New Video Card Advice

[bloodandsoil]

Hello experts,

My BFG 8800 GTX recently crapped out and so I am in the market to buy a replacement video card for my PC (Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 and 4 GB memory).

My budget is around $150 and I (unfortunately) require an Nvidia card since the linux ATI drivers are not up to snuff (yet).

Does the GeForce GTX 260 offer much of a performance advantage over the GeForce 9800 GTX+?

And, I see a Sparkle brand GeForce 9800 GTX+ on Newegg.com for $145. Would anyone recommmend this brand?

 

[bloodandsoil]

No feedback?

 

[Craxbax]

Yes, the 260 is much better but the 9800TX+ is a solid performer. Sparkle brand may leave a lot to be desired and the cooler exhausts into the case. I would opt to spend $14 more on the EVGA SC card (before $20 MIR) plus it is already OC'D.

 

[scrumhalf]

Agreed, the EVGA GTX 260 is quite beastly at a great price.

 

[bloodandsoil]

How do you know if you are getting the 55nm or the 65nm version of the 260?

 

[scrumhalf]

By the naming conventions, the EVGA 55nm cards are numbered 896-P3-125x, and the 65nm cards are numbered 896-P3-126x. Also, the 65nm cards have a more orange casing, whereas the 55nm cards have a red casing. Have a look at the pics:
1255 GTX 260 and 1265 GTX 260.

Note, these are the Core 216 editions of the card, I left out the Core 192 versions, since they're all 65nm, and really aren't worth the $20 savings. YMMV, but I bought the stock speed 55nm card and haven't had any problem overclocking to the Superclocked edition speeds.

 

[Craxbax]

Here is a HD4870 512mb card in your price range. ($144 w/MIR) Not quite the 260 GTX 216 but close. I had the 1gb Powercolor version and the HD 4870 handles the 1680x1050 resolution and the new titles with no problems. The new 9.2 CATs seemed to work good also. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161236

 

[bloodandsoil]

I would like to get an ATI card, but the drivers for linux are not ready yet.

 

[bloodandsoil]

How much of a performance difference is the 65nm versus 55nm on the 260?

 

[scrumhalf]

Not much in performance difference at stock speeds, but runs cooler, overclocks better (here's the performance gain), and uses less power.