Thinking of getting a 4870

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Why? Those boards are for HTPC and don't overclock well. GeForce 9400 boards don't support HybridPower. I'd wait for a while to see whether AMD will implement similar technology, or wait for NVIDIA's MCP82/MCP85 with AM3, ACC and DDR3 support. Running Phenom II at 4GHz could be fun.

BTW, Cooln'Quite drops CPU multi to 5x or 6.25x, which leads to 1GHz or 1.25GHz operation frequency. SpeedStep only drops CPU frequency to 1.8 or 2GHz. A lot of people simply turn CnQ off because it's such a performance degrader.

Nonetheless, given the current price of the mobo ($50), CPU ($120 for 8750BE) and DDR2 RAM, it probably doesn't matter.

i meant the kill a watt kit

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Wow thats impressive. May have to get one of those kits myself.

Why? Those boards are for HTPC and don't overclock well. GeForce 9400 boards don't support HybridPower. I'd wait for a while to see whether AMD will implement similar technology, or wait for NVIDIA's MCP82/MCP85 with AM3, ACC and DDR3 support. Running Phenom II at 4GHz could be fun.

BTW, Cooln'Quite drops CPU multi to 5x or 6.25x, which leads to 1GHz or 1.25GHz operation frequency. SpeedStep only drops CPU frequency to 1.8 or 2GHz. A lot of people simply turn CnQ off because it's such a performance degrader.

Nonetheless, given the current price of the mobo ($50), CPU ($120 for 8750BE) and DDR2 RAM, it probably doesn't matter.

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Wow thats impressive. May have to get one of those kits myself.

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Isn't that Hybrid power? You still have to move the connectors on your monitor?

Yes, it's HybridPower. NVIDIA did a good thing for that, and it only works when you connect monitors to motherboard.

Wait... the rig in your specs, no way does that idle at 80w how have you measured it?

Just to make sure, I brought out my P3 International Kill A Watt wattage meter and set my rig in energy saving mode (which did during the summer). It does idle at 80W. Most of power consumption reviews you read about Phenoms are with 790FX, which is known to be a power hog. GeForce 8200 motherboards are known to consume far less energy.

There are a few energy saving tips. Most people didn't turn off unused ports such as serial and parallel ports. If you have multiple USB ports but use only one or two, then you probably can turn off unused ports to save energy as well. 790GX boards consume far less energy than 790FX. NVIDIA boards, on the other hand, are usually power hogs without HybridPower, except GeForce 9x00/8x00 series.

edit:
I forgot to mention that, the water pump is not connected via PSU, but two 12cm radiator fans consume from 4pin molex. So, if I had had something like Zalman 9700, then it would probably still draw about 80W.

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Speaking about energy saving....

I can hook up my monitor to motherboard and turn GTX+ completely off. However, there isn't any point to do so recently as my landlord reduce heating power during holidays. If I turn every power saving options on, my rig idles at 80W.

Wait... the rig in your specs, no way does that idle at 80w how have you measured it?

[Wizrdwarts]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Turn the fan up? Get an aftermarket cooler?

1) Too loud.
2) Too expensive.

Don't really mind, I don't OC it anyways; EVGA says it's rated to 100C, my load is around 85C max.

Speaking about energy saving....

I can hook up my monitor to motherboard and turn GTX+ completely off. However, there isn't any point to do so recently as my landlord reduce heating power during holidays. If I turn every power saving options on, my rig idles at 80W.

Isn't that Hybrid power? You still have to move the connectors on your monitor?

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Obviously it would depend on what card you have, but ATI reduces clocks in 2D mode, but Nvidia hasn't until the GTX200 series. That's what I was trying to say, my 8800GT idles at 60C.

Speaking about energy saving....

I can hook up my monitor to motherboard and turn GTX+ completely off. However, there isn't any point to do so recently as my landlord reduce heating power during holidays. If I turn every power saving options on, my rig idles at 80W.

[=98=]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Turn the fan up? Get an aftermarket cooler?

[Wizrdwarts]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

From 750mhz to 500mhz.

Obviously it would depend on what card you have, but ATI reduces clocks in 2D mode, but Nvidia hasn't until the GTX200 series. That's what I was trying to say, my 8800GT idles at 60C.

[=98=]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

From 750mhz to 500mhz.

[Wizrdwarts]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Well, the ATI cards drop their core speed by 250mhz while idle.

By 250mhz or to 250mhz? I think by 3650 would go from 725/400 to 250/111 when in 2D mode.

[=98=]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Well, the ATI cards drop their core speed by 250mhz while idle.

[Wizrdwarts]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

It would help even if the cards downclocked when in 2D mode, but apparently the only current Nvidia cards that do that are the GTX series. Which is pretty lame since I think most ATI cards (at least from 3000 upwards) already do that.

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

Unless you're lucky enough to get a mythical 55nm version, yes.

But it's a third of the price of the original 8800GT and has better cooling than the 8800GT rev1 I have. And my 3650 struggles to play BF2.

I'll just wait for 55nm GTX260 to be cheaper and ATI's next move. 49xx/58xx?

I think we are looking at a 49** situation which bring a smile to my face, competition is awesome!

It gives us something to talk about and a constant feeling of what if...

Thats what humatity is built around ffs!

In all fairness the hybrid shizzle is an excelent idea, but has not been taken into full flow yet. When we get systems which can completely drop the GFX and run off onboard when not needed but then utilize the slight extra power available when needed, we are onto a winner. I know thats the concept as is but most boards/cards seem to confict on abilities.

[Wizrdwarts]

Re: Thinking of getting a 4870

The 9800GT is basically a 8800GT amirite?

Unless you're lucky enough to get a mythical 55nm version, yes.

But it's a third of the price of the original 8800GT and has better cooling than the 8800GT rev1 I have. And my 3650 struggles to play BF2.

I'll just wait for 55nm GTX260 to be cheaper and ATI's next move. 49xx/58xx?