1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

Video Card question

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by Maurolava, Nov 25, 2009.

  1. Merlanni

    Merlanni Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2005
    Messages:
    2,445
    Media:
    23
    Likes Received:
    54
    Gender:
    Male
    Before we get ahead of ourselves do you have a roomy case? Some GPU cards can be large.
     
  2. Maurolava

    Maurolava Neither to go back, nor to take impulse Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2005
    Messages:
    924
    Likes Received:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    Ok, I think I'm now in between two cards:

    1. Radeon HD 4850 512MB
    2. GeForce GTS 250 512MB

    Being $119.99 and $134.99 respectably. Does the 15 bucks make a difference?


    This is what the case looks like ~> CASE

    Inside look:

    [​IMG]

    If it makes a difference, I guess I should also specify the rest of my system configuration:

    Pentium 4HT 3.2 GHz
    1GB of RAM (Upgrading to 2GB as soon as I can figure this video card)
    Windows XP SP3
    350W PSU (Upgrading as well to this one I hope is a good one )

    That's all I can think...
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2009
  3. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2003
    Messages:
    8,252
    Media:
    82
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Maurolava likes this.
  4. Maurolava

    Maurolava Neither to go back, nor to take impulse Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2005
    Messages:
    924
    Likes Received:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    :confused: I being thinking about the PSU... I don't know if I can actually use it. If I'm looking at it correctly the fan is siting in top of it instead of the back of it like the one I have.

    The problem I see is the fact that, the case I have is closed in the top. Am I missing something here?
     
  5. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2003
    Messages:
    8,252
    Media:
    82
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    No, that could be a problem. The ps will need venting since it blows quite a bit of warm air out through the fan. It's not hot, but slightly warm (typically). Still it will raise the temp in the case, and the ps might heat-up, unless it is vented in some way. If the fan is right against the top of the case with no venting, I would choose one that vents out the back instead. If you have a few inches of clearance between the top and the ps, it won't damage the ps, but without good air circulation, it will still raise the overall temp inside the case. I notice that the ps has a lot of venting out the back, which should help cool it a bit.
     
  6. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2000
    Messages:
    23,665
    Media:
    494
    Likes Received:
    574
    Gender:
    Male
    You can just turn it around and have the big fan go into the box I assume. At least that's how mine is set up. I just have another small fan at the back of the box to help with the ventilation.
     
  7. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2003
    Messages:
    8,252
    Media:
    82
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Good idea. Sometimes the mounting screws are off-set though...still, he could just leave one out.
     
  8. Merlanni

    Merlanni Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2005
    Messages:
    2,445
    Media:
    23
    Likes Received:
    54
    Gender:
    Male
    Most PSU vans are sucking fans. The fan of a PSU sucks air trough the processor cooler(the big metal tower) and blows it trough a mesh out of the case. In your picture the pc is laying on its back. There has to be a ventilation opening in the back. Trough that it blows out. If so the situation is normel

    Measure the dimension of the PSU in your case. Many might be bigger in size and as a result do not fit.
     
    Chandos the Red likes this.
  9. The Great Snook Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 15, 2003
    Messages:
    4,123
    Media:
    28
    Likes Received:
    313
    Gender:
    Male
  10. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2003
    Messages:
    8,252
    Media:
    82
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Yes, mine does that. But the fan is on the bottom of the psu, not the top. Still, it might very well be a reverse fan.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

    That's a very nice video card, Snook. It should be very fast.

    My wife is giving me these new parts for Xmas. But I'm keeping my old 9800 GT for now.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145265

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128400
     
  11. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2000
    Messages:
    10,140
    Media:
    63
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    Yep, nice card Snook. It's better than my ATI 4870. I have to say that I am not in any way biased toward ATI, it's just that when I bought my card, ATI offered the by far best price/performance ratio. I have to say I am happy with my choice, my card performs well.

    And I am jealous about your hardware as well Chandos. What are you upgrading from?

    No upgrade in the foreseeable future for me, except for a new large HDD. With an Intel 9450 Quad @ 2,66 MHz, 8GB RAM and my 4870 I don't expect significant performance problems on my 19" screen(s) any time soon. The SSD, whenever it comes, will provide a nice general speed boost, or so I imagine.

    I imagine that down the road in 2010 I might get a new 22-24" screen, which will then inevitably lead to a new graphics card in 2011 as newer games on higher resolution will drive up my hardware requirements.
     
  12. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2003
    Messages:
    8,252
    Media:
    82
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Ragusa - I am upgrading from an Intel D965P based system with an E6600 processor and 4GB of DDR800 RAM.

    Yes that is still a fast system. You should be set for a few more years. But I would spring for a larger, wide screen display.
     
  13. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2000
    Messages:
    10,140
    Media:
    63
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    Oh, then that upgrade is beyond the 'nice to have' category :)
     
  14. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2003
    Messages:
    8,252
    Media:
    82
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Well, to be honest, I'm not much of a gamer any longer. But since I was now running Win 7, I figured it would a nice time to upgrade the hardware as well.
     
  15. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2000
    Messages:
    23,665
    Media:
    494
    Likes Received:
    574
    Gender:
    Male
    Snook, did you use the SP link on top of the page for that by any chance? All these in-thread links aren't affiliated so they don't count.
     
  16. The Great Snook Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 15, 2003
    Messages:
    4,123
    Media:
    28
    Likes Received:
    313
    Gender:
    Male
    :D I have to share my affiliated link purchases (with the Mrs.) and it wasn't SPs turn. Don't worry you are in the rotation and you did get Teen Snook's huge upgrade last year.
     
  17. Merlanni

    Merlanni Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2005
    Messages:
    2,445
    Media:
    23
    Likes Received:
    54
    Gender:
    Male
    Hold On. What do you mean it is on the bottom? Look at the pci slots. From wich angle has it been photographed?

    By the way, in my gamers case, Cooler master Haf 922, the PSU is located at the bottom also. it sucks cool air from the bottom and does not send it up.
     
  18. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2000
    Messages:
    10,140
    Media:
    63
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    Good point. In my Antec case, the PSU in fact aids cooling by sucking warm air out of the case and blowing it out. It's also mounted at the bottom of the case.
     
  19. Chandos the Red

    Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2003
    Messages:
    8,252
    Media:
    82
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Well, in my case the unit sits on its side. So, in my particular case, the fan faces towards the outside of the case, since it is laying on its side. But the unit looks just like this when it is sitting on a desk:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Image...tive PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

    Merlanni - Actually, his fan is on the bottom of the unit as well. The BFG is really pictured upside down. Look at the holes for the set screws.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Image...V V2.8 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2009
  20. Maurolava

    Maurolava Neither to go back, nor to take impulse Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2005
    Messages:
    924
    Likes Received:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    In another words, it should not be a problem for my case, right?

    BTW, Chandos do you know if the PSU that I am looking to buy sucks or blows air?

    @Snook: :( I wish I had that kinda money to get your card, looks great!
     
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.