gtx280 or 260

[dolmaface]

Im not sure what i should get 280 or 260. First of all i want a graphics card that will last me a long time. Second i want a card that is reliable and power efficient. Also whenever i look at benchmarks and stuff teh 280 and 260 are the much of a difference, at least in crysis that is, any other game doesn't really matter. Also im not going to be playing on a high res monitor. I have a 20 in. 1680 by 1050 monitor that i love and i dont think would need a full gig of gpu mem. I am also trying to oc my q6600, and it keeps on giving me a blue screen or restart, a tech at a store said it was my graphics card that wasn't good enough, i currently have an 8600. Im not sure if that true. Here are my specs.

q6600 @ 2.4 could go to 3.2 but gpu not good enough
650 watt coolmaster 75A total on 12V rail
4 gigs corsair xms 2 6400
8600 gts 512
xfx 680i lt

 

[murdoc]

Although I'm not totally clear of what you're asking here but from my understanding you are trying to upgrade the video card because you're getting a blue screen from OCing your processor?

First of all if that is the case let me clear it up that Blue screen from OCing your processor is not by any means related to your graphics card so you can just screw w/e that tech guy said.

Now on the other hand, you want smoother performance and turn up those nice graphics then yes you would go for GTx260 /280.

What matters after that is your budget. If you say you've got all the money in the world and money doesn't mean anything to you, then go get the GTX 280. Nothing in technology lasts long (if you're at the ultra enthusiast level). The typical cycle for a card is about 6 months before the next generation comes out. But the GTX 260 and GTX 280 should last you around 1 yr for ultra high resolutions and up to 3 yrs if you play in high settings.

The GTX 280 obviously will offer better frames but an OCed 260 can pretty much perform just as good. So it really depends on your preference if you like the idea of OCing or not. You always have the option to buy a manufacture OCed card.

Now on the other hand, if money does matter than just get the GTX 260 which performs pretty close and you save money.

 

[dolmaface]

well money does kinda matter. On tigerdirect though they have video reviews of the cards and it states tht in crysis the gtx 260 216 core is better then the gtx 280 stock. So i guess il go wit the 260 216 core.

 

[emp]

GTX 260 does not beat the GTX 280. If you must get an nvidia card, then get the GTX 280.

On another note... You say you want a power-efficient card, yet you choose the most insane power-hog GPUs ever created Ahhh the irony

 

[mtyermom]

So are you dead set on getting an nvidia card?

 

[dolmaface]

i wouldnt get an ati card becuase im nvidia fan boy and i have an nvidia chipset