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New Video Card Advice

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - New Video Card Advice

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bloodandsoil   02-25-2009 at 06:46:14 PM

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?

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Craxbax   02-26-2009 at 04:32:55 PM
- 0 +

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.


Message edited by Craxbax on 02-26-2009 at 04:41:40 PM
Reply to Craxbax
scrumhalf   02-26-2009 at 04:53:04 PM
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Agreed, the EVGA GTX 260 is quite beastly at a great price.

------------------------------ Core i7 920 -=- Asus P6T Deluxe -=- 6GB OCZ DDR3 1600
EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 -=- PC P&C Silencer 750W Quad
 Reply to scrumhalf
bloodandsoil   02-26-2009 at 04:55:03 PM
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How do you know if you are getting the 55nm or the 65nm version of the 260?

Reply to bloodandsoil
scrumhalf   02-26-2009 at 05:21:49 PM
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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.

------------------------------ Core i7 920 -=- Asus P6T Deluxe -=- 6GB OCZ DDR3 1600
EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 -=- PC P&C Silencer 750W Quad
 Reply to scrumhalf
Craxbax   02-26-2009 at 05:30:04 PM
- 0 +

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/Prod [...] 6814161236

Reply to Craxbax
bloodandsoil   02-26-2009 at 05:48:56 PM
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I would like to get an ATI card, but the drivers for linux are not ready yet.

Reply to bloodandsoil
bloodandsoil   02-26-2009 at 05:50:13 PM
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How much of a performance difference is the 65nm versus 55nm on the 260?

Reply to bloodandsoil
scrumhalf   02-26-2009 at 05:55:32 PM
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Not much in performance difference at stock speeds, but runs cooler, overclocks better (here's the performance gain), and uses less power.

------------------------------ Core i7 920 -=- Asus P6T Deluxe -=- 6GB OCZ DDR3 1600
EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 -=- PC P&C Silencer 750W Quad
 Reply to scrumhalf
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