Finally decided on a card when I saw this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814162004
According to the KFA2 website, the card is 80mm wide, my case is 10cm so 2 cm will be a tight fit. Apparently it fits fine in a 10.7cm case (HP slimline), but sticks out in the 10cm Dell 530S case. I think I can make the card fit even if I have to mess with the bracket to do so. The key thing is the price, it is 20 dollars AR (+7 dollars shipping).
I wanted to compare this to the KFA2 8600 GT low profile but I can't find where it is sold and it wouldn't have the same rebate. The 8600GT would be worth it if it was not more than $50 at the price of the 8500 GT.
Any higher power than these two and I need an external power supply, my 300W power supply is not designed to run the KFA2 9600GT low profile http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814162016 (The best available LP graphics card), and it's too much of a pain to find a power supply that fits the case.
I'm only getting the card as an upgrade for light-gaming. It won't run Crysis, but it should bump my vista index from a 3.0 to the 4.8-5 range. Hopefully enough to make WoW a little prettier, but I think it is a pretty good deal so long as I can get the card to fit in the case. Damn Dell and HP for not standardizing the size of the slim.
KFA2 8500GT low profile purchase decision
Re: KFA2 8500GT low profile purchase decision
Some of the reviews for the 9600GT say it is running on their lower power supply (the guy says 250W but I think he has a 300W). However, the specs for the card say 400W minimum.
How is it possible for a 300W supply to run a 400W min card? It'd be awesome if mine would, but I'm afraid the card will short or something.
EDIT: Apparently the lack of power use on other components of the computer determine whether it will run the card, it's a gamble.
How is it possible for a 300W supply to run a 400W min card? It'd be awesome if mine would, but I'm afraid the card will short or something.
EDIT: Apparently the lack of power use on other components of the computer determine whether it will run the card, it's a gamble.
Re: KFA2 8500GT low profile purchase decision
What are you going to use the card for? The extra performance form the 8600 might just not be worth it, especially if it's 50$ more expensive
You don't need anywhere near 400W for that card, or even 300W. The whole system is probably going to draw about 150W at peak load.
Edit: Maybe I should've read the whole post.. my friends runs WoW mostly maxed out with a 8600GTS, so I'd guess a 8500GT can handle a mix of mid and a few high end settings
You don't need anywhere near 400W for that card, or even 300W. The whole system is probably going to draw about 150W at peak load.
Edit: Maybe I should've read the whole post.. my friends runs WoW mostly maxed out with a 8600GTS, so I'd guess a 8500GT can handle a mix of mid and a few high end settings
Re: KFA2 8500GT low profile purchase decision
I mean I can't find the 8600GT card and I want to take advantage of the 60 dollar rebate.
If the 9600GT works it would be a huge upgrade and that card is 90 dollars AR at the moment. However, I don't plan on buying a power supply so I don't want to risk buying a card that is incompatible with my system. And yeah, like I said- light gaming, 20 bucks is a steal for that.
I'm in med school, I don't have enough time to dick around with games (arguably a good case can be made against wow). Then again, there's something to be said about stress relief and I just need something to get my computer to play SOME games as integrated graphics won't even play older games like Doom 3. I'm keeping an eye out for a PS3 or Xbox 360 in due time anyway.
Will get myself a nice computer budget during or after residency though. All the years of budget computing pay off
If the 9600GT works it would be a huge upgrade and that card is 90 dollars AR at the moment. However, I don't plan on buying a power supply so I don't want to risk buying a card that is incompatible with my system. And yeah, like I said- light gaming, 20 bucks is a steal for that.
I'm in med school, I don't have enough time to dick around with games (arguably a good case can be made against wow). Then again, there's something to be said about stress relief and I just need something to get my computer to play SOME games as integrated graphics won't even play older games like Doom 3. I'm keeping an eye out for a PS3 or Xbox 360 in due time anyway.
Will get myself a nice computer budget during or after residency though. All the years of budget computing pay off
Re: KFA2 8500GT low profile purchase decision
Here's the Chaintech version of the 8600GT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814145153
Hmm, 79 dollars, doesn't come with an LP bracket. I mean I know 8600GT is better than 8500GT but for practical purposes you're comparing two cards that aren't good for high-end graphics and gaming and 400% more expensive but at most 200% more powerful? If I am gonna pay 80 bucks, I might as well get the 9600GT. However, aside from personal stories all the literature says this card will not work in my system unless I get a bigger power supply.
Hmm, 79 dollars, doesn't come with an LP bracket. I mean I know 8600GT is better than 8500GT but for practical purposes you're comparing two cards that aren't good for high-end graphics and gaming and 400% more expensive but at most 200% more powerful? If I am gonna pay 80 bucks, I might as well get the 9600GT. However, aside from personal stories all the literature says this card will not work in my system unless I get a bigger power supply.