Maximum PC

I came across a website that might be slightly outdated with the prices, but at least it had a chart comparing PPD vs Watts and based upon the prices a PPD per $1. It is missing the ATI Radion 4xxx series, but if you are a Geforce fan, you can get a good PPD comparison. I especially liked the PPD/Watt and total watts used. Here is the chart for anyone like me trying to decide which video card to get. These prices as I said might be a bit dated, but they are also WITHOUT mail in rebates. The cards also have NOT been overclocked. Obviously the ones that stick out as good PPD/$, like the 8800GT or the 9800GTX overclocking would just make them faster and have a higher PPD.


Video Card - Cost (CAD) - PPD - Wattage(Load) - PPD/Watt - PPD/$

GeForce cards
GeForce 8 Series
GeForce 8400GS - $47.99 - ~600PPD - 71w - 8.45 - 12.50
GeForce 8500GT - $60.99 - ~700PPD - - - 11.48
GeForce 8600GT - $74.99 - ~1330PPD - - - 15.65
GeForce 8600GTS - $121.99 - ~2050PPD - - - 16.80
GeForce 8800GTS 640MB - $262.99 - ~3900PPD - - - 14.83
GeForce 8800 Ultra - $549.99 - ~4900PPD - 194w - 25.26 - 8.91
GeForce 8800GS - $143.99 - ~4800PPD - - - 33.34
GeForce 8800GT - $146.99 - ~5100PPD - 117.6w - 43.37 - 34.70
GeForce 8800GTS 512MB - $239.99 - ~5700PPD - 139w - 41.01 - 23.75

GeForce 9 Series
GeForce 9600GT - $134.99 - ~3900PPD - 95w - 41.05 - 28.89
GeForce 9800GTX - $209.99 - ~6000PPD - 147w - 40.82 - 28.57
GeForce 9800GX2 - $408.99 - ~11,000PPD - 209w - 52.63 - 26.90

GeForce 200 Series
GeForce GTX260 - $299.99 - ~5500PPD - 157w - 35.03 - 18.33
GeForce GTX280 - $444.99 - ~7500PPD - 197w - 38.07 - 16.85

Radeon Cards
Radeon HD 2000 series
Radeon HD 2400 - $60.99 - ~240PPD - - - 3.94
Radeon HD 2600 Pro - $60.99 - ~700PPD - - - 11.48

Radeon HD 3000 series
Radeon HD 3650 - $79.99 - ~775PPD - - - 9.69
Radeon HD 3850 - $140.99 - ~2000PPD - 95w - 21.05 - 14.19
Radeon HD 3870 - $176.99 - ~2000PPD - 122w - 16.39 - 11.30
Radeon HD 3870 X2 - $487.99 - ~2000PPD - 182w - 10.99 - 4.10

That's a nice little chart you found.

This feels sticky to me.

Anyone have an update to this list, PM it to me and I can make a new list.

Video Card - Cost (USD) - PPD - Wattage(Load) - PPD/Watt - PPD/$

GeForce cards

GeForce 8 Series
*GeForce 8400GS - $32.99 - ~600PPD - 71w - 8.45 - 18.2
*GeForce 8500GT DDR2 - $49.99 - ~700PPD - - - 14
*GeForce 8500GT DDR3 - $69.99 - ~700PPD - - - 10
*GeForce 8600GT - $74.99 - ~1330PPD - - - 15.65
*GeForce 8600GTS - $79.99 - ~2050PPD - - - 25.63
GeForce 8800GTS 640MB - $179.99 - ~3900PPD - - - 21.67
GeForce 8800 Ultra - $519.99 - ~4900PPD - 194w - 25.26 - 9.42
[Not at Newegg anymore] GeForce 8800GS - $143.99 - ~4800PPD - - - 33.34
GeForce 8800GT - $109.99 - ~5100PPD - 117.6w - 43.37 - 46.36
*GeForce 8800GTS 512MB - $159.99 - ~5700PPD - 139w - 41.01 - 35.63

GeForce 9 Series
*GeForce 9600GT - $109.99 - ~3900PPD - 95w - 41.05 - 35.45
*GeForce 9800GTX - $182.99 - ~6000PPD - 147w - 40.82 - 32.79
GeForce 9800GX2 - $279.99 - ~11,000PPD - 209w - 52.63 - 39.29

GeForce 200 Series
*GeForce GTX260 - $239.99 - ~5500PPD - 157w - 35.03 - 22.92
*GeForce GTX280 - $419.99 - ~7500PPD - 197w - 38.07 - 17.86

Radeon Cards

Radeon HD 2000 series
*Radeon HD 2400XT - $36.99 - ~240PPD - - - 6.49
*Radeon HD 2600 Pro - $49.99 - ~700PPD - - - 14

Radeon HD 3000 series
*Radeon HD 3650 - $54.99 - ~775PPD - - - 14.09
*Radeon HD 3850 - $86.99 - ~2000PPD - 95w - 21.05 - 22.99
*Radeon HD 3870 - $99.99 - ~2000PPD - 122w - 16.39 - 20
*Radeon HD 3870 X2 - $239.99 - ~2000PPD - 182w - 10.99 - 8.33

*- Rebate Available at time of posting...

We may also want to see if we can get updated PPD figures from everyone... 2000PPD from a 3870X2 seems WAY too low...Didn't the ATi client start doing better?

Also, there are a few cards missing, such as the amazing 9600GSO's...Overall, very nice start to a thread that will in time become amazingly useful!!!

The ATI x2 drivers I assume at the time of this chart's creation were still having problems. I also hope someone reads this and sends me their PPD at least for their card if its not listed. I could figure out the rest and update the lists.

The ATI side of the chart seems weird, 2000PPD for the 3850, 3870, and 3870x2? I get around 1200PPD theoretical from Fahmon on my 2900 Pro, but it's not on 24/7 because it's a huge power hog. And I think the GPU client is fairly CPU bound at times, because I've got an Athlon x2 5000+ which isn't that great. I remember someone made a chart similar to this for the SMP client earlier, which was pretty helpful. That gives me an idea:

Google spreadsheets, for the unaware, is kind of like an online version of Excel. It allows collaboration on spreadsheets, which is normally kind of boring . But there's also a method of making a form where people can add their data, which might be useful here. I think I'll make one now for the GPU2 client and see how it works. I'll edit this post with a link once I get it set up, and then we might be able to get a lot of data through the forums.

I currently have an Asus ATi 3870 on RMA to asus. If they ever send me back a good card , that is going in my second rig I am building. Once it is set up I will run a straight GPU2 client all by itself to get some specs for the 3870. I think the google spreadsheets would be treat, there are some missing cards like the wonderful 9800gso.

When I have my ATi 3870 running the GPU2 client by itself I currently get about 2000PPD.

OK, here's my first attempt at a spreadsheet with a form:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key= ... fhag&hl=en

This is the form URL:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform ... fhag&hl=en

I'm not sure how the formulas affect it though, because the first time I tried to drag them down the whole column but then form data appeared at the bottom after all the rows where I had dragged the formula down, so I'd like it if someone could fill out the form so I can see what happens.

I added my video card to the form.

Hmm, so it seems it's added after the last line the formula is pasted into, so I guess I'll have to drag the formula down manually whenever new stuff is added. That's not so bad though.

Edit: Hmm, someone added am 8800GT with the price as $1... I'll just look on newegg for a more accurate price .

Actually hmm, that seems very wrong, I don't think it would get only 2000PPD if the 8800GTS gets nearly 5000.

To keep things neat I'm going to keep this as a Sticky for another week and then I'll add it to the Thread of All Threads.

Has anyone tried a 9500 GT or know what the PPD is?

n0b0dykn0ws

I would guess since it only has 32 cores it would get about 3800 PPD.

I seem to remember a link to another similar chart that compares performances of the cards with the various CPU's driving them.

i added

You are still forgetting the ATI HD 4000 series.

Does the 3870x2 really not benefit over the single?

The PPD/$ on the 8800GT looks pretty damned sweet. Best bang for the buck.


One question... I have not been following GPU folding at all. Does it work with Linux or is this a windows thing?

Gigabyte's Linux cut and paste should get it running in Linux.
You could always give it the ranger effort or college try before investing in Windows.