Upgrade for 2600XT (that has equivlant power requirements)

[nelmr]

I have a Dell 530 with the following specs:

E6550 2.33GHz 4M shared L2 cache

4 GB of RAM (3.25 addressable currently)
Since I didn't get the quad core, I believe the PSU is 300 watts (power not to exceed 264 on the 12v rails thus 22A? The

12v+ says 18A - these specs obtained looking at other forums online regarding the Dell 530 w/ Core 2 Duo)

Everything on the Dell is stock. Only have 1 DVDRW drive and 1 HDD. Only USB devices I use that draw power is the mouse and keyboard.

I just bought Anno 1404 and played the demo on my machine. I can run it at high (with a few settings to medium and a few to very high). The frame rates are playable but not very smooth. The 2600XT is weak with AA so turning that off along with vsync helps too.

Anyway, several new ATI and nVidia cards have come out in the mainstream market since i got this computer circa Dec 2007. Is there any equivalent card that has the same power requirements as this one (i.e. I don't want to buy a new PSU). Also this card draws power from the PCI express slot. It does not have a cable to the PSU directly. That too would be a requirement for me.

So what are my options right now? Or am i better off just keep on using the 2600XT?

 

[nelmr]

Also, forgot to mention I game at 1680 x 1040.

 

[Onus]

The HD4670 would work for you. It uses no auxilliary power, and is six tiers higher on the GPU chart at the end of the monthly "Best Graphics Card for the Money" article.

 

[invisik]

I would go with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133279

benchmark: http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/msi9800gt/

 

[daedalus685]

Agree, as far as power consumption vs performance goes the 4670 or 9800gt (Edit: The EE version!) are unmatched.

Get whatever your budget can afford.

 

[nelmr]

What do you guys think of this (it's open box 4670):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814140095R

 

[invisik]

^ bad brand and opened. I personally would go with a 9800gt but if you most go with a 4670 here is one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127415

 

[daedalus685]

I'd pass on an open box.. but it is your call.

 

[nelmr]

Agree, as far as power consumption vs performance goes the 4670 or 9800gt (Edit: The EE version!) are unmatched.

Get whatever your budget can afford.

Any performance comparisions of the 4670 vs. 9800 GT EE? Also I just noticed the open box was 256MB and not the standard 512 that has been getting reviewed for the 4670 so I'll pass on that $50 card.

By the way, I play mostly console games but use the PC for strategy games. I have the following:
TW: Medieval 2
Age of Empires 3
Settler's II 10th Annversy
And now ANNO 1404

 

[daedalus685]

For those games you don't need a killer card. Get whatever the price is right for.

The 9800Gt EE will be faster than the 4670. I do not have any concrete numbers on the EE though, but it should be roughly the same as the 9800GT.

 

[invisik]

9800gt EE
Core Clock 550MHz
Shader Clock 1375MHz
Memory Clock 1800MHz

9800gt (benchmark oc version)
Core Clock 660MHz
Shader Clock 1625MHz
Memory Clock 1900MHz

The 9800gt EE is going to be roughly 5-10% slower then the non "EE" version, but you can overclock it a bit to make up the speed.

 

[Joseph_Mix_God]

would suggest an EVGA 750 TI SC. It is a good budget card and is really good with its power draw (No external power from the PCIE port)