Graphic Card

[Supergirl]

Hey guys and gals,

I'm back to playing games. I had stopped mainly because my computer would completely freeze, sometimes after just 30 seconds of playing.

I checked the RAM, but it looks like it's my graphic card. I had started a thread on nVidia forums, but never had time to follow up, and from what i can see, too many people are still complaining about it.

So, i guess it's the time to upgrade. well, i haven't followed much what's "hot" in graphic card world lately, and i was hoping someone could recommend something for me, or give me a summary of what's good, what to avoid.

I'm an nVidia girl.

It should be as cheap as possible, MAX $150, i'd rather spend $99.
the card that's crapping up on me is the Bfg 7950 GT OC DDR3 512 or so and i has switched from 7600 GT DDR3 which died in the other computer in the mean time. i never had problems with the 7600 when playing BF2.

Any suggestions?

thanks and :spank:

SG

[JustMeBF2]

For your budget get a 9800GT

Around $130 minus rebates. Don't forget to check your PSU
The 7950GT took like 24-26amps (Recommened)
so your probably ok.

EVGA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130435

XFX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323

Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 26 Amp Amps.)
An available 6 pin PCI-E power connector (hard drive power dongle to PCI-E 6 pin adapter included with card)

[Supergirl]

my PSU is 500W and underneath +12V it says 28A so that should be fine!

thanks a lot!!

[Dereks_06]

SAPPHIRE 100265L Radeon HD 4830 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803
99$ before rebates and 89$ after.

640 stream processors which is about equal to about 128 Nvidia stream processors. Ati list each one of their units as a stream processor. Nvidia combines the 4 units into a single stream processor. Ati GPUs have 5 different units therefor its 640/5=128. 4 simple and 1 complex unit for ATI which added makes the 5 that I divided by. Can't remember what Nvidias are like but it might be just 4 simple ones that are just slightly less simpler than ATI's simple units.

Compared to the 9800GT I think this would be the better buy since they trade blows depending on the resolution and game engine, but this one cost less. They require the same amount of power in load but in idle the HD4830 takes slightly less ~6watts.

Seems like you haven't had much luck with gpus. Do you blow them out so they don't get clogged with dust ever so often? My 4850 was hitting 118C (And still managed to hold its overclock) after it wasn't cleaned for 4 months. Or maybe it's just a Nvidia thing :bolt:

[Mad5cout]

Something to keep in mind is that the Nividia GTX 295 just released this month. There is a marginal chance that this may drop the GTX 260 prices into your price range over the next few weeks/months. The only reason that they wouldn't is that they are an extremely popular card nad have no problem selling. If you are in a rush to make a purchase, go for the 9800 GT. Although there are 9800 GTX's for that little as well.

The only other thing to consider if you jump to the GTX 200 series cards is your power supply as mentioned earlier.

Anyway, here is a comparison of 3 9800 GT's by companies I trust that you could consider:

Newegg Comparison (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=2010380048&StoreType=-1&CompareItemList=N82E16814150316%2cN82E16814130384% 2cN82E16814143160&Manufactory=1402%2c1315%2c1314%2c1883%2c1669&PropertyCodeValue=696%3a33099%2c3055%3a20548%2c679 %3a42536%2c683%3a20729%2c683%3a46196%2c683%3a10557 %2c683%3a37012%2c683%3a40784%2c686%3a25271%2c686%3 a42010&bop=And)

I prefer EVGA as a company. They tend to get higher marks in reliability than BFG or XFX and I am under the impression that their software support is a ton better too.

[Supergirl]

Thanks a lot for your input!

@Derek

the 7600 was in my parent's computer after i swapped it with the 7950 from theirs, and the most they do is arcade games. one morning my mom just said the screen was blank (i actually never tested if it was the card. maybe worth a try) and i put the original 7300 in their computer. so i assumed it's blown.

the 7950 works, it just makes my computer freeze completely.
i somehow like nVidia, or better to say, i don't have time to do a lot of research and comparison, since i didn't own an ATI in at least 6-7 years, i'd have to do the research from scratch. so, i'll buy one more nVidia, and if i have a bad experience with it, i'll switch to ATI!

thank you for your input! i really appreciate it!

@madScout

so, this would then be a good deal?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4037153&CatId=3670

looks like tigerdirect has quite a few of GTX for way under $200 (look bfg, evga)

my PSU is 500W with 28A, shouldn't this be enough?

thanks!

[JustMeBF2]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4209965&Sku=P450-9830

This is the GT $100 less (if you count the $30 rebate)
Main difference for your saved $100 is 16 streaming processors.

Going from the 7950gt you won't know the difference on your pc,
but will in your wallet er purse will.

On the 7950gt freezing, you may want to make sure it is the video
card first. Since if it is the PSU and you end up replacing that
then you would be better off spending $200-250 on the video card and get a
GTX 260. ERR wait, you are not using a old P4 CPU LOL

The freezing could be driver issues also. Get Drive Cleaner Pro (free).
and reinstall an older verison of the nvidia driver first.

Link for Cleaner and older versions of nvidia drivers that might be
more suitable for that 7950GT

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745

[lamah]

supah, if you're still using a 20ms monitor, you mite wanna upgrade to a 5ms or 2ms as well

the prices of 22" and 24" monitors are the best right now

[Gruthar]

I'm with JustMe, it does sound like the 7950 is having driver problems, possibly overheating. I would try reloading a different set of drivers and cleaning out the card, first. If that doesn't work, see if you can swap another card in temporarily.

You should be absolutely sure that it's the card causing the freezing, otherwise you're back to square one when you upgrade.

[Supergirl]

I am pretty sure it's the graphic card, since it never happened with the 7600 GT. i tested the RAM more than once, and took some out etc. it still freezes.

PSU is not old. i bought it for this computer, and as i said, it didn't crash with the other card.
i have a fresh win installation, 32 bit, nothing there except fresh nvidia drivers, and it still freezes.. not even an antivirus running...

the other reason is 45 pages of results when searching for "freeze" on nvidia forums. i'm not the only one

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?act=Search&CODE=show&searchid=d0d7306e05ba47a9c6b8690dd0d409d3&search_in=posts&result_type=topics&highlite=freeze

searches for "battlefield" result in the similar number of pages of threads.

i will try out the 7600 GT tomorrow, just in case.
i'll also try the older drivers! thanks!

lamah, lol thanks, but i'll stick to my TWO 19" flats. i suck at that game anyway, so 5ms wouldn't make me any bettah!! but thanks!!!

thanks guys!!!

[Mad5cout]

We hashed this conversation out extensively in my graphics card post (here (http://www.warishellgaming.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23332)) but I would stick to your guns on Nvidia over ATI. The bottom line for me:

Yes ATI tends to clock better and give better benchmark performance per your dollar.

HOWEVER, Nvidia has always proven to me to be more reliable and stable.

ATI tend to get better professional reviews because all they test is a brand new card out of the box and benchmark it. Look at user reviews and you will find that Nvidia gets higher marks because they tend to not screw up as much and definitely have less driver problems than ATI cards.

I would rather have a card that works than a card that is supposed to work better.

[Satanic]

I have the 9600 GT from evga and it's pretty sweet. probably dropped in price since I got it 4-5 months ago too.

[Supergirl]

i just looked at the 7600 GTS and, oh boi, those capacitors (??) had exploded....

didn't make it out to tiger direct today, but will do maybe tomorrow.

[kilroy0097]

This thread inspired me to do an 6 hour project of research and writing a semi-professional article. Hope you like it.

Posted here (http://www.warishellgaming.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23592)

[Supergirl]

WOW, awesome!!

Thank you very, very, very much!!