Is DDR3 ram in GTS450 OK??

[kevh]

Hi

 

Found this card at good price and is one of 2 shorter length cards which i am limited too.

 

http://www.palit.biz/palit/vgapro.php?id=1658

 

Only disadvantage i can see is DDr3 ram instead of the usual DDr5 will this make much differance on my older dell 531 and 19" wide Lcd?

 

Cheers Kev http://img.tomshardware.com/forum/uk/icones/smilies/sol.gif

 

 

(PS my other option is £16 more http://www.kfa2.com/gts450standard.html

 

But still havent heard back from them or Galaxy to confirm Dimensions ! http://img.tomshardware.com/forum/uk/icones/smilies/ange.gif )

[KenB]

Hi Kev,

 

I see nobody has offered an opinion here - so I will offer mine ( for what it is worth :) )

 

Your present card is PCIe x 16 so the new cards ( assuming dimensions are compatible with your case ) will comply with your m/board.

 

The DDR3 that you mention is related to the card's memory. Your present card is DDR3 also.

DDR5 is faster - but I am unsure if you would be able to tell the difference.

The new card has 1GB of onboard memory. Your present card has 256 MB ( If I was looking at the correct specs )

I think you would be able to notice a difference here.

 

I think your motherboard may be PCI 1.0

1.0 x PCI Express x16

This is a quote from the specs from your present card. ( Can you confirm this ? )

 

Your choice of new card is PCIe 2.0 x16.

This version transfers data much faster than 1.0

A PCIe 2.0 card is backwards compatible with 1.0 motherboards BUT they will run at 1.0 speed.

 

Your new card requires a 6 pin power connecton.

Do you have one?

If not - it is possible to use a spare molex connection and get an adapter.

 

Your present PSU ( home computer ) is 305 watts.

Your new card suggests a minimum of 400 watts.

If you are upgrading I would be inclined to go to 500 - 600 watts. There is not a great deal of difference in price.

 

I am unsure why you have given the specs of your work computer ??

[kevh]

Hi Ken

 

Thank you for taking the time to reply , much appreciated.

 

I have jumped for the above Palit GTS450 card as it was a very good deal at ebuyer for £74 which isn't much different to alot of the gt440 cards !

 

Mobo is PCIe 1.0 but hopefully it'll be a ton better than my old 8600gt , and can always be transfered into new pc when time comes.

 

Ordered Corsair CX430watt which has extra power connector and more amps on 12v. (never fitted a PSU before so should be fun!!)

 

Work pc spec is in signature so i don't have to write it out when askin Qs about it too :)

 

Thanks again Ken

 

Cheers Kev

[KenB]

Hi Kev,

can always be transfered into new pc when time comes.

This is a valid point.

 

The 430W PSU will do the job.

 

Replacing the old one is relatively easy.

It is a simple case of unscrewing the screws that locate the old one and the new one is a straight rpelacement.

 

Do not be tempted to take the old one apart.

You can, if you are unlucky, get quite a belt from the internal capacitors. ( in the region of 300v dc )

[kevh]

Thanks Ken

 

I 'll resist the temptation to investigate this time i think , dont fancy gettin zapped!! :D

 

Cheers Kev :cool:

[KenB]

Let us know how you get on :)

[KenB]

You are welcome

[kevh]

Will do :D

[kevh]

Well i've done it !! :D

 

Only tricky bits were:-

 

1 routing psu cables around quite tight case.

 

2 bought a new case fan 80mm and needed a 92mm which arent that common it seems

 

3 fitted new Gpu and then kept shutting down with BSOD , so started in safe mode and installed driver from disk (which was older)

 

and then restarted and all now seems to be great!! Just not sure if to get new driver from Nvidia again ? But maybe it didnt load in the DX11 stuff for the 8600gt

 

even though it seems like the same driver . Will give it a few days and try updating.

 

 

Glad i went for this shorter ddr3 450 as case is pretty tight and card seems good and quiet.

 

All i need to do now is get back my copy of crysis (or get Crysis2) and test , far cry 2 seems great but that isnt much of a test compared to crysis.

 

Definetaly goin to build next PC so i can pick some better spec parts for probably the same cost. :)

 

Cheers Kev :cool:

[kevh]

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