Messages

901

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: February 02, 2010, 10:25:01 PM »

I'd already figure you'd lean that way.

Anyways.. this is the only combo available that would make sense for you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.326527

902

General Discussion / Re: NFL season (2009-2010), week 20 - playoffs?!

« on: February 02, 2010, 03:52:49 PM »

This will make assassin's day, perhaps. Mike Martz, yep, the mad genius himself has signed on to be the Bears OC. That officially puts Lovie on the clock. The Bears have to make the playoffs at the very least next season, otherwise they'll probably blow the whole thing up.

I would say Martz might be the best guy, given that Cutler prefers to gun everything. However, that won't magically fix their o-line.

 
It is worth pointing out that the Colts Dwight Freeney is out. He's the mastermind to the Colts defense, and if the Colts fail to rush the passer effectively, it will be a long day for the Colts on defense.

903

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: February 01, 2010, 07:00:37 PM »

That combo deal is gone.... unless there's something wrong with Newegg.

904

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 31, 2010, 09:06:58 PM »

Hm, there are a few good 9600GT options...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141073 - Biostar, cheapest one of the bunch (no HDMI though)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187060 - Sparkle 512MB version
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133311 - PNY 1GB version
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162030 - Galaxy 512MB version
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162033 - Galaxy 1GB version

Note: I looked at this list because I remember rereading the Anandtech guide on the GT220s, and it was some price comparison of sorts... plus the 9600GT is slower than the 9800GT...

905

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 31, 2010, 01:12:53 PM »

When are you considering low-end (or older mid-end solutions), SLI is definitely not important.

906

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 30, 2010, 08:07:58 PM »

I avoid the PSU talk other than having the 80PLUS recommendation... so I'd defer on that.

I don't like the 9500GT simply because on paper (I could be totally off), but it's technically inferior to the GT220 (power, relative performance, and heat generation). This is all accomplished on a potentially lower or equal price point.

 

I've exclusively looked through both the GT220 and it looks like I missed a few options...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127455 - cheapest of all the GT220s, made by MSI and 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127456 - not sure why the 512MB MSI one is more expensive..

I still like the Gigabyte one though (the one with DDR3 mem)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125295

Some 9500GTs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121336 - ASUS 512MB version
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121339 - ASUS 1GB version
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162019 - cheapest 9500GT as far as I can tell

907

General Discussion / Re: Happy birthday Leno!

« on: January 30, 2010, 07:51:22 PM »

Please make your b-day wish to be a more permanent ISP.... 

Just kidding, happy b-day Leno! 

908

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 30, 2010, 12:18:54 AM »

I would look at it this way...

For what you are currently doing... playing old games, it's certainly overkill. However, the faster hardware will at least let you play more recent stuff with some reasonable performance, if that ever comes up.... and it is a better transitional option onto your mobo (with or without onboard graphics).

It's something to consider with your investment.

 
I would personally go for the 9800GT, because I tend to go for faster things, but this hardware is a generation old, but was closer to the top of the line for its time, whereas the GT220 is really a lower-mid rage card of the current gen... (the 9800GT is closer to a slower version of the GTS240, which is strictly an OEM card). I'm all about getting as much reasonable bang for the buck...

Also, if power and/or heat is a consideration, those can be factors.

909

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 29, 2010, 08:55:24 PM »

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.319262

Here's a more expensive combo, but also a lot more powerful... it may be worth a look. Unfortunately, there isn't that many reviews on the ASUS 9800GT to make a definitive answer.

910

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 29, 2010, 07:02:38 PM »

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.319504

The combo deal I referenced earlier has an ASUS card... and that has had some reasonably good reviews... so that's probably the best choice I guess.

I wonder why IST not responded to this thread.

911

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 29, 2010, 06:56:57 PM »

Well, the combo deal I linked to is still pretty good... I didn't like your first PSU combo choice (the video card makes me go bleh at your secondary requirements)... and I didn't exactly like the Gigabyte GT220 reviews...

 
I don't think you could do much better with the CPU, given that the faster option is also a more power hungry option///

912

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 29, 2010, 06:18:21 PM »

At this moment, I think suggesting the GT220 is the best option... because having the additional DX10.1 benefit (which its primary goal is having extra speed) and it does have the latest HDMI hardware for NVidia is probably worth it. The Gigabyte one is the most attractive because it has a lower cost (especially if you use the rebate) and it uses faster memory.

913

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 28, 2010, 09:09:11 PM »

I still think you could spend a tad more to get a bigger difference. Having old tech when even the newer crap is better is a bad idea IMO.

914

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 28, 2010, 07:55:43 PM »

Ok, there are a bunch more 9400GTs.. I only referenced the cheapest.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201069633099%201305520548%20106792522&name=GeForce%209%20series - low end 9000 series...

Personally, I have concerns over a fan-less card (nowadays, you can't be too careful).. here's a seemingly better 9500 GT (with better reviews) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162019

Going from a 9400GT to 9500GT double the # of stream processors...

The GT 220 has triple the # of stream processors than the 9400GT... this is all relative to shader performance for games....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201069633099%201305520548%20106793264&name=GeForce%20G%2fGT%20series - GT 200 series or so...

This could work...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127456 - GT220 with some reviews

Better options than the 9000 series... the GT220 series...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130521 - eVGA version.. I've used eVGA w/o issue... (512MB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143210 - BFG version (1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121347 - ASUS version (1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125295 - Gigabyte version using faster DDR3 instead of DDR2 (1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134089 - ECS, same as your mobo manufacturer... (512MB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162042 - One of the cheaper GT240 cards...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127465 - MSI version of the GT240 with some benefits after rebate, 1GB version

915

General Discussion / Re: Upgrade time

« on: January 28, 2010, 07:01:39 PM »

Hmm... well I suggest you look over the other options as they are far more appealing.

New CPU debuts should allow for better options to trickle down... though you're spending towards the further lowend...