[Iron Monkey]

Kind of back to my video question, but now I've gotta problem....

I can spend about $150 and either:

(A) Upgrade PSU to 800w that'll easily cover everything I'm running now (see other topic for ref) and give me OC options. I'm limited to what PSUs I can purchase because of limitations set by Crossfire; or

( Skip the PSU, and buy an 8600/8800 GT and get on with life.

Suggestions? I'm stumped which way to go...either will keep this rig going for another year or so.

[Jabbaloo]

I agree, grab an 8800GT (not an 8600!)

Newegg has EVGA 8800GTs for 169.99 (add an additional $10 mail in rebate for 159.99 total):

EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Purchase limit is 99 per customer, so you should be able to cover everyone in the posse

EDIT:
Erf, looked at your other thread - the above is pcie 2.0 so won't work with your board :-\

[Iron Monkey]

Thanks guys....ironically (damnd Dorves!!), I was looking at that exact card, as it's my only PCIex16 option in the 8800 series.

Now, as far as buying everyone one of these cards...pfft! If I had the money to do that, I'd buy everyone a new rig!

[Jabbaloo]

Does "PCE Express x16 Compatibility" mean it's compatible with PCI-E 1.1? the product spec sheet says it's PCI-E 2.0 but has x16 compatibility...

[Iron Monkey]

By the IEEE standard, yes...unfortunately for my particular mobo (ASUS A8R32-MVP), it's not. Just 6 months shy of compatibility.

It's interesting to note that Newegg's the only one marketing this card right....I verified on EVGA's site...this particular card is PCIe-16, not PCIe-2.0. Everyone else is showing this same card (by part number) as PCIe-2.0.

[Jabbaloo]

According to this thread (and look here too) looks like a lot of PCI-E 1.0/1.1 boards are compatible with many 8800 cards, so you may be just fine.

[Iron Monkey]

Oh yeah, not an issue there...it's the 2.0 stuff that's the issue. Initially I was going to do a quantum leap to a GE9, but ASUS states on their support site this board simply won't work with PCIe-2.0. Which sucks.

Thanks for the advice guys....gonna go with the EVGA!

[WIDOWMAKER99]

ya might also wanna grab this program

http://www.mvktech.n...t/view/4194/38/

NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) v4.2 Program Released
Written by Mavke
Tuesday, 17 June 2008

ImageWe have has just released a new version of NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) software. NiBiTor is the original and definitive BIOS tweaker that supports the latest NVIDIA graphics cards, and which is updated on a regular basis. NiBiTor allows graphics card enthusiasts, or the hardcore overclockers to have full control over some advanced features and functionality found on firmware of supporting cards. Doing so users gain some extra performance, enable certain hidden features, tweak memory latencies, provide extensive information, adapt bootup settings, change fan speed options and/or get extra stability on the NVIDIA based graphics accelerators.

[Iron Monkey]

Good info...was looking into that with the ATI, but there really isn't anything for it (other than the ATI Overclock util in CCC). Thanks!