Need Help - Upgrading 8800gts 320mb!

[lagerfiend]

Hi knowledgeable ones!

I have decided to upgrade my 8800 320, its been around a while now!
I would like a 250 or a 260, as both would show a fairly good increase over my existing card.

here is where i would like recommendations - I'm a bit of a cool and quite freak and would like to know of a 250 or 260 that runs nice and cool and quiet when idle, and not to loud under load.

any links to reviews etc would be appreciated!
thanks in advance!
Lag.

 

[widdyst]

I have Evga 260gtx's and at idle they are lovely and quiet. I use nvidia performance tools to automatically ramp the fans to 75% when any 3D application starts, Now although not quiet at this they are definitely bearable anyway if the noise does bother you just turn the volume up on your speakers

 

[lagerfiend]

thanks,
can you post me some idle/load temps?

 

[widdyst]

38º at idle and then doing a full benchmark test with furmark with cards clocked at settings in my sig temps reach 65º with 75% fans.
A 2 Hour session with Crysis maxed out very high, 16xAA temps reach 70º - 75º

 

[lagerfiend]

far better than the 84/85 i get with my 8800 320 then

 

[widdyst]

What case and other cooling do you have though ?
I'm using a modded (big 220mm side panel fan) antec 900 and I must say that this probably contributes to my lower temps

 

[lagerfiend]

Antec P182, the temps stay below 80 when i remember to put the fans on high, but if i forget it tends to get to about 85 and fall over

 

[widdyst]

OK are you running that case with just the 2 standard fans ? If so I would suggest fitting the extra 3 fans in the places provided
Also download and install nvidia tools http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/nvidia_system_tools_6.03_uk.html and configure it to auto set your fans whenever you start a game, that way you cant forget to turn your fans up. I have found that to be an excellent bit of tweaking software and will also provide on screen temp displays etc

 

[MR.B]

The 260 is a quiet card considering it's peformance, you wont find quieter in that area.
And i wouldn't bother with the 250 as it's just a 9800 GTX+ with a name change. The 9xxx series and under also have inferior and less vivid colour reproduction compared to the real 2xx series GPU's.

 

[lagerfiend]

okies thanks gents!

might well just get a bunch of new fans, plug them into the mobo (as the case fans in the 183 are all molex) and try the nvidia tools for now - the card is running everything i play at full res for now, was just a bit worried about the over heating that's all....

will update this when i have done the above!

(unless anyone wants to recommend fans )

 

[Steviepunk]

The 260 is a quiet card considering it's peformance, you wont find quieter in that area.
And i wouldn't bother with the 250 as it's just a 9800 GTX+ with a name change. The 9xxx series and under also have inferior and less vivid colour reproduction compared to the real 2xx series GPU's.

and isn't the 9800 GTX+ just a slightly modified 8800 GTS 512MB?

got the 8800GTS as well and have been thinking about upgrading, from what I've seen so far it just isn't worth upgrading to anything less than a GTX 260

 

[jamesgoss]

I upgraded from an 8800gts 320 over a month ago now to a 4870 1GB and the difference is fantastic. I'm only gaming on 1440 x 900 but my games are now silky smooth with whatever I can throw at them. Mind you I only got the 4870 because the 260 (216) wouldn't fit in my case! But I think they're both on a par really

my particular card is a Gainward one with their own custom dual fan cooler, which keeps the card much cooler than stock. I believe they do one for the 260 too? Hope I'm not making that up but I think they do

EDIT: found it for you http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-104-GW&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927