Considering an upgrade - a couple questions

[GeoForce]

Dear Forum:


I'm considering updating my current PC a little, and ran into a couple of fairly simple questions. I would appreciate if anyone could share their opinion on these 4 points:


1) Comparing the following two video cards GV-N66TOC-2GD and GV-N66TWF2-2GD
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/comparison/list.aspx?ck=3&pids=4319,4320
newegg shows the difference in core clock and boost clock for the first, but the shipping is free for the second one. So that's it? $7.50 for extra 91MHz? Is it worth it?

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2) If I have a Gigabyte motherboard, does it make more sense to buy a Gigabyte Video Card rather than ASUS?

3) Will such a video card work on a 550W PSU, considering it alone needs 450W? I already have a Q6600 CPU too.

4) Description for my MB shows that it's Memory Standard is DDR2 1200 (O.C.)/1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128087
Would two sets of the following sticks (8GB total) be a good choice then? I'm also debating between two:
a) G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
b) G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231246
Which one out of them is better? They seem to be almost exactly the same. The first one is cheaper, the second one newer.


Thank you for your help, in advance!

 

[Knufire]

1. Yup, that's the only difference, you can overclock it yourself.

2. Nope, doesn't matter.

3. You should be fine on 550W. 660Ti is a 170W GPU, not a 450W. 450W is probably the total system recommendation.

4. They seem nearly the same to me, but someone on our benching team might know what chips are in each and whether they have some hidden potential.

 

[Conumdrum]

Really no diff in GPUs, you pick.

Doesn't matter, they all work with each other.

That GPU doesn't need 450 W, that's total system minimum recommended. The 660Ti is about 130 watts of power. Your 550W PSU is fine.

The ram won't make any difference unless your overclocking to get the last 50 MHz from your system and your old ram is holding you back.

A 660Ti is all you need for better performance.

 

[GeoForce]

Thanks for your responses, all makes sense!

4) Are these sticks at least compatible with my system? The 2 reasons for upgrading RAM: I only have 4GB (1 x 1GB, so all slots are taken), and I don't think my current RAM is even right for my MB at all!

Current MB:
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS4 LGA 775 Intel P35 Memory Standard 1200 (O.C.)/1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128087

Current RAM:
G.SKILL 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231099


5) One more question. Will the PCIe3.0x16 GPU work well in PCIe1.0x16 slot? Because I think that's the only one I've got.

 

[Conumdrum]

Yes, it will be fine in your mobo.

Are you running a 64 bit operating system or a 32 bit operating system? W95? Vista? W7?

Matters for memory. I don't think you'll see any increase going to 8GB with your setup.

 

[GeoForce]

Yes, it will be fine in your mobo.

Are you running a 64 bit operating system or a 32 bit operating system? W95? Vista? W7?

Matters for memory. I don't think you'll see any increase going to 8GB with your setup.

Cool.

Win7x64

 

[Conumdrum]

When you run your programs, what does windows task manager show under performance max mem used in all issues of your daily PC use? Right now I'm at 1.4GB.

Try gaming, all other proggies. You'll be suprised.

 

[GeoForce]

When you run your programs, what does windows task manager show under performance max mem used in all issues of your daily PC use? Right now I'm at 1.4GB.

Try gaming, all other proggies. You'll be suprised.

1.48

However I want to get rid of the paging file (virtual memory on HDD), which currently is 4GB

 

[Conumdrum]

Ahh, well maybe 8GB will help.

Okay, looking good then.

 

[Knufire]

AFAIK Windows always makes an unnecessary large page file. Adding more RAM will probably make the page file increase in size as well. You can disable it yourself or set a custom size, plenty of guides on the Internet on how to do that since it's an easy way to save space on a SSD.

 

[GeoForce]

AFAIK Windows always makes an unnecessary large Page file. Adding more RAM will probably make the Page file increase in size as well. You can disable it yourself or set a custom size, plenty of guides on the Internet on how to do that since it's an easy way to save space on a SSD.

yup, just did (even still @4GB), thank you