GTX 260 core 216 on 550W w/ 36A?

Epyon · Post by **Epyon** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:11 am

Newegg should be getting their new batch of the GTX 260 core 216's in today, and was wondering if it's possible, or if I shouldn't risk it.

For the requirements, the following is stated:

525W PCI Express-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current rating of 38A or more*

*((Minimum system power requirement based on a PC configured with an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 processor))

I meet the minimum wattage, but not the amperage on the 12v rail. Also, seems that if you have the amperage split between multiple rails, it adds up to be even less since you lose some efficiency?

PSU is: http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr550wgxpsu.aspx

If you don't think the PSU is enough for my system, what brand do suggest I look for? Not looking to spend too much, but am always looking for quality parts.

Thanks in advance for any advice,
-Epyon

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:23 am

The new cards are going to release very soon... I'd wait.

Epyon · Post by **Epyon** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:41 am

Sava700 wrote:The new cards are going to release very soon... I'd wait.

Do you foresee a card in the 300 series beating the 260 at a $199 price point?

If not, think I will probably just cave and get the 260.

Any thoughts on this for a PSU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139010

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:42 am

If purchasing a new card now, I'd not spend the money on an outdated card that cannot do DX11, there are DX11 cards out now, and more coming.
ATI 5770 is less money, and performs almost as well as that 260. Or for a little more money, get a 5870 and be well ahead of the game.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:07 pm

Epyon wrote:Do you foresee a card in the 300 series beating the 260 at a $199 price point?

If not, think I will probably just cave and get the 260.

Any thoughts on this for a PSU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139010

A 300 series card will out perform the 260 yes, will it cost more than the 260..well YES, but that's the nature of a new release. What I mean by waiting is that the new releases will likely push the 260 down in price for a short period. Keep in mind that all the current models are hardly being made anymore to make room for the new line soon to come out. I wouldn't dip my fingers into ATI and just stick with Nvidia....although some consider me a Nvidia fan boy I just see the cards as a better purchase with better support.

As for your PSU question, yes Corsair makes good ones but here is one that you might like better and is cheaper.. if you don't like the red color just spray paint it

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817703029

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:08 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:If purchasing a new card now, I'd not spend the money on an outdated card that cannot do DX11, there are DX11 cards out now, and more coming.
ATI 5770 is less money, and performs almost as well as that 260. Or for a little more money, get a 5870 and be well ahead of the game.

I too recommend this path if buying a new card.

Epyon · Post by **Epyon** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:40 pm

Thank you for the advice, I think I will hold on until at least March. The main reason I was eager to get a core 216 is because they are sold out most other places and are hard to find.

Another reason I'm wanting to get a new card is BF:BC2, been playing the beta and it's freaking AMAZING. My card falls a little short though.

I prefer going the NVIDIA route vs. ATI, I've had some bad ATI drivers in the past, that's not to say ATI doesn't make good cards, I just think in some cases the NVIDIA drivers are better.

Btw, I checked out the PSU in the link, it has nice amperage but I failed to mention 'modular' is sort of a requirement for me. Seems now that I've went modular, I never want to go back - haha.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:23 pm

Epyon wrote: Another reason I'm wanting to get a new card is BF:BC2, been playing the beta and it's freaking AMAZING. My card falls a little short though.

I prefer going the NVIDIA route vs. ATI, I've had some bad ATI drivers in the past, that's not to say ATI doesn't make good cards, I just think in some cases the NVIDIA drivers are better.

Even more the reason to get a card that supports DX11. I'm not sure on the details of what extra visuals DX11 will give for BF BC2, I've yet to find info on that, but I find a ton of info that it supports DX11.

I came from the nVidia camp, I've been favoring ATI lately, their driver issues are long fixed a few years ago. They release new drivers once a month like clockwork.

The gaming rig I built boy for XMas, it has a Sapphire 5770 card, runs BF BC2 nicely.

Epyon · Post by **Epyon** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:55 pm

The 128-bit memory bus doesn't hinder it? I still have a bad memory from when I 'upgraded' from an x800 to an 8600, thinking the 8600 would have more performance due to more memory.

The downstep from 256-bit bus to 128-bit bus was pretty huge in that case, still wonder what the hell I was thinking.

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:37 am

Epyon wrote:The 128-bit memory bus doesn't hinder it? I still have a bad memory from when I 'upgraded' from an x800 to an 8600, thinking the 8600 would have more performance due to more memory.

The downstep from 256-bit bus to 128-bit bus was pretty huge in that case, still wonder what the hell I was thinking.

It's DDR5 instead of DDR3...I can't speak about it technically but my understanding about it is DDR5@128bit is faster than [email]DDR3@256bit...someon[/email]e correct me if I'm wrong about that. As info, they do make cards with DDR5 @256bit but its a $400 card

Epyon · Post by **Epyon** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:03 am

Well, I just ordered this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102864

Seemed to be a solid card, and I also won't have to upgrade my PSU which is a huge plus.

On a side note, do you recommend any specific drivers?

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:06 am

just go to the ATI site and get the lastest and greatest they offer.

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

BTW, Nice purchase

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:01 am

Epyon wrote:Well, I just ordered this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102864

Seemed to be a solid card, and I also won't have to upgrade my PSU which is a huge plus.

On a side note, do you recommend any specific drivers?

decent buy but I had to do a "Face Palm* cause it was ATI