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ASUS 4870 vs XFX GTS 250

A

AntiFreze

Golden Member
So, Im currently researching some video cards. I've limited it down to these two card:

ASUS Radeon HD 4870 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121288

XFX GeForce GTS 250 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150357

I'm upgrading from a 8600gts. Which of these cards is faster? Also, I have a budget PSU, I think its 400-450watts. Will this cover either of these cards, or will I need a new PSU as well. If so, can you recommend a cheap one?

I am capped at $150 for a video card.
 
What are the specs on the PSU (how many rails, amps, etc.)? The 4870 is a good bit faster though.
 
Your PSU will be fine for this card, and get the 4870 if $150 is your budget. It is faster than the GTS 250 and is an overall better card.
 
Originally posted by: ExarKun333
Your PSU will be fine for this card, and get the 4870 if $150 is your budget. It is faster than the GTS 250 and is an overall better card.
Click to expand...

He has 19 AMPs on the 12 V rail, so NO that PSU is not fine for this card. It might explode! He has 228 Watts to power the videocard and cpu and several components. 4870 sucks 170watts, so that leaves him 58 watts to power up the cpu. Even with a single core 45W cpu , I wouldn't feel safe with that PSU.

I don't think it's enough even for the GTS 250. You really need to buy another for either of these cards.
 
There is not much comparison between these cards. The 4870 is far and away faster than the gts 250 (9800gtx).

I switched out a 4870 for a gtx 260 not too long ago and could not really discern a difference. I then traded up the gtx 260 to a 285 and again can't really see a difference, apart from Crysis. And notice no difference between the 285 and my 280 in another rig 😉

Get yourself a gtx 260 if you are set on nv, don't even bother with the gts250, rubbish imo.
 
Originally posted by: error8
Originally posted by: ExarKun333
Your PSU will be fine for this card, and get the 4870 if $150 is your budget. It is faster than the GTS 250 and is an overall better card.
Click to expand...

He has 19 AMPs on the 12 V rail, so NO that PSU is not fine for this card. It might explode! He has 228 Watts to power the videocard and cpu and several components. 4870 sucks 170watts, so that leaves him 58 watts to power up the cpu. Even with a single core 45W cpu , I wouldn't feel safe with that PSU.

I don't think it's enough even for the GTS 250. You really need to buy another for either of these cards.
Click to expand...

This is true. I wouldn't power either of those cards on that PSU. That being said, since you are already going to need a PSU upgrade regardless of the purchase you make, you might as well pick up the 4870. It's faster (not a doubt about that) and will allow you to future proof better than the 250.

 
Can you recommend a cheap PSU for my system then?

I'm running an athlon X2 3600+, a dvd burner, and a SATA 640gb WD HD.
 
Originally posted by: AntiFreze
Can you recommend a cheap PSU for my system then?

I'm running an athlon X2 3600+, a dvd burner, and a SATA 640gb WD HD.
Click to expand...

I didn't see a sale on any of the quality mid-range PSU's but this one is adequate for your setup. Antec Earthwatts 500W PSU It is more expensive than it has been in the past though. (I have seen it for $50)

I believe that BFG makes some quality PSU's now too, and they have one on sale that would probably fit the bill. BFG Tech GS-550 550W PSU
 
could I just try my 430w coolmaster on the video card and once it fails (either on first boot, or 3 months down the road), then buy the BFG one? Or would I be risking my other components?
 
Originally posted by: AntiFreze
could I just try my 430w coolmaster on the video card and once it fails (either on first boot, or 3 months down the road), then buy the BFG one? Or would I be risking my other components?
Click to expand...

You would be risking your other components. Running the caps at near full capacity greatly decreases their life and when they blow the damage is catastrophic for circuit electronics. It isn't worth it unless you can afford to replace all the parts when it dies but not the few now.
 
Originally posted by: AntiFreze
could I just try my 430w coolmaster on the video card and once it fails (either on first boot, or 3 months down the road), then buy the BFG one? Or would I be risking my other components?
Click to expand...

All sorts of weird things might happen with an underpowered system. For example I had a LC Power 420 W PSU with an 3000+ oced to 2.7ghz and a 7600 GT v modded that worked fine. Then I changed my cpu with a dual core 3800+ X2 and every time I was gaming and the system was under heavy load, the computer would just restart itself. Changed the PSU and all problems went away. But this is the best case scenario. I've heard about people that had components damaged when their weak PSU died, so it's just better to avoid this types of situations.

This is a good cheap PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371007

It has 408 Watts on the 12 V rail, more then enough for any single gpu card you get.
 
That power supply is complete crap and I would not use it with either of the proposed video cards.

Originally posted by: Wreckage
The GTS250 uses a lot less power than the 4870 and I think it will be fine on your system.
Click to expand...

Do you ever stop spouting bullcrap?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3523

The 9800GTX+, aka some GTS250s, does not use "a lot less" power than the HD4870. I wouldn't even constitue the new-PCB GTS250s (or HD4850s) as using a lot less than the HD4870 either. In other words if a power supply (that I would recommend) can handle a GTS250/HD4850 then it should also be able to easily handle the HD4870.
 
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
That power supply is complete crap and I would not use it with either of the proposed video cards.

Originally posted by: Wreckage
The GTS250 uses a lot less power than the 4870 and I think it will be fine on your system.
Click to expand...

Do you ever stop spouting bullcrap?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3523

The 9800GTX+, aka some GTS250s, does not use "a lot less" power than the HD4870. I wouldn't even constitue the new-PCB GTS250s (or HD4850s) as using a lot less than the HD4870 either. In other words if a power supply (that I would recommend) can handle a GTS250/HD4850 then it should also be able to easily handle the HD4870.
Click to expand...

Your own link shows the GTS250 a full 30+ watts less than the 4870 under load, even more at idle.

So in order to sell him a 4870 he should also spend additional money on a power supply. :roll:

Or he could save a ton of money and headache by just getting a GTS250.

Heck even the GTX260 uses less under load and he can get one for around $179 and it will be faster than the 4870.

BTW the XFX card he was looking at takes only 1 6pin connector so your whole argument is moot.
 
Dude Wreckage, you're saying he's going to be 100% fine with a GTS250, yet not with a HD4870? How come dude? How can you be so sure that the 30W difference is the difference between his PSU going up in flames, or happily powering the videocard and the rest of his system? If he needs a new psu for a HD4870, he needs a new one for a GTS250 as well. 30W isnt exactly night and day ya know ...
 
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
That power supply is complete crap and I would not use it with either of the proposed video cards.

Originally posted by: Wreckage
The GTS250 uses a lot less power than the 4870 and I think it will be fine on your system.
Click to expand...

Do you ever stop spouting bullcrap?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3523

The 9800GTX+, aka some GTS250s, does not use "a lot less" power than the HD4870. I wouldn't even constitue the new-PCB GTS250s (or HD4850s) as using a lot less than the HD4870 either. In other words if a power supply (that I would recommend) can handle a GTS250/HD4850 then it should also be able to easily handle the HD4870.
Click to expand...

??? self pwnage???
 
Originally posted by: Wreckage
The GTS250 uses a lot less power than the 4870 and I think it will be fine on your system.
Click to expand...

I'd strongly recommend you on board GMA950, it uses about 15 times less power than GTS250, and has about same performance.
 
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
Originally posted by: Wreckage
The GTS250 uses a lot less power than the 4870 and I think it will be fine on your system.
Click to expand...

I'd strongly recommend you on board GMA950, it uses about 15 times less power than GTS250, and has about same performance.
Click to expand...

Please provide a link for this? I would hate to see misinformation spread....
 
Originally posted by: Wreckage
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
That power supply is complete crap and I would not use it with either of the proposed video cards.

Originally posted by: Wreckage
The GTS250 uses a lot less power than the 4870 and I think it will be fine on your system.
Click to expand...

Do you ever stop spouting bullcrap?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3523

The 9800GTX+, aka some GTS250s, does not use "a lot less" power than the HD4870. I wouldn't even constitue the new-PCB GTS250s (or HD4850s) as using a lot less than the HD4870 either. In other words if a power supply (that I would recommend) can handle a GTS250/HD4850 then it should also be able to easily handle the HD4870.
Click to expand...

Your own link shows the GTS250 a full 30+ watts less than the 4870 under load, even more at idle.

So in order to sell him a 4870 he should also spend additional money on a power supply. :roll:

Or he could save a ton of money and headache by just getting a GTS250.

Heck even the GTX260 uses less under load and he can get one for around $179 and it will be faster than the 4870.

BTW the XFX card he was looking at takes only 1 6pin connector so your whole argument is moot.
Click to expand...

A PSU that handles a GTS 250, handles a 4780 just fine. 30 Watts of power is not such a big difference. It's not like you are comparing a 4870 with a 9500 GT. In that situation, the 9500 GT doesn't need any better PSU, while 4870 needs one. In the actual situation OP has to buy a better PSU regardless the videocard.

But for you it doesn't matter, he just has to buy the GTS no matter what.
A better argument should have been that with the money saved on buying the GTS, OP can also buy a better PSU, while getting the 4870 might leave him short of the PSU. It depends on how much money he can spend.
 
Originally posted by: Wreckage
Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
That power supply is complete crap and I would not use it with either of the proposed video cards.

Originally posted by: Wreckage
The GTS250 uses a lot less power than the 4870 and I think it will be fine on your system.
Click to expand...

Do you ever stop spouting bullcrap?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3523

The 9800GTX+, aka some GTS250s, does not use "a lot less" power than the HD4870. I wouldn't even constitue the new-PCB GTS250s (or HD4850s) as using a lot less than the HD4870 either. In other words if a power supply (that I would recommend) can handle a GTS250/HD4850 then it should also be able to easily handle the HD4870.
Click to expand...

Your own link shows the GTS250 a full 30+ watts less than the 4870 under load, even more at idle.

So in order to sell him a 4870 he should also spend additional money on a power supply. :roll:

Or he could save a ton of money and headache by just getting a GTS250.

Heck even the GTX260 uses less under load and he can get one for around $179 and it will be faster than the 4870.

BTW the XFX card he was looking at takes only 1 6pin connector so your whole argument is moot.
Click to expand...

Well others have already addressed this issue, but LEARN TO READ.

I wouldn't even constitue the new-PCB GTS250s (or HD4850s) as using a lot less than the HD4870 either. In other words if a power supply (that I would recommend) can handle a GTS250/HD4850 then it should also be able to easily handle the HD4870.
Click to expand...

30W is not the difference between a power supply handling a GTS250 and not handling an HD4870. 30W is pretty insignificant as far as power requirements are concerned. But let's play by your logic: Power supply A can handle the GTS250 and not handle the HD4870. What does this mean? Well it would seem to mean that the GTS250 is pushing his PSU within 30W of its operating threshold. Just think about that. Do I really have to say anymore? Operating the PSU at such a capacity would shorten its lifespan, produce more heat, be inefficient, and etc. It would not be recommended. You also seemed to ignore the fact that the OP linked to a 512MB GTS250, which makes it a higher probability of being the more power-hungry rebadged 9800GTX+. Whether it is or not, I don't really care and it's not prudent to my point.

In my honest recommendation, the OP is going to need a new power supply regardless of which card he gets.
 
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