Graphic Card Choice - GTX 275 vs GTX 285

[Mafia2020]

I definitely need an advice, I am in the process of upgrading my Graphic Card and my choices narrowed to these models:

GTX 275 (896MB) priced at 185€
http://www.e-key.it/product_info.php?products_id=5744

GTX 275 (1792MB) priced at 221€
http://www.neths.it/sparkle-gtx275-1792mb-gddr3-p-3238.html

GTX 285 (1024MB) priced at 250€
http://www.prokoo.com/product_info.php?products_id=2224

GTX 285 (2048MB) priced at 303€
http://www.hardware-planet.it//product_info.php?products_id=1588

My current system config is:

Motherboard ASUS Formula Rampage
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0 Ghz E8400 Overclocked at @ 3.51 Ghz
2 GB RAM Corsair
Nvidia 9800 GTX
Screen Dell 24" @ 1920 x 1200

Thoughts? Should I go 275 or 285? Should I prefer more VRAM or it doesn't really matter?

 

[Mafia2020]

Also, I have read that Windows Vista doesn't differentiate between VRAM and System RAM, is it going to be like that for Windows 7 as well?

 

[megamanx00]

The GTX275 is definitely a better buy as it offers very similar performance to the GTX285. If you're going to keep it for a while you may as well get the 1792MB version as games are growing every more hungry for vRAM. For now though the 896MB version will be more than enough.

Just a thought but, you have a crossfire board so it would make sense to go with an ATI card and then add another one for crossfire latter. Just a thought.

 

[megamanx00]

As for the RAM I don't know where you're getting that from. Perhaps you are confusing it with ram address space. In that case it's only a concern if you have a 32-bit OS. If you have a 64-bit OS then you won't have to worry about that for some time .

 

[Mafia2020]

For further reference I am adding prices in dollars

GTX 275 (896MB) priced at 259$

GTX 275 (1792MB) priced at 309$

GTX 285 (1024MB) priced at 350$

GTX 285 (2048MB) priced at 424$

 

[Godhatesusall]

your mobo supports crossfire,i would recomend you get a 4890 instead

 

[Mafia2020]

Thanks but I'd rather stay on Nvidia

 

[gkay09]

+1 for the HD 4890...

But as per your wish, then +1 for the GTX 275 896MB.

And add 2 GB more RAM...

 

[ausch30]

+2 for the HD 4890. Same performance as the GTX 275, less money. Win, win

 

[Mafia2020]

I'd rather not start a Nvidia/ATI flame, it's just I had a very unpleasant experience with ATI Cards and Customer Care so for now I am a Nvidia-Only person. Also, for now I don't feel like trying SLI so I am aiming towards a single videocard (eventually with 2 GPUs though).

So the GTX 285 (both flavours) isn't worth the added price?

 

[Raidur]

Yeah, 4890 is a much better buy. No where near a $125 difference in performance between the two. I laugh at the GTX 285, its like buying an i7 940... like burning money to watch the flames.

 

[Pailin]

also worth thinking about - knowing little of your bad Customer Care experience...

maybe try the 4890 from a trusted brand with a good after sales service, like EVGA - I hear are good, not having tried them myself.

see what others think of the various brands after sales ??

 

[coozie7]

@ Mafia2020: No, the GTX275 is so close in performance yet so much cheaper.
If you get a Nvidia card you cannot fit a second on your current MB, it only supports Crossfire.
If you plan on keeping this rig for more than 18 months then get the 1792Mb GTX275.
As always, shop around, you may find the same product cheaper and do not forget to register the card to get any extra or extended warranty.

 

[ausch30]

also worth thinking about - knowing little of your bad Customer Care experience...

maybe try the 4890 from a trusted brand with a good after sales service, like EVGA - I hear are good, not having tried them myself.

see what others think of the various brands after sales ??

EVGA is a great company but they only sell Nvidia based video cards

More on the poor customer service. None of us know what you went through and all of us have a similar story (I will never buy another SONY product). AMD/ATI doesn't sell video cards anymore, manufacture and support is handled by the company that releases the card so you can't really blame AMD for that. I've heard good things about HIS, MSI, and XFX with their double lifetime warranty. I have always had good experiences with Asus but there are those that would disagree and Sapphire has gotten a lot of flack recently for poor customer service. Bottom line is that it's your money, you can do what you want with it. Many of us here just hate to see people spend more than they need to.

 

[Mafia2020]

So as far as I understood, opinions tend to point to the 275, possibly with double RAM if I plan on keeping it long?

 

[Mafia2020]

Funny enough, while on Tom's HW UK/USA board people seem to prefer the 275, on Tom's HW Italian Board they seem to prefer the 285 choice... *confused*

 

[coozie7]

@ Mafia2020: Yes, but life would be so much more boring if we always agreed!
Perhaps the Italian members are just less concerned with bang per buck (or Lira) that pure performance from my Italian friends that seems to be the case: Do it big, do it loud and do it with STYLE
Ultimately it's your decision: The 275 is nearly as fast but less expensive while the GTX285 is, as far as I know the fastest single GPU card currently out there at stock speeds.

 

[Mafia2020]

I know; you are probably right As for myself, while I don't mind spending a little more € for a way better product, at the same time I don't want to waste cash to get so LITTLE in return, so I think I'll stick to the 275 with double RAM; by the way I wonder how the 275 would fare with GTA 4, any bench available to your knowledge?

 

[coozie7]

Do yourself a favour: Do n't use GTA IV as a benchmark, it is not a very well programmed game and can quickly slow even the most powerful systems to a crawl.

 

[nowenstein]

GTX 285 FTW

 

[Evi1twin]

EVGA is a great company but they only sell Nvidia based video cards

I've heard good things about HIS, MSI, and XFX with their double lifetime warranty. I have always had good experiences with Asus but there are those that would disagree and Sapphire has gotten a lot of flack recently for poor customer service. Bottom line is that it's your money, you can do what you want with it. Many of us here just hate to see people spend more than they need to.

I am totally with this! I will only but XFX or eVGA video cards, purely because of their LIFETIME (x2 for XFX) warranties. They're a little extra $$$, but so worth it. Also it is a MASSIVE sell point when you want to upgrade and get maximum credit towards your new card?

I too am a BIG Radeon sceptic, they're just not up to the challenge. I'm also a huge SLi/Crossfire hater! What a joke! Twice the price for a maximum increase of 16%!!??? Come on! If you upgraded a single card every 6 months you'd get a bigger increase than that each time!