GTS 250 vs GTS 450

Peskoly

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Aug 19, 2010
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I'm looking to buy a new GPU with CUDA technology because right now i have a 9800GT and the new cards are coming into my price range.

I'm definitely set on either the 250 or the 450 but there are a few questions I have.

GTS250:
CUDA Cores: 128
Graphics Clock: 738 MHz
Processor Clock: 1836 MHz
Texture Fill Rate: 47.2 billion/sec
Memory Clock: 1100Mhz
Standard Memory: 512MB or 1 GB GDDR3
Memory Interface Width: 256-bit
Memory Bandwidth: 70.4 GB/sec

GTS450:
CUDA Cores: 192
Graphics Clock: 783 MHz
Processor Clock: 1566 MHz
Texture Fill Rate: 25.1 billion/sec
Memory Clock: 1804Mhz
Standard Memory: 1 GB GDDR5
Memory Interface Width: 128-bit
Memory Bandwidth: 57.7 GB/sec

As you can see, the 250 has a substantially higher texture fill rate and memory bandwidth, but the 450 rises above it with its 192 CUDA cores as well as better memory technology with the GDDR5. Also the 250 uses 256 bit memory interface while the 450 only uses 128 bit.

Before i make a decision in buying anything i want to know which of these factors out weigh the others.

Thanks
 
http://www.guruht.com/2010/09/geforce-gts-450-vs-hd-5750-vs-gts-250.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gts-450-gf106-radeon-hd-5750,2734-14.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3909/nvidias-geforce-gts-450-pushing-fermi-in-to-the-mainstream/9
Those 3 reviews place the GTS450 at HD5750's level. Sometimes above, sometimes below. ASUS GTS450 is $140 off of Newegg; the HD5770 is $110. The HD5770 also is known to hit over 1kcore/1.2kmem with MSI's version.


Pros: Runs cool, and overclocks very well. I have it running at 950 core/1300 mem
Using MSI Afterburner, runs 1024/1391 with 1.264v core. Tried 1.3, didn't get much more besides heat, so stayed at 1.264. I have an old Corsair GPU waterblock on the GPU, and I never see more than 48C at the highest loads
(im at 1.275v, 975MHz on core, and 1375MHz on memmory). Runs great (150 fps in L4D2, 110 fps in MW2, and 45fps in GTA IV).
 
If you want CUDA Technology - go for the GTS 450. The 250 has 256-bit memory inferface width because of DD3. The 450's DDR5 is twice as fast as DD3, therefore - 128-bit. You don't need any more.
 


not sure why he picked a random gts450, the cheapest on newegg is $114.99 plus theres a $20 rebate available. the cheapest HD5770 is $134.99 with a $20 rebate available. maybe he was talking about the HD5750, the cheapest on newegg is $104.99 with a $15 rebate available.
 
Way to cherry pick prices :pfff: were dealing with peoples hard earnt cash here so at least make the info correct please. I dont care which side gets bought so long as the op gets something that meets his needs.

This card here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162063&cm_re=GTS_450-_-14-162-063-_-Product is not $ 140 now is it the cheapest decently clocked 450 is £114.
A review for it is here, http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=997&type=expert&pid=1


@ peskoly,
As i said just read the reviews and decide based on price and what your needs are which card is best for you.

Mactronix :)
 


You give me a review for the GTS450 TOP from Asus. I respond saying that that $140 OC'd card competes with a $110 ($115, sorry) card.. Then you tell me I'm cherrypicking prices? That makes no sense.

Galaxy's Super OC card usually beats the 5770 but sometimes matches it. If you OC'd a standard 5770 then they'd probably be equal.
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3511/galaxy_geforce_gts_450_super_oc_1gb_video_card/index6.html

Has the card matching the 5770 more often than not. If OP Oc'd the HD5770, without adjusting voltages, the 5770 would take a lead.
 


No i didnt give you a review at all i posted it to the OP so he could see what was available, i also pointed out the review was of a faster than stock card and that the stock numbers were included.
2 of your links didnt even include the Top and the one that did opened on one of the worst results for the card in the whole review, coincidence ? 😗

So nobody actually specified any card you just assumed as much.

Mactronix :)
 



The 450 and thus the 5770 as well is Minimum 16% (stock 450) faster and when normalised for all resolutions its 33%(5770 and oced 450).

Mactronix :)
 
Irritation..is rising.

In my own words. "The GTS450 and GTS250 are very similar."
What you respond with. "A 250 and a 450 are certainly not very similar."
You use an OC'd higher-priced card to disprove my statement, along with a link to a review. Yes, you did give me a review because you quoted me and directly contradicted my statement.
I then give you three reviews of the stock GTS450, proving that it competes with the HD5750 (which is similar to the GTS250). I was backing up my statement before, and disproving your "GTS450 and GTS250 are not very similar" contradiction.
You tell me I'm cherrypicking prices, and you switch to the SOC card, giving..a price in Euros? It's $110 USD A-R.
I post another review of the SOC GTS450 from Tweaktown (which has a higher variety of games), claiming the SOC GTS450 "matches the 5770 more often than not."

Also, ASUS's CuCore HD5770 ($120 A-R) will overclock similar to MSI's HAWK ($140), beating the GTS450 SOC easily.

Since you're very concerned with giving him the best card for his hard-earned cash, why not point out that the choices.
A- Go with a GTS450 that offers performance X for around $95.
B- Go with a factory overclock GTS450 that offers performance X+20 for $110.
C- Go with an HD5770 that offers performance X+17* for $115.
D- Go with highly overclockable HD5770 that can** offer performance X+30 for $120.

*Cheapest HD5770 is slightly overclocked. Stock ~= +15
**Willingness to OC.
 
Guys quit recommending ATI cards, he clearly stated he wants a card for CUDA, which is limited to Nvidia.

Go with the GTS 450, the GTS 250 won't be much of an upgrade over your current 9800GT, as it's essentially just a rebadge of the same card.
 

No It's an 8800GTS/9800GTX not a GT.
 

Didn't see that, actually.

Then if you need a CUDA card I'd look more towards a GTX460 768Mb or similar. 9800GT -> GTS450 isn't extremely great, though it will be noticeable.
perfrel.gif


*Not sure how well this chart compares with scaling in CUDA-powered applications.
 

The 9800GTX is an 8800GTS but with hybrid power, the 9800GTX+ was supposed to only be the 55nm GPU's but AIB's didn't play ball on that and so quite a few GTX+'s have 65nm GPU's. Simply put an 8800GTS, 9800GTX and 9800GTX+ all have 128 cores and apart from a BIOS difference are all the same card.
 




I never used quotation marks and didn't reply to you as i am doing now, just because im contradicting what you are saying doesn't mean its directed at you.
It wasn't just me that noticed you pricings being off either was it.
Your trying to claim its all about the "Top" card because i used its review. Again i pointed out as much at the time and if you bother to go look the standard 450 comes out at 10% faster than the 250 anyway which takes the "Top " out of the equation.
Then while claiming its all about the "Top" you link 2 out of 3 reviews without the card even included ??
I posted the SOC card to show the OP what was actually available for actual prices, real ones, and disprove your pricing claims.
The additional review was also for the OPS benefit.
Does anyone else see the New egg link in Euros ? When i open it its in $ last time i looked that was not Euros

As i said before i don't really care one way or another, its nice to give the option but the OP didn't ask for options.
Which is best was the question and the answer is the 450

Mactronix :)
 


Thanks for clarifying again :)
 
Seeing as he wants CUDA I'd ignore the GTS250. Sure its about the same as a stock GTS450, but 450 is based off of fermi so the CUDA abilities are better. I agree that the GTX460 (even in 768MB form) is a better option but they tend to cost a bit more. Unless the GTS450 is much more then the GTS250, I'd get it.