9800 GX2 or 260

[traxxxton]

I have a FX-60 and a ATI X1900 and always run 1920x1200. Im looking to upgrade the video card to one that will last for the next 1-2 years. I found a refurb 9800gx2 for $220 and a new 260 for $239 (192 core). Not sure what to get because the 9800gx2 didnt get great reviews but I think it will be much better then the 260. I want to play the new games comming out; far cry 2, stalker clear sky, gta 4, ect... The x1900 is holding up ok, but I want a better frame rate and higher settings.

Any suggetions. Or other cards to look at?

 

[JPB]

GTX260

 

[n7]

GTX 260 or GTX 260 216 or 4870 1 GB.

 

[AzN]

gx2 is more powerful than 260 considering a single 9800gtx isn't that far off in performance from 260. It's really the drivers you should be worried about. Nvidia have very limited support on gx2 products and put aside by newer cards. This has been their history.

 

[jeffw2767602]

260 core 216 gets better minimum frame rates, which is what matters.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: jeffw2767602
260 core 216 gets better minimum frame rates, which is what matters.

Don't be so sure.

 

[thilanliyan]

I can't remember which recent review it was but it showed the GX2 scaling like crap so I vote for the GTX260 (or 4870).

 

[AzN]

I don't know. Gx2 is fast as GTX280 if not faster @ 1920x1200.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3334&p=11

http://techreport.com/articles.x/14934/10

http://firingsquad.com/hardwar...performance/page11.asp

 

[Rabbits]

I believe the 260 is faster.

 

[traxxxton]

It looked to me that the 9800 gx2 is much faster at 1920x1200 (it has two cores), but higher resolutions and high aa af settings its slower-because of the 512 memory.

Just a few questions because I am not up on the latest SLI info; Could I run two of the gtx 260's on an A8N-SLI Pro motherboard? Do they have to be from the same mfg (if I buy on now and one a year later). And hows that for a idea.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: traxxxton
It looked to me that the 9800 gx2 is much faster at 1920x1200 (it has two cores), but higher resolutions and high aa af settings its slower-because of the 512 memory.

Bingo. The 2x512MB video RAM will bottleneck it to some degree as the resolution & AA increase (once you max the 512MB frame buffer it will have to access the system memory which is much slower resulting in a general slowdown across the board).

Just a few questions because I am not up on the latest SLI info; Could I run two of the gtx 260's on an A8N-SLI Pro motherboard? Do they have to be from the same mfg (if I buy on now and one a year later). And hows that for a idea.

You can and they don't. But perhaps not the best idea. There are many issues with SLI that make it less desireable than nVidia would have you believe (just do a google search for "microstutter").

EDIT: Also, just a simple suggestion. You've got an aging CPU that will push a GTX 260 fine in many games but is already on the slower side compared to other chips available today. It's going to become more of an issue as more games become multithreaded and support and/or require more CPU cores & processing power. By this time next year you are probably going to want a full system upgrade, not just a second video card.

 

[AzN]

I don't see why you can't run sli on a sli motherboard.

After 4xAA returns diminish far as image quality goes.

You should get a 260 and try your overclocking luck. It should get really close to gtx 280 if you get a good one.

SLI is only a good idea if you get both cards around the same time. By the time you get another card in a year later there will always be faster single core cards that will do laps around GTX260.

I would just get whatever is cheaper honestly. SLI does have it's drawbacks though which you should keep it into considerations.

 

[adlep]

Get the GTX 260. I love mine!

 

[badnewcastle]

I love my 260 core 216... GX2 you will only be able to run 1 monitor with SLI enabled...

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: adlep
Get the GTX 260. I love mine!

You love your GTX260 so you want people to buy it? Great contribution there. :laugh:

If you looked at any of the reviews posted above. GX2 crushes 260 into oblivion. Hell it beats down on GTX280 at the OP's desired resolution.

 

[Zap]

Hello traxxxtonx, and welcome to the forums.

I would go with the GTX 260. Regardless of winning benchmarks, I just don't like the idea of SLI-on-a-stick. Also, the GTX 260 has more memory for texture, and higher memory bandwidth. This may make a difference depending on the game and settings.

Regarding SLI and "microstutter" the 9800 GX2 is SLI on one card, so if there is a noticeable problem, you will get it with that as well.

 

[Tate7]

None. You should look for other cards. ATI 4870 1gb for example?

 

[Synomenon]

GTX260 core 216. I had a 9800GX2 and it consumed more power and spewed hot air back into my case.

 

[nitromullet]

GTX 260. The GX2 is a nice card, but if you're planning on keeping the card for more than a year you want the additional memory bandwidth offered by the GTX 260 over the GX2. IMO, the 260 is the more 'future proof' card of the two.

The GTX 260 leads the GX2 in FC2 at 1920x1200 by quite a bit.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/...s-performance-review/5

 

[traxxxton]

I went with the GTX 260 w/192 core because Newegg has it on sale for $199 after MIR. I think it will work out better in the long run. I always wanted a unique card like the GX2 though.

Thanks for the advice everyone

 

[BFG10K]

Definitely get the GTX260 as you'll avoid the SLI nonsense. Also you?ll have 896 MB memory as opposed to 512x2 with the GX2 (effective 512 MB which runs out of steam in new games).