[Jordster]

Hey guys,
I'm upgrading my graphics card, and im tossing between two choices - nVidia 9800GTX+ or the GTS 250. Comparing them on the Nvidia site I noticed they're exactly the same, but there's gotta be something to it?

If you could probably suggest another card go ahead, but I have a budget of about 200 AU. I usually just game on my PC, and my old GPU needs to be upgraded to support the games coming out - I have currently a 8800GTS 320MB.

I was also looking at the GTX 260. Im thinking if its worth the extra 50 dollars for it, and I think I'm right. Even though the 250 has more onboard RAM than the 260 - I still think the 250 is good value for money.

My current PC specs are:
Core 2 Duo E8400 O.C 3.1Ghz
Thermaltake Qfan 750W
G/B GA-945GCM-S2L
Vista Ultimate 32-bit

Thanks in advance.

[BG-0]

GTS250/9800GTX/4850 run current games well, but for "futureproof", you would maybe want to get the GTX260. Though, in a year or two you could need to upgrade anyways, soo..

As for 9800GTX+ vs GTS250, just get the one that is cheaper at the moment you buy. You have enough power for the 9800 GTX (GTS250 has cut power requirements and produces a little less heat) and I really hope you have decent case cooling.

[Jordster]

Which leads onto my next question...

I was thinking of buying Antec 902, or should I get 1200? The price of 902 is 200, and the 1200 is 300, and I'm not sure if it's worth paying an extra 100 for 10cm height, and two fans..? I'll be LANning anyway so I think Antec would be the way to go?

...Which also leads onto my next question. Should I upgrade mobo or gpu? eVGA 750i FTW SLI?

[pvc_]

are you sure your 8800 can't handle new games? btw, how much RAM do you have?

[BG-0]

ARARARARAAAAAAAAARRRGH. Avira Update popped in my face just before I hit the last space in the post and that accepted the restart... >_<


Aaanyhosé. 902 is fine as a bit cheaper/smaller choice. If you don't feel like 6 hard drives and 3 DVD burners, 6 add-on cards, then it's as good as the 1200.
750i boards aren't exactly what you... Eh. You won't want two underpowered graphics cards in SLi when your new card becomes old and insufficient. Gigabyte P45 board for reliability and good OC capability, maybe DFI, Foxconn, Asus, Gigabyte X48 board for extreme overclocking capability. Which your CPU might hinder. Who knows. Also you'll need a good cooler... Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme, Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer, maybe the new Thermolab Baram for a bit more compact solution. Or watercooling, etc.

But for games... Your biggest bottleneck is the GPU. Being able to OC your CPU further won't really benefit that much.

[chaos1986]

well the 9800GTX+ is the top end of a slightly older generation, and the GTS250 is an "Entry Level" to the most modern generation, I would personally go with the 9800GTX+

If you can get the Zotac 9800GTX+ it comes with 3 fans, where as the GTS250 only comes with 1

[BG-0]

... Top end cards always consume more power than their performance would require according to the next generation standards. The GTS250 is better if you can get it for the same or lower price. The GTS250 has only 1 fan because it creates less heat because it is made more enerfy-efficiently. 9800GTX+ isn't bad, but not worth getting if not for saving money. I can't argue with your opinion, but those are the facts.

[Jordster]

Ok. However I have heard that the GTX-XXX cards have very VERY tight fitting an the 902 case, would it still be ok?

[Compiler]

GTX cards are the size as other large video cards.

Its not a problem that it is "tight" as long as there is good air-flow. The 900 series case is bigger than avg cases.

While your 8800gts card is on the older end... its still a good performer. So I have question for you. Are your games becoming a problem? Why?

Because in about 2~5 months, the next DX11 cards will hit the market and as usual that means prices will fall and newer faster cards will be out. Something like the ATI 5850 will be about $160~200 and should be as fast as todays $300+ cards.

Of course, a 1GB 9800GT / GTS-250 on a 1920x1200 monitor is about 3~4x more powerful than your current card. The 9800GTX & GTS250 are in the same family GPU the difference is a tweak of a 1+ year old GPU first used in the 8800GT.

[Jordster]

Hmm, youre right. So when dx11 comes out with win 7 the prices of the cards will drop, but the dx 10 cards wont support dx11, right?

Oh and i got my 902 case last night and its great!

[Compiler]

DX10 works with DX9 cards, but the cards won't show DX10 graphics with DX10 supported games.

A DX9 card can't do DX10 effects. DX10 cards won't do DX11 effects.

There will always be $50, 100, 150, 200, 250~ price video cards. The high end ($175+) cards will drop in price to make room for new cards, but will cease production. Lower end cards lasts a long time. Look at the available GF 6200~7300 and ATI X1600 / 9200 class cards. Nobody buys out-dated high end video cards.