Dilema, HD4870 vs GTX 260?

[ralfidude]

I currently have a 9800GTX, and iv been rather happy with it, and i have a q6600 upped to 3GHz, which im looking to exchange with a Q9550.

ANYWHO, so i went and did a bit of research, and from TomsHardaware, they benched these two against each other with no clear winner.... so now im a in a jip..


The Radeon HD 4870 (512Mb) is listed as 174.99
Visiontek Radeon HD 4870 Graphics Card - 900244 - Buy.com

or 184.99 from new egg here

Newegg.com - VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards





THEN

We have the GeForce GTX 260 (896Mb) listed at....


Ta da! 184.99
(159.99 after main in rebate)

Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards





Dilema dilema.....



The 260 goes above the 4870 in certain games, and then the 4870 goes better with other games, so now im stuck...

I am currently using windows XP so im limited to Direct x9.0c, but im looking to upgrade to Windows 7 so il be looking at direct x10 which changes things a bit, but they are neck to neck in the same category....


So, any tips?

[Rudd]

I have a 4870. Its a good card an all, I just hate the ATI control center. The nvidia control panel is far more intuitive.

My next purchase will probably be the 260 or 280

[(HUN)Rud3bwoy]

I dont know about the 260, so I cant give a perspective, but I do have the 4870Toxic edition (which is usually just a few bucks more expensive than the nilla 4870, but it has better cooling and tuned preferences).


All in all I am happy with it's performance the drawbacks are:
-you wont get a 30-40 degrees running temp, it runs at 45-46C idle and 65+ with load(smart fanspeed on), so it is not that bad.

-If you want it to run cooler and decide to turn up the fan speed, then it is noisy, but not that loud to disturb you if you have a headset.

-My biggest problem with it was that it is almost impossible to fit any other card next to it, it is simply huge, though this may vary with other mobos/PC cases.

(- I have heard from many sources that there were problems with the drivers/softwares. Well I have not encountered any of these yet.)


Again I dont know anything about the 260, but Im happy with the 4870Toxic(though I think they are on par so it is really up to taste which one you choose)

[ralfidude]

Rudd, why would u purchase the 260 if ur card is the same as the 260 now?

Id suggest the 280.

I simply dont have the 300 bucks to kill on the 280.


I guess il go for the 260 from new egg and do the rebate and all that jazz. Its a shame il be selling my 9800GTX, its a NICE card... iv had it less than a year now, probably could sell it at 100$?

[ralfidude]

Ok i just ordered the 260 with some arctic colling paste, and it gave me COD5 free, lol, so yey!

I got the superclocked version too for 10 bucks more. Now i just need to find myself a Good cheap fan that isnt SUPER HUGE. Any tips?

[Bamboo]

I really think you should have held off till Sept. or Oct. when ATI released their next gen cards, and Nvidia's should be out by then or shortly after. They are going to have DirectX11, and early reports are saying that Nvidia's cards could have a much as a 6x or more performance boost. The 9800 would hold you over for a few more months.

NVIDIA's GT300 specs outed???



.

[Rudd]

Rudd, why would u purchase the 260 if ur card is the same as the 260 now?

I'd sell this for a reasonable price since its near new, and get the nvidia equivalent just cuz I prefer nVidia

[RedAlertSF]

HD4890 would be good, if you have money. ATI catalyst control center isn't as good as nVidian controls, but 3rd party software ATI tray tools helps that a bit.

ATI's cards are better choice now. Only problems are poor Linux support and the control center.

[Bob_Marley]

Thread moved.

We've got a tech support section for a reason people, use it.

[strickt]

I have a gtx 260 216 core, its the xfx black edition and it gets the same benchmarks as the gtx 280 maybe 1-2 frames off, if your going to get anything get the gtx black.

[strickt]

HD4890 would be good, if you have money. ATI catalyst control center isn't as good as nVidian controls, but 3rd party software ATI tray tools helps that a bit.

ATI's cards are better choice now. Only problems are poor Linux support and the control center.

Why would you suggest ATI cards are a better choice then Nvidia cards?

[VoXiNaTiOn]

Nice one getting the 260. If you want to, clock it a bit and at its max levels, it can rival a 280!

[Robbi]

My 260 is running at 280 spec, better off getting a 192 version of the 260 though, better to clock with and also runs ALOT cooler

[ralfidude]

Nah i couldnt hold off any longer, those new cards would be expensive for a while.

Well i hear good things about it, so the 260 will make do with me.

Now all i need is to find a good Chip.

My Q6600 is Upped to 3ghz, but its not going to last very long...

[AgentJadeD]

it will last a very long time. I had my E6600 oc'd to 3.2ghz for 2 years. then my e8400 at 4.2 for 6 months, no issues at all..

But good choice with going with Nvidia.

[Darkkas]

GTX 295

[Darkkas]

it would be best

[AgentJadeD]

but not worth it for the price.

[strickt]

My 260 is running at 280 spec, better off getting a 192 version of the 260 though, better to clock with and also runs ALOT cooler

192 core gtx 260 have been discontinued you are no longer able to purchase them, and i see no reason why you would want to buy a 192 core over a 216.

[boom50cal]

Quiet 120mmx120mmx25mm case fan from Newegg that is supposed to ran at under 20dBa's. Newegg.com - AeroCool TURBINE 3000 120mm Case Fan - Case Fans

It's $20 too so pretty good price.