GTX 550 Ti and GTX 650 - Need some reassurance.

[exodusonfire]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week (pretty much as soon as I get a definitive answer), my budget is literally 120$ for new GPU

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (Battlefield 3, Farcry 3, Crysis 3, Assassin Creed 3, etc, these are the kinds of games I play and not necessarily at the highest settings - I go for a balance between performance and quality.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Nvidia 9800 GT 1GB, Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 500W (RS500-PCARD3-US) <- This is part of my current issue which I will explain at the end of the post.

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core MOBO: GIGABYTE 970A-D3 RAM: 4x G.SKILL NS 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1333(PC3 10666). HDD: Western Digital SATA 6GB/s 250 GB 16Mb Cache 7200 RPM MISC: Full ATX tower, 3 onboard LED fans, DVD+R drive.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, ncix.com, tigerdirect.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

PARTS PREFERENCES: N/A as I'm looking at two specific cards, but I prefer Nvidia.

OVERCLOCKING: NO SLI OR CROSSFIRE: NO

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: A couple things I need to know here, first off I am a little on edge with these two cards because as far as I can tell they are roughly similar in performance with the 650 overall being better(it's smaller too) but the 650 is cheaper and I don't understand why(as its a newer model with slightly better specs and sporting the new kepler technology), if someone could ease my confusion on that it would be nice.(this isnt that important in the end, im just curious)

Now my main concern is my PSU, I'm not very savvy when it comes to PSU, watts, volts and 12v rails and all that so I am completely lost on this, but I know enough to worry that perhaps the PSU is not strong enough for one or both of these cards so I would love if someone could clear this up for me. I provided all the components in hopes that someone can tell me if my PSU can indeed handle either one of these cards under the load I'm going to put it in (medium to high settings on current games and sometime down the road as well). In the case the PSU can't cut it for either card(I really hope not) then please recommend the next best PSU as I'm on a very tight budget.

TLDR: Will my PSU handle either one of these cards keeping in mind the load it will be under. If not please recommend the next best PSU as I am tight on budget.

EDIT: I am now under the impression I can handle the 550, but if I can also handle the 650 I will purchase almost immediately.

PS- For reference here are the two cards I'm specifically looking at.

ASUS ENGTX550 Ti/DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121630

MSI N650-MD1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 650 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127703

 

[ASHISH65]

for you best would be raise budget and get gtx 650ti@150.as 550ti and 650 will not be suiatable for that resolution/

 

[exodusonfire]

I have never heard that before, why is the resolution an issue..the 9800 deals with it just fine o.o? I honestly cannot afford the 650 Ti but on a side note are you saying my PSU can handle all of the mentioned cards with my current setup?

 

[ASHISH65]

ok i reccomend gtx 650 over 550ti as its new gen gpu and slight faster and gtx 650 will work with your psu

 

[exodusonfire]

Thank you, my fear was the PSU not being strong enough to deal with either card.

(I can't seem to choose ASHISH65 answer as best answer so if a mod could mark this thread as Solved that'd be great)

 

[ASHISH65]

as you already have gt 9800 which takes around 100wats so gtx 650 just takes 64w so psu will have no problem.go with gtx 650

 

[exodusonfire]

as you already have gt 9800 which takes around 100wats so gtx 650 just takes 64w so psu will have no problem.go with gtx 650

Is that converted from the actual amps they use on the 12v? if so, thank you for the further clarification.

 

[ASHISH65]

as you already have gt 9800 which takes around 100wats so gtx 650 just takes 64w so psu will have no problem.go with gtx 650

Is that converted from the actual amps they use on the 12v? if so, thank you for the further clarification.

yes it is convered to 12v.gtx 650 will have no issue with that psu

 

[iboomer]

I really hate to differ with all of the previous posters, but the GTX 650 is not the better card.

http://www.hwcompare.com/13482/geforce-gtx-550-ti-vs-geforce-gtx-650/

Back for the buck would be the 550ti, imho

and yes, your PSU will handle the 550ti also.

 

[ASHISH65]

I really hate to differ with all of the previous posters, but the GTX 650 is not the better card.

http://www.hwcompare.com/13482/geforce-gtx-550-ti-vs-geforce-gtx-650/

Back for the buck would be the 550ti, imho

and yes, your PSU will handle the 550ti also.

hey you forget the hwcompare.it doesnot shows real benchmark.it is under therotical bench means thay bench according to specs.

see here

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/541?vs=681


DO NOT use hw compare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[iboomer]

I really hate to differ with all of the previous posters, but the GTX 650 is not the better card.

http://www.hwcompare.com/13482/geforce-gtx-550-ti-vs-geforce-gtx-650/

Back for the buck would be the 550ti, imho

and yes, your PSU will handle the 550ti also.

hey you forget the hwcompare.it doesnot shows real benchmark.it is under therotical bench means thay bench according to specs.

see here

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/541?vs=681


DO NOT use hw compare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I learned something. Thank you. I noted that the link you posted for anandtech shows actual benchmarks, and that the 550ti out performs the 650 in several categories. Your graphic shows that there is only 1% difference between the cards.

I would much rather see the actual benchmarks than 'theoreticals' anyday.

Now if the OP could find a GTX 460, he could get it for less than either the 550ti or the 650, and come out way ahead. Except for that the 460 is a power hungry monster.

 

[exodusonfire]

Heh I enjoy your answers, I did alot of looking into the cards before I posted here so I was already fairly certain the 650 was the stronger card if only by a little and it was considerably cheaper. I did actually consider the 460 at a point but like you said that card is just a greedy little power sucker.

Thanks again for all the input. I have ordered the MSI 650 a few hours ago.

 

[ASHISH65]

Heh I enjoy your answers, I did alot of looking into the cards before I posted here so I was already fairly certain the 650 was the stronger card if only by a little and it was considerably cheaper. I did actually consider the 460 at a point but like you said that card is just a greedy little power sucker.

Thanks again for all the input. I have ordered the MSI 650 a few hours ago.

good luck for gaming!!!!!!!!!!