ATI 4870 -> GTX 460?

[xunleashed]

Is it worth it in the long run? I feel like my card is going anyway, the temps run really high 63 idling and almost 96 on full load and the fan is damn loud...GTA 4 struggles, along with BC2 sometimes and NBA 2K11

Microcenter has the GTX 460 1GB for 169$ after 20$ MIR and now seems to be a good time to upgrade.

Whatcha guys think?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0348985

 

[shadow187]

If your motherboard is Crossfire then you should get an HD6850, which turns to be $20 more (AR).

The GTX460 is 25% faster compared to the HD4870, which is a pretty reasonable upgrade. If you can save up a bit more though, an HD6870 would be a better upgrade (falling somewhere around the GTX470 level).

 

[xunleashed]

I don't have SLI on my motherboard and I am not sure if I want to go with ATI again after the problems that I had with this card. (Getting it RMA'ed twice).

 

[shadow187]

Having a card RMA'd is probably not ATI's fault. This is also the third generation of 40nm products; it's very refined and there are plenty fewer faults than with the 4xxx generation.

 

[HostileDonut]

Yeah, do not blame ATI. The hd6850 would be nice so would the hd6870.

 

[mactronix]

The question here is do you want to Overclock ? if you do be warned that the cooler on the Evga cards does limit the potential somewhat so dont expect to be getting big OC numbers like those cards with custom coolers are getting reported all over the net, thats not to say its that bad but you will be running at higher temps than other cards would be.
Even so a heafty OC that takes the card up a few performance rungs should be easily within reach and so its a question of do you want to OC to try and match what the 6870 can give you at stock or pay extra for the 6870 and the extra performance that will definatly come with it.
The 6850 is pointless In my opinion as the 460 that cant OC that far has yet to be heard of.

Mactronix

 

[simon12]

For 169.99 get this 5850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131386 will not be there for long

 

[shadow187]

Mac the 6850 is only pointless if he had, say, a single-PCIEslot motherboard or so. If it was a crossfire motherboard then it'd be bad for the GTX460; if it was an x58 then he should get whichever one is cheaper.

But simon brings out a great deal; the HD5850 beats the GTX460 better than the 6850 and overclocks just as well. Plus I do see some copper and what looks to be a durable cooler on that Powercolor, so it might work nicely.

 

[Embra]

What are the rest of your spec? Budget?

 

[mactronix]

Mac the 6850 is only pointless if he had, say, a single-PCIEslot motherboard or so. If it was a crossfire motherboard then it'd be bad for the GTX460; if it was an x58 then he should get whichever one is cheaper.

But simon brings out a great deal; the HD5850 beats the GTX460 better than the 6850 and overclocks just as well. Plus I do see some copper and what looks to be a durable cooler on that Powercolor, so it might work nicely.

Well thats assuming the OP wants to Crossfire and as the OP has said a change is fancied after having issues with ATI cards, which while i agree is nothing to do with ATI and just bad luck is still the call that was made.
As a single card solution the 6850 is pointless and talk of Crossfire is pointless as the OP dosent want another ATI/AMD card/s.

The 5850 is a good deal though.

Mactronix