9800GTX+ or GTX 260

based on all attributes of the card, which one do you guys think i should get? and why? i've heard that the 260 is better, but i've also heard ppl saying the 9800GTX+ outperforms it in most games. also the gtx 260 is this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130370

q6600 processor
4gb g-skill 1066mhz memory
antec 900 case

my main question is if the gtx 260 with the older architecture has enough of a performance gap between it that it justifies the cost of getting a bigger psu and a mobo that will fit it which will cost more. i play on a 20" 1680x1050 res monitor.

well the GTX 260-192 and GTX 260-216 require 36A on the +12v rail so if your psu has at least 36A your good for either version of the card, and the mobo is fine if you got pci-e which you do i assume otherwise you wouldnt be trying to buy a new card. the GTX 260-192/216 would give you more performance than the 9800GTX/GTX+. i would only get a better psu and mobo if you plan on going SLI one day but if your staying to single card solution just make sure you have 36Amps on the +12v rail and a free pci-e slot. i do have to say if your going to stay single card to get the GTX 260-216 and overclock it to the superclocked version because the superclocked GTX 260-216 matches the GTX 280. so you can get GTX 280 performance at half the price, i also recommend EVGA because of lifetime warranty and step-up.

I bought a GTX 260-216 Superclocked a few days ago and it vastly outperforms the 9800 GTX+ that is in a different computer which I have. So performance wise, I'd say go for the GTX 260. That said, measure the space where you put it beforehand, using a cardboard mockup if you can. When I put it into my Antec 900 case, I had to move a hard drive before I could get it in, and it still presses tight against some wiring. It would not fit into the lower PCIe slot, as it interfered with the wiring on the motherboard. The 260 is a monster card. As others said, make sure your have a big enough, good enough PSU to run it as well. I'd suggest at least 650wt to be on the safe side.

Whether the expense of a new motherboard and PSU on top of the cost of a 260 is justifiable is only something you can answer. Unless you're trying to play the latest games with the highest settings, the 9800 GTX+ would probably work just as well when it comes to producing sufficient frame rates. One last note, if you do F@H, as I do, the 260 does produce about double the PPD as the 9800 GTX+, so that's one other thing to consider.

Pretty much true. I think there was some minor change, but the main reason for the 9800 GTX and GTX+ was a name change to fool people into buying new cards, and maybe trade on the fame of the old ATI 9800 series cards, thereby fooling the unwary in a different way.