460 1gb SLi vs. GTX 280 SLi

[lavaheadache]

If someone were to hand you either pair of cards which would you want?

I'm Looking to sell my 580 in anticipation of new cards on the horizon. I want to maximize profits so I think now is a good time to move the card.

I already have 1 280 and 1 460. I don't think 1 card will suffice so I'm looking to maybe double them up. I hate multigpu but I think I can deal with it for a little while and my current displays kind of warrant a little more power.

I'm not playing anything with DX11 currently not that any of the titles that put it to use offer anything compelling anyways, so DX11 is a non issue for me.

Heat/Noise, power consumption and card size are a non factor aswell.

All I care about is pure performance.

I'm fairly certain they are near equal and I think I can score another 280 for quite a bit cheaper than a 460.

Is there any performance reason on why I should go for a 460 over a 280?


*** Edit, I could just use my 4870X2 and 4870 in trifire but I don't feel like fumbling with AMD drivers since I just re-did my os on an SSD. No, I'm not implying that there is anything wrong with AMD drivers I just don't want to have a problem.

 

[RussianSensation]

Well a single GTX460 overclocked to 900-925mhz is between HD5850 and HD5870 in performance (often coming close to the 5870). So in terms of performance, if you aren't playing DX11 games, that card in overclocked states will max out pretty much any non-DX11 game (unless you are still playing Crysis / Warhead). Right now the only non-DX11 game that I can think of the top of my head that an overclocked GTX460 won't max out is Witcher 2. Of course if you are running 4x AA at 2560x1600, then you might want 2 of those

Since you already have a GTX280 though, wouldn't it make sense to try that card out in the games you play and if you feel it's too slow, then consider getting a 2nd one?

Do you just like collecting cards? What is the GTX480 doing that you purchased?

 

[notty22]

I would go with the 40nm gtx 460. Yes, I'm biased, that's what I am running. But before this, I chose the 40nm HD 4770, for budget reasons and because I knew it would run cooler and clock higher than it's older cousins.
Also it keeps you the option of running dx11 still. Without discussing those merits

 

[lavaheadache]

Well a single GTX460 overclocked to 900-925mhz is between HD5850 and HD5870 in performance (often coming close to the 5870). So in terms of performance, if you aren't playing DX11 games, that card in overclocked states will max out pretty much any non-DX11 game (unless you are still playing Crysis / Warhead). Right now the only non-DX11 game that I can think of the top of my head that an overclocked GTX460 won't max out is Witcher 2. Of course if you are running 4x AA at 2560x1600, then you might want 2 of those

Since you already have a GTX280 though, wouldn't it make sense to try that card out in the games you play and if you feel it's too slow, then consider getting a 2nd one?

Do you just like collecting cards? What is the GTX480 doing that you purchased?

I purchased 2 480's lol. I sold 1 to somebody on craigslist for $300, made $120 on that card and I sold the other one to a buddy for price paid.

I do like to collect cards... I tend to sell the highend cards when they are still high end and pick them up later on down the road when you can get them for 20-40 bucks. I guess I could just take up smoking though and spend the money on ciggy's. =)

I already have a 280 and a 460. I know they won't be enough in single card status becasue I already can slow my 580 down enough without AA in Skyrim @2560x1600.

Running After burner I'm hitting 99% gpu load in some areas and frame rate gets into the upper 30's. My I7 is overclocked to 4ghz and barely loaded at the times I am getting lower frame rates so I am hitting a gpu bottleneck some areas.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Gtx 280 assuming $80 price

 

[lavaheadache]

Just tried the 280... Legitamately half the frame rate of the 580. Mostly 60ish fps with the 580 and the mostly 30ish with the 280. Defiantely going to need SLi IF i go through with the transition

 

[byteman99]

I remember seeing that the GTX 4xx generation had better SLI scaling than the previous gen. And I've seen charts where SLI 460s perform around the level of a single GTX 580. But if your goals is to maximize profits, then go with the cheaper one. Though if it was me, I'd go with the GTX 460 simply since it has better oc potential.

 

[ArchAngel777]

I remember seeing that the GTX 4xx generation had better SLI scaling than the previous gen. And I've seen charts where SLI 460s perform around the level of a single GTX 580. But if your goals is to maximize profits, then go with the cheaper one. Though if it was me, I'd go with the GTX 460 simply since it has better oc potential.

Stock 460 SLI setup is a bit faster than a 580 GTX. However, pretty much every 460 has garunteed 22% overclock on stock voltage. Therefore, the 460 SLI outpaces the 580 GTX quite a bit in any games that scales decently (80%). I am sure the 580 GTX can be overclocked, but I don't really think they have anywhere near the same head room. Regardless, the 580 GTX is probaby still better overall, but it also costs nearly twice as much. I picked up both my 460's for $130 and 125.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

The GTX 460 SLI setup will be much better, DX 11 with less power and heat.

 

[lavaheadache]

The GTX 460 SLI setup will be much better, DX 11 with less power and heat.

WIll be much better because of power/heat and DX 11 ? Or becasue raw performance will be higher?

I already stated the power/heat and DX11 were not important. Only performance

 

[RussianSensation]

Ok if you want at least 60 fps in SKYRIM at 2560x1600 with 4AA, you'll need at least 2x GTX560 Tis overclocked. A single GTX460 1GB only gets 22 fps with everything maxed at that setting. So even if you overclock a single 460 by 30%, that's only going to get you about 28 fps, so 2 of those won't even get you 60 because SLI scaling is not 100%.

 

[notty22]

IMO, you will get better SLI scaling from the newer gpu.
Based on raw performance in dx9,dx10, you could pop each card in , and tell us , which is better stock, single card performance.
Going from results from reviews here, with a gtx460@675mhz(stock), they are about even , single card performance.

From 90fps in COD , to 20FPS in Crysis with AA on.

 

[netxzero64]

460 sli ftw

 

[3DVagabond]

*** Edit, I could just use my 4870X2 and 4870 in trifire but I don't feel like fumbling with AMD drivers since I just re-did my os on an SSD. No, I'm not implying that there is anything wrong with AMD drivers I just don't want to have a problem.

If I understand this, you don't want to use AMD. If so, then I think you should hang onto the 580. There's nothing we've seen, even rumor wise, that indicates nVidia is going to replace the 580 any time soon.

 

[netxzero64]

well, kepler looks promising though...

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

The GTX 460 has the same or slighly more performance then the GTX 280, however some DX 11 games perform better in DX 11 mode compared to DX 10 which will make the cards seem faster.

I would go for the GTX 460 SLI.