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Best folding GPU for the $?

S

styx0r

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
301
Be gentle, I did search around for a solid answer to my question before starting this thread...

I have been bitten by the folding bug, and now I am looking to buy GPUs purely to fold with, on headless machines. I don't have the cash to buy (8) GX280s, so I thought I would aim for the best bang / buck ratio.

The ATI 8750 seems like a good option - and I've been reading that shader ability is what the folding client really wants, but I want to hear your opinion about what card is currently the best PPD/$.

overclocking and aftermarket air cooling suggestions are more than welcome, so please help me help the [H]orde!

:)
 
For now, the best PPD/$ would be a NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT ;)

 
The evga Akimbo (dual slot cooler) is $125 AR at the egg. Unless you can find a 256m card (in stock) for less than $100 this seems to be the best bang. Of course, there is that 9800gx2 for $255 AR.


EDIT: gx2 is 255 AR, not 225.
 
Thanks Xilikon - I was getting the impression that the 8800GT was the best ppd/$ - I am considering running three on a 680i board.

Perhaps what I REALLY want is a list of GPUs and their average ppd...

=)

And drgnfang - thanks dude!
 
Look at a 9800GT as well, it's just a rebranded 8800GT with a chance to get 55nm tech. I just bought one today for my farm :)

 
styx0r said:
Be gentle, I did search around for a solid answer to my question before starting this thread...

<snip>

overclocking and aftermarket air cooling suggestions are more than welcome, so please help me help the [H]orde!

:)
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Team. You are folding for Team 33, right?

Go grab yourself a badge from hard folding . com

We don't flame fellow folders... we don't flame new or old folders. We are a pretty friendly group... although most of us are not very pretty! ;)

Let us know how we can help. Glad to have you folding with us! :)





 
Yeah right now the 9800GT is going to get you the most bang for your buck and when they do move it to 55nm tech it'll be interesting to see how much more it'll OC.
 
There was a thread at one point that had 2 links to both an ATI and an Nvidia PPD database... I no longer can find those 2 links!

Anyone?

 
For my money I am going with a 8800GS
4700-4800 ppd 79.99 MIR as low as 65 at Amazon

8800 GT 5200-5500ppd for about 129.00 after MIR

If you can find a better deal on 8800gt but at the current NE prices
I would go 8800GS. Although I did see a deal at overstock.com
for a 8800gt for 89.95, but OOS.
 
styx0r said:
Thanks Xilikon - I was getting the impression that the 8800GT was the best ppd/$ - I am considering running three on a 680i board.

Perhaps what I REALLY want is a list of GPUs and their average ppd...

=)

And drgnfang - thanks dude!
Click to expand...

I'm at work right now so I don't have access to ALL my handy dandy links but actually the 8800GS is best PPD/$ according to the latest update of this list.

I couldn't find a corresponding PPD/$ list for ATI cards but here is the latest PPD averages by card.

Luck!
 
Oh this forum ROCKS!

Thanks to everyone for your input!

I'm bringing 3 new boxen online today. I'll decide on the GPUs soon.
 
styx0r said:
Oh this forum ROCKS!

Thanks to everyone for your input!

I'm bringing 3 new boxen online today. I'll decide on the GPUs soon.
Click to expand...

Sweet! Good luck!

If you run into problems (should be fine following the GPU guide) jump back in here and we'll help get it sorted out. If you don't, jump back in here anyway and BRAG about how well it's running! ;)

Keep an eye on the temps when you first start out.
 
Happy folding.

Post your badge after you send in a few WU.
 
Air Cooled 420 said:
For my money I am going with a 8800GS
Click to expand...

Yup, until another sweet deal comes along for the 256MB 8800GT, the 8800GS is definitely the bang/buck champ. Max out of those shaders and you're knocking on 5000PPD for $80 or less.
 
YA, your definitely gonna mow me down in a few short days/weeks depending on how you ramp.

 
styx0r said:
Click to expand...

Oh and welcome to the [H]orde BTW. Look at some numbers before making your GPU decision. 8800GT or 8800GS (now also being sold as the 9600GSO) and you will not go wrong. If you're also going to use it for gaming, that should be figured in your decision. If so the 8800GT (now coming out with 9800GT?) is the better deal as it has more shaders and memory as well as a "wider" memory bus. Here is a great link to compare 2 cards side by side. For folding (as well as gaming) the number of shader processors is the most important.

Nice badge. ;) You're on your way up the ranks!

 
Welcome to the party! Glad you're here. Let us know if we can be of any help or if you just wanna hang with some beer n tamales (I'll throw that in since DigitalExhaust has been having internet problems :) )
 
nomad8u said:
Oh and welcome to the [H]orde BTW. Look at some numbers before making your GPU decision. 8800GT or 8800GS (now also being sold as the 9600GSO) and you will not go wrong. If you're also going to use it for gaming, that should be figured in your decision. If so the 8800GT (now coming out with 9800GT?) is the better deal as it has more shaders and memory as well as a "wider" memory bus. Here is a great link to compare 2 cards side by side. For folding (as well as gaming) the number of shader processors is the most important.

Nice badge. ;) You're on your way up the ranks!

Click to expand...

Yes, if you want to also be able to game with it, a 8800GT/9800GT is a better deal.

Welcome to the [H]ardest team in the world ;)

 
Ok based on that thread linked above it does look to be - excluding gaming - that the 8800GS is the best bang for the buck. Given this, they are also showing a cost of $79.99 for an 8800GS, anyone know where that deal is?

 
8800GTs have been able to be had for under 80 shipped if you hunt/wait for it. I now have 6 of my GTs that cost less than 90 shipped.

 
MixManSC said:
Ok based on that thread linked above it does look to be - excluding gaming - that the 8800GS is the best bang for the buck. Given this, they are also showing a cost of $79.99 for an 8800GS, anyone know where that deal is?

Click to expand...

Best I see ATM is $89.99 AR/before shipping at the Egg. Makes it about $90+. If Amazon has the same deal, their shipping may be free but didn't check.

Looks like the manufacturers are trying to unload the 8800GS and upping their prices on the "new" 9600GSO (same card, new name). It's getting rather tiresome watching Nvidia do this crap!

 
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