Considering a GTX 260...

[dirtydog]

I currently have a 9600GT. It seems to be on the way out so I am wondering what to get as its replacement.

I want to get an nvidia card and am looking at either a 9800GT or a GTX 260.

First of all, will my PSU (in sig) be sufficient for a GTX 260 with my CPU? It provides 33 amps on a single 12v rail.

Is it a good card in terms of performance versus price, or is there something better from nvidia coming soon which I should wait for, or a price drop on the 260?

I am not very clued up on the graphics card market so would appreciate some informed opinions.

 

[Overslop]

New nVidia cards coming in January. Best wait until then imo.

 

[Blackwhite]

There will be new GTX285 - but price will be around 300 pounds or more
If you want to go for GTX 260 go for 216 ver.
You PSU should be fine with this.

 

[dirtydog]

You PSU should be fine with this.

Sure? Even with a power hungry Q6600?

 

[antonusklesk]

It may well be fine, but the 260 afaik requires 36amps on the 12v rail so I'd try and see if anyone has one running on that PSU first.

 

[james.miller]

that would be a recommended figure for the psu, not what the card uses. 36 amps @ 12v would equate to 432 watts, which is more than an entire pc with a gtx260 in it would draw

http://hothardware.com/Articles/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-280-and-GTX-260-Unleashed/?page=13

for instance..

 

[antonusklesk]

Ah ok, when I was researching buying mine though all sources i found said it required a PSU with 36amps on the 12v. Perhaps playing it safe?

Just had a further look and it shouldn't pull any more than about 15 amps to hit it's TDP of 182W.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Id just go for the 260-216, theres no point waiting imo, as the 285 is only an overlcocked 280 on a smaller 55nm, and the only other card from them is that 295, the GX2 one.

There is a 55nm 260-216 coming (or its shipping now), but you'll just have to take a guess as to which ones those are, as Nvidia are having them slipped in quietly, as they have too many of the 65nm's left which they want shot off.

 

[elpedro]

You PSU should be fine with this.

500w minimum according to MSI manual (OC edition/192 shader) - I believe 216 is 550w?

 

[LoadsaMoney]

I would think the Corsair PSU would be fine, as its got one big 12v rail, and it would be that thats the most important, the 12v rails.

 

[dirtydog]

Yeah the overall wattage is rather meaningless. There will be plenty of 500w or even 600w PSUs which provide less than 33A on the 12v line.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Yep, ive got a 520w PSU, and it only has 1x 12v rail at 28a.

 

[elpedro]

Yeah, I understand watt requirement is always more than needed, just factoring his 65nm quad and any overclocking. Surely a warranty is void if u run on a less than is specified PSU?