Upgrading 7800GTX

[suklee]

.. didn't want to do this, but I guess my card is quite a few generations behind now. I haven't looked at anything in the past 3 years. I just hopped into an empty server of Team Fortress 2 and I was getting about 10-15fps. That might be a sign I need to upgrade.

I'm on a Dell 22" (2008WFP), native 1680 x 1050 so this is the ideal resolution for the games. Other specs of the system are in signature. A salesman I was talking to yesterday said even a 9500GT would beat my card. Is that true?

What is the best bang for buck for $100? How about $200? I'd like something that runs cooler than my 7800GTX, if that's possible. (In Speedfan it said my "GPU temp" was 80C.)

No specific loyalty to either Nvidia or ATI/AMD.

T4R

 

[HannibalX]

For Source games (TF2, HL2, CSS) any nVidia 8800/9800 series card or ATi 3800 series card will be fine and can be had for around $100 or so.

I would go with an 8800GT myself.

 

[MarcVenice]

I'd drop a few extra bucks and go for a HD4850, it will last a fair bit longer then a 8800gt, just like your 7800gtx lasted a while, before it becomes to long in the tooth.

 

[Harabec]

Actually, my old Radeon 9700 (2003 tech I think...) ran HL2 pretty well, at 1024X768 however. It could be that the native LCD resolution\settings is simply a bit too much for the 7800.

I'm have a HD4850 now so other than Crysis...nothing tickles it.

 

[Sylvanas]

Yeah would be better to spend the extra bucks on a 4850- most can be had for around $150 AR.

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: Harabec
Actually, my old Radeon 9700 (2003 tech I think...) ran HL2 pretty well, at 1024X768 however. It could be that the native LCD resolution\settings is simply a bit too much for the 7800.

I'm have a HD4850 now so other than Crysis...nothing tickles it.

Hmm, I tried dialing down to 1280 x 768 and it was still getting about 15-25fps. I may have my 3D settings turned up too high. Or I can dial it down another step in resolution...

 

[MarcVenice]

Ye, now I think about it, source engine games are pretty CPU limited. My old 7600gs ran CSS:Source just fine for example. Perhaps you've got AA cranked up way to high, or perhaps your 7800gtx is throttling because it's getting to hot?

 

[suklee]

Didn't know the GTX can self-throttle down? Is this a setting in NVIDIA control panel, or is it automatic? I already have the latest Vista drivers from their site.

I went with the recommended settings (those with a *) inside TF2, but I'll crank them all the way down to see if it improves. My old Shuttle with an AMD x2 4200+ & 2GB DDR400 (and the exact same video card) ran 1024x768 fine I believe.

 

[suklee]

On these settings: 960x600
Model detail: Medium
Texture: medium
Shader: Medium
Water detail: simple
Shadow: Medium
Color correction: Enabled
AA: none
AF 2x
Vsync Disabled
Motion Blur: disabled
HDR: none

I am now getting 150-200fps?????!!! One of those setting(s) must have been making a huge difference.

Perhaps I don't need a video card upgrade afterall! (?)

 

[MarcVenice]

Rofl, I bet AA was cranked all the way up. Honestly, you can easily play at 1680*1050. I'd enable vsync and HDR. Then keep cranking more settins untill you see dips into the 40's.

 

[suklee]

lol, yeah it was on "4x MSAA" - at least that was the recommended setting with the * on it! also found this guide so I'll skim it for any good tips. http://www.tweakguides.com/HL2_1.html

 

[suklee]

Umm I was just playing a bit of TF2 (30 mins max) and Speedfan reported my GPU temp was 115C. Is this the right reading???

 

[Jax Omen]

my brother plays TF2 just fine on a Radeon 9600, your 7800 isn't the problem unless it's defective.

As far as 115C... I have no idea how accurate speedfan is for GPU temps, but if it's really 115C it will burn itself up in no time. Is the fan spinning?

 

[ajaidevsingh]

HD4850
8800GT
9600GT
8800GS

 

[MrStryker]

Good lord, 115C. It should be staying UNDER 70c for optimal/good performance. Please make sure the fan is spinning or re-apply new paste on the heatsink.

 

[wanderer27]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Umm I was just playing a bit of TF2 (30 mins max) and Speedfan reported my GPU temp was 115C. Is this the right reading???

Yeah, that's insanely too hot.

You have either clogged fan/heatsink, heatsink is loose, or Speedfan is way off.

What's the temp say in the NVidia panel?

I know my 7800GTX never got above about 77-78C - and that was too hot for my likes.

 

[Triskaine]

I'm pretty sure it's probably clogged up by dust, but that is nothing unusual after three years of use. I would clean all the dust out, that should be enough to get it cool again.

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Yeah, that's insanely too hot.

You have either clogged fan/heatsink, heatsink is loose, or Speedfan is way off.

What's the temp say in the NVidia panel?

I know my 7800GTX never got above about 77-78C - and that was too hot for my likes.

I don't see where I can tell the temperature inside NVIDIA Control Panel.

Even at idle Speedfan is reporting 73C...

PS. Is there another program that can report my video card's temperature besides Speedfan?

PS2. Just opened up the case, and the fan's definitely spinning.

 

[Ares202]

check the screws are still tight to the board and that the fan isnt clogged with dust

it might be an issue with the heatsink not being properly seated to the core of the chip, also is your room warm, it is summer after all

try CPU-Z as a tool, you should get more than one reading

 

[MrStryker]

Download version 1.01 (32-bit).
Download version 1.01 (64-bit).

Use HWMonitor to check for temps. I usually get the most accurate readings from this program.

 

[suklee]

Yes room is warm, about 29C. CPUz doesn't seem to have a reading for my GPU? I tried installing Everest Home Edition 2.20 but that seems to be from 2005 and froze up.

Here's a screen capture I took of Speedfan. It's idling at 70C +?

http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7800gtxyk6.jpg

Unless Speedfan has misinterpreted the "GPU" label and it should actually be Temp1 or Temp2, but that doesn't seem likely as the GPU says it's a GeForce Video Card.

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: MrStryker
Use HWMonitor to check for temps. I usually get the most accurate readings from this program.

Wow, HWMonitor still says 69C idling. (Speedfan showing 73C)

So something's definitely wrong with my card huh?

 

[Corpun]

Either with the card, or the cooler (or the contact between the cooler and the card). Those are temps you should only be seeing at full load.

 

[MrStryker]

I would suggest taking the card out and do an inspection yourself. See if there's a dust cake that's between the heatsink fins & the fan, that's where there's no airflow occurring anywhere.

 

[suklee]

I've turned on the aircon and the room is now down to 23.5C. With the case open, the 7800GTX reads 63C idle (HWMonitor) and 68C (Speedfan). Ouch.

I'll take the card out later today and give it a spray with compressed air.