New video card

[Furiously]

I bought an 8800gt a year ago and am starting to find some things it isn't fast enough on. I would rather stick with nvidia, but have not paid any attention to which cards are the good cards in their new 200 series. Help me spend my money!!! I'd like to keep under 300. Or is waiting the answer right now?

[AutomaticZen]

I bought an 8800gt a year ago and am starting to find some things it isn't fast enough on. I would rather stick with nvidia, but have not paid any attention to which cards are the good cards in their new 200 series. Help me spend my money!!! I'd like to keep under 300. Or is waiting the answer right now?

Geforce GTX 260 Core 216 is about the sub $200 card these days if you're sticking with Nvidia.  You're good for a bit because I believe they aren't releasing another rev until the end of 2009.

[Yegolev]

Rather than buy the rebranded 2xx version, I bought a 9800 GTX+ from newegg just a week or two ago.  It is pretty much the same card, which I believe Trippy pointed out in one of the PC Upgrade threads, and since it has the old name I figured it would be cheaper.

[Cyrrex]

Rather than buy the rebranded 2xx version, I bought a 9800 GTX+ from newegg just a week or two ago.  It is pretty much the same card, which I believe Trippy pointed out in one of the PC Upgrade threads, and since it has the old name I figured it would be cheaper.

Isn't that the same as the 250 card and not the 260?  My impression was that the 260 was quite a bit better than the 9800 GTX....but I think it is also monstrously huge and a major power drain.

[Trippy]

That's right. The GTS 250 is a die-shrunk 9800 GTX+, usually with extra memory (1 GB vs 512 MB). The GTX 260 is different -- it has nearly twice the number of shader processors compared to the 9800 GTX+ (216 vs 128).

[Yegolev]

Yea I did not remember the exact 2xx model number so I didn't quote it.  I'm good with the 9800 GTX+ since it replaced a 7900 GS.

[Hindenburg]

Oh hey, I could've bought a 260 for the same price that I paid for an 8800gts. Living in a developing country is awesome.

[Furiously]

That's right. The GTS 250 is a die-shrunk 9800 GTX+, usually with extra memory (1 GB vs 512 MB). The GTX 260 is different -- it has nearly twice the number of shader processors compared to the 9800 GTX+ (216 vs 128).

And a 9800 is a rebranded 8800 too right ??

[Trippy]

And a 9800 is a rebranded 8800 too right ??

More or less. There are a few minor differences and possibly a die shrink but the core specs are the same.

[AutomaticZen]

That's right. The GTS 250 is a die-shrunk 9800 GTX+, usually with extra memory (1 GB vs 512 MB). The GTX 260 is different -- it has nearly twice the number of shader processors compared to the 9800 GTX+ (216 vs 128).

And a 9800 is a rebranded 8800 too right ??

Yep, it's a die-shrink most of the time.

[Strazos]

A GTX 260 will not cost you much....I got mine for under $200, before rebate.

If you can go more towards $300, you can get a pretty badass card.

[Yoru]

My big compy has been dying a slow painful death, and I believe the part that's going first is the video card. Noticed today that the local store was having a sale, making the GTX 275 about $70 more expensive than the GTX 260. Ordered, should arrive tomorrow. 

Now hopefully video card actually is the part that's failing...

[Sheepherder]

Now hopefully video card actually is the part that's failing...

...And hopefully it's now your power source pumping out voltages above spec.

[Teleku]

I also happen to be looking into building a new computer (finally).  The 260 does look like a pretty good deal.  Is there a better price/performance card on the ATI side within the same prince range (around $200, give or take some)?  I could have sworn everybody gushing over some ATI card in an earlier upgrade thread.  I have no problem with either company, and will happily buy the best card regardless of brand, heh.

[rattran]

4870 1gb is around $160-200, the new 4890 is ~$230 or so for better performance.

[Sheepherder]

Chances are when comparing similar card designs the card with the least amount of VRAM is going to be the one that has the best return on your dollar, unless something has changed that has invalidated the last 10+ years of trends.

[Yoru]

Finally got my 275 installed today after having to completely swap my computer's guts into a new (old) case, as the previous case was just a millimeter too small to seat my graphics card properly. It even booted up first try, yay.

Now, using the stock Vista 64 VGA graphics driver, shit works fine, aside from the fact that I can't take advantage of the actual 3D acceleration on the card. Dutifully, I install the new 185.85 drivers, which are the only ones that support my card.

As soon as the requisite reboot is done, I notice a problem. Once the display kicks into "native" resolution, which I take to mean the new drivers are loaded, the whole working area on my screen appears downscaled and also offset about 150-ish pixels to the left and 75-ish pixels upwards, as if the top-left of my screen were hovering somewhere left-and-above my actual physical screen. The right and bottom margins just have black bars where the rest of the screen should go.

Uninstalling the drivers - shit works fine again in VGA. Reinstall, borked. Try the 182.xx drivers, no go as the 275 is unsupported. Same for the 185.xx beta drivers.

Anyone have any ideas? I suspect it's HDCP/HDMI fucking me, as my monitor is HDCP-compliant and I'm connecting the card via a DVI-to-HDMI cable.

[Trippy]

Can you get to the NVIDIA control panel to adjust the position of the image? Or is that not even an option for LCDs?

Edit: Also, has Vista identified your monitor properly? Maybe you need to download and install a better profile.

[Yoru]

Yeah, a bit more googling and a guy's screenshot confirms it's an issue with HDMI, overscan and my specific model of monitor. There's a workaround involving a registry hack that I'm trying now.

Edit: hax! worked great. I expect anyone else who has an LG 246 or 245-model monitor will have the same issue. The fix involves modifying the nvidia driver inf file before installing to add a registry key that seems to disable overscanning on HDCP-protected HDMI connections to certain monitors.

[SnakeCharmer]

If you get a chance, would you measure the length and more importantly, the width of that card?

[Teleku]

Well, I was about to buy the 275, but instead went for an ATI 4890, as it was the same price and getting better benchmarks.  Guess we'll see how it turns out (once fucking UPS delivers my new god damn case), but feeling pretty good considering what happened to Yoru. 

[rattran]

Yeah, a bit more googling and a guy's screenshot confirms it's an issue with HDMI, overscan and my specific model of monitor. There's a workaround involving a registry hack that I'm trying now.

Edit: hax! worked great. I expect anyone else who has an LG 246 or 245-model monitor will have the same issue. The fix involves modifying the nvidia driver inf file before installing to add a registry key that seems to disable overscanning on HDCP-protected HDMI connections to certain monitors.

I have that same (lg 246) monitor, and yeah, the improper identification thing is a pain in the ass. And it would rebreak every driver upgrade, and occasionally on reboot. Which sucked, as it's a nice crisp lcd. And is why it's on the floor next to me instead of on the desk now.

[Yoru]

Well, I was about to buy the 275, but instead went for an ATI 4890, as it was the same price and getting better benchmarks.  Guess we'll see how it turns out (once fucking UPS delivers my new god damn case), but feeling pretty good considering what happened to Yoru. 

What happened to me is actually a consequence of my monitor and not my card. People on the net have been having the same issue with ATI cards and the LG 246.

Yeah, a bit more googling and a guy's screenshot confirms it's an issue with HDMI, overscan and my specific model of monitor. There's a workaround involving a registry hack that I'm trying now.

Edit: hax! worked great. I expect anyone else who has an LG 246 or 245-model monitor will have the same issue. The fix involves modifying the nvidia driver inf file before installing to add a registry key that seems to disable overscanning on HDCP-protected HDMI connections to certain monitors.

I have that same (lg 246) monitor, and yeah, the improper identification thing is a pain in the ass. And it would rebreak every driver upgrade, and occasionally on reboot. Which sucked, as it's a nice crisp lcd. And is why it's on the floor next to me instead of on the desk now.

The solution involves modifying the driver INF file each time you install a new version of the drivers. The basic solution is here; look at the latest 2-3 pages for any updated instructions. Sometimes the header changes. One guy posted a fixed INF file for the 185.85 drivers and the LG 246 somewhere around page 82. I'd find it, but I'm running out the door right now.

If you get a chance, would you measure the length and more importantly, the width of that card?

I'll do that for you tonight.

[rattran]

I didn't have the issue after I changed from a 9800gtx to the 4870, but I upgraded this to a 28" monitor, and planned to change out the perfectly functional Soyo 24" on the server for the LG 24". (Same basic panel type, but the LG has a better stand) The server is running fedora10 with my old 9800gtx, and had the same problem of shifting. Rather than solving it again in linux this time, I decided 'fuck it' and have been using the LG as a monitor for new system builds and such.

So, sheer laziness, and the fact I have another option.

[SnakeCharmer]

If you get a chance, would you measure the length and more importantly, the width of that card?

I'll do that for you tonight.

Thanks man.  It's no big rush, but just whenever it's convenient.

[Yoru]

27 centimeters long (connector plate to the end of the card).
3 centimeters deep. Takes up two card slots at the rear of your computer case.
11 centimeters tall, not including the gold-plated connectors at the bottom.

Sorry, I only have a metric tape-measure on me.

[Hindenburg]

10,6 inches long.
1,18 deep
4,3 tall

Hey, the calculator in win7 has a fancy conversion option.

[SnakeCharmer]

27 centimeters long (connector plate to the end of the card).
3 centimeters deep. Takes up two card slots at the rear of your computer case.
11 centimeters tall, not including the gold-plated connectors at the bottom.

Sorry, I only have a metric tape-measure on me.

Metric's more than fine.  Many thanks.

Fake edit:  I see where Hindenburg (Oo) converted it :P

[Cyrrex]

Are all the new cards two-slot monstrosities now?  Is that what we've come to?  I sense dark times ahead.

[Merusk]

I just bought a 9500 to replace my ancient 7300 and celebrate being employed again.  Yeah, it's not top of the line but it's light years beyond what I was using, under $100 AND only uses one video slot.  I can actually play games made in the last 4 years now without it being a slideshow. 

[Cyrrex]

Um.  Merusk...I'm pretty sure you can get a plain old 9800gt for around a hundred.   Possibly even with a free game.

[schild]

You can still buy 9500s?

[Merusk]

Um.  Merusk...I'm pretty sure you can get a plain old 9800gt for around a hundred.   Possibly even with a free game.

I thought the 9800 was a dual slot card.    Hm guess not according to new egg. It's $120 plus tax and shipping, though, so I'd truly blow my budget which I can't do and I wanted a new card now, not 4 months from now. I'm happy.

Besides, looking at it it seems bulkier than the 9500 and I'm tight on space.  My motherboard is laid out stupidly so I've got to keep the TV card in the slot directly above the vid card.  Needless to say the side stays off the case now.

[Yegolev]

The 9800 GTX+ I have is the size of a small Buick.  Two slots.

[Cyrrex]

Yeah, the GT is single slot, and the GTX dual.

I'd guess a 9600GT is going to run at near the same price as a 9500, and significantly out-perform it.  Not sure about the sizes, though.  Too late to return the card?