New GTX 480 NVIDIA Video card

[happytraveller]

Doing some research before upgrading the computer, and I was interested to read about the new NVIDIA GTX 480 video card. Impressive performance (and price!) undoubtidely, but what has caught my attention is the power consumption under load for this card. Under heavy load, this card will draw over 400W of power, so will certainly bump up the powerbill, as well as needing a healthy power supply in the computer. Not only that, but with the amount of head that it generates, then I guess that it is going to need a lot of cooling as well, using up even more power. So a better cooler, and a larger power supply and more $$$$s.

Couple of links here for more information:-

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforc...80,2585-15.html

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/442...ce_gtx_480.html

It just seems that the more reading that I do for a new computer, the more confused about what to buy I am getting.

Smooth landings.

[Ian Warren]

Happy , have the top listed card , the GTX295 , some days it doubles as a heater , most weekends ( Friday 1.30 AM - Mon 2.00 PM ) its on and running , both are , power bill never has been affected , don.t run a TV much . 60/70 $ month for power summer plus 30/40 more in the colder months .
That a 660 watt power supply

[pilot.masman]

in the market for a GPU. dont think the 480 will be my first choice if i cant find a second hand one from somewhere round here, thinl what youve got Ian the 295 or the 285 would suffice for now no point getting the 480 yet unless you like boiled eggs

[s0cks]

As far as I'm aware the GPU isn't used much during FSX. In other games my GPU will reach ~80C, but in FSX it doesn't go above 60C usually. It's a GTX275. Unless you have low frames when flying in bad weather then I don't think it would be worth it for FSX alone.

[pilot.masman]

course not, fsx is CPU intensive for the most part. it is as you said, in other games you will notice the difference

[AndrewJamez]

I watched the video of that pic. The egg never even started to cook. And with all the new line of cpu's, gpu's and the latest tweaks, the "FSX is only cpu intensive" slogan is proving false. With the latest CPU's and tripple ram being able to render insane amounts of autogen and extremely real weather environments, you need a kick arse graphics card to anti alias & anisotropic filter at high levels every single object with out bringing you new i7 to a stuttering halt.

[pilot.masman]

didnt say 'only' cpu intensive

one of my friends has the 470 galaxy edition and im thinking about getting it. unfortunately todo so means a case, PSU, and probably monitor upgrade.

[AndrewJamez]

Theres always a catch aye. The 470 is what i'd go with to if I got an i5 or i7, nearly half the price of a 480.