Possible video card tip

[Left]

If your power supply isn't capable enough for the latest video card and you are only a little off the mark, yet don't actually want to upgrade your power supply, put the money you would have spent on the video card and power supply, on a Quadro card of equivalent performance. Quadro cards take less power.

 

[Wookiee]

But... Quadros are much more expensive and aren't designed for gaming... I mean, you'd be better off buying the power supply anyway, because that's not something you really have to replace all that often.

 

[Left]

But... Quadros are much more expensive

I think this is a misconception... people see the $3000 Quadros that are ultra cool, then think you can't get a 750 Ti like performance Quadro for $175, when you can.

 

[Wookiee]

I think this is a misconception... people see the $3000 Quadros that are ultra cool, then think you can't get a 750 Ti like performance Quadro for $175, when you can.

I'm curious as to the "when". I just looked at benchmarks for varying cards and Quadros on either side, and the Quadros were always twice the price new (at least on the Australian market, I presume that's reflective on the US market too).

 

[Left]

I'm curious as to the "when". I just looked at benchmarks for varying cards and Quadros on either side, and the Quadros were always twice the price new (at least on the Australian market, I presume that's reflective on the US market too).

Uh, look up P600 Quadro. It seems to have similar performance to a 750 Ti, less TMUs and shaders but higher clock speed, and costs $175.

That's if I understand correctly.

 

[Wookiee]

I've compared the specs; it's still slower, has less bandwidth, is more expensive (not by much though) and it really doesn't use that much less power (nVidia claim the 750 Ti uses 60W (minimum 300W PSU), the P600 is 40W). If you're in a position where your power supply can't manage that, you are in definite need of replacing the power supply with something larger. Not to mention the P600 only comes with mini-DP out (as far as I can see) meaning you'd still have to buy an adapter or new cable as it's a standard few people keep on hand (compared to HDMI or DVI, or even regular DP).

You're also comparing the P600, which is relatively new, to a card that's 3 years old now that it still can't quite match for gaming performance. If the 750 Ti was still outrageously expensive and power consuming, sure I'd agree, but they're so cheap to get and run that there's really no point.

I can see what you're trying to get at, but Quadros really aren't cards you buy for gaming.