Opinions on PNY GeForce 9800 GT EE 1024MB Graphics Card

[newmanm]

Hi,

My computer specs are here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00757531&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3239117

I have the 4200+ dual-core model. The only upgrades I've made are to go to 4 GB RAM and to install an nVidia 6600 video card. I've just ordered a new power supply (OCZ 700 watt) and am looking to upgrade the video card. I've been told the 9800 series will work with my computer but wanted to make sure. I was looking at the following video card:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5274327&Sku=P56-9824

Will this definitely work with my computer? Is it a good deal and is it a good price? Is there something better for a similar price? I prefer to stick with Nvidia chipsets as I've had problems with ATI. I know nothing about the newer cards as to compatability with my system. Any advice or suggestions would be really helpful.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[rolli59]

It is basically an energy efficient 9800GTX+ some of them actually are fiscally smaller than the 9800 cards.
Yes it will fit your system!

 

[newmanm]

Thanks, that's really what I wanted to know! Tomorrow I'm going to due some research on all 3 cards and see what I can find. Enough for today, I need to let this all sink in.

Thanks so much for all your help,

Mark

It is basically an energy efficient 9800GTX+ some of them actually are fiscally smaller than the 9800 cards.
Yes it will fit your system!

 

[fatedcloud]

The 9800 GT doesn't really need 26 amps. In fact, it doesn't even use half that.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-radeon-power,2122-6.html

It's a bit older of an article, so it doesn't have the 9800 GT specifically, however it does test an 8800 GT, which is identical in all ways to the 9800 GT except for its name.
At max load, the 8800 GT/9800 GT (1024 MB) consumes a measly 6.7 amps. The 512 MB version uses significantly less, which is puzzling, but I'm far from an expert on this sort of thing. Regardless, every single card tested consumed much less than its stated box requirements. Not even the 4870x2 used 26 amps.

If you go to http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_gtx_295_us.html and look at the gtx 295's "specifications" tab and scroll down, you'll see the thermal and power section. Nvidia rates the gtx 295 at using a maximum of 289 watts. 289 watts / 12 volts = ~24.1 amps. Nvidia themselves don't even declare the gtx 295 as needing 26 amps.

I have no idea why the box requirements for the 9800 GT state 26 amps, that's just misleading and outright false. The 9800 GT truly does not need that many amps.

However, the terms "high powered" and "high quality" are not synonymous when it comes to power supplies. You can have an 800w piece of junk PSU that won't power your card, yet a good 400w PSU will. Like rolli said, if the unit you ordered is a quality one, you should be good to go.

Edit: Ninja'd

Edit 2: Re-worded second paragraph.

I just wanted to state that the 26 amp requirement is not the amount that the card actually uses, but is an estimate of how much power the Entire System would need in order to function properly. And it just depends how many amps the psu has, i'm pretty sure the psu he stated before had more then 1 12V rail, being at 700W it should. In fact, i just looked it up, it had 2 12V rails. The OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W has 46 available ampage on the 12V rail. And really how you say

That is an extreme over exageration. A 800W PSU gives out more amps then a 400W. Noone would sell an 800W PSU with 25% efficiency. I don't really wanna point out everything you said that was wrong but, if anyone has any questions about PSU's just send me a message.
It is wise to only give out information that you now about, and to ask questions when you are unsure, this is how you learn and gain more knowledge over time.