[dhgunit]

Newegg.com - HIPER HPU-4B580-MS 580W ATX12V v2.2 Power Supply 100 - 120V - Power Supplies

That is my current PSU.

Step-up time has arrived on my 9800GTX and I can step up to a GTX 260 for the cost of shipping and to a GTX 280 for $150+shipping.

Which should I go for and could my PSU handle a GTX 280?

[Peter.Cort]

i would say go for a gtx280 if you can, it isn't that much more, and on a 22" it will kill everything that comes its way. also I don't know about the psu.. it only has 38A over 2 12v rails. I would get Ste's opinion before you do anything.

[veedubfreak]

For a single card yes it will handle either card. For SLI no.

The 280 at most only draws 19A so you should be fine.

[dhgunit]

Originally Posted by Peter.Cort

i would say go for a gtx280 if you can, it isn't that much more, and on a 22" it will kill everything that comes its way. also I don't know about the psu.. it only has 38A over 2 12v rails. I would get Ste's opinion before you do anything.

My problem with the GTX 280 is how much am i bottlenecking it with my 6000+?

Maybe I step-up to GTX 280, sell it on ebay.........and then get 4850, Q6600 and P45/X48 mobo.

Or get GTX 280, stay bottlenecked for 6-8 months until Nehalem and then do something. (if my PSU can power that sucker)

BTW, I love this PSU. It looks beautiful in my case and I have never had an issue with it.

[Peter.Cort]

Originally Posted by dhgunit

My problem with the GTX 280 is how much am i bottlenecking it with my 6000+?

Maybe I step-up to GTX 280, sell it on ebay.........and then get 4850, Q6600 and P45/X48 mobo.

Or get GTX 280, stay bottlenecked for 6-8 months until Nehalem and then do something. (if my PSU can power that sucker)

BTW, I love this PSU. It looks beautiful in my case and I have never had an issue with it.

well, i thought the gtx280 was a bit more of a power ***** then that... but yeah, i think you'll see somewhat of a bottleneck, but it will mostly be in benchmarks, not really in gaming. On lower resolution you'll see some drop but with a card like that you better be maxing out res. I honestly would say either choice you have would be great, but if you sell the gtx280 you're gonna get maybe 400-425 for it, which would buy a proc/card, proc/mobo, mobo/card, but not all 3. just something to think about.

[veedubfreak]

CPU is really only a bottleneck at low resolutions. If you are using 1680x1050 its only going to be a small bottleneck, whereas at 1920x1200 its probably not much of an issue.

[dhgunit]

OK. I game at 1680x1050.

Yeah, Peter.....I thought of that. But I will be selling my current mobo and CPU for maybe $110 or $120 so I might even out in the end. The EVGA GTX 280 is still going for around $450 on ebay also, take out commissions so I will be stuck at about $425 or so like you said.

$425 + $115 = $540.

ATI 4850 - $179
Q6600 - $189
Newegg.com - ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards - $149

$520

I love upgrading for free!! Might have to sell my RAM and get some new RAM too.

[dhgunit]

Speaking of that, the memory standard on that mobo is DDR2 1200. What would be a good choice of RAM for that? I hear that crucial ballistix is now crap. OCZ Reaper? Patriot Viper? What is good?

[gurusan]

id go for a 2x2gb set of ReaperX or Reapers

[dhgunit]

Which set?

Newegg.com - OCZ ReaperX HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory