Is it worth the price jump 260 -> 5870?

Forum Graphics & Displays : Graphics Cards Is it worth the price jump 260 -> 5870?

I am deciding between a Studio XPS and an Alienware Aurora. With the XPS, it comes to around £910, which even includes a 23' monitor.

If I go for the aurora, I will be looking at around £1200'ish, without a monitor - but will get the better quality system (I guess?) and can get a single 5870.

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Oh sorry, both systems are i7 920 - 6gb ram etc, the STUDIO XPS has a GTX 260 1.8gb

Reply to mash86

Get a normal computer, without a video card. Then buy the card separately and put it in yourself. It's very simple to do and you will save a lot of money.
A GTX 260 should cost about £140, the HD5870 £340

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Reply to jyjjy

jyjjy wrote :

In the UK, it just isn't that cost efficient. I know in the US it is well and good but here - not so .

Do you know if the XPS Studio has any issues? If not, I may as well purchase it - as I am not looking to really require that much graphics power.

Reply to mash86

I also won't get the finance options available - and it just is a hassle tbh.

Reply to mash86

Since the question of building your own system or adding the component yourself was already asked I will give you my opinions. The GTX260 is a good card, if you already have it. It has been out for about a year now and as we all know technology gets old FAST. So really you are buying a new system with a dated card. The 5870 is new and shiny and all but twice the performance of a 260. I have one and trust me the performance is worth the price. Think of it this way. With a 260 you will most likely have to upgrade MUCH sooner than you would have to with a 5870, and what will the cost be there? You have to sell off yoru 260 to someone and then replace the card yourself.

Reply to jay2tall

Are you saying that, the Studio XPS is able to take a 5870, should I need to in the future?

Reply to mash86

I was looking on the Dell (US site) and the Studio XPS has a 5870 option. I am not sure if this is available for you or not. My concern about upgrading later is the XPS 9000 PC has a 475W PSU, I would never install a 5870 on a 475 PSU. But from factory I am sure they test it and all, but is it covered under warranty if things blow up? Just my thoughts. I am very conservative when it comes to power supplies as I've seen what happens when they are overloaded. But if you purchase the machine with the 5870 up front, it would be included in the warranty.

Message edited by jay2tall on 12-22-2009 at 04:48:02 PM

Reply to jay2tall

mash86 wrote :

Are you saying that, the Studio XPS is able to take a 5870, should I need to in the future?

I believe so. The HD5870 actually uses less power than the GTX 260. It is half an inch longer but I doubt that would make a huge difference.
Does Dell give you the option of either the HD5770 or HD5850 perhaps?

Message edited by jyjjy on 12-22-2009 at 04:50:59 PM

Reply to jyjjy

^ negative, the 5870 uses less power at idle, but on load it consumes considerably more than the 260. This is the only review where I saw them in the same test system.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3643&p=26

Reply to jay2tall

In the UK, the Studio XPS version (i7 920 one) doesn't unfortunately give the 5870 option, just the GTX 260. The fact it throws in a 23' LCD for £910 is tempting..

Although, I am drooling over prospect of the aurora with its cool design, some liquid cooling on the system as standard - and 5870. I can even get 5870 in crossfire, for around £1450... Albeit, will need to buy myself a monitor, which will be around £150'ish..

Hmm, choices choices..

Reply to mash86

Yeah, when it comes to prebuild you are limited to what is offered. Higher end dells are nice, but you pay for them. Alienware is a bit overpriced to me, but there aren't many highend prebuilds out there. Dell is pretty snappy with repairs on their XPS and I would assume alienware. The lower end machines tend to have less than desirable support.

Just pony up and get the 5870, you know you want it :-) Take it from me, it is a GREAT card and you won't have to worry about graphics for a while.

Message edited by jay2tall on 12-22-2009 at 05:54:06 PM

Reply to jay2tall

Well, I just got a Dell XPS 9000 yesterday. It has i7 920, ATI 5870, 12 G ram, 1.5 TB, and 475 watt PSU, plus came with a 24 inch monitor. I think I got a nice deal, and so far im happy with it. havent done heavy gaming yet, but its running great for easy tasks. The 475 watt PSU was also a concern for me, but I think its going to be fine. If not, Ive got 2 years that it is under Dell warranty

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