BFG Tech 9800GTX+ replacement

[crywolf1021]

Hello i am looking for a replacement for my 9800GTX+. My budget is around $150. I was looking at the 550 TI. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.


My specs are AMD Phenom 2 quad 3.1ghz
8gigs of ram.

[ShyguyXPC]

what is your power supply specs?

Brand, Model, Wattage, Amp Rating for +12V Rail.

[crywolf1021]

Antec NEO ECO 400W

[crywolf1021]

And a single +12v rail

[ShyguyXPC]

Single 30 Amp +12V Rail (I have one of those units around here, along with a 520W model and few other PSU's).

I was wondering on the PSU, so that you may be able to use the entire budget for the GPU, or have to use some of it for a PSU Upgrade.

With that said...

Radeon HD 7770 or a HD 6850 would be your best bet for $150 range.

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Video Cards & Video Devices, Desktop Graphics Cards, $100 - $200, Radeon HD 7000 series, Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Video Cards & Video Devices, Desktop Graphics Cards, $100 - $200, Radeon HD 6000 series, Radeon HD 6850

Either one will be more powerful than the GTX 550 Ti, and either one will run on that PSU just fine.


The 7770 can usually come close to matching the 6850, on less power consumption and lower heat, but the 6850 has the stronger Memory Bus Bandwidth, and would be better suited for situations with higher levels of Anti Aliasing, Shadows, HDR, and Higher Resolution settings.

the 6850 would get my Vote, though the 7770 is no slouch either.


Just find the fastest Clocked model you can afford, the 6850's Start at $150, so obviously, you can't go too far into the list, but with the 7770, all of them should be stock 1GHz Clock speeds, how ever I know there are some Factory OC models, and under budget, these OC models would be even closer to the 6850 in performance.

Newegg.com - MSI R7770 PE1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition OC 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (11201-02-20G)

for the 7770's those 2 would be my choices, for the 6850's, well, as you can see there's not much in choices.


If you don't mind saving some money, though only has a 90 day warranty, but they are New OEM cards:

AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB DDR5 PCI Express (PCIe) Dual DVI HD 6870 Radeon HD 6870

thats a great deal for the price, and would still work in your PC with the PSU.

(though you'll need to use a 2x 4 Pin Molex to 6 Pin PCIe adapter since the PSU only has a single 6 Pin PCIe connector)

[crywolf1021]

This is alot of research to do. but i was wondering if there is a brand that very reliable. because i have never bought a ati/amd card before. as i remember xfx had alot of problems a year or 2 ago. alo both of my monitors only have dvi, i know they have dvi to hdmi cables but do they make these cards with duel dvi?

[ShyguyXPC]

just use a HDMI to DVI converter or Cable. They make cables that convert to either or.

Both HDMI and DVI carry the same Digital Image signal, just different Interface, and HDMI carries an audio signal if the output display device has speakers or a Pass through for audio.


as to brand, XFX is still fine, not sure what the problems with them were, but I know there were some issues with ALL Radeons with the DVI connectors and what not used, but that issue was only with certain monitors being used with the cards.


the only downside to AMD's cards is they don't update the drivers as frequently or with as many updates as Nvidia Drivers.


But for your money's worth, the AMD cards are your only choice, unless your content with getting less performance for your money.

Sadly Nvidia screwed the pooch with the GTX 600 series for lower end cards, the 640 is a decent budget range card, but sucks when compared to even the $100 range Radeon HD 7750.

even the GTX 560 still sells for well over the $150 mark, when it should of dropped, but never did.

the GTX 560 SE, which is a gimped GTX 560, is for under $150, but its performance is less than a Radeon 7770/6850.

for the cable: Newegg.com - BYTECC Model HMD-3 3 ft. HDMI High Speed Male to DVI-D Male Single Link Cable M-M



I use one from the same brand, but instead I convert the DVI out to an HDMI in on my monitor.


My Monitor has 2 HDMI Inputs and a VGA/D-Sub Input. I have a 3 Port 1080p capable HDMI Switch, that I connect to the monitor, and the HDMI to DVI connects to the Switch, which is connected to the Video cards DVI port.

I went the cable route, since grabbing a simple adapter would cost as much, but I would have to screw on the adapter to the card, and then the cable on to the adapter, and it would just stick too far out behind the case, and have too much flex and "play" in the connector possibly bending and breaking the pins on the port. Just going with the cable with the needed end connectors saved a lot of trouble and headaches.


Same way, you can just use an HDMI connector for the card, with DVI on other end to the monitor.

If the cards use a Mini HDMI like mine does, I think they do make cables with Mini HDMI to DVI as well.



but for the brands, the 2 7770's I listed above would be my choices, Sapphire isn't as popular as say, XFX, or Asus, or EVGA, or any of the other hyped brands, but they have been making AMD/ATI Cards for over a decade, and one of the long term Partners of the Radeon series, same with Visiontek, Powercolor and HIS.


but the MSI is a good card as well, MSI makes some pretty good performing and Popular cards these days, for Radeon and Geforce.


either one is fine IMO.

But that Stock OEM AMD Radeon HD 6870 from Geeks.com is still the best deal for the money IMO.