Graphics Card Update

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nzkiwiman

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#102526 16-May-2012 12:19

In September 2009 I updated my system to a i5 system, using existing graphics card in the mix.
Now the graphics card was purchased May 2007 and is a EVGA Nvidia 8800 GTS 320MB.

Over the past few months I have been noticing random graphics artifacts on the screen - most noticeable with toolbars turning in a pixelated/colourful mess. This is generally solved by minimizing/maximizing the window.

Last night while I had VLC running and watching a YouTube video in Chrome, my screen flashed and a warning saying that the Nvidia Driver had stopped and had been restarted. Rest of the display was fine, but I did have to close Chrome as it had turned into a white page.

I thought to myself that this must be a sign that after 5 faithful years of 24/7 service that my graphics card is on its way out (though researching the issue does not confirm that) and it was time to update.

However, this is where I need help -- I have not kept up with graphics card technology and wanted to know in what direction I should head in.

I do not play games on my system, and have a console in order to play games on if the mood strikes. Looking a prices of graphics card, I feel that the need to put a $400+ card into the system are no longer required, however I would rather have a card that has a similar design to my current card (fan on card rather than heat sink). I generally watch 1080p video files on the system, and connect my monitor via DVI.

I have always stuck with Nvidia, but have no reasons not to install an AMD card.
I am also thinking that I would take the opportunity to install an SSD into my system as the main boot drive and reinstall Windows at the same time in order to clean out 2.5 years of clutter and any potential driver issues that my occur with the install of new hardware.

My biggest (but possible insignificant) concern is that new cards require more grunt via the PCI Express port than my current motherboard supports -- I need to find out the exact model, though it was a launch P55 board from Gigabyte if that helps until I can provide the information.

Any assistance or have I made this post to long and boring :-)

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Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#626040 16-May-2012 12:24

Whats your budget ? :)

I just put a GeForce 210 in one of my PCs (C2D 6600) at work and ticks along happily enough with a Windows 7 performance rating of 4.5 for Desktop performance and 5.6 for gaming/3d.

Price was around $65 I think

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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nzkiwiman

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#626054 16-May-2012 12:41

Until Paypal release my funds, I have no budget (when that happens I have $450NZ to get the graphics card and SSD) though I can go to $500 if needed.

My last graphics card was $500 and I have no wish to pay that again, however I wish to have a card of equal or better performance than current card even if I am not using all of its benefits (they say never purchase a card that isn't at least three steps above your current if upgrading)

LookingUp

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#626069 16-May-2012 12:59

Bought an EN210 card for $57 (inc GST) from Dragon PC yesterday to use in an Openelec XBMC install, and it works well.

http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?230501

Can also recommend them for cost effective SSD.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

Lias

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#626076 16-May-2012 13:10

You don't really need the equivalent power of that 8800 if your not gaming.. But seeing as you said you dont want anything less powerful, and don't want to spend too much money, I'd look at a 550 series for around $200-220

http://pricespy.co.nz/category.php?k=v1851

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Lias

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#626079 16-May-2012 13:12

LookingUp: Bought an EN210 card for $57 (inc GST) from Dragon PC yesterday to use in an Openelec XBMC install, and it works well.

http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?230501

Can also recommend them for cost effective SSD.

Never used them myself, but I've heard numerous horror stories about Dragon PC, especially around RMA's

ComputerLounge & Playtech are pretty much universally accepted as good stores, if not always the most competitive on price.

Lias

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#626086 16-May-2012 13:17

http://www.gpforums.co.nz/thread/297771/?s=
http://www.on3network.co.nz/showthread.php?39164-Reliable-Suppliers

Couple of good thread's to reference the reliability of various stores.. Dragon PC is slated at both.

stevenz

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#626098 16-May-2012 13:23

If you don't need one for games, then find a low-end card with a passive heatsink so you can get rid of the horrendous noise that the rubbish fans on GPUs make.

An old GT480 or similar would probably be fine. There's no reason to pay >$150.

I stick to ComputerLounge and Ascent generally. Ascent primarily because their service is fantastic, and their shipping is very fast (as they get things shipped straight from the agents). I only deal with ComputerLounge because their prices are good, I've found them to be a bit prickly to deal with when I've needed to ask them anything.

Here you are, GT-520 with passive heatsink for <$100:
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=396586

Enough power that if you _did_ want to play games, you could do so on lower settings.

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nzkiwiman

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#626332 16-May-2012 17:39

Found a graphics card hierarchy chart over at tomshardware.com
My current card is only 13 places from the top of the line, and as a result some of the suggestions have been for cards that are currently ranked lower than my card. I really don't want to go lower as I want everything I could throw at the new card (even if its not gaming related) to work without having to worry that in x years time I need to replace things.

Have been looking myself and found some nice sub $200 cards that have GDDR RAM (rather than DDR RAM), are 256-bit, dual slot with fan and surround, draw enough power from the motherboard OR support an additional 6/8pin power connector as current card, will fit in current case and are 5-6 spots on the chart above current card.

I guess now I need to decide if I actually wish to purchase or see if current card will hold out/generate anymore issues.

Poll

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#626369 16-May-2012 18:24

Don't worry about how a new card performs gaming wise for a replacement if you're not going to be doing any gaming.

Is there anything that your computer will use a gpu for other than a basic windows desktop and playing videos?
If you said yes then please tell us and we can happily giving suggestions, if no then you really don't need a card with a fan or high power draw, go for one of the geforce 210's or 520 or similar like everyone is suggesting, they have low power draw, are silent/fanless and will do everything you need other than gaming which you no longer do and gpu computing which you haven't mentioned but I'm assuming you do not need that either.

Lias

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#626402 16-May-2012 19:02

nzkiwiman: Found a graphics card hierarchy chart over at tomshardware.com
My current card is only 13 places from the top of the line,

That doesnt sound right, got a link?

It's hard to compare older cards as they don't appear in the latest charts, but if you find somthing that's on both charts you can make some form of comparison.

On the 2010 HQ charts, your 320mb 8800 GTS gets a 3DMark06 of 11093, vs several varities of 5770 in the 17000-17300 range, showing it's less powerful than a 5770.

The 2011 Entry Level chart shows a 5770 with a 3dMark11 of 4058, vs a 550ti with 4500, showing the 550 is more powerful again than a 5770.

Then look at the 2011 Performance 3DMark-11 Gamer results, where the 5770 and the 550ti are near the bottom of the list.. there are easily more than 12 chipsets more powerful than an 8800 gts 320mb, and that's without even taking SLi/CF configs into account.

If your not playing games it's really a waste of time to get something more powerful than the budget cards mentioned by others, but if your deadset on a modern card that's at least as powerful as the dying one, for the lowest cost, I'd go with that 550 TI.

LookingUp

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#626451 16-May-2012 20:17

Lias:
LookingUp: Bought an EN210 card for $57 (inc GST) from Dragon PC yesterday to use in an Openelec XBMC install, and it works well.

http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?230501

Can also recommend them for cost effective SSD.

Never used them myself, but I've heard numerous horror stories about Dragon PC, especially around RMA's

ComputerLounge & Playtech are pretty much universally accepted as good stores, if not always the most competitive on price.

Not my experience, although I have the luxury (?) of being in Chch so I shop there in person. I've even had them let me take stuff on appro to test at home, and they've accepted it back and fully refunded when I found I couldn't make it work.

I've always found them very pleasant and helpful to deal with.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

nzkiwiman

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#626691 17-May-2012 10:04

Lias:
nzkiwiman: Found a graphics card hierarchy chart over at tomshardware.com
My current card is only 13 places from the top of the line,

That doesnt sound right, got a link?

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

D1023319

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#626696 17-May-2012 10:20

nzkiwiman: In September 2009 I updated my system to a i5 system, using existing graphics card in the mix.
Now the graphics card was purchased May 2007 and is a EVGA Nvidia 8800 GTS 320MB.

Over the past few months I have been noticing random graphics artifacts on the screen - most noticeable with toolbars turning in a pixelated/colourful mess. This is generally solved by minimizing/maximizing the window.

Pardon if I am missing something here.
The I5 is the sandy bridge with integrated graphics isnt it??
so maybe pixilation is result of conflict between this older card and the integrated GPU

FYI - on my I5 pc on Asus Z68 mobo, I made decision not to have a graphics card.
We just use the integrated GPU
Runs fine for all video's at all resolution including offic 2010 and simple gaming needs
makes for quiet /cool system as well

nzkiwiman

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#626978 17-May-2012 17:47

D1023319:

Pardon if I am missing something here.
The I5 is the sandy bridge with integrated graphics isnt it??
so maybe pixilation is result of conflict between this older card and the integrated GPU

P55 Motherboard - no integrated graphics.
Lynnfield codename http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynnfield_(microprocessor) (i5-750)

richms

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#627104 17-May-2012 22:04

I have had no end of problems with a nvidia 210 resorting to giving my TV I use as a monitor a horrid blurry image, and on the desktop screen it displays anything pre-windows booting, so when I am messing around with debian in text mode, the bios, the booting, anything else like that with a giant bloody border around the image and the card scaling it to 1920x1080 when I use DVI or HDMI, whereas it only works fine over VGA sending the text mode stuff in a native resolution.

Got an older card on its way from a friend to try out since they have had no underscan issues or blurry HDMI to a TV on the same TV I have. That is a 8800.

In short, wouldnt recomment the 210 as a card unless you can deal with those issues.

Richard rich.ms

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