EVGA GTX275 SuperClock vs. Sapphire HD4890 Toxic

[jace5869]

Trying to decide which of these cards would be better performing in single and dual card configurations. I would most likely buy one card now and the other one in a couple of months or so. The build it would be going in is:

Intel Core i7 920
Xigmatek Dark Knight Cooler
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB x3 (RAID 0 or 5)
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP

The two cards that I am looking at are

EVGA 896-P3-1171-AR GeForce GTX 275 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130478

SAPPHIRE Toxic 100269TXSR Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102840

This is my first build so I really do not have any games in mind yet, but anxiously awaiting jumping into some of the hard core FPS and such. I will also be doing some general use and developing (VS 2005/2008).

I don't think heat will be much of an issue with the case selected, and I think I could always install better more efficient fans, correct?
Also, is it absurd buying into these factory overclocked cards? Would it be better to buy factory stock clocked cards and then "try" to overclock them then? If so, then what card would be the better card (I know they trade blows pretty evenly) - based on current sales, brand/warranty, etc..?

Thanks for the advice!

 

[daedalus685]

Both perform very much the same. The price is similar so look up some benchmarks for games you want to play. That or toss a coin.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

The 4850X2 beats both in price and speed.

 

[coozie7]

I think you would be better off getting a pair of normal GTX 275s' and overclocking yourself.
I hate coolers that do not vent their heat outside of the case; They make us buy big, heavy, loud cases full of fans when a perfectly sensible dual slot can keep the card cool quietly without boiling other components or turning us deaf through fan noise.
Deep breaths.
Rant over.
For that reason I will not suggest Crossfiring the Sapphire card.

 

[rescawen]

Normally the vapor-x is a better card, but for just hardcore FPS then GTX275.