Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Worth upgrading from 260 GTX 216 core to 295 GTX? Or go SLI?
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lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 05:44:39 PM

Hi,

Seeing as this community seems like a great help in providing opinions on whether to upgrade PC components I thought I would ask my question here

I currently have this setup

- Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz Overclocked to 3.80GHz
- Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
- Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 (1600MHz) Tri-Channel
- Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU Cooler
- Corsair TX 650W ATX SLi Compliant Power Supply
- Gainward GeForce GTX 260 Golden Sample 896MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card 216 cores

I have some extra cash and want to upgrade the gfx card ultimately but I am just curious whether it would be worth while to upgrade to a 295gtx, would I see a significant increase in FPS in games with AA maxed out

I currently play on a 24" monitor so play all games at 1920 x 1080 if that helps

Any advice would be really appreciated

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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 05:49:26 PM
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What's your budget? If you're thinking the GTX295, you have around $450. For that, I would get a Radeon HD5870. This card, which is $70 less than the GTX295, comes close to the card. Not to mention it outputs way less heat, and uses way less power.

If, however, you're looking for performance, then buy two HD5850's. For $260 each, these might go a bit over your budget. However, these two will easily beat the GTX295 with room to spare, as well as play Direct-X 11 games, and possibly still use less power/heat.

Reply to shadow187
lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 05:55:47 PM
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Interesting, anyother opinions based on purchasing a nvidia card, had a string of problems with radeons in the past

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HibyPrime   10-24-2009 at 05:56:35 PM
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The most cost effective way to up performance there would be to get a second GTX260, no question.

I would say either get a second GTX260, or a single 5870.

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Bronze Graphics badge mousemonkey   10-24-2009 at 05:57:58 PM
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How important is DX11 to you?

------------------------------ [:mousemonkey:1] http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5041/vr2009champ.jpg
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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:00:22 PM
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Single 5870 > SLI GTX260.

 

And LoneWolfers, the day with driver issues for ATI cards is done and over.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by shadow187 on 10-24-2009 at 06:00:35 PM
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lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 06:05:04 PM
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So probably more worthwhile getting a second 260gtx

Does SLI have many problem with gaming these days, to be honest I never have tried an SLI setup and was hoping to get full top end graphics out of DRAGONAGE and Borderlands

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HibyPrime   10-24-2009 at 06:05:44 PM
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shadow187 wrote :

Single 5870 > SLI GTX260.

And LoneWolfers, the day with driver issues for ATI cards is done and over.




GTX260 = Under $200
5870 = Over $350

And since the 5870 is slightly slower than a GTX295 on average, SLi GTX260s would actually come really close to 5870 performance.

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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:10:48 PM
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Yes, but it's silly to go to an SLI setup when you have a single card that beats it. Eventually, when DX11 becomes the norm, he'll need to upgrade again. And he can easily do that by crossfiring Two HD5850's, or adding another 5870. The HD5850 for $260 will probably beat two GTX260's anyways.

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HibyPrime   10-24-2009 at 06:17:27 PM
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shadow187 wrote :

Yes, but it's silly to go to an SLI setup when you have a single card that beats it. Eventually, when DX11 becomes the norm, he'll need to upgrade again. And he can easily do that by crossfiring Two HD5850's, or adding another 5870. The HD5850 for $260 will probably beat two GTX260's anyways.



You're right about the lack of DX11. The cost is what would make SLi attractive here.

However, a 5850 won't even come close to GTX260 SLi. Remember that a GTX295 is just two GTX 275s in SLi, if a 5870 isn't as fast as two GTX275s what makes you think a 5850 will beat two GTX260s?


Message edited by HibyPrime on 10-24-2009 at 06:17:58 PM
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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:21:16 PM
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The 5870 trails the GTX295 closely, but agreed, it's not like they're even.

I thought there'd be a larger gap between the frames of the GTX260 and the GTX275.

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lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 06:23:11 PM
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I forgot to add I use Dual monitors as well have a 24" for main screen and 22" for secondary

Will this have any impact on whether to get the 295, 260 SLI or HD5870

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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:26:46 PM
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The HD5870 supports three monitors natively, but it's not an issue to run 2 monitors for any other cards.

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lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 06:28:57 PM
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I always wondered whether running two monitors would have a significant hit on FPS? For example if you played a game on the main screen and had a webpage loaded on the second screen?

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HibyPrime   10-24-2009 at 06:32:56 PM
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lonewolfers wrote :

I always wondered whether running two monitors would have a significant hit on FPS? For example if you played a game on the main screen and had a webpage loaded on the second screen?



It'll take a hit, but a very small hit.

Imagine that something as trivial as an integrated GMA950 (4 or so year old intel chip) can run a webpage with zero issues. High end cards like the 5870 are likely tens or even hundreds of times faster than a GMA950

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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:37:03 PM
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You're comparing an intel chip to an HD5870?

T.T

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lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 06:40:12 PM
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Fair point, thanks for informing me about that

Sooooo whats the bottom line then? I have a beast of a chip and want to make the most of it.....

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to lonewolfers
HibyPrime   10-24-2009 at 06:40:15 PM
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shadow187 wrote :

You're comparing an intel chip to an HD5870?

T.T




Thats my point, they're so far apart it's ridiculous. Yet the GMA950 can still run a desktop with no problems, so a desktop being run on a 5870 would be like adding a gram on your shoulder and telling you to walk - it makes no difference lol.

Edit: on topic, get a second GTX260 for cost effective performance, a 5850 for beastly but high efficiency performance, or a 5870 for all out perf.


Message edited by HibyPrime on 10-24-2009 at 06:41:47 PM
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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:42:24 PM
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lonewolfers wrote :

Fair point, thanks for informing me about that

Sooooo whats the bottom line then? I have a beast of a chip and want to make the most of it.....




You want to make the most of it?

Buy an HD5870.

A year or two later, buy a second HD5870.

Reply to shadow187
lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 06:46:06 PM
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I am swinging to this HD5870 more and more

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Bronze Graphics badge jyjjy   10-24-2009 at 06:46:23 PM
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shadow187 wrote :

Yes, but it's silly to go to an SLI setup when you have a single card that beats it.


Yes, very silly to spend $200 less for the same performance. Right.
Anyways, forget about the GTX 295. It basically is two GTX 260s in SLI and much more expensive especially if you already have one GTX 260 already. Either get another one or sell it and go with an HD5850 or 70
You could wait for the new Nvidia cards but a may be a long wait with a questionable reward at the end.

Reply to jyjjy
Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:48:45 PM
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jy, I thought the new nVid cards weren't even meant for gaming; rather computing?

Also, it is sill to spend even less then $200 because even 20 GTX260's in SLI won't play DX11.

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lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 06:48:46 PM
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I won't have any problems with my mobo and using crossfire in the future will I?

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Bronze Graphics badge shadow187   10-24-2009 at 06:49:23 PM
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All x58 boards support CF and SLI.

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lonewolfers   10-24-2009 at 06:55:14 PM
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I am gonna get the extra 260gtx and may move to Radeon in the future

Its mainly the cost aspect just makes life alot easier and then can upgrade in the future for a much more significant improvement

Reply to lonewolfers
renz496   10-24-2009 at 07:00:09 PM
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i do think they will release GeForce series but don't expect too much about it to compete with ATi offering. it may be better or it may be worse but at this moment we don't have much info so just wait and see :D


Message edited by renz496 on 10-24-2009 at 07:01:09 PM
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nforce4max   10-24-2009 at 07:04:45 PM
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Sli and overclock then it would hold it's own for at least a year to a year and a half.

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