Graphics Update to GTX460

[Delf]

Newbie to this forum with little or no tech experience when it comes to computers so would like to call upon your knowledge and guidance if I may.

Like me, my system is on the old side as you will see, I would like to change the graphics card from Nvidia Geforce 7950 GX2 to GTX460. A friend has told me I would need to update my old system first. Is that correct as I do not have the reday cash to go down that track? So would be looking at staying with Windows XP.

My current system specs:

Wndows XP Home (5.1 build 2600) including SP3
System Manufacturer - GBT
Model GBTUACPI
Bios Award Modular BIOS V6.00PG
Processor - intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory - 2814MB RAM (have 2 X Mem Team Xtreem dark PC6400 2GB kit 800M) total of 4GB (understand XP will only utilize approx 3GB)
PSU - Corsair 620W HX620 Modular Power Supply
Sound - SB Audigy with four speakers and one subwoofer

Graphics cards - GeForce 7950 GX2 and GeForce FX5500PCI.
Motherboard - Gigabyte 6 Quad

The PC Tower is Thermaltake Soprano.

Questions.
1. Would the motherboard take the GTX460

2. PSU is 620W is that sufficient?

3. I understand the limiting factor would be the OS (XP) and the GXT460 would not run to it's full potential but would I see some improvement in graphic presentation and frame rates over what the 7950 GX2 can offer? I do have a frame rate and refresh rate (60Hz) problem with this older card.

4. The system is the heart and power source for my home built Boeing 737 cockpit set-up. I currently run three 21" and one smaller 12" LCD(s) plus Sanyo short throw projector from the one PC.

5. The Flight Simulator version is FS9 with the aircraft model being PMDG 737NG.

This is the GTX460 model I am considering.

EVGA GTX460 675M/3600M 768MB/D-DVI/HDMI#

LONG DESCRIPTION: Performance
675 MHz GPU
336 CUDA Cores
400 MHz RAMDAC

Memory
768 MB, 192 bit GDDR5
3800 MHz (effective)
86.4 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

Interface
PCI-E 2.0 16x
DVI-I, DVI-I, Mini-HDMI
SLI Capable

Resolution & Refresh
240Hz Max Refresh Rate
2048x1536 Max Analog
2560x1600 Max Digital

Notes: Built from the ground up for DirectX 11, the EVGA GeForce GTX 460 delivers the ultimate next generation gaming experience. With up to 4x the DirectX tessellation performance of the competition*, the EVGA GeForce GTX 460 packs incredible detail and blazing fast frames into your games – without blowing your budget.

In addition, the EVGA GeForce GTX 460 supports NVIDIA 3D Vision, Surround Gaming, PhysX and CUDA technologies making this card the ultimate value for the gaming enthusiast. And with award winning support, utilities and community, you can’t go wrong with the GTX 460 from EVGA.



MANUFACTURER: EVGA
MODEL #: 768-P3-1360-TR

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Delf - Perth, West Australia where they forecast 38deg C for both Xmas and Boxing Day. Hope the weather improves for you guys in the U.K.

BTW, Seasons greetings from Down Under

 

[LiamJ]

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Windows XP doesn't support DX11, so you won't get all the new features, but yes there will be a substantial increase in framerates across the board.

Questions 4 and 5 are not questions.

 

[Nemeses]

that board/psu would run it fine as said you wont get the extra from dx11, which for now is not really a issue.

you will see a difference in gaming.

 

[Delf]

Thanks

G'day LiamJ and Wab,

Thanks for the reply, understand XP does not support DX11. Had concern about noise and cooling with the GTX460 but reading the posts on here it would seem those issues are not too excessive.

Running Flight Sim 2004 cannot be compared to the high performance games available today, hopefully the 460 will handle the sim and still have plenty in reserve.

Cheers,
Delf.

 

[tom91x91]

will be fine mate, the only other option is to upgrade to a quad core cpu which will help in some games too

 

[Diplexbullet19]

460 can handle metro 2066 on highest so it will run most games. Ive been having problems with random lag and stuttering, i thought was over heating but it never got over 69 but ive removed the side of my case and havent had trouble since so something must be happening with airflow.

 

[Kenai]

Be aware the GTX560 will likely appear in January as a response to AMDs latest card in that sector so you may want to wait as you can either get that or take advantage of the GTX460 price drop that will happen.

 

[tom91x91]

460 can handle metro 2066 on highest so it will run most games. Ive been having problems with random lag and stuttering, i thought was over heating but it never got over 69 but ive removed the side of my case and havent had trouble since so something must be happening with airflow.

with 460's they run fairly cool and the fans are good but all the hot air is just expelled into the case, so may be that.