Upgrade from 7600GT

[scoobyx13x]

Need to upgrade from a 7600GT so I can play Age of Conan with some goodies turned on.

Specs are

Vista 32
2gigs ram
CPU is a x2 3800
1280x1024 resolution

Also, silence is of the essence. I can't stand loud fans. With that in mind, I was considering ECS N9600GT

or

MSI NX8800GT 512

I like the 9600 because of its fanless design. I am just unsure if the 64 stream processors vs the 128 in the 8800 will make a difference, all things considered.

Any thoughts?

 

[error8]

First of all, 8800 GT has "only" 112 stream processors, not 128 like 8800 GTS 512.

The difference between these two cards is not a big one, but the 8800 GT is faster, so if you can afford it, buy it. Maybe with more intensive shader games on the horizon, the gap between them will further increase so the G92 8800 GT will be more future proof then the 9600 GT.

 

[Denithor]

From all the feedback I've seen that MSI 8800GT (with a non-reference cooler) has excellent acoustic performance (read: very quiet).

You might consider one of the 8800GTS 512MB cards though, which feature a cooler that dumps the hot air out the back of the case (so your case fans don't have to run as fast to eliminate that heat as well as the cpu heat). I know there's an ECS model available from Newegg for like $180 after MIR right now.

EDIT: Is your x2-3800 overclocked or used at stock speed? You may find yourself cpu-limited if you go too high on the video card. You might want to wait until AOC launches and people do some benchmarking to see how much CPU+GPU you really need to push it.

 

[Lithan]

For that reso, 9600gt will probably be enough. I can't say for certain since AoC never let me in the beta (registered for it before most of the guys on this site were born). Id choose based on pricerange if I were you.

 

[PJABBER]

You should check out some comments on individual card configurations - generally those cards that have larger and slower fans tend to be virtually noiseless while smaller and faster fans can add quite a bit of ambient noise.

I went with the Galaxy 8800GT with a heatpipe + fan cooling solution. It is in use in a music production computer that I use as a gaming machine once in a while to stay sane. I don't hear the video card cooling at all.

Here is a WWW link to the overclocked version of the Galaxy card that shows the heatpipe cooler they use. If it matters to you at all, Galaxy also uses very good memory chips in their product - you might be able to push the card beyond the already OC spec. The link is to NCIX where I bought my card.

Galaxy GeForce 8800GT Overclocked 600MHZ 512MB 2.0GHZ DDR3

Of course, you do not need this level of graphics processing to play games with minimal eye candy, even Conan, so maybe you can save money and go for the lower end card with passive cooling. I did read that Conan with DirectX 10 can use every bit of CPU and GPU power you can afford to give it, so your experience will be bounded by the amount of money you are willing to throw at it.

 

[ther00kie16]

If you are considering those cards, why wouldn't you consider the ECS 8800gt that also comes with Arctic Cooling Accelero for less than the MSI 8800gt?

 

[ClockHound]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
If you are considering those cards, why wouldn't you consider the ECS 8800gt that also comes with Arctic Cooling Accelero for less than the MSI 8800gt?

Sure, get all logical and stuff and ask the tough questions. That's a big help.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: ClockHound
Sure, get all logical and stuff and ask the tough questions. That's a big help.

Hey, are they still banning people, for trying to use logic in the video forum? You'd better hope not, ther00kie, or you're outta here.

 

[Lithan]

I usually assume people choose the MSI over that card for A: looks or B: case real estate. But yeah, more likely it was just overlooked.

But really the primary advantage is the MSI cooler (I THINK) cools the ram as well. Im pretty sure the Accelero just blows on em. Not a big deal, since Im pretty sure bga3 doesnt require cooling, but some people think it improves overclocks.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

No, the MSI cooler has no RAM sinks, but the accelero does. And my BGA requires heatsinks or is defective, I have it under a 120mm fan but at 800mhz.