GTX 260 (216) or ATI 4870 1gb?

[PreachTru]

Looking at one of 3 cards for my new system...

HIS Hightech H487F1GP Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16

EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

EVGA 896-P3-1265-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16


Main games are WoW and the standard FPS games (Crysis, CoD4 etc.) Can't really decide on which card to get though. Leaning towards the ATI, but I keep reading horror stories about their drivers.

Any thoughts?

 

[aclim]

you check this one out? clicky

its factory OC and has a different cooler. Looks nice.


O and also check this deal out here . Its only $220 plus they have a $20 MIR . Plus if you register it you get Far Cry 2 free. nice deal right now

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: PreachTru
Looking at one of 3 cards for my new system...

HIS Hightech H487F1GP Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16

EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

EVGA 896-P3-1265-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16


Main games are WoW and the standard FPS games (Crysis, CoD4 etc.) Can't really decide on which card to get though. Leaning towards the ATI, but I keep reading horror stories about their drivers.

Any thoughts?

What "horror stories" about ATi drivers? If you're a computer gamer, driver issues are part of the deal, I don't think ATi has more or less than anyone else.

Both of these cards are a good deal, which you pick would depend on which you value more:
DX10.1/8XAA -4870
PhysX/CUDA/stereo- GTX260

4X16X performance, and price, are very similar.

 

[PreachTru]

aclim - I saw that one... but I guess I'd like to know some opinions of a more general nature as well. Like should I go the ATI 4870 route, or the GTX 260 route? Can't really decide.

nRollo - Through reading threads on this forum, as well as other forums, I see people have bad problems with ATI drivers. Maybe they are more vocal than the Nvidia people, I dunno.

I don't really prefer ATI or Nvidia, just wanting to know the general consensus on which is the optimal card in todays market.

 

[aclim]

i edited my above post, check out the BFG link I added, you will like it.

 

[PreachTru]

Nvm, had to add the card to cart to see the sale price.

Thx

 

[AzN]

I would just get the cheapest one out of the 3.

 

[Tempered81]

i would get in on that $200 gtx260 with FARCRY2 deal.

 

[SolMiester]

Originally posted by: aclim
you check this one out? clicky

its factory OC and has a different cooler. Looks nice.


O and also check this deal out here . Its only $220 plus they have a $20 MIR . Plus if you register it you get Far Cry 2 free. nice deal right now

WOW, thats the nicest ATI card I have seen, wicked cooler....

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: SolMiester

Originally posted by: aclim
you check this one out? clicky

WOW, thats the nicest ATI card I have seen, wicked cooler....

Hmmm, looks like a 7900 GTX fansink but with one set of heatpipes flip-flopped.

 

[Spike]

Of the two cards I personally prefer the 4870 slightly as it does better in the games I like. Not that the difference is huge but it is there. On the flip side, if your looking at a full price ($280-300) 4870 vs one of the GTX 260, even the "old" non-216 version for $220 with a free game I would go with the GTX 260.

I got my 512mb 4870 several months go for $240 with the MS live cashback from ebay. Had I been able to find the 260 (the 216 version was not out yet) for around the same price I would have stuck with the 4870. Had it been more than $20 cheaper I would have jumped for the 260. MS live currently gives 25% back right now so don't forget to check the ebay buy it now sales for a good 260/4870 price. Then 60 days later you get your 25% back, kinda nice.

As for drivers the only game I have had serious issues with on my 4870 has been Stalker Clear Sky. From the little reading I did it sounds like the problem has to do with Vista 64 more than the drivers since others (with ati and nvidia cards) have had this problem though it is not very common. Other games (CS:S, COD 4, UT 3, Crysis, Crysis Warhead, and even Oblivion) have all run flawlessly with no problems what so ever. I highly reccomend the 4870 but like I said, with the price differences above ($290 vs $220) the 260 is definitly the better buy.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: PreachTru
aclim - I saw that one... but I guess I'd like to know some opinions of a more general nature as well. Like should I go the ATI 4870 route, or the GTX 260 route? Can't really decide.

nRollo - Through reading threads on this forum, as well as other forums, I see people have bad problems with ATI drivers. Maybe they are more vocal than the Nvidia people, I dunno.

I don't really prefer ATI or Nvidia, just wanting to know the general consensus on which is the optimal card in todays market.

You will not like this reply .. there is none

AMD Drivers = Nvidia Drivers [period]

the last hotfix AMD screwed up, took two days to get a response and a new hotfix for FC2 .. that is the fastest i think i saw in awhile

i run both GTX280 and AMD Crossfire X3 [4870x2 + 4870/1GB]

i would pick a X2 over a GTX280 and a GTX280 over a 1GB 4870

the 260+GT is not so clear vs the 1GB 4870

if you don't care about "features" - PhysX vs. DX10.1 - then go for price .. or color .. or warranty
- or toss a coin

you will get a great card no matter which one you pick

HOWEVER, you did not tell us what the REST of your system is like, nor do we know what resolution you game at
- if it is 25x16, forget either a 4870 OR a 260
--if it is 12x9, save some money and get a cheaper card

 

[BFG10K]

Originally posted by: PreachTru

nRollo - Through reading threads on this forum, as well as other forums, I see people have bad problems with ATI drivers. Maybe they are more vocal than the Nvidia people, I dunno.

IME ATi's drivers are more robust than nVidia's overall, especially for legacy applications. However by picking ATi you won't get as good image quality that you?ll with nVidia. Take your pick.

 

[Sylvanas]

Get the cheapest- or the one with the best heatsink/bundle. As for drivers, it is very subjective. Personally, I have had better experiences with ATIs drivers than Nvidia's- also ATI have WHQL drivers that come out every month, Nvidia is more of a 'when we feel like it' WHQL release, with a stream of beta's in between.

 

[amtbr]

I tossed a coin too and went with the cheapest using cashback on Ebay. I got my 4870 1GB for only 200$. I switched from nvidia to ati, do I notice any driver difference? No. Go for what you can find the cheapest, like everyone else said.

 

[Blacklash]

Considering the price, I'd get the regular GTX 260 and OC it to around 660-700 on the core.

If you want to tear up 1920x or greater with high levels of AA try an HD 4870 X2.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
i would get in on that $200 gtx260 with FARCRY2 deal.

:thumbsup:

Originally posted by: SolMiester

Originally posted by: aclim
you check this one out? clicky

its factory OC and has a different cooler. Looks nice.

WOW, thats the nicest ATI card I have seen........

:thumbsup:

Plenty of options these days. With performance so close you have to look at other things to decide like price, warranty, bundles, support, options, etc.

 

[badnewcastle]

Nvidia partners have better warranty's for the most part so if you could sweat a few frames in some games I might recommend 260 or waiting for the refresh next month.

 

[Spicedaddy]

4870 1GB

 

[PreachTru]

Originally posted by: apoppin

HOWEVER, you did not tell us what the REST of your system is like, nor do we know what resolution you game at
- if it is 25x16, forget either a 4870 OR a 260
--if it is 12x9, save some money and get a cheaper card

This is what my new system would be (along with a 22" or 24" LCD)

HD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45

PSU: SeaSonic M12 SS-700HM 700W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC

CPU Cooler: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

 

[aclim]

ok well, there is a big difference between a 22" and a 24" If its a 24", you will be at 1080p native resolution. You will want a gtx280 or a 48701gb at a minimum (preferably a 4870x2) to play with high settings. If you get a 22" then the gtx260 or the 48701gb will be a perfect fit.

 

[PreachTru]

Was also considering getting two 4850's in a crossfire setup perhaps (?)

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: PreachTru
Was also considering getting two 4850's in a crossfire setup perhaps (?)

This will be faster than gtx260 216, 48701gb, and gtx280.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: PreachTru
Was also considering getting two 4850's in a crossfire setup perhaps (?)

This will be faster than gtx260 216, 48701gb, and gtx280.

would you get a 512MB VRAM card for 19x12? :Q

perhaps get the 1GB version for the newest games

is there a 4850x2 out now?
- 1GB vRAM, right?

 

[Tempered81]

yah, you may need more vram for the newer games when using ultra settings & AA with high quality textures