9800 GT x 2 or GTX 460 in older rig?

[BobLoblaw]

Hey guys,

I need to buy a new video card because my 8800 GTS just died again and I'm tired of baking the sob.

My rig is a few years old: Asus P5N-E Mobo, C2D6400 2.13Ghz, 2GB RAM 6400


Obviously, the single GTX 460 is a newer and better card......my concern is that because of my older PC, that it won't be able to get the full punch out of the 460. Perhaps running 2 9800 GT cards SLI would be sufficient? Also, 9800 GT cards can be had for $40 each right now. At some point, I'll fully update all components, but I can't do that right now. What do you guys think?


If you guys know of some other good cards for under $150, let me know. I've also been looking at the 550 TI card.....

[edDV]

The first 2 issues to check would be physical space (double wide cards) and power requirememnts. Next would be adequate cooling.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-460-sli-geforce-gtx-480,2694.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2964.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-radeon-graphics,2977.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card-radeon-hd-6990-geforce-gtx-590,2912-7.html

[BobLoblaw]

I know for sure I can fit and cool whatever option I go with.....I'm more interested in which option is the best "bang for my buck", so to speak.I don't want to spend more than I have to but I want to ensure good performance.

[edDV]

I Googled "9800gt vs gtx 460" and got several references like this one.
http://www.overclock.net/nvidia/879774-9800gt-sli-single-gtx-460-oc.html

[Cauptain]

Hey guys,

I need to buy a new video card because my 8800 GTS just died again and I'm tired of baking the sob.

My rig is a few years old: Asus P5N-E Mobo, C2D6400 2.13Ghz, 2GB RAM 6400


Obviously, the single GTX 460 is a newer and better card......my concern is that because of my older PC, that it won't be able to get the full punch out of the 460. Perhaps running 2 9800 GT cards SLI would be sufficient? Also, 9800 GT cards can be had for $40 each right now. At some point, I'll fully update all components, but I can't do that right now. What do you guys think?


If you guys know of some other good cards for under $150, let me know. I've also been looking at the 550 TI card.....

2x9800 GT or 1 GTX 460??? No one.

For your PC only 1 9800 GT(X) is very good. Up to this your PC will be bottleneck.


Claudio

[aedipuss]

the gtx 460. it has more and faster ddr5 vram. some games won't use sli and some won't run with just 512mb ram these days.

i have a gtx 460 with 2gb ram in an old p35 chipset board and it's a screamer even with just a pci-e x16 slot like your board not the newer pci-e (2.0) 16 slot. plays witcher 2 on high quality setting no problem.

[BobLoblaw]

So what Claudio said isn't correct about a awesome card being a waste on my machine...........true it will have some bottlenecking, but the card will still shine when it counts?

[Cauptain]

So what Claudio said isn't correct about a awesome card being a waste on my machine...........true it will have some bottlenecking, but the card will still shine when it counts?

Check in any site about video-cards. Post your config and waiting for equal answers like mine only.

Your PC is no good for GTX 460. Many bootleneck will get.



Claudio

[aedipuss]

So what Claudio said isn't correct about a awesome card being a waste on my machine...........true it will have some bottlenecking, but the card will still shine when it counts?

Check in any site about video-cards. Post your config and waiting for equal answers like mine only.

Your PC is no good for GTX 460. Many bootleneck will get.



Claudio

you said that already. i can vouch it's just not true. went from a 8600 to a 460 in a p35 chipset board and it's night and day. the first card wouldn't even load witcher 2 the 460 plays it on high.

[Cauptain]

you said that already. i can vouch it's just not true. went from a 8600 to a 460 in a p35 chipset board and it's night and day. the first card wouldn't even load witcher 2 the 460 plays it on high.

You do not understand. I'm speaking from the point of view to leave the computer was a high performance. If Q8400 + DDR3 i will indicate a GTX460.

Below that is going to bottleneck.

Even if you feel an improvement, the board will not use its power, it will be limited by the processor / memory / P35. Simple.

If you want more information, go to a site of video cards and do what I said.

It is better to invest in a new PC or get a 9800GT.

[aedipuss]

there is no bottleneck the pci-e (1.0)x16 slot has a bandwidth capability of 250MB/s and the gtx460 only uses ~ 115MB/s max. the gpu isn't tied to the cpu so it will run just fine.

a p35 chipset uses ddr2, and a 460 works very nicely in it.

the 9800 is the same as the 8800.

a gtx460 could be moved to a newer motherboard/cpu and work well, a 9800 would probably be thrown out.

[Cauptain]

there is no bottleneck the pci-e (1.0)x16 slot has a bandwidth capability of 250MB/s and the gtx460 only uses ~ 115MB/s max. the gpu isn't tied to the cpu so it will run just fine.

a p35 chipset uses ddr2, and a 460 works very nicely in it.

the 9800 is the same as the 8800.

a gtx460 could be moved to a newer motherboard/cpu and work well, a 9800 would probably be thrown out.

OK, ALL videocards sites are wrong...No more about this.

[BobLoblaw]

Ishould also add that my monitor (Samsung 931c) max rez is 1280x1080. How much bearing does that have on what card I should get?

[edDV]

Ishould also add that my monitor (Samsung 931c) max rez is 1280x1080. How much bearing does that have on what card I should get?

None if you just want to watch 1280x1080.

If your system can accommodate it, the GTX-460 will give a better game frame rate. If the system won't run at that speed, your next system should. If your power supply and/or cooling are inadequate, the 460 won't run on the current system.

[aedipuss]

the gtx460 here is hooked up to a samsung 1680x1050 lcd. works fine, cards don't really care what size the monitor is, as long as it a standard size. you did mean 1280x1024 didn't you?

[edDV]

...
you did mean 1280x1024 didn't you?

Yeah, 1280x1080 is most likely a plasma TV.