Need A New GPU

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Tbh I really like the sound of getting a new gpu for my main rig and using the 8800gt for htpc duties, however... The 8800GT is overkill and it runs hot. I like the look of the 9800GT eco but it is also overkill and for 70 quid I don't think I can justify it. A 9500GT is passive, runs off the 75w from the pci-e slot and should be capable for htpc duties. Although I haven't found any review stating hd playback nor any google results stating it does hd fine, I'm just assuming it does. So unless someone can give me a reason to go for a 9600/9800GT eco instead of this please do... Otherwise I'll order tomorrow...

I would get a G210 instead as it is built on a 40NM process:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB...-DL-DVI-I-HDMI

[crazyfool]

Yh but according to reiews the G210 can't handle anything above 720p which is no good to me

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

A bit strange don't you think as the G210 has fourth generation PureVideo:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_...n_PureVideo_HD

I would check the reviews again as it the issues could be down to immature drivers as the G210 has a new core revision which has DX10.1!

[crazyfool]

This is the review I looked at http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...0,2445-17.html

[scaryjim]

Since no-one else has answered the original question, the 9500GT is basically a rebadge 8600GT! That might be a little unkind actually: the 8600GT was a G84 core and the 9500GT is a G96 core, but they're both 32core GPUs with a 128bit bus to either DDR2 or GDDR3 memory...

If you're thinking about a 9500GT be aware that it's not gonna be happy running games, so you might as well save a few pennies and get a 9400GT which has exactly the same feature set, just less cores

tbh, if you have a budget of £60, get a 9600GT Eco Edition. It's the best NV card available at that price and I don't think you'll regret it.

[crazyfool]

You think the 9600 eco would be better than the 9500 bearing in mind I won't be gaming at all, I'm mainly thinking in terms of heat and noise as the 9500 is passive, btw anyone know what the 9500 was before it was rebadged, so damn confusing

[scaryjim]

As I mention above, the 9500GT has the same basic specification as the 8600GT. The 9600GT is the best card at £60, but if you absolutely will not be gaming then I don't see what advantage the 9500GT offers over the 9400GT, tbh. I'd also like to see more than one review before writing off the G210

It's worth noting that the Tom's Hardware review also tested the HD4550 and gave it full marks for the HD tests - are you sure that ATI won't do you, as they offer better value in this space (the 4350 is a very good card for only £25)... have you sought any recent news on the 24p issues?

[crazyfool]

Sorry mate I meant did you know what the 9600 was before it was rebadged. I said it was confusing lol . I have a thread going on avforums htpc section and alot of people are still saying that they cant get 24p with ati. Which is why I don't want to risk it, I have already spent way too much money on this, buying a gpu because it was cheap and was supposed to do the job and then finding it out it isn't any good and being out of pocket. I actually bought a 4550 before and couldn't get 24p going, video looks great though just this damn 24p.

[scaryjim]

I don't *think* the 9600 was - I believe it was an all new GPU in its own right! There was too big a gap between the 8800s and 8600s, so NVidia basically branded down the 8600 to the 9500 and introduced the new 9600GT to fill the gap - it's a 64 shader card - the 8000s jumped from 32 on the 8600 to 96 on the 8800GS / GTS.

[crazyfool]

Ok I have decided I'm going for the 9500GT. The reason I chose this over the 9400gt is because it can do better deinterlacing and isn't that much more money, and the 9600 is pointless if i wont game. Tbh I would much rather give my money to ati for a couple more quid I could get a gaming card (better then 9600) but they cant sort out the 24p problem to I guess its a 9500GT. Thanks for all the help guys (scaryjim & cat-the-fifth)