Is the 260 worth the $

T

torzak

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Hey, I'm building a new comp soon and I'm trying to find a good graphic card I don't want to spend over $200, but the cheaper the better. I have looked at the Nvidia Geforce 9800GTX+, and the Nvidia GTX 260. The 9800GTX+ is $120 and the 260 is $150. Is the 260 worth the extra $30?
Also the ATI 4890 is $200 is it worth the extra money?
 
9800GTX < ATI 4850 < 250 < 4870 <= 260 < 4890

Hope that helps

In my opinion, get the 4890, great card for a great value
 
Right now, there's a sweet spot in the gaming graphics cards if you're willing to pass on the newest offerings.

The ATI 4870, still an awesome card, can be had for $124 wfree ship :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102850

The Nvidia GTX 260 is closer to $160: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150398

Tom's Hardware has a sum of benchmarks for these two cards, at 1920 x 1200 high quality, the GTX 260 scored a 479.20 and the ATI 4870 scored 467.30. Not a big difference in performance.

The ATI 4890 scored a 523.


If you do want the latest and greatest, the ATI 4890 is where it's at. The only (i think) card so far to support Display Port (supposedly this is going to replace HDMI?) It can be had for around $200: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102852
 
Thanks, also how does the nvidia 275 compare to the 4890 since its is about the same price?
 
You can get a PNY GTX 275 for about 199 some places. Only real difference is the GTX has 216 processing cores, 275 has 240 sp's. Either or, very very worth it compared to the 9800 you mentioned . I think the 9800 has 128 SP's.
9800GT- 128 sp's
GTX260- 216 sp's
GTX275- 240sp's
 
IMHO, the 1GB 4870 for $125 with free shipping is by far and away the best bang for your buck if you are building a new system.
 
This is probably my favourite chart from Tomshardware. They list almost every graphics card made within the past 7 years. Each row represents graphic cards that preform similarly, every three rows up means a significant change in power (anything less means you waste your money - according to the editors at least)

If you need to compare this is probably the easiest way to do it.

Tomshardware Graphics Chart
 
Here are your best options. Get a 4890 or get a GTX 260 black edition. Dont bother going with the 9800 gtx anymore or the GTS 250. For some reason, the GTS 250 did even worse than the 9800 GTX+ in tests and all it is is a rebrand.

ATI 4890 ($185 after MIR) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131167

Nvidia GTX 260 Black Edition ($190 out of stock apparantly) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150399

The ATI 4890 when overclocked is a monster, it can get upwards of over 1000mhz core

The GTX 260 black edition is already overclocked and matches the speeds of the GTX 280 but drops around ~4 FPS in some games, not bad. This card can overclock a little bit more to maybe 700mhz core or a bit more. When overclocked it can match the GTX 280 and even beat it in some games.

I would personally go with the ATI 4890 because it has more potential, is newer, and cheaper by $5. Its also faster
 
Ok thanks I will probably wait to completely decide until right before i get it because the new cards will come out soon and the price should drop. but as of right now ive narrowed it down to the Nvidia 260 and the ATI 4890. And if I have the money the 275.
 
torzak said:
Ok thanks I will probably wait to completely decide until right before i get it because the new cards will come out soon and the price should drop. but as of right now ive narrowed it down to the Nvidia 260 and the ATI 4890. And if I have the money the 275.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go with teh GTX 275 just because the ATI 4890 when overclocked, outpaces the GTX 275 in most games and the GTX 275 can't overclock as much as an ATI 4890 can
 
well if you plan on playing Cs:s, Dod:s TF2 CoD4, then go with the 9800, but for higher end games i suggest something higher than the 250.
 
Episoco said:
well if you plan on playing Cs:s, Dod:s TF2 CoD4, then go with the 9800, but for higher end games i suggest something higher than the 250.
Click to expand...

A GTS 250 is a 9800 GTX+.......its just rebranded and somehow does worse than the 9800 in some games. And plus, hes looking for like a GTX 260 or higher
 
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