GTS250 Review @ Tech Report

[Wreckage]

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/16504

All of which leads us to the inevitable price and performance comparison, and here, the GeForce GTS 250 offers a reasonably compelling proposition. This card replicates the functionality of the GeForce 9800 GTX+ in a smaller physical size, with substantially less power draw, at a lower cost. I like the move to 1GB of RAM, if only for the sake of future-proofing and keeping the door open to an SLI upgrade that scales well. In the majority of our tests, the GeForce GTS 250 proved faster than the Radeon HD 4850 1GB, if only slightly so. If the Radeon HD 4850 1GB were to stay at current prices, the GTS 250 would be the clear value leader in this segment.

I guess it was more than just a rebadge.

 

[Qbah]

How "convienent" of you to not paste the next parapraph. Here, let me help with that:

That's apparently not going to happen, though. At the eleventh hour before publication of this review, AMD informed us of its intention to drop prices on several Radeon HD 4800 series graphics cards that compete in this general price range, mostly through a series of mail-in rebates. Some examples: this MSI 4850 512MB card starts at $159.99 and drops to $124.99 net via a mail-in rebate, and more intriguingly, this PowerColor 4870 512MB lists for $169.99 and has a $15 rebate attached, taking it to net price parity with the EVGA GTS 250 Superclocked card we tested. We hate mail-in rebates with a passion that burns eternal, but if these rebates were to last in perpetuity, the GeForce GTS 250 1GB at $149 nevertheless would be doomed.

It is just a rebadge. No idea why are they writing this, they're most likely comparing it to the 65nm model of 9800GTX? And the 1GB model gets to compete with the HD4870 now price-wise.

 

[nosfe]

don't stop, continue with the quoting, here, let me help you

That's apparently not going to happen, though. At the eleventh hour before publication of this review, AMD informed us of its intention to drop prices on several Radeon HD 4800 series graphics cards that compete in this general price range, mostly through a series of mail-in rebates. Some examples: this MSI 4850 512MB card starts at $159.99 and drops to $124.99 net via a mail-in rebate, and more intriguingly, this PowerColor 4870 512MB lists for $169.99 and has a $15 rebate attached, taking it to net price parity with the EVGA GTS 250 Superclocked card we tested. We hate mail-in rebates with a passion that burns eternal, but if these rebates were to last in perpetuity, the GeForce GTS 250 1GB at $149 nevertheless would be doomed.

 

[Qbah]

High five, nosfe

 

[Qbah]

double post

 

[nosfe]

well, that turned out fun
anyway, this whole 4850 vs 9800gtx+ should stop, it's been done to death, how about we find something fresh to argue about?

 

[josh6079]

That's a very impressive card for the money. No doubt.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: josh6079
That's a very impressive card for the money. No doubt.

I agree. Would make a nice upgrade (for my needs) from my current 8600GTS.

 

[HOOfan 1]

If the HD4850 price drop is only being done through mail in rebates...that is not really a price drop at all. I am sure some board partners for the GTS 250 will have similar mail in rebates.

I never even consider mail in rebates when comparing prices.

 

[Wreckage]

I do like that they shrunk the card and lowered the power draw even while boosting performance and adding memory.

:thumbsup:

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1
I never even consider mail in rebates when comparing prices.

Same here, give me free shipping and I'll take it...but MIR? Not going to count on it.

Nowadays you have to wonder if the rebator will even bother honoring it when they get your form. I run about a 60-80% success rate of honored MIR's.

High enough that I still bother sending in the MIR form, but low enough that I simply don't count on the post-MIR price as my purchase price when I make my purchasing decision.

 

[nemesismk2]

I thought the GeForce GTS 250 performed pretty well.

 

[nyker96]

finally the cat is outta the bag. if amd can bring down the price of 4870/512 across the board in the next month or so, there would be little competition 250gts can put up at similar price range.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I want one, any idea when the 1GB versions will be on newegg ?

 

[MegaWorks]

I really like what bit-tech wrote here. :laugh:

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

I guess it was more than just a rebadge.

Yet the very name of the AT review is: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250: A Rebadged 9800 GTX+

 

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder

Originally posted by: Wreckage

I guess it was more than just a rebadge.

Yet the very name of the AT review is: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250: A Rebadged 9800 GTX+

:laugh:

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder

Originally posted by: Wreckage

I guess it was more than just a rebadge.

Yet the very name of the AT review is: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250: A Rebadged 9800 GTX+

It's smaller, faster, uses less power and has 1GB of ram.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Its funny how they do all sorts of PCB improvements to the 1GB model, but the 512MB is left untouched..

 

[josh6079]

Why are the tech report and Anandtech benches still using the 8.12 drivers?

 

[OCGuy]

:thumbsup:

 

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: josh6079
Why are the tech report and Anandtech benches still using the 8.12 drivers?

You know I didn't pay attention to that, probably instructed by nVidia.

 

[Leyawiin]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder

Originally posted by: Wreckage

I guess it was more than just a rebadge.

Yet the very name of the AT review is: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250: A Rebadged 9800 GTX+

It's smaller, faster, uses less power and has 1GB of ram.

Yeah, it's not "just" a rebadge - there's enough of a difference to warrent a review, regardless what some may think in this thread. Makes you wonder about the author - especially after he stated time and again differences in power draw, noise, performance, physical size, PS connecters.

 

[josh6079]

Actually, the tech report bench used several different drivers it seems, for both camps.

The 9.2s were used on the 4850 1GB, but not on other Radeon cards.

Same goes for nVidia, here and there are different drivers depending on the card.

I'm guessing they either are using old numbers from past tests or are using the best performing driver for each card.

 

[chizow]

Looks like 4870 512MB at 150, GTS 250 at $130 and 4830/4750 or GTS 240 (9800GT) in the sub-$100 market. I'd assume any downward spreads would be covered in price differences and MIRs. I just don't see a spot in the market for the 4850 anymore given its price and performance, especially given that $20 difference to the 4870 nets you a much faster card and an invariably better dual-slot cooler as well.