Looking to upgrade my PC (Video Card)

[StatiC]

Umm... motherboards have nothing to do with cpu power (aside from overclocking capability). If you want more cpu power, you should upgrade your cpu.

Right !
but ive also heard that u can have a super fast cpu and LOW ram, thus the cpu can do fast processing , but the memory cant, does this affect OVERALL speed ?

in short, fast cpu + high RAM number = good ? DDR 3 of course...

[foq]

The CPU is the biggest factor in overall computer speed. RAM speed really isn't a huge deal. What matters most is the amount of RAM you have. Today, 4GB is ideal for gaming systems. 2GB is ideal for the typical Grandma machine with operating systems like Vista and 7 eating a bunch of RAM. If you're going to be running applications that take huge amounts of memory like AutoCAD or if you're using Photoshop with huge images, you want 8GB or more.

Now before I said that the CPU is the biggest factor in overall computer speed. If you want a gaming machine, you could have the fastest processor in the world and some shitty graphics card like a 8500GT and it will suck.

My ideal gaming system today would consist of an AMD Athlon II x3 425 (2.7GHz tri-core), 4GB DDR3 whatever (1333?) and a GTX260. Of course, I would overclock it, not because I need to to get my desired level of performance, but because I simply can't not overclock stuff.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

lol, the 8500GT is hardly a shitty graphics card. Any graphics card capable of running games that are being released not only on PC but today's next gen consoles like the 360 and the PS3 is far from shitty

And just because I can nit-pick and gloat about core clock rates, my asus 8500gt has a faster clock rate than your mentioned gtx260 hah.When prices are brought into the fold, the asus tek 8500gt wins imo. Bang for buck trumps buck for bang in the world of smart spending atleast.

for some comparison


Pricings
$72 & up - new , asus 8500gt
$170 & up - new , various vender's gtx260
Maybe those numbers will help, maybe not.

[foq]

Clockspeeds mean just about jack shit in this argument. The 8500GT had 16 stream processors and the GTX260 has either 192 or 216 depending on what model you get. Also, the 8500GT has a 128-bit memory bus, sometimes with really crappy GDDR2, sometimes with crappy GDDR3. The GTX260 has a 448-bit memory bus with good GDDR3 that clocks to ~2GHz effective (1000MHz before DDR) at stock.

Just look at the raw power of the 8500GT and GTX260 measured in GFLOPS: the 8500GT has 16.8 while the GTX260 has 714.24.

Every game I play over at my Uncle's on his spare computer (sporting my old 8500gt) runs like dog shit compared to my 9600GSO, which is a much lesser card than the GTX260.

At the end of it all: you get what you pay for. You write a shitty check, you get a shitty item.

[Phenom]

This is some good information coming through, thanks guys!

I've been out of the Pc business since 2005, its complex to keep up with when there so many new names coming out for CPU's RAM, video card, motherboards etc...

[foq]

Then again, the GTX260 is a monster and a power hog, and that no-doubt generic 500w power supply would probably cook under the pressure.

You should probably get a 9800GT. Pretty light on power and pretty fast at the same time. It will certianly do you good for a long time.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

that might be because your lacking in the cpu department, last I recall. I'm running

AMD Athlon 64 x2 4600+ ( You Have: 2.41 GHz Performance Rated at: 4.82 GHz ) , which I think tommorow I'm going to OC it to 5ghz+ using my Artic Cooler, or my ZALMAN and bring back results tommorow,but as you've said already CPU makes a world of difference, and apparently your rig just couldn't allow your 8500gt preform well. (which btw,like I mentioned before mine is aftermarket OC'd by ASUS Tek,which makes a big difference.I have by default 30% faster preformance than your stock 8500GT, and my heatsink has 25% more surface area allowing for the OC provided by ASUS, and maybe even more since my rig is very well ventilated. But seriously, just because your experience with the 8500GT was horrible doesnt mean thats the case for everyone, not to mention the fact that 8500GT is SLi ready and two of them is under $160.
FOQ lets run some bench marks, my rig + 8500gt vs your rig + 8500gt & other. For the sake of real world variable's . My memory is obv slower than yours,probably less as well. 1gig kingston 677 ddr2.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

The CPU is the biggest factor in overall computer speed. RAM speed really isn't a huge deal. What matters most is the amount of RAM you have. Today, 4GB is ideal for gaming systems. 2GB is ideal for the typical Grandma machine with operating systems like Vista and 7 eating a bunch of RAM. If you're going to be running applications that take huge amounts of memory like AutoCAD or if you're using Photoshop with huge images, you want 8GB or more.

Now before I said that the CPU is the biggest factor in overall computer speed. If you want a gaming machine, you could have the fastest processor in the world and some shitty graphics card like a 8500GT and it will suck.

My ideal gaming system today would consist of an AMD Athlon II x3 425 (2.7GHz tri-core), 4GB DDR3 whatever (1333?) and a GTX260. Of course, I would overclock it, not because I need to to get my desired level of performance, but because I simply can't not overclock stuff.

Lightsmark 2008 v2.0 (Windows installer) - next gen lighting benchmark - gameupdates.org

lets bench

[foq]

I don't have an 8500gt. It's in my uncle's spare machine. My machine here at home has a 9600GSO (96 shader, 192 bit, 384MB).

Oh man... your processor runs at 2.4GHz. In fact, it looks like they got that "rated performance" value by doubling the speed it detected from your processor because it's a dual core. Problem is that only works for multithreaded applications, which there are few of. My processor runs at 2.7GHz stock and I overclocked it to 3GHz (6GHz "rated performance" level, whoopie).

As for running 2 8500GTs in SLi, I feel sorry for anyone who actually makes that move. A single 8600GT is faster than 2 8500GTs, and for much cheaper (not that I would buy an 8600GT either). In fact, you could get one of those origional 8800GTSs (96 shaders, 320 bit, 320MB or 640MB) floating around on ebay for $70, and I've seen a more than a few of the "new" model 8800GTSs (128 shaders, 256 bit, 512MB or 1GB) go for $70 on techpowerup's B/S/T forum.

I tell you what mindz. At techpowerup, we have a contest going (which I am elidgable for) where it's possible for me to win either a complete computer, an Athlon64 x2 7750BE or a 9600GSO (ironic how I have the last two prizes installed in my rig already isn't it ). If I win the 9600GSO, I was going to give it to my uncle to put in that other computer instead of that 8500GT and take the 8500GT back, either to sell or to keep depending on the price. Long story short if I win the 9600GSO I'll have my old 8500GT back. I'll BIOS flash it to the clockspeeds your 8500GT runs at and run that benchmark. Unfortunately, the contest hasn't actually ended yet (it does so on 12/12) so you and me both are stuck waiting a while.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

You wont see the same performance gains that my card does, as the reference clock and temperatures are also based on modified heatsink design. Also , I took the rating from ' can you run it' for cpu speed,rather than simply 1+1=2 hah.

[foq]

The heatsink has nothing to do with performance unless your temp gets so high that the card throttles to save it from cooking. I put a Zalman VF700ALCU on it back when I still had it, which is miles ahead of that dinky aluminum square you have.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

Wow george I never thought I would want to call you an idiot for so many logical reasons.

First off, there is nothing "Dinky" in my tower lol. 2nd off heatstinks make a world of difference. George you seem to wanna out-do that guy next to you, but for future reference I was building comps while you was eating rice soup through a nipple and a bottle,just to remind you that im not your peer.


and BTW, if you dont know your shapes maybe you shouldnt be building comps! Looks like its quite rounded to me. Oh btw I've stepped my CPU up to 5.4ghz I'll be breaking down 6.0ghz's door next week once I get some good thermal compound. Going to order Arctic Silver Incorporated - C�ramique this to bring my stock 2.4ghz to 3.0ghz, which will be a gain of 1.2ghz. I've already checked w/ the PassMark test results and I'm running the fastest 90nm Windsor according to the results pool. shit got real (4600+ cpu)

[Wolv]

u guyz r both l33t

[Mindf!3ldzX]

yah my artic freezer 64 is quite leet, indeed.

[StatiC]

my cousin here in Israel just bough this card for his PC, i think he has roughly 4.0 G quad i5 processor or some shit like that... and got this card..

either way... the fucking thing ROCKS !! operation flashpoint and call of duty: modern warfare run too smooth to be true, im in love, worth every SHEKEL ! i think u ca also sandwich 2 cards together to get yourself a SUPER FRANKENCARD !!!
omg.. quake would B the shiznit !!!

GeForce 9800 GX2

The NVIDIA� GeForce� 9800 GX2 is a �ber-powered, dual GPU-based graphics card that powers extreme HD gaming and provides a complete, high def entertainment experience for the PC
btw - FUCK ATI !!!!!!!!