Currently I have:
*Windows 98SE -- Just kidding, Windows 7 x64
*4GB RAM
*i5 2.66GHz CPU
*Single 20" widescreen monitor
*Antec EarthWatts EA500 500W PSU
*ATI Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16
What I want to upgrade is the graphics card; the one I have now runs Star Trek Online fine but I'd like to play the game on higher settings without hickups.
I'm looking at these two cards:
*
MSI N460GTX Hawk GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
*
MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
I can't see a big difference between the two spec wise, but am looking for your advice on that. The difference in the specifications that stand out to me is that the power requirements/connections.
The 460 says: 450W PSU, 6-pin & 6-pin
The 560 says: 500W PSU, Two 6-pin
What's the difference between the connections and will my PSU be fine? I'm assuming that the connections will be fine according to this
image for the PSU.
Comments
Hope i helped you.
Here is a review of the 560 vs others > http://www.anandtech.com/show/4135/nvidias-geforce-gtx-560-ti-upsetting-the-250-market
I have the 460 Hawk and its a great card but the 560 has more Stream Processors 384 vs 336. Core/shader/memory clocks are faster at standard spec. We know the 460 is a over clockers card and the 560 looks that way as well.
http://www.msi.com/product/vga/N560GTX-Ti-Twin-Frozr-II-Golden-Edition.html
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/1
http://www.guru3d.com/article/msi-n560gtx-ti-twin-frozer-ii-review/1
Prices in the UK
http://www.scan.co.uk/Shop/Computer-Hardware/All/GPU-NVIDIA/GeForce-GTX-460-PCI-E-%28288-336-Cores%29
http://www.scan.co.uk/Shop/Computer-Hardware/All/GPU-NVIDIA/Geforce-GTX-560-Ti-PCI-E-%28384-Cores%29
http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Components/cat/Graphics-Cards-Nvidia/subcat/nVIDIA-GTX-560
If it was me I would wait a little bit to see how the market place changes 560 vs 460 their may be some nice price drops
MSI has a great user to user forum > http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php I've used it many times.
As for your psu the connectors are fine but with my hawk I got a 6 pin PCI-E converter (included but never used) > https://img.escrow.alibaba.com/ordersnapshot/2010Q3_photo/78/478/1000579478/286531958.jpg
560 only uses a little more power and may be OK with your current PSU (TDP 160w vs 180w) but have a look around at reviews and ask on the forums. If you do need to upgrade the PSU 650TX / 750TX / 850 TX (single 12v rail
I got a Digital Multimeter (reading PSU DC rails etc) and Plug-In Power and Energy Monitor (from wall socket to PSU input). Idle (with OC) I use 135-140 W, gaming can be 300 + depending on the game and if I'm multitasking (400+)
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDNews&op=Story&ndns_id=195
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=73
I hope your happy when you get your new card, 460 or 560 both a great at the right price. Good luck
The animations of firing phasers, torps, etc are so smooth now.
Which brand and model did you end up with in the end ?
Good to see your happy with the upgrade
MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card.