GTX 260 or GTX 275 or GTX 285

[androdion]

Well I'm pretty much stuck on which of these GPUs to buy. First I was aiming for the GTX 260 around two months ago because it was pretty good for its price. Then when I went to a PC shop some guy told me to wait a week or two for the new GTX 275 which would be even better and not much pricier. So I did and then I was like "Ok this is the one", then a couple of weeks passed again and now I'm finnaly on the verge of actually buying my new PC and thus my new GPU!

So I browsed around a tons of forums and all say the same,GTX 275 is better than GTX 260 but still doesn't do the same as GTX 285 generally speaking as it comes very close in some game's benchmarks. But a couple of days ago some guy from a portuguese Forum told me not to buy the GTX 275 because it was hotter and had more power consumption than both other two.

So I'm in a entangled web of "Which one is best for me?" questions! I have a 19" screen so I'm not going to play anything higher than 1280x1024 but I do want to run every game there is with maximum specs, not 500 dollars GPUs maximum specs but around 250-300 dollars maximum specs. This on an I7 rig.

So given the resolution I'll play at and the muscle vs heat/power consumption, which might be the best GPU for me?

Here are their prices in my country:

GTX 260 -> around 200€ ($280)
GTX 275 -> around 250€ ($350)
GTX 285 -> around 330€ ($462)

 

[godfath3r]

the price of cards generally reflect on performace which is the case with those 3 cards. the 260 or 275 should cope with all games fine at that resolution (bar crysis of course) the 275 can also be overclocked to match performance figures of the 285. but its all down to choice and which card fits your budget best. if youve got the cash to burn then get the 285...

 

[Christopher11]

gtx 260 - = 2+6+0 8 + high pressure turbo "X"
gtx 275 - = 2+7+5 = 14 + low pressure turbo
gtx 285 - = 2+8+5= 15 + low presurre turbo

Assuming low pressure turbo is something in between 5 and 6 and high pressure turbo is 10-11

What we have is

18-19 for gtx 260
19-20 for gtx 275
21 for gtx 285

But considering the price differences... go for the gtx260. really, the power difference between thiose two ( 275 and 260) is not that big but $70 could be spent on something more pleasant than that.
It will run all the games smoothly escept, as it has already been mentioned Crysis, but it can be over clocked too.

So, if i were you, i'd go for the 260

 

[coozie7]

If this was an upgrade from a lower card on a weaker system (like mine ) I'd probably say the GTX260/HD4870 but not for a new i7 build.
Price/performance points to the GTX275, it is nearly as fast as the GTX285, quite a bit cheaper, burns a little less power and overclocks better. As for temperatures, the fan can always be turned up.
If you want to go ATI the current 'must have' is the HD4770 in Crossfire, even cheaper than the GTX275 this configuration is as fast as the Nvidia card, placing it within a very short distaince from the GTX285.
All the above are total overkill for a 1280x1024 screen, but then again, this system is going to be around for a few years, right? No point in putting a weak card in and having to upgrade next year!

 

[hundredislandsboy]

19" monitor? Go with a the GTX 260. It will max everything out to high settings and run 100+ FPS at your 1280x1024 resolution.

Save the rest for a larger monitor and when you have enough for the larger 24" or 26" monitor, sell your old monitor and the GTX 260 and with the cash buy the GTX 295 which by next year will be close to half its price now.

 

[Raidur]

+1 GTX 260. Games are butter at that resolution with that card. And by the looks of the pricing where you are, I don't find a few fps worth $100-$200.

 

[androdion]

gtx 260 - = 2+6+0 8 + high pressure turbo "X"
gtx 275 - = 2+7+5 = 14 + low pressure turbo
gtx 285 - = 2+8+5= 15 + low presurre turbo

Assuming low pressure turbo is something in between 5 and 6 and high pressure turbo is 10-11

What we have is

18-19 for gtx 260
19-20 for gtx 275
21 for gtx 285

Really man...I didn't understood anything of what you wrote here!

If you want to go ATI the current 'must have' is the HD4770 in Crossfire, even cheaper than the GTX275 this configuration is as fast as the Nvidia card, placing it within a very short distaince from the GTX285.
All the above are total overkill for a 1280x1024 screen, but then again, this system is going to be around for a few years, right? No point in putting a weak card in and having to upgrade next year!

I'm going for a single card not CF nor SLI, so I'm not going for that choice. And yes this is a system to last considering I'm going to spend two and a half of my monthly paychecks on this rig! That ain't cheap and an I7 is going to last a looong time in my hand!

Save the rest for a larger monitor and when you have enough for the larger 24" or 26" monitor, sell your old monitor and the GTX 260 and with the cash buy the GTX 295 which by next year will be close to half its price now.

That's exactly my point, next year's best price GPU is most likely to be this year's top notch, so I might as well save a bit of money and go for the GTX 260 instead of trying to have an over-the-top GPU running on a 19" screen!

You guys wouldn't believe the price of SSDs in my country...

 

[androdion]

BTW (and sorry for the double-post) which brand or manufacturer's GTX 260 should I buy? EVGA, BFG, XFX, etc...

I've read about some that are factory OC that have a higher clock or something like that. I just want the best one!

 

[IzzyCraft]

Don't worry about chris he gets off on numbers or something.

1280x1024
At that all those cards would do just fine. Get what ever seems like the best price for you cheapest. But i wouldn't go like "ill go with 275 becuase it's only 20% more" performance diff from 260 is more around 10%.

 

[coozie7]

@ androdion: Fair enough on the CF/SLI, I hate both myself but I felt the price/performance was so good that I had to mention it.

Do n't pay too much for overclocked cards, they are seldom worth the price premium.
Pay attenion to the cooler, i7 runs hot, even in a well ventilated case so avoid coolers that do not exhaust out of the case unless you plan on having cyclonic airflow.
Warranty is really the most importaint part of the decision when comparing similar cards and the companies you have mentioned have some of the best in the business, but check the details: Warranty conditions vary widly depending on country.

 

[fahimmuchi]

PC Configuration:
Processor:Core 2 quad q9400 level 2 6 mb cache a@2.74Ghz
Motherboard:Gigabyte EG41MF-US2H
RAMDR-2 at 800Mhz 2gb x 2.Transcend information(checked in CPUz)
Graphics Card:Build in
Monitor:Samsung 943 NWX 19 inch(1400x900)at 75 refresh rate

I would like to know that for my wide 19 inch monitor at 1400x900 resolution which graphics card would be the best in both performance and also price?Will GTX 275 be enough for this monitor?

 

[androdion]

Since I use a GTX 260 on my LG 19" on my I7 system and can run every game smoothly I'd say that the GTX 275 is more than enough for your needs!

 

[rawsteel]

5770 is the best for your needs

 

[jfralli]

i was in chat on WoW and asked about the 275; positive feedback. they suggested get the basic & overclock it myself, but one dude recommeneded liquid cooled cuz of a $100 premium on the difference of the basic 275 vs one cooled & overclocked. idk if im alright w/ puttin liquid or payin more for something that doesnt really need it. wouldnt a couple fans do fine? and how much is good enough on the over clocking if i only have the card for say a few years?