Need to replace GPU (9800GX2)

[grantsmith82]

Hi all,
I need to replace my GPU (Nvidea MSI 9800GX2)

i need something that is going to be same spec or better (for as cheap as possible) and has to have the spdif (2pin) input to run the sound through the gpu and out of the HDMI.

the reason i need a replacement is that my 3 pins on my spdif output on my MB is not laballed and i must have connected it to power pin (rather than ground)
which caused the lead to instantaniously melt/smoke.

this caused the little 2pin connection clip on the gpu to melt. so i can actually plug the 2pin spdif cable in either way (im not sure which way it should be) the pins are still there but i feel it maybe a little unsafe now.

on a side note can someone advise which way the plug should go in (black wire on left or right?)

 

[Mr. May]

Second hand 275 or 280 should be a good buy.

 

[grantsmith82]

do they both have the spdif input on them? can someone also advise which way they plug in so i can ensure i have mine plugged in the correct way round

 

[james.miller]

budget? a recent enough gpu will have an SPU onboard so you wont need to use a cable at all.

 

[grantsmith82]

budget as cheap as poss lol i guess you pay for what you get..
whats a SPU?? this illiminates the need to run a spdif from the MB into the GPU?
and will output sound (and video) from the hdmi out of the gpu?

 

[flinco]

All gfx cards after the nvidia 2** series and ati 4*** series all have integrated sound and will output that sound over hdmi.

 

[grantsmith82]

so what cards dont require a spdif cable at all as james mentioned?

can someone also confirm the coloured wires for the left/ right pin on the spdif connector

 

[james.miller]

so what cards dont require a spdif cable at all as james mentioned?

Any ATi hd3xxx series has an onboard SPU and above does not need an external connection for audio.

3 series: standard ('dvd audio') Dolby digital and DTS output and stereo LPCM.
4 series: All of the above plus up to 192khz 32bit 7 channel lossless PCM (aka 'LPCM')
5 series: All of the above plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS:MA ('HD audio') bitstreaming.



A card of comparable performance to your gx2 which also supports all of the audio formats from ati would be something like the hd5850 which can be had for 60-70 quid second hand. I dont know that much about nvidia.

budget as cheap as poss lol i guess you pay for what you get..
whats a SPU?? this illiminates the need to run a spdif from the MB into the GPU?
and will output sound (and video) from the hdmi out of the gpu?

sound processing unit. Nvidia likes to call it an audio processing unit and yes, these cards output audio and video over HDMI

 

[palaw]

Going from this card to a 680 next week.

Should be a bit of an upgrade

 

[CaptainRAVE]

I had one of those OP, cracking little card!

 

[zx|muppet]

i miss my 2 evga 9800gx2's but still need to hear a budget you looking at