Is it worth the upgrade?

I have the BFG 9500 GT http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr951024gte.aspx

Would I see a big difference in going to the 9600 GT http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr96512gtoce.aspx that is would be worth the upgrade?

 

you would probably see a little gain, as long as you got the OC edition.

the RAM on the 9500GT is considerably slower than the RAM on the 9600GT, so even if the 9600GT has half the RAM of the 9500GT, there should still be a speed boost.

my advice is to get it if you have the money.

 

If you've got the money go for something better ... I just bought a NVidia GEforce 9800GX2 HDMI off Ebay for $210 AUD ...

 

Hey thanks for the answers.

I am limited on the RAM ,and CPU due to the Mobo. So will I have a chokepoint that will make the 9600gt, or 9600 gt not worth it?

Also my mobo is not 20.0 PCI E as far as I can tell.

Here is my Mobo - http://www.e4allupgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socketam2/ecsMCP61PM-GM.shtml

This is my CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103234

I have a 550 W PSU

I also have 3 GB of DD2 800, Samsung.

 

It looks PCIE 16x capable ... the RAM and CPU won't affect the operation of the Graphics Card ... the PSU might be the only issue ... if you can build your own system ... take a look at this thread MY BRAND NEW SYSTEM

It looks great and I can't wait till its up and running ... I'm getting the last two parts this week. All of the items except the CPU Cooler and PSU were bought on Ebay

 

Since you did not say what you use this computer for, all of the above replies are just guesses and speculation. If you don't do serious 3D animated gaming at high resolutions, it is unlikely you will see any performance gains at all.

 

I do enjoy gaming. I like Red Orchestra, and the total war series.

So I went out today and got the PNY 9800 gt.

My 9500 was working good, and i had the latest Nvidia drivers installed 185.85 for vista 32 bit.

I thought I could just insert the new card, and all would work, but I get a black screen, and then if I take that card out and put back the 9500 it works again.

Any installation advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Note that many cards require additional power connections from the power supply. Also, make sure your PSU has enough horsepower. Use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your power supply unit (PSU) requirements. Plug in all the hardware you think you might have in 2 or 3 years (extra drives, bigger or 2nd video card, more RAM, etc.). Be sure to read and heed the notes at the bottom of the page. I recommend setting Capacitor Aging to 30%, and if you participate in distributive computing projects (e.g. BOINC or Folding@Home), I recommend setting TDP to 100%. Research your video card and pay particular attention to the power supply requirements for your card listed on your video card maker's website. If not listed, check a comparable card (same graphics engine and RAM) from a different maker. The key specifications, in order of importance are:

1. Current (amperage or amps) on the +12V rail,
2. Efficiency,
3. Total wattage.

Then look for power supply brands listed under the "Good" column of PC Mechanic's PSU Reference List. Ensure the supplied amperage on the +12V rails of your chosen PSU meets the requirements of your video card. Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a cheap supply. Digital electronics, including CPUs, RAM, and today's advanced graphics cards, need clean, stable power. A good, well chosen supply will provide years of service and upgrade wiggle room. I strongly recommend you pick a supply with an efficiency rating equal to, or greater than 80%. Look for the 80 Plus - EnergyStar Compliant label. And don't forget to budget for a good UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation).

 

Keep in mind that the 9600GT has its own power connector; the 9500 does not. (picture attached below) If this is not plugged in to the power supply, you'll get no picture, or the card will run but will be SEVERELY crippled by the lack of power and may crash or even be damaged. Your current 550w power supply should be OK for the 9600GT as long as it's healthy and has decent amps on the +12v line. Generic cheap power supplies tend to 'age' poorly and lose a lot of their 'oomph' after a few years.

(BTW- I had a 9600GT for over a year and loved it! It played most games perfectly at medium settings; the only reason I got rid of it was to upgrade to GTX260 which I love too!)
:-D

 

Hey thanks guys. Fixed it last night. Resintalled the drivers, and it worked. Did an Aquamark test vs my old AGP PC with a visiontek 1950pro, and P4 Overclocked to 3.4ghz, and my Dual Core 2.9 AMD, and 9800 GT smoked it pretty good. Played Red Orchestra on it maxed out and it ran great.


Thanks for the help everyone.