Which card?

[IsLNdbOi]

I'm using a SilverStone SG05 case and am looking to upgrade from my GTS250.

The board I'm using is a Zotac GF9300-G-E mITX. I need to be able to continue using the onboard GPU (a GeForce 9300).

I'm running Windows 7 Pro. x64.

These are the two cards I'm looking at:

HIS HD5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161317

GalaxyTech GTX260+ Razor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162045


I'm limited to these because I need that second PCI slot bracket in my SG05 for a USB bracket (four ports to USB Headers). With the HD5770, I believe I'd still be w/in the SG05's included PSU's load limit. With the GTX260, I'd have to upgrade to SilverStone's 450W SFX PSU for the SG05/SG06 and I'd have to cut out a little bit of the case for the card to fit.

Right now, the HD5770 is the front-runner, BUT:

Can both ATI CCC and Nvidia Forceware be installed and used simultaneously in Windows 7 (so I can run the onboard 9300 GPU AND the HD5770 simultaneously)?

Looking at the head-on pictures at Newegg it looks like this HD5770 might actually be three slots thick while the GTX260 takes just one slot. More than two slots thick and it won't fit in the SG05.

So, anyone have any thoughts, recommendations?

[nikohmr]

ive allways found ati and nvidia drivers incompatible in fact i always do a reinstall of windows to avoid problems when switching between the to makes

[IsLNdbOi]

I've seen some posts on other forums regarding this and people are saying that ATI CCC and Nvidia ForceWare can coexist peacefully in Windows 7. I haven't tried it myself and though someone would know for sure.

[nikohmr]

id be very suprised if this were correct
out of interest why do you need the onboard gpu as well?

[IsLNdbOi]

Dell U2410 + Dell G2410 on PCIe video card and LCD TV to the onboard GPU for media center purposes.

[Jasp]

May sound daft but why do you still need to use the onboard GFX?

[Ulti]

As far as I know, they can be used together in Windows 7 if both cards are plugged in, if the ATI one isn't then everytime on startup it'll say ATI card not supported and blah blah blah. Nvidia doesn't say anything haha.

I've got to ask though, surely a GTS250 is enough for your current needs, upgrading to a 5770 or 260 will increase performance I know but do you really need it?

5770 runs at stock slightly slower than the GTX260, however it runs cooler and probably quieter (lower fan speed) and is therefore likely to overclock quite good and could perhaps cover the gap. 5770 is also a dx11 card but that isn't as useful at the moment but I guess it's good to think for the future.

If you were for performance then a 4890 will definitely be the best bet. However, as you're limited with physical size then I'm not sure you'll be able to find a 4890 to fit.

EDIT: Jasp read above xD

[Jasp]

Doh rofl..., either way i thought the 5000 series of cards was capable of outputting to 3 displays as long as one has a capable displayport.

I was under the impression its quite possible to have two GFX cards installed in windows 7 but only one is usable at any one time.

[Ulti]

Ah yeah, 5770 has eyefinity doesn't it? Perhaps the 5770 will be good to go for as it supports eyefinity AFAIK.

[IsLNdbOi]

May sound daft but why do you still need to use the onboard GFX?

In my post right above yours:

Dell U2410 + Dell G2410 on PCIe video card and LCD TV to the onboard GPU for media center purposes.

I'd like to upgrade because I game alot. I'd like to get better 1920x1200 performance while gaming. The onboard 9300 is only for when I'm running media center and is only connected to my LCD TV.