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Updating a GPU and possibly CPU

post #1 of 40
3/3/09 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
I am considering getting a new card, if my motherboard allows it. I'd like to be able to have a CUDA enabled Direct x 10 card which will handle 3d coat like a champ.

Here are my current specs of my system:

MOtherboard: Asus P5B-E P965 775 (I believe its PCI Express 2)
RAM:8 gigs
Video card: GIgabyte Nvidia 7900 gt (was a pretty high end card when I bought it)
CPU: 6600 Intel Core 2 Duo
Power supply is 580 watts (this seems to be important for the bigger graphics cards.

Which of the high end nvidia cards run cool and offer good performance? I'd prefer a less noisy GPU if possible.

I don't believe my Asus mobo is supported anymore, but I did recently update the bios driver. Also could I throw in a quad core cpu on my current mobo?
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post #2 of 40
3/3/09 at 8:32pm
Thread Starter 
Will my mobo accept current generation PCI express 2 cards?
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post #3 of 40
3/3/09 at 10:29pm
yes, PCI Express 2.0 is backward compatible with first-generation PCI Express, so any PCIe 2.0 graphics card can also work in a PCIe slot
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post #4 of 40
3/4/09 at 12:02pm
Thread Starter 
The GTX 260 looks like a good deal. Although I'm not sure how it will fit in my case and how much power it will need. I hope I don't need to upgrade my powersupply. Its a Hiper modular, works very nicely.

If not that the 9800 may work.
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post #5 of 40
3/4/09 at 1:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayaman2 View Post
The GTX 260 looks like a good deal. Although I'm not sure how it will fit in my case and how much power it will need. I hope I don't need to upgrade my powersupply. Its a Hiper modular, works very nicely.

If not that the 9800 may work.
From a look on Nvidia's website and looking up your power supply, it looks like your power supply has enough total power output, although the total 12v rating is quite a bit less than their recommended spec.
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post #6 of 40
3/6/09 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
Would that be a big issue? Especially with stability? Also how about the 9 series than?
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post #7 of 40
3/6/09 at 10:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayaman2 View Post
Would that be a big issue? Especially with stability? Also how about the 9 series than?
Nvidia recommends a 500 watt power supply, and yours exceeds that, but only 360 of those watts, or 30 amps of power (according to the specs I could find on your power supply) are available to the 12v rails. Nvidia recommends 35 amps on the 12v rails for the GTX 260, which means that at peak usage, with the GTX 260 and your power supply, your computer could abruptly shut off because the system is drawing more power on the 12v rails than the power supply can give.

However, Nvidia recommends only 24 amps (288w) on the 12v rails for the 9800 GTX+, so your computer would be able to run that card (and most likely any other 9 series with the possible exception of the 9800 GX2) without any stability or power concerns.
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post #8 of 40
3/10/09 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121284

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125245

There is also a GTS 200 series. Not sure about wattage needs though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143178

I'd like a gpu that is relatively quiet. I can't stand high pitch noises in computers.
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post #9 of 40
3/10/09 at 5:58pm
The GTS250 is the same as a 9800GTX+ Performance between the two is identical, but the GTS uses a little less power to do it. Combine with the lower average price of the GTS, it may be the way to go.
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post #10 of 40
3/11/09 at 11:53am
Thread Starter 
SO would the 9800/250 be a huge upgrade in performance from my 7900? I do look forward to the CUDA ability, and Direct X 10.
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post #11 of 40
3/11/09 at 3:43pm
It'll be a pretty substancial update. I wouldnt say mind blowing but deffenetly something that can be appriciated.

Is your heart set on nVidia? You should also consider looking into the Radeon HD 4850 and 4870. Theres supposed to be a price drop on those cards soon which will make them even more tempting. The HD 4870 is much faster than the 9800 and 250 and once the price drop is in affect, it will be in the same price bracket.
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post #12 of 40
3/12/09 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
Have to use Nvidia. One of the programs I will be getting relies on CUDA, and most graphics programs prefer Nvidia drivers. Generally less issues. I'm using zbrush 3.1, blender 2.48, Softimage 5.11, 7.5ish (when I use the demo), Maya 64 bit 2008, and soon 3d coat v3 and Project Messiah.
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post #13 of 40
3/12/09 at 4:32pm
Ideally, you'd probably want one of their professional Quadro FX cards, but they're considerably more expensive.
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post #14 of 40
3/12/09 at 11:27pm
Thread Starter 
I don't think they would let me use gaming engines though, especially if I decide to make a game res model. If that were the case, I'd like for the option of testing it in realtime. Not wild about spending 500-1000 for a graphics card. The software is bad enough.
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post #15 of 40
3/16/09 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayaman2 View Post
Have to use Nvidia. One of the programs I will be getting relies on CUDA, and most graphics programs prefer Nvidia drivers. Generally less issues. I'm using zbrush 3.1, blender 2.48, Softimage 5.11, 7.5ish (when I use the demo), Maya 64 bit 2008, and soon 3d coat v3 and Project Messiah.
I've used zrush, blender, softimage, and Maya on ATI cards without issue.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Djembe View Post
Ideally, you'd probably want one of their professional Quadro FX cards, but they're considerably more expensive.
Not a bad idea at all if you can afford it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mayaman2 View Post
I don't think they would let me use gaming engines though, especially if I decide to make a game res model. If that were the case, I'd like for the option of testing it in realtime. Not wild about spending 500-1000 for a graphics card. The software is bad enough.
You can run gaming engines on Quadro's. They're fully capable. Its just that insane price of course....
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post #16 of 40
3/23/09 at 12:47pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah the price is the big thing. Have you tried 3dcoat voxel sculpting with your ati?
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post #17 of 40
3/23/09 at 12:52pm
whoa maya is back
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post #18 of 40
3/23/09 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
Are you Stenis?
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post #19 of 40
3/24/09 at 5:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayaman2 View Post
Yeah the price is the big thing. Have you tried 3dcoat voxel sculpting with your ati?
I've never used 3D Coat. Sorry.
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post #20 of 40
3/24/09 at 11:13am
Thread Starter 
www.3dcoat.com Check out the demo. IN the forums there, they have an alpha demo of the new voxel sculpting. Voxels appear to be better than polygons.
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