Upgrading from ati 3870 to nvidia 260/280

[moe2freaky]

Hi Guys

I purchased a gecube 3870 X-Turbo III a while ago and to be honest it wasnt all that. It really struggles to play most games with AA turned on and i get unstable frame rates with crysis (lucky to get 30 frames) and thats with AA turned off. I was thinking time for an upgrade! .

Would a GTX260 or GTX280 be a big leap from the 3870?
Here are the cards I had in mind:

260:
http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/85947/VIDEOCARDS_GEFORCE_PCI-EXPRESS_2.0_SERIES/Gainward/471846200-9368.asp
280:
http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/85946/VIDEOCARDS_GEFORCE_PCI-EXPRESS_2.0_SERIES/Gainward/471846200-9351.asp
(Prices are expensive here in australia)

My specs are:
Intel E8500
Thermal right 14 heatsink
Abit IX38 QuadGT
4gb Corsair dominator series 4-4-4-12
150gb 10000rpm Raptor
Neo power 650

I play at my LCD native resolution 1440*900 at 60hz Vsync. So yeah i'm all ears. Thanks.

 

[pulasky]

BAD choice

 

[moe2freaky]

BAD choice

Why is it a bad choice?

 

[anthony23]

do your research on the new ATI 4850 or 4870! Nvida GTX 280 cost $650 and consume over 230 watts! While an ATI 4850 is only about 110watts and perform about 75% Nvida GTX 280! Two of the ATI 4850 in Crossfire consume less power and is 30% better performance in performance! You can purchase a 4850 for $189 on the web right now and 2 of them will be about $400 even! Do the math and you will still have $250 left in your pocket after going Crossfire with ATI new card and 30% more performance than Nvida flagship!

 

[jamesgoddard]

The 4870x2 is going to spank the GTX280 - Nvidia have a huge problem on there hands

 

[lameness]

Wait for the 4850/4870 THEY ARE LOOKING PROMISING

 

[moe2freaky]

do your research on the new ATI 4850 or 4870! Nvida GTX 280 cost $650 and consume over 230 watts! While an ATI 4850 is only about 110watts and perform about 75% Nvida GTX 280! Two of the ATI 4850 in Crossfire consume less power and is 30% better performance in performance! You can purchase a 4850 for $189 on the web right now and 2 of them will be about $400 even! Do the math and you will still have $250 left in your pocket after going Crossfire with ATI new card and 30% more performance than Nvida flagship!

Your a legend thats what I will do get 2 4850 setup in crossfire mode. Cheers

 

[JeanLuc]

Why is it a bad choice?

I have to agree with everyone else, wait just another week until the ATI 4850 and 4870 comes out it’s believed the HD 4870 will be 40% faster then the 9800 GTX which would put it at the same level as the GTX 280. Unless you absolutely must have a PhyisX chip with your video card and don’t mind paying another $150 for it as well as the extra heat and power draw then you might be better off with the GTX 280/260.

My advice is to wait and see what ATI offers before purchasing your next card.

 

[radnor]

Don't jump the Bandwagon so soon !! The GTXs arent that good for now. Wait till Ati launches thei 4xxx series and then choose.

 

[monsta]

I agree with radnor , id wait and see whats next first

 

[yipsl]

I, personally, don't think the GTX200 series will be worth anything until the die shrink arrives. IMHO, they're Nvidia's version of the Phenom @ 65nm. They don't provide enough of a boost over the last generation and are horribly overpriced.

The 4850 and 4870 look good, as does the upcoming 4870x2. I'd wait if you can and see how things pan out, but if you must buy now, go ATI and not Nvidia; unless you just get a 9800gtx+ as a stopgap.

 

[invisik]

get an ati 4850/4870 or a nvidia 9800gx2 which perform very well even on par or faster then the gtx 280 and are alot cheaper.

 

[one-shot]

4870 easily over a GX2, Close to the same performance and it's one card and not 2 cards. It also consumes less power and costs less. Do i need to make any more points. Same with the GTX 260 and 280. Let's all sit back and use some common sense. If something costs more and delivers less would you buy it over something that costs less and delivers more? Sorry to those that can't utilize the built in common sense feature..............Make the logical choice.

 

[Guest]

if anything just wait till the die shrink of the gtx 280... by then prices will have dropped and you can compare it to the 4870 X2... and @ Anthony.... Crossfred 4850s is not 30% of a GTX 280 ... its like 90 %.... Cross fired 4870s are lke 100 - 110 %...

 

[pauldh]

4870 easily over a GX2, Close to the same performance and it's one card and not 2 cards. It also consumes less power and costs less. Do i need to make any more points. Same with the GTX 260 and 280. Let's all sit back and use some common sense. If something costs more and delivers less would you buy it over something that costs less and delivers more? Sorry to those that can't utilize the built in common sense feature..............Make the logical choice.

Ahem... Problem is, the GX2 can at times spank the HD4870 and they consume about the same power.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=13
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=22


Plus, it technically takes up one PCI-e slot, and is still one card despite it's dual PCB/dual GPU sandwich design. But I agree for the current prices the HD4870 is very nice and the one I'd buy of the two.

BTW, SLI 8800GT is as cheap or cheaper AR than a 4870, more often than not faster, while consuming no more power. SLI mobo owners have this as a better option IMO. (depending on local price)

And HD4850 Crossfire (edit: oops) is looking promising at current prices too. I'd take two of those over one 4870 or GTX260.

 

[John Vuong]

Just wait for the 4870 X2 and see if thats any good. In my opinion, the 200 series are way overpriced and ain't worth it. I'm going for a 4870 X2 for my next upgrade.

Or I'll see if the GT200b refresh is any good first.

 

[Guest]

Ok, where do i begin with this one, the 280 blows the doors off of most cards out there,(That includes your janky 4870 ati card ) !! Now lets talk about what is going on right now!!! the 285 and the 295 are the best cards you can get right now hands down!! Ya thats right nvidia is Killing it on the race track of the Graphic WORLD!!! lets be real, if you were to walk up to a Pro gamers rig you would not open it up and see two flat janky, dul and all other manner of ATI things in his pc!! insted you would see two huge cum in your mouth 280s screeming out at you!! put that one in your pipe and smoke it!!!

 

[theAnimal]

Ok, where do i begin with this one, the 280 blows the doors off of most cards out there,(That includes your janky 4870 ati card ) !! Now lets talk about what is going on right now!!! the 285 and the 295 are the best cards you can get right now hands down!! Ya thats right nvidia is Killing it on the race track of the Graphic WORLD!!! lets be real, if you were to walk up to a Pro gamers rig you would not open it up and see two flat janky, dul and all other manner of ATI things in his pc!! insted you would see two huge cum in your mouth 280s screeming out at you!! put that one in your pipe and smoke it!!!

Next time check the date of the thread before posting your fanboi rant.