Ummm graphics cards....

[LukeBird]

Right jsut wanted some opinions please! (I know there should be plenty :P)

Ummm I have a 256mb 6800GS, this one specifically-
www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/99191

and am considering an 8series to replace it...
Possibly this one -
www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=575254

I wanted to know if you chaps and chapettes would think it would be worth upgrading.
I don't want to spend (much) more than £150ish.
I ahd heard rumours that 8series my come down in price when the new ATi R-Series are released?
Any truth in that you think?
But I'd be interested to hear anyones suggestions/ideas/criticisms...
Thanks

[ThePassenger]

My purely personal opinion is 'Hell no'. I wouldn't touch an overclocked unit (even one certified by manufacturer) with a 10ft barge pole. If throws too many variables in to the mix when dealing with a funky system down the road.

I'd go for either a straight version of that or save more for the full on card.

[Zod]

I tend to agree. Buy the straight 8600GTS. It will be much, much quicker than your current card.

[LukeBird]

ThePassenger said:

I'd go for either a straight version of that or save more for the full on card.

Sorry, I don't quite get that can you explain....
I get the go for a non-overclocked version but, full on card?
Do you mean the 8800GTX?
Which are truly, frightfully expensive!

So both of you would recommend just a bog standard one?
Ummm any ideas of good buys?
Thanks!

[Scraggles]

overclocked tend to be fast as they burn out quicker.... never hadthe urge to overclock systems and have them fail at the wrong time, check if mobo and PSU will fit it and power it

[LukeBird]

Scraggles said:

overclocked tend to be fast as they burn out quicker.... never hadthe urge to overclock systems and have them fail at the wrong time, check if mobo and PSU will fit it and power it

That is a very good point!!
I doubt my PSU will cope with that lucky I was just looking and not ordering!
I guess they'll want a 450w+ for stability...
Damnit I've only got a 360w
That's out of the window for a while then....

[ThePassenger]

LukeBird said:

ThePassenger said:

I'd go for either a straight version of that or save more for the full on card.

Sorry, I don't quite get that can you explain....
I get the go for a non-overclocked version but, full on card?
Do you mean the 8800GTX?
Which are truly, frightfully expensive!

Yes, either get a non-overclocked version or the 8800GTX. To be honest not matter how hard you push the GS version it's not going to outpace it's big brother And as others have said it'll burn out 'before its time' and/or make fault finding difficult.
And yeah, it's just a shade on the expensive side

LukeBird said:

So both of you would recommend just a bog standard one?
Ummm any ideas of good buys?
Thanks!

Well your original link pointed to Scan. I'm pretty sure they do a regular GS, I know Novatech do and I'd be surprised if Dabs didn't as well. They should all be roughly the same price, so it's just a question of checking P & P.

ETA: Yeah a stronger PSU would be a sound investment as well. Enermax or other big name rather than a cheapy one. Whilst it's a different class I have a Zalman 350w running an AMD64 3400+, 3x HDD's, 5950 Ultra, Nova-T 500 tuner and an extra gigabit LAN card. I've read of cheap PSU of an alleged higher rating being eaten and spat out by similar configs.

Edited by ThePassenger on Tuesday 1st May 23:45

[LukeBird]

Yeah I think it's pointless even looking at an 8600/8800(better!!) with a 360w.
Maybe a 450+...
My current one is running an Athlon64 3700+ (and i'd like the AM2 6000+ ) with just an 80gb (300gb coming tomorrow) and the aforementioned 6800GS.
So maybe in a year or so then!
Anyhow for the moment thats a bit too much being a poor student and all!
Think I'll wisely invest the money in a G25 instead

Thanks anyhow

[Scraggles]

LukeBird said:

Yeah I think it's pointless even looking at an 8600/8800(better!!) with a 360w.
Maybe a 450+...
My current one is running an Athlon64 3700+ (and i'd like the AM2 6000+ ) with just an 80gb (300gb coming tomorrow) and the aforementioned 6800GS.
So maybe in a year or so then!
Anyhow for the moment thats a bit too much being a poor student and all!
Think I'll wisely invest the money in a G25 instead

Thanks anyhow

currently got a 500 or 600 ? psu, not sure exactly but 500 seems more likely, but it has this huge fan that runs slowly, athlon 2500, 500 GB hdd space and a 7600 GT agp i reecall