This appears to be an excellent deal on a great folder so I thought I'd share it here.

http://www.newegg.com/Pro...x?Item=N82E16814130535

I'd only like to ask those in the know a few Q's

I just started folding again using the SMP client on my WHS which isn't getting me to far.
My other stuff is way OCed and drawing way to many amps and volts to be folders plus they don't run 24/7 because of the later.
However I placed the client on my Home Built Windows Home Server running a AMD Phenom II X2 555 BE which is all good because of it's low power, heat and 24/7 profile.
I want to up my PPD So I'm considering a GPU client but the integrated HD 4500 graphics of the GA-MA785GMT-USB3 is hardly suitable for the task so I've been looking around for a good GPU to add to the mix for under $75. It's got to be low power and quite (very quite) but I do have a 450 watt Green Power PSU which I think is good enough. The proc run stock and I'd probably only OC the shaders on the GT. This card fits that criteria but I'm not sure if it a good idea.

Do you think this 9800 would be the best option?
Is the tech to old?
In case I want to re-purpose would another option be better?

Where's that deal at?

owcraftsman 
It's got to be low power and quite (very quite) 

 
Just an FYI these cards have a 2 pin fan connector which means the fan will always run at 100%. Not a big deal for most but worth noting.

Don't have one so I couldn't tell you for sure, just letting you know its not adjustable. Anyone have one that can comment?

msmith5150

Where's that deal at?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130535
 

owcraftsman
Do you think this 9800 would be the best option?
Is the tech to old?
In case I want to re-purpose would another option be better?

If you are looking at it from a financial point,  maybe.  Many people will
give opinions and freely try to spend your money.   

jflankford

msmith5150

Where's that deal at?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130535
 

owcraftsman
Do you think this 9800 would be the best option?
Is the tech to old?
In case I want to re-purpose would another option be better?

If you are looking at it from a financial point,  maybe.  Many people will
give opinions and freely try to spend your money.   

Like I just did, Oopsie LOL

_Nite_
Like I just did, Oopsie LOL

Everybody does it, even myself.  I was even thinking he should at least look
for a 250 or 260.

owcraftsman 
I've done some more searching now and you can't find these used at that price.

Try craigs list.  And some time garage sales are great too.  Picked up
a brand new evga 250 sealed for $40 one time.  The ones I go to here
are the divorce sales.  The lady of the house is always ready to give
good prices on the husbands things. 

Tiger770

jflankford
The ones I go to here are the divorce sales.  The lady of the house is
always ready to give good prices on the husbands things. 

Dude.... not cool. 

Really....Ok, as you say.

I've not been divorced but if I knew the circumstances behind the sale I probably wouldn't play part in it.  I'm not judging you at all, I'm simply saying personally I wouldn't purchase anything if I knew the facts.  It's something that's just a personal call.

And I didn't mean it's not cool you're buying the stuff - it's not cool they'd sell items that were not theirs to sell.

owcraftsman
Hey couldn't precision control the fan speed on that?

Probably.  The card I have isn't an EVGA - its an XFX so I used RivaTuner.

Haha no never for that...

700_up

Why are these dual slot coolers cheaper though?  I don't care how hot my GPU gets so I would prefer the single slot one but if it's more expensive I couldn't see myself buying it when I can have a 250 for the same price.  

So are you recommending a 250 over the 9800 GT?

I see a 35 dollar difference furthermore
112 vs 128 stream processors
1375 vs 1620 shader clock
I believe the TDP is lower for the 250

three pluses for the 250

I see sometime in Sept. The 425, 440 & 450 will be coming out. would it be wise to wait?

owcraftsman

700_up

Why are these dual slot coolers cheaper though?  I don't care how hot my GPU gets so I would prefer the single slot one but if it's more expensive I couldn't see myself buying it when I can have a 250 for the same price.  

So are you recommending a 250 over the 9800 GT?

I see a 35 dollar difference furthermore
112 vs 128 stream processors
1375 vs 1620 shader clock
I believe the TDP is lower for the 250

three pluses for the 250

I'm recommending it over a single slot 9800gt because they are practically the same price but if you are trying to decide between that real cheap one and a 250, it's up to you or whoever.  I do think that the 250 is one of the best value cards but when you're getting the 9800gt for so cheap, it throws it all off.  The 9800gt starts sounding like a better deal considering only initial cost compared to PPD, 5k for 50 vs 7k for 100.  

rklapp

700_up

It looks like a great deal.  I would only get 1 and then save up for whatever you're going to get later.  

Does anybody know why those newer 9800gt's have those huge ugly coolers on them now instead of just being 1 slot?  Also, why are the dual slot ones cheaper then that single slot ones?  

I have two and the big fans keep it cooler. They're very quiet. I have to turn off my 470 just to hear myself think. Let's see... 5000 PPD for $50 (100:1) or 13000 PPD for $350 (37:1). Sounds like a good deal.

1 thing most people miss though is that you need to take cost of the rest of the rig into consideration so if you were doing a giant farm like atlas folding, it gets even more complicated.  


But for this situation, 9800gt sounds like a terrific choice.  

Okay just an update. I got the 8800GT yesterday and was able to get it installed today. I can verify the current 258.96 XP drivers work with it on WHS. She's up and folding and has been since 3:00 PM est. I have every thing at stock clock settings 550cc 1375sc 900mc. The fan ramped up on it own to average 72% with a core temp of 65c and it is very quiet. She's already completed 3 successful runs and aprox. 30% done on the 4th. Not sure what my PPD will be but I've also got the CPU client running too so it's TBD. The more I think of it utilizing my server seems to be a real good plan considering it runs 24/7 any how and was designed to be low power and energy efficient.