Need GPU upgrade advice please

[Black Panther]

Topic is the desktop (not laptop) in my system specs:

E8400 which is 4.2Ghz stable, 6GB RAM (somewhat I can only get 5GB recognisable but that's not important)

Anyway right now I'm working with a single 8800GT on Vista x64.
I don't have the option for SLI or CF on the P5B mobo obviously...

I have budget sufficently saved up for a high-end card, and am undecided between either an EVGA GTX 280 1GB Superclocked for € 438.99 or a Gainward HD4870X2 2048MB for € 459.00

Apart from that, I gotta change PSU. The one I got currently has 2 x 12V rails which supply 16A and 18A. Well sufficient for an 8800GT but not for any of the above quoted GPU's which need over 40A in 12V rail.

What I would like to know is what GPU would it be best for me to get now. Or would it be better if I wait for the 295 Nvidia or the next gen ATI card?

And which PSU would it be best that I get, preferably from the same shop here please see list of PSU's available.

[erocker]

W1zzard has a review of the Hiper TypeM 780W and it looks very good. http://www.mmd-trading.com/index.php...code=HPU-4M780

The 4870X2 is a fine card, however there will always be the fact that single GPU cards will be better optimized for games and have less problems. The GTX280 is a great card, however it's being replaced very shortly with the GTX285 55nm version. If you want to get something now, the GTX280 isn't that good of a choice for the price you're paying. If you want the 1gb of memory onboard, what about a 1gb 4870? Ok, I see that isn't an option at the store you have to use so, it goes back to the GTX280 vs. the 4870x2. I would say that the 4870x2 is worth the extra € 20 over the GTX.

[Black Panther]

I can also buy from this store:

PSU's

GPU's

They only have the GTX280 with 1GB vram though...
If I upgrade, I'd want 1GB or more vram.

[spearman914]

I'll recommend you the GTX280. HD4870x2 runs very hot if it's on a reference cooler but I'll doubt a non-reference cooler will give a huge decrease in temps.

[Black Panther]

Well I don't really mind the heat, I mean it's a dual-slot cooler so heat will get blown out of the case?

What's the disadvantage of having a card run hot? Apart for possibly more power consumption? Low overclocking potential perhaps?

As long as it can deal with today's games/benchmarks and not artifact it'd be ok for me.

[ShadowFold]

I would get a 4870X2 over a 280 any day

[erocker]

Originally Posted by spearman914

I'll recommend you the GTX280. HD4870x2 runs very hot if it's on a reference cooler but I'll doubt a non-reference cooler will give a huge decrease in temps.

No, it really doesn't when you have fan control.

Originally Posted by ShadowFold

I would get a 4870X2 over a 280 any day

Could you elaborate?


The 4870X2 is the best out of what you have to choose and is deffinitely worth it over the GTX280. I would go with the 4870x2 and the Hiper PSU based off of the good reviews they get.

[ShadowFold]

Well if its two of my 4850's than I would imagine its awesome.

[Black Panther]

Well yes those were the local shops, but I can always buy from OcUK.

If the sterling goes any lower.... they'd start to be a bargain I guess!

[Sylvester]

nVidia are launching die shrunk cards on Jan 8th which will throw the 285 into the mix. Should be cooler running, less power and / or faster clocks than the 280 and no X2 snags. This is what I am considering to replace a 3870X2 which is not performing right in older games. 280s are end of line in a month and so you would do better to wait two weeks IMHO.

http://vr-zone.com/articles/geforce-....html?doc=6259

[apheX?]

If your going for high performance wait for either the GTX285 or GTX295.
Or if you can wait a little more.. i would wait until ATI and NVIDIA come out with their 40nm range.

http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?op...=9688&Itemid=1

[smartali89]

wait till the end of January then buy.

[mervin]

Personally, I wouldn't wait. There's always some new technology right around the corner that offers you something better. The 4870x2 is the card to get IMO. I agree with what erocker says completely. Heat won't be a problem. My old xt1950xtx card would get up to 90 degrees while playing games, but even then the card never crashed. I didn't start to worry about my temps until I started overclocking it, but even then heat was never an issue because I'd use riva tuner to control the temps and the card would run fine.

As for the psu: that's up to you. For the price I'd say the Corsair or PCP&C 750w are both really hard to beat. You could even get the Corsair 650w psu and run that card with no problems if you wanted to. Hiper also makes great power supplies. They're kind of an unknown company that doesn't get much recognition, but they make good stuff from what I've seen. Going with them would be a good decision as well.

[apheX?]

Originally Posted by mervin

Personally, I wouldn't wait. There's always some new technology right around the corner that offers you something better. The 4870x2 is the card to get IMO. I agree with what erocker says completely. Heat won't be a problem. My old xt1950xtx card would get up to 90 degrees while playing games, but even then the card never crashed. I didn't start to worry about my temps until I started overclocking it, but even then heat was never an issue because I'd use riva tuner to control the temps and the card would run fine.

errm I have to disagree here. Your right there's always something around the corner but something that's about to come out in 2-3weeks you can wait for. If you get something that's just come out uv'e got the latest and will do until they bring out another card (Q2?). If you get an ATI 4870x2 and then 2 weeks later the GTX295 comes out and beats it your going to be gutted and besides, I read that they are pricing the GTX295 very competitively!! possibly cheaper than the 4870x2?

[Black Panther]

I think I'll be waiting till mid/end January. I can hold on...

It'd be great if the GTX295 is going to be very competitive - even if it isn't, in the event that I won't be able to afford it I'm sure it will lower the prices of the other cards on the market.
Thank you all.

[HolyCow02]

+1 on the wait. With the 295's coming out you can either get that or get the 280's which will im sure drop in price