Need help picking out desktop video card for Graphics Amp

Any of you guys have suggestions? I want to get my AW 13 into testing. I have Microcenter and Frys near me in Marietta, Georgia.

AMD?
Nvidia?

What do you guys think?


I hear that reference cards are better for the Graphics Amp (Blower style cards) over the new coolers of the aftermarket cards.

 

The 960 is supposed to be a killer card when it comes out, but right now, I would say the best bang for your buck is the 970.

 

I'm tempted to buy a 980 just to help the community with testing, but you're right -- a 960 would make much more sense. I found an open box 970 for $297 -- you think I should jump on it?

 

You are better off buying online, try Tigerdirect or NewEgg and see which one is cheaper. Also 290X is better than 970 and can be found for the same price (some can even be found at $300 after rebate) but not sure if the power supply and cooling of the enclosure can handle it.
I just don't trust open box stuff that much.

 

THe case and the psu should be able to handle it just fine. They show a 980 running in there.

But really, I think the 970 is going to be the best option. The 980 wont give you much more than what the cpu can handle anyhow.

 

980 uses less power than 290X

 

Right, missread, thought you were talking about the case handling a 980

Do we know the specs on the psu in the case?
Looks like a standard psu, so one would think you could always swap in a bigger one.
But, I assume its at least 300 watts.

EDIT, looks like 375 watts.

Should be able to push anything.

 

The 970 is a nice card. Great value there. I'd grab a 4GB version, just because.

 

Yeah they can be had for ~$300 if looking around, just missed one

 

+1 they can be had for ~$300 if looking around, just missed one

 

I just ordered a open box EVGA GTX 980 Superclocked for $512 In store pickup, I'll get it after work.

 

keep me updated if its working for u!
i posted my problem at alienwarearena.com and there were other guys that have problems with their gtx980/970...

 

Any luck with support?

 

It's kinda of weird seeing the problem at NBR and AWA said by the same people (and others).
I'm still baffled, but if Nvidia can't get their act together, I'll just recommend AMD GPUs for GA owners with a slab of GTX 690 and GTX 780 (I think the GTX 780 ti works just as well as the 780).

 

i called them today: They are aware of this issue and they are trying to fix it... as usual

 

haha its their driver haha why am I not surprised lol well atleast its not my gtx 980

 

U got a working gtx980????

 

Depends on how you define better. The 290x uses way more power, and doesn't have the DX12 support that the 970 does. And Mantle<DX12.

Grats on the 980 - the Nvidia/Amp issue isn't nvidias fault I'm sure, but that of Dell's - odd that a bug this big made it past their Q&A guys. Kinda sad, too.

Do they make a desktop 9xx with more than 4gb of vram? Tom's hardware shows 4k gaming easily consuming 5gb of vram...

 

jfyi i send back my gtx980 and buy a r9 290x.. i think mantle will also help the ulv cpu and since it doesnt matter which gpu u get because all of them will be limited by the cpu i take what i think its best

 

Damn. I guess I should return the 970 AND 980 that I bought...

I'm really upset by the support agent.

 

@sandman ...

What exactly happened when you talked to tech support ?

I am having similar issues to yours with my AL 13 and the Amp with a GTX 970 ( Posted about this in the Alienware Arena forum as well)

I haven't contacted Tech support yet since my exams are on, but reading your comments and others ... I am having serious doubts about keeping my Alienware 13 ...

 

They essentially told me I was wrong, and everything was working just fine on their test benches. Denied that this is a wide-spread issue.

 

the default driver is the one you need use not the nvidia driver site. the one that is already on your computer when u get the laptop but the 980 isnt supported by it yet which is a bummer

edit: thats what they told me

edit: its nice to see im not the only one in Georgia that has the alienware 13

 

So keep putting more blame on Nvidia (Alienware still gets some)?

 

no its alienwares fault lol not nvidia alienware modded the base driver for the computer

Edit: also if nvidia had done the drivers for this aw13 then we would not be having this problem

 

So pretty much the GA is in a similar situation like the Alpha, where Alienware has to make an approved driver?

 

all im saying is its a driver issue that can be fixed

 

Can you do me a favor with your GA?

In the front of the case, can you measure the fan size, along with how much space there is between the mounting base of the fan and the back of the gpu?

I have a idea for installing a water cooler for the gpu into one of these things like I did with my x51.

 

Now it's a waiting game.

 

Yeah, I really hate to raise a stink like this. I'm at least thankful Raven is on it.

 

There did need to be awareness of the problem, so don't be too down.
What I'm wondering is what Nvidia driver are they using. Or if there is some other tweak happening.

 

That was my first idea, did Nvidia provide them a driver that doesn't match that what was actually deployed to production (and imaging during the build process)?

 

This might be a terrible solution, but has anyone tried the unofficial Alpha GPU driver?

 

Didn't mean a different device driver, but a driver that lacked the function that did the handoff between Dedicated GPU, Integrated, and External GPU. The non-graphics driver allows the dedicated PCIe to be bypassed and sent to the eGPU -- but the Nvidia driver is responsible for the transition between Dedicated GPU, Integrated, and External GPU.

 

For anyone interested keep an eye on this thread: You cannot use a GTX 980 or 970 with the graphics amp -- I'm pissed. : Alienware