Gts 250, $121-$80 = $41, (SLI = $82), after rebate, free shipping

[augiem]

I was going to order a couple of these for SLI, but they seem to require 2 6-pin PCI-E connectors. I have an OCZ 700w @ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341018, but it only has 2 pci-e connectors. If I used 4 molex connectors to create 2 more PCI-E connectors, how would I know which 12v rails I'm using for those?

That begs another Q: A friend of mine has an older Cooler Master 450 w PS with no 6-pin PCI-E connectors. The unit's specs list 2x12v rails with 12A and 10A continuous, 18A and 16A peak. Is it possible to use 4 molex to create 2 PCI-E's for the card? (Again, how do I know I'm using separate rails?) And newegg lists the card as requiring 24A on the 12v. Does that mean 12A continuous or peak?

Hope to get an answer quickly as this deal is going to expire...

 

[cubeless]

I was going to order a couple of these for SLI, but they seem to require 2 6-pin PCI-E connectors. I have an OCZ 700w @ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341018, but it only has 2 pci-e connectors. If I used 4 molex connectors to create 2 more PCI-E connectors, how would I know which 12v rails I'm using for those?

That begs another Q: A friend of mine has an older Cooler Master 450 w PS with no 6-pin PCI-E connectors. The unit's specs list 2x12v rails with 12A and 10A continuous, 18A and 16A peak. Is it possible to use 4 molex to create 2 PCI-E's for the card? (Again, how do I know I'm using separate rails?) And newegg lists the card as requiring 24A on the 12v. Does that mean 12A continuous or peak?

Hope to get an answer quickly as this deal is going to expire...

don't even try sli on a 450 w psu... u need a 550 w good psu minimum, more if u have numerous disks or oc...

supposedly you only need one of the 2 6 pins on the card... but i would try putting one adaptor on each of the 4 pin strings on the 450 to do one card...

and you could do the same on the 700w...

 

[qliveur]

Well, I finally bit. In 4 2.

I really hope that "channel wide" does indeed mean that they could be bought anywhere, because I got mine at Overstock.com for $118.99 apiece and with 15% Bing cashback that's been confirmed. Don't bother checking over there, though, because they went OOS as soon as I bought mine.

If I get the rebate, I'll end up getting them for...

...wait for it...

...$21.14 apiece.

I chose the slow rebate option because I'm a greedy bastard. Now c'mon, rebate!

please post back when/if you guys get your rebates. If those rebates pay out this will go down in the pantheon of all time best video card deals.

Will do. If it goes through it will truly be worthy of mention in the annals of Hot Deals history.

 

[augiem]

don't even try sli on a 450 w psu... u need a 550 w good psu minimum, more if u have numerous disks or oc...

supposedly you only need one of the 2 6 pins on the card... but i would try putting one adaptor on each of the 4 pin strings on the 450 to do one card...

and you could do the same on the 700w...

The 450w PS isn't for SLI, just for 1 card. My SLI setup would be with the 700w PS.
Hmm... I just found out the 450w PS is supposedly only rated to 22A (so that would be the continuous ratings then) and Newegg says the card needs 24A. Guess that's out for the 450.

My 700 should be able to handle it, but I'll be out of Molex if it does require 2 6-pin connections.

Augie

 

[TivoOwner]

In for 2 along with the faster rebate processing option. I'll have to ebay my 2 8800GT's, but I'll wait until I see the rebate....

 

[riledo]

The power issue got me looking since the Galaxy web site calles the two "required." I found a review of the card, and what is included in the box.

http://photo.hardwarebistro.com/albums/userpics/10001/gts250_07.jpg

The review states: "Anyway 2 x Molex to 6-pin PCI-E dongles are provided which are good for those are still using old type of PSU as most of these PSUs are either only come with single 6-pin PCI-E connector or none; so these dongles will be really useful for certain of users."

Just don't hook these up in series on the same line.

The general review: http://hardwarebistro.com/index.php...d=84&review=113-Galaxy-GeForce-GTS-250-Review

 

[Schmide]

...$21.14 apiece.

My buy.com bing was just 5%, so I'm looking at $37 a card.

 

[Schmide]

The power issue got me looking since the Galaxy web site calles the two "required."

My comment page 1.

 

[jjmIII]

My buy.com bing was just 5%, so I'm looking at $37 a card.

LOL, ya...and my old 9600gt is currently at $50 bid.

 

[pctwo]

I rushed and ordered this from provantage.com to beat the deadline, but now looking here

http://www.galaxytechus.com/usa/where.aspx

it's not listed so does it mean I won't get the rebate? what does channel wide mean exactly?

I can probably still cancel.

 

[qliveur]

I just spoke with a CSR from "World Wide Rebates" / the Rebate Center, about the "Channel Wide" partners of Galaxy" and Julie told me that as long as the on-line rebate form showed "Channel wide" the offer was valid no matter where it was purchased.

I got mine directly through Ant.com. $109.04 + $8.03 shipping

the Rebate Center phone # 1-800-286-9146

good luck with your rebates

the list at Galaxy is merely a "where available" or "where-to-buy" list; and has nothing to do with the rebate. "Channel wide" means everywhere.

Hope they're right.

 

[einstein4pres]

don't even try sli on a 450 w psu... u need a 550 w good psu minimum, more if u have numerous disks or oc...

supposedly you only need one of the 2 6 pins on the card... but i would try putting one adaptor on each of the 4 pin strings on the 450 to do one card...

and you could do the same on the 700w...

Here are actual power consumption numbers:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3340&p=2

 

[qliveur]

The GTS 250 is supposed to have a new, shorter PCB and lower power consumption compared to the 9800GTX+.

 

[jjmIII]

The GTS 250 is supposed to have a new, shorter PCB and lower power consumption compared to the 9800GTX+.

That would be good. My 9600gt is tight in my case.
Still no shipping info...

 

[jlin101]

The GTS 250 is supposed to have a new, shorter PCB and lower power consumption compared to the 9800GTX+.

nVidia's reference design requires only one pci-e plug (150w) on the GTS 250, with a TDP of 140-150W. Galaxy decided to retain 2 pci-e connectors for people who want to add more juice during overclocking. Most reviews of GTS 250's with 1 pci-e connector show less than stellar overclockability, compared to 9800 GTX+, probably as result of the limited amperage thru 1 pci-e. The review of Galaxy GTS 250 at http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?p=7674&page=1 did mention that the card could be safely run with just 1 pci-e connection. Galaxy GTS 250 does have the shorter pcb.

 

[cubeless]

Here are actual power consumption numbers:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3340&p=2

that's total wattage, does not look at individual voltage rails... my experience is that you need 2x the wattage on the psu that the numbers in the tests show to be stable in an oc'd system with a couple disks, xfi, tv tuner...

and they were using a premium quality 1200w psu, so any transients are well covered...

don't skimp on the psu... if it fails it can take out other parts, and chasing an intermittent failure that's psu related is a pain in the ass...

 

[jjmIII]

nVidia's reference design requires only one pci-e plug (150w) on the GTS 250, with a TDP of 140-150W. Galaxy decided to retain 2 pci-e connectors for people who want to add more juice during overclocking. Most reviews of GTS 250's with 1 pci-e connector show less than stellar overclockability, compared to 9800 GTX+, probably as result of the limited amperage thru 1 pci-e. The review of Galaxy GTS 250 at http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?p=7674&page=1 did mention that the card could be safely run with just 1 pci-e connection. Galaxy GTS 250 does have the shorter pcb.

Nice little 23 page review there!

EDIT: thanks!

 

[sighlentz]

order from antonline on 11/28
got them via UPS today

now; to make sure they work before the rebate thing

 

[cubeless]

ant sucks... my order wasn't showing any movement, so i called... "oh yeah, we were actually out of cards when we took your order and charged your credit card and tough shit on you... we were going to tell you eventually..."

bastards...

 

[FuzzyWuzzyDan]

I ordered mine from Buy.com (the actual buy.com, not antonline) and it says it should be here tommorow (12/3), i ordered mine late 11/28

 

[Schmide]

I ordered early 11/28 received them yesterday late. Set them up on my nephews computer and they worked. Filled out the rebate today.

So sorry about the miss cubeless.

On a side note, I installed them with one 6-pin each because I wasn't going to overclock. When I attempted to run in SLI I got similar values as single card setup. (13500 3dmark06) I'm going to try with 2 6-pin each card and see if I get any movement. I was also using the single channel bridge, I wonder if I should use a dual channel bridge?

 

[cubeless]

I ordered early 11/28 received them yesterday late. Set them up on my nephews computer and they worked. Filled out the rebate today.

So sorry about the miss cubeless.

On a side note, I installed them with one 6-pin each because I wasn't going to overclock. When I attempted to run in SLI I got similar values as single card setup. (13500 3dmark06) I'm going to try with 2 6-pin each card and see if I get any movement. I was also using the single channel bridge, I wonder if I should use a dual channel bridge?

should only need one bridge... did the driver mention that "you have sli capability and do you want to enable it"?

 

[Schmide]

The system I'm putting it in is a q8200 at 2.8g on an evga 780i. It had two 9600gso in it. I only had time a bit of time on it, sisters kids have to get to bed and such, after reinstalling the drivers and the dual bridge with both power leads in each card, it scored 13900. I guess the CPU is just holding it back. Not much of an improvement ATM.

Edit: yeah the driver had SLI enabled and the screen did the typical go dark then come back. I also watched the temps while rendering and both GPUs went up slightly.

 

[jjmIII]

ant sucks... my order wasn't showing any movement, so i called... "oh yeah, we were actually out of cards when we took your order and charged your credit card and tough shit on you... we were going to tell you eventually..."

bastards...

So....they are still shipping right? I ordered on the 28th, and still "processing".

EDIT: old 9600gt is up to 70 on bay

 

[Nohr]

Ordered mine from Antonline through Amazon's marketplace on Nov 30th. It shipped later that day and is due for delivery on the 4th.