Should I get the 260 GTX or 9800 GTX+?

[johncarter0000]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for a new video card to replace my old 1900xtx. My current setup is:

E6600 (3.2 GHz)
4 GB DDR2 800
ATI 1900XTX
Antec 550W PSU
Windows Vista Ultimate

The 260 GTX is exactly 100 dollars more than the 9800 GTX+. I am using this computer for gaming (usually at 1600 with most of the goodies on). Right now the 9800 is around 169(Cad). I want this upgrade to last me for atleast another year.

So which one should I get? Keep in mind, that both 4850 and 4870 are around 209, and 319 respectively here.

Thank you guys for the help.

 

[1haplo]

The 260 is alot better then the 9800GTX+, Is it worth the extra money? That depends on you. Look at the reviews and look at the games you play and see what card is best for you. Don't look at the 3DMark scores, but do look at the FPS in games, Some games are optimized for ATI and others nVidia.

I went from the X1900GT to the HD4850 and That was a huge jump in performance. The HD4870 beats the 260 in some games and the 260 is better in others.

Both the 260 and the HD4870 are great cards and will run most games at 1680X1050 just fine.

1Haplo

 

[mihirkula]

Neither... since you mentioned that you would be playing with all the goodies on, you should actually contemplate between Radeon 4850 and the 4870, both of which blow away the Nvidia cards with AA on.

 

[johncarter0000]

Hello, thanks for the reply. I did go through a lot of reviews, the problem is the 100 dollar difference. The 9800 is pretty good at the resolution I am at, and it's pretty cheap compare to the 260. All I need is something that would last me for another year or so.

 

[homerdog]

Neither... since you mentioned that you would be playing with all the goodies on, you should actually contemplate between Radeon 4850 and the 4870, both of which blow away the Nvidia cards with AA on.

^That's a potential fire starter right there, but deep down I think I agree . Too bad he can't get decent prices on those cards... isn't Newegg going to start delivering to Canada pretty soon?

johncarter, what games do you play or plan on playing? What resolution? As long as you don't have a huge monitor I would recommend a 9800GTX+ for now and save the $100 for your next upgrade. You should still get perfectly playable FPS in the vast majority of current and near-future games with that card.

 

[jaysins]

well if it is between those two cards I'd say the 9800gtx+ if you only plan on keeping it a year though for us right now the 4850 is $30 less and a wee bit better.

 

[jerreece]

Personally, I'd suggest the 4850 for you. The latest ATI cards are typically a better bang for your buck compared to nVidia's latest offerings. I've always been an nVidia guy, but you just have to admit the truth when you see it.

 

[sisley_111]

Hi johncarter

you can find the 4850 for 175.99 after 20$ MIR on canadacomputers + 6.99 for shipping and the 4870 for 269.99 after a MIR of 20$
4850 : http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019048&cid=999.243.272
4870 : http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019047&cid=999.243.272

You can use shopbot.ca to find some good prices...

 

[harrycat88]

The 260 GTX is over priced. Get the 4870 instead, with the 4870 you get a little more performance then the 260GTX and on certain titles the performance of the 4870 is equal to the 280GTX.

 

[rangers]

^That's a potential fire starter right there, but deep down I think I agree . Too bad he can't get decent prices on those cards... isn't Newegg going to start delivering to Canada pretty soon?

johncarter, what games do you play or plan on playing? What resolution? As long as you don't have a huge monitor I would recommend a 9800GTX+ for now and save the $100 for your next upgrade. You should still get perfectly playable FPS in the vast majority of current and near-future games with that card.

do you work for nvidia stop trying to recommend a broken card

 

[enewmen]

The 260 is expensive and I agree with most here.
If you'll willing to spend that kind of money, get the 4870.
But since your only playing at 1600x1200 or less (my guess), the 4850 should be plenty fast enough, even for Crysis.
If I needed a card now, I'll personally get the 4870-X2 so I can play/work at very high-res.

 

[mihirkula]

Hi johncarter

you can find the 4850 for 175.99 after 20$ MIR on canadacomputers + 6.99 for shipping and the 4870 for 269.99 after a MIR of 20$
4850 : http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019048&cid=999.243.272
4870 : http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019047&cid=999.243.272

You can use shopbot.ca to find some good prices...

That should make up your mind.

 

[Silverion77]

How bout the GX2 (uh oh here come the flamers i think)

Some companies have dropped their prices to GTX 260 and 4870 standards but its the second fastest single card. If u plan on SLI/CF look somewhere else because the GX2 doesnt scale at all in quad.
It is hot but then again what new cards arent?

 

[aevm]

I found a HD 4850 at NCIX for $180.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index..../48500+T352&manufacture=Palit Multimedia Inc.

If you're in Ontario you don't pay PST on NCIX purchases, so that saves another $14 or whatever

Edit: I forgot to mention, that's a dual-slot HD 4850. The hot air gets directly out of the case through a vent, unlike single-slot cards where the case fans have to remove the heat.

 

[homerdog]

do you work for nvidia stop trying to recommend a broken card

Huh? What card is broken??

 

[invisik]

i would recommend the gtx260 any day. i had the 9800gtx but not the one with the + but its not much different.

 

[Nik_I]

i'm also going to suggest a 4850. it's a great card, and the one that aevm posted is a great deal. i paid $10 more than that for a single slot cooler just 2 months ago.

 

[rangers]

Huh? What card is broken??

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/254474-15-nvidia-geforce-failures-shocking

 

[Silverion77]

its thunderman lol, old news

 

[L1qu1d]

The GX2 is generally cheaper or slightly more exp (depends where your from) than the cards listed, but it blows most of them out of the water. It even beats out the 280 GTX.

And personally I don't think that Quad sli is as flawed as any1 says it is (ofc I said as flawed, you will have trouble here and there) but the games that are sli optimized don't fail you.

But as for any other card that I would recommend, it would be the 4850, its the card with the best Price/Performance ratio.

If your patient wait for the 4850 X2, which will probably bet the second fastest single slot Video card on the market.

I say probably only because God knows what Nvidia might revise

 

[kitsilencer]

Wait for the 1G version of the 4870.

 

[L1qu1d]

I doubt the 1 G version of the 4870 is really going to help it much.

 

[ovaltineplease]

9800GX2 blows every card listed out of the water in performance and its being frequently found for less than 300$


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130338 - $289.99, as L1qu1d said; it beats every card on that list - if you want only 1 video card and you don't want to spend 500$ on a 4870x2, then the 9800GX2 is the next best single card you can get.

 

[IndigoMoss]

How bout the GX2 (uh oh here come the flamers i think)

Some companies have dropped their prices to GTX 260 and 4870 standards but its the second fastest single card. If u plan on SLI/CF look somewhere else because the GX2 doesnt scale at all in quad.
It is hot but then again what new cards arent?

The GX2 is a very good value when it's in the $230-260 range. The only issue is the PSU. You need a pretty damn beefy PSU to run the GX2 and a good case to hold it properly. What type of 550 watt Antec is that? If it's one of those Earthwatts, it'll run it fine. Neopower should be ok too. Basiq will not though.

 

[johncarter0000]

Hello everyone, I am very grateful for the help. Right now I am left with 2 choices, 260 GTX, or 4780. In terms of performance, both are very similar (4780 seems to be a bit faster). So should I just go with the 4870?