because it should be 2200MHz effective. The 70GB/sec bandwidth figure is accurate I believe and tallies with the correct 2200MHz effective memory speed.

It only used one PCI-e cable, the spec is pretty standard for a 250GTS and yes the memory is 2200mhz.

dirtydog said:
I have looked at various reviews of the GTS 250 and some of them say the card is very power hungry. I gather some of them you can buy are still 65nm so maybe that is why.

Is the GTS 250 a good card, is the one I linked to in particular a good card, or is there another alternative which will work in my system with my PSU and one PCI-E cable?

The cards themselves are much the same, main differences would be the cooler/bundle/warranty etc.

Remember you're asking for help, be happy you're getting any at all.

JohnnyG · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:15

Calm down DD, just ignore the posts you find irrelevant and your questions are bound to get answered

kylew · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:16

dirtydog said:
People can conclude whatever they like, so long as they keep their thoughts to themselves and don't trash my thread.

Wow, you need to man up and stop being such a little girl.

Hearing something you don't want to hear isn't trashing.

You can't complain about people making assumptions if you haven't stated anything otherwise.

I've posted because I thought I'd be able to offer you a bit of advice, and that my opinion is a GTS250 is poor value for money. If you state no reason as to why 'no ATi' then assumptions is all you will get.

You're asking for help as well. :confused:

you're to expect responses you may not want.

It's just making it look like you don't have much reason for 'no ATi' considering you've thrown a hissy fit when asked why.

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:19

Raikiri said:
450w with from a good brand like Corsair is more than powerful enough for basically any single GPU card.

Do you think it would be sufficient for a GTX 260 then? I think nvidia recommend something like a 600w PSU don't they? Albeit I realise a Corsair 450w is probably as good as a cheapo 600w. Bear in mind my CPU probably draws over 100w under load especially if overclocked.

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:21

kylew said:
Wow, you need to man up and stop being such a little girl.

Hearing something you don't want to hear isn't trashing.

You can't complain about people making assumptions if you haven't stated anything otherwise.

I've posted because I thought I'd be able to offer you a bit of advice, and that my opinion is a GTS250 is poor value for money. If you state no reason as to why 'no ATi' then assumptions is all you will get.

You're asking for help as well. you're to expect responses you may not want.

It's just making it look like you don't have much reason for 'no ATi' considering you've thrown a hissy fit when asked why.

I have various reasons why I prefer nvidia, I don't want to turn the thread into a nvidia vs ATI debate as I'm sure we're all tired of those aren't we?

I realise there are cards from ATI which have more outright speed at the same price point but speed isn't everything.

Raikiri · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:21

Yeah, I would say it's fine. The 600w quoted is mostly to cover their own arse in case you have an inferior quality PSU.

As long as you don't have a load of HDs your system probably won't draw more than 350-380w from the wall and less from the PSU.

dirtydog · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:24

JohnnyG said:
Calm down DD, just ignore the posts you find irrelevant and your questions are bound to get answered

Fair comment, sometimes patience isn't my strong suit

Dauthi · 26 Jun 2009 at 20:26

cpu 75w
mobo 20 w
cd drive 10w/drive
hd 10w/drive
OC 50w
gtx 260 220w

so at load its probably ~375-400 and probably ove esitmated abit.