best nvidia card under $200

shouup

Junior Member
Sep 15, 2005
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I am upgrading my video card and would like to stick with nvidia because i dual boot linux (nvidia has better support on linux). What is the best card under $200 right now?
 

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
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Pretty much the GTX 260. GTX 275s are getting very hard to find and are over $200. The GTX 260 itself is hovering around $190-$200. The GTS 250 is much less, but isn't nearly as capable.
 
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yh125d

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2006
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How can you recommend a GTX260 for $200 (more than they were 9 mos. ago!) When 1GB GTS250s are only $125?
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
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How can you recommend a GTX260 for $200 (more than they were 9 mos. ago!) When 1GB GTS250s are only $125?

Because he said best, not best value for money :p
If he had said "What's the best value NV card under $200?" then the GTS250 would have to get the nod.
 

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
3,204
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Because he said best, not best value for money :p
If he had said "What's the best value NV card under $200?" then the GTS250 would have to get the nod.

Thank you. I thought the O.P.'s question was fairly obvious too (and my reply pretty clear on the two choices).
 

MarcVenice

Moderator Emeritus <br>
Apr 2, 2007
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Yes, with it being closer to the 5770 range.

Edit: Actually, looking at the benchmarks, there's not much of a difference between the two.

It's on par with a HD 5770, but get's destroyed by a HD 5850 (which is faster then a GTX 285).

Not long ago a co-worker needed a new vidcard, and he dualboots linux too. I told him that he should try a ATI card, so I gave him one, HD 5670 I think, but support sucks, he couldn't get it to run properly, and he's not a total retard :p His GT240 on the other hand runs just fine in Linux ...
 

ther00kie16

Golden Member
Mar 28, 2008
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Yea, nvidia doesn't have bang for buck right now.
everything is also so expensive
gts250 was $60 after rebate first couple of weeks it came out
gtx260 was down to $150 after rebate at times and even less after bing cashback on ebay. I know I was eyeing it when it was $141 after cashback.
 

yh125d

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2006
6,886
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Because he said best, not best value for money :p
If he had said "What's the best value NV card under $200?" then the GTS250 would have to get the nod.

You're right. He did say best, not best performance. There's a lot more to "best" than FPS. As just an overall "best", including all criteria, I'm pretty sure the GTS250 would take it :|
 

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
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You're right. He did say best, not best performance. There's a lot more to "best" than FPS. As just an overall "best", including all criteria, I'm pretty sure the GTS250 would take it :|

When someone says "best card under [insert price]" 99% of the time they mean the fastest, not the best value, or power consumption, or logo design.

While the GTX260 is not as good of a value, it is far from being absolutely unthinkable to get (compared to the GTS 250), especially if you consider the overclocking potential of the 260 (greater than that of the 250).