yet more boring non bike computer questions

Need to decide on my new graphic card and im down the the final two :?

Palit 512mb Nvidia 9800GTX pci-e

Or

Asus 512mb Radeon HD 4850 2.0 pci-e

Having studied the 3dmark bench tests for both singly and in comparison,it would seem they are very similar in their performance with the radeon edging slightly ahead in some tests and much better in overall power consumption when running at load

However [and its a big however]

The Radeon idles @ over 60c and @ load ,over 90c :shock:
And it also vents into the case whereas the Nvidia vents to the outside


Theres a couple of quid between them retail.
If i pick the nvidia then im adding £45+ as the PSU needs to upgrade for the extra power its using
If i pick the Radeon then i need extra fans and maybe an aftermarket cooler

Its going on an Intel processor, probably a core 2 duo E8400,maybe a Quad Q6600.


This is worse than building a bike

Im hankering towards the 9800GTX
Anybody using any of these 2 and have some advice or opinions on them

i would go with the coldest

i think my laptop has some kind of radeon and its crap so by that logic id be more swayed towards the nvidia

but id spend a couple more days researching the 2 to make sure

but yep worse than bikes , you start by thinking ill only spend x , but this bits slightly better for only y more . but then z needs changing to make best use of it all . suddenly you have managed to spec something twice as expensive

Nvidia everytime for me mate. Aftersales support and software is much better than the others.

nVidia 100%

I have the XFX 8800 GTX and its great - the hot air venting out off the case is a huge bonus too

The driver support and general widespread use of the card gives it the real edge though

Pirate