GTX 285, GTX 295, or 4870x2? Which should I buy?

[sofakng]

Currently I have an 8800 GTX (768mb) running on an C2D E8400 @ 4.2 GHz with 8 GB of RAM.

My native monitor resolution is 1920x1200.

I've always had single-core graphics cards and have never used SLI or CrossFire. It seems like the 4870x2 is the best deal ($350) of the bunch but I'm scared of "micro-stuttering" and lack of CrossFire support, etc. The same thing applies to the GTX 295.

The GTX 285 is supposedly the fastest single-core available but it's still slower than the GTX 285 and 4870x2 but it's still pretty fast and you don't have to worry about any of the issues I mentioned above.

I'm willing to spend up to $500 but am not sure what to do.

Also, my current motherboard prevents me from doing SLI (so 2x GTX 285 is out of the question). I also really don't feel like upgrading my motherboard at this time.

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[z1ggy]

I would say..maybe you should wait a month or two for the new ATI cards to come out and see what they have to offer. If they aren't that great then you can still get a 295. If you absolutely can't wait, then I'd get the 295 now.

 

[yh125d]

Definitely 4870x2. Why anyone pays ~$175 more for a GTX295 that performs as little better than 4870x2 is beyond me.

 

[Henrah]

Originally posted by: sofakng
The GTX 285 is supposedly the fastest single-core available but it's still slower than the GTX 295 and 4870x2 but it's still pretty fast and you don't have to worry about any of the issues I mentioned above.

I assume you mean GTX 295 the second time round ^_^

ASUS just released a new 4870x2 with a triple-fan cooler. Looks pretty jazzy and is well priced too. Well, I'm British and it's well priced over here ^_^

My vote, however, goes to the GTX 285. Avoids the possible microstutter issue you're worried about, and I never hear anything negative about EVGA's warranty and customer service. Great warranty and customer service after a card is bought is often worth more than getting the cheapest card you can find.

Don't go with my vote alone, though. I'm a complete nub compared to the rest of the forum users. Plus being over the pond doesn't help ^_^

 

[RussianSensation]

You could always try to sell 8800GTX for say $70 and then get GTX260/ HD 4870 1GB for $140 (so total upgrade cost of $70) to hold you over the summer.

If you are willing to spend $350+, then I'd wait for next generation of cards since they should be monstrous considering we have not had a major generation upgrade in more than 12 months.

 

[Dkcode]

I thought the new kit was not out till end of year?

I've been out of the loop for a few weeks.

 

[Henrah]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
If you are willing to spend $350+, then I'd wait for next generation of cards since they should be monstrous considering we have not had a major generation upgrade in more than 12 months.

Actually, +1 ^_^

 

[sofakng]

Thanks for the advice on waiting, but I'll probably order something now because you never know when the new cards will be released, what their performance will be, and how much they will cost (which will probably be very, very expensive).

Plus, I have a couple of extra dollars laying around anyways.

My only real concern is the lack of CrossFire/SLI support and the micro-stuttering. I often get motion sickness with low framerates so I am genuinely concerned about micro-stuttering...

 

[Dkcode]

I found the 4870X2 to be incredibly buggy. This was back when it was released though so hopefully drivers might have improved. The card ran too hot for me anyway.

Never had any experience with the 295 but i have heard it runs cooler and is quiet.

Micro stuttering is sometimes blown way out of proportion. I never witnessed any on the 4870X2 but a friend has a GTX 280 SLI setup and COD5 stutters like fuck. It runs at 90FPS but looks like 30. Sometimes i get that myself and i have a single card.

You will be just fine with a GTX 285. I have a 30" monitor and a single GTX 280 and it runs 2560x1600 in all my games just great. Although i fear for it with the upcoming Arma 2.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: sofakng
Thanks for the advice on waiting, but I'll probably order something now because you never know when the new cards will be released, what their performance will be, and how much they will cost (which will probably be very, very expensive).

Plus, I have a couple of extra dollars laying around anyways.

My only real concern is the lack of CrossFire/SLI support and the micro-stuttering. I often get motion sickness with low framerates so I am genuinely concerned about micro-stuttering...

Microstutter is not an issue for most of us - if you are really concerned, buy it from a retailer/etailer you can exchange for something else without penalty

If you want the fastest, GTX-295; 4870-X2 is a decent card that is mostly faster than GTX285 and the price is decent - i have one

GTX285 is around 2X faster than your old 8800GTX .. so that will give you an idea of what to expect from Nvidia's current single-GPU flagship - i have GTX280 and it eats my old 8800GTX for breakfast; 285 is "moreso"

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: sofakng
Thanks for the advice on waiting, but I'll probably order something now because you never know when the new cards will be released, what their performance will be, and how much they will cost (which will probably be very, very expensive).

TRUE. :thumbsup:

Like others have said, GTX295, is a bit pricey. So it all comes down to GTX 285 and 4870X2. If you are concerned of micro stutter, then GTX 285 is the one to get. Frankly there isn't any game out there that can't be maxed out by this card, so, if you want the fastest single gpu card, get it. It won't disappoint you.

 

[sofakng]

I've gone ahead and ordered the EVGA FTW edition of the GTX 285.

Hopefully I've made the right choice!

By the way, is it worth it to keep my existing 8800 GTX for PhysX support? I'd have to stick the card into my "extra" PCIe slot which I believe operates at 1x or 4x speed. (I have the P5B Deluxe motherboard)

Thanks so much for your help everybody!

 

[SlowSpyder]

*edit - This is what I get for not reading the whole thread... I see you alread ordered. Good luck with the new card, enjoy it!

Originally posted by: yh125d
Definitely 4870x2. Why anyone pays ~$175 more for a GTX295 that performs as little better than 4870x2 is beyond me.

Yea, the 4870x2 can be had for $35 more than the GTX285, and I'm willing to bet on a whole it's quite a bit faster the vast majority of the time. The GTX295 is faster yet, but I don't think it's close to the $180 more it costs (going by Newegg prices) than the 4870x2.

So basically I think the GTX285 is a very good card and the cheapest of all of them. Depending on the resolution you play at this may be the best choice.

The 4870x2 I think is the best buy of the group, it hits the right price for the performance you get ratio. It's a bit more money than the GTX285, but going to be a good deal faster. It's a much better bang for the buck card than the GTX295 as well, though a bit slower.

The GTX295 is your fastest, but I just don't think in any way is it worth the large premium it costs over the 4870x2. Sometimes the 4870x2 is even faster, usually they are very, very close in performance, but overall it is the fastest of the bunch.

 

[sofakng]

Actually, the 4870x2 was a bit cheaper ($350 after rebate) than the GTX 285 FTW Edition ($360 after rebate) but I was afraid of micro-stuttering and CrossFire issues.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: sofakng
Actually, the 4870x2 was a bit cheaper ($350 after rebate) than the GTX 285 FTW Edition ($360 after rebate) but I was afraid of micro-stuttering and CrossFire issues.

You made a good choice - let us know how you like it

And definitely keep your old GTX for PhysX; i doubt you can get more than $60 for it anyway - it can be useful for the right games

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: sofakng
I've gone ahead and ordered the EVGA FTW edition of the GTX 285.

Hopefully I've made the right choice!

By the way, is it worth it to keep my existing 8800 GTX for PhysX support? I'd have to stick the card into my "extra" PCIe slot which I believe operates at 1x or 4x speed. (I have the P5B Deluxe motherboard)

Thanks so much for your help everybody!

Sweet card :thumbsup:


Enjoy!

 

[Sheninat0r]

Aww, you should have gotten the Asus Mars - it's made of two GTX 285 cores strapped together GTX 295-style and recognized by drivers as a GTX 295 with more memory and more ROPs. Not overkill at all, it's totally worth the 1000 GBP it's selling for.

 

[evolucion8]

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
Aww, you should have gotten the Asus Mars - it's made of two GTX 285 cores strapped together GTX 295-style and recognized by drivers as a GTX 295 with more memory and more ROPs. Not overkill at all, it's totally worth the 1000 GBP it's selling for.

That's over 1,600 USD, no way that it worth such price, with that amount of money, someone can buy 2 standard GTX 295 and it would still have money left for a lunch. It's an overpriced piece of crud.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
Not overkill at all, it's totally worth the 1000 GBP it's selling for.

Yeah, right. :roll:

 

[deputc26]

Good choice I severely doubt you'll be disappointed and the FTW edition is a BEAST!

 

[Tempered81]

You could've gotten two HD4890's for ~$310 to put in your P5B Deluxe, and been faster than 4870x2, 285FTW, and GTX295. If your budget ceiling was $500 you could have gotten two Vapor-X 4890's.


285 vs. 4870x2 vs. 295 vs. 4890 x-fire:

http://i1.techpowerup.com/revi...s/crysis_1680_1050.gif

4890 overclocked to 1000mhz:

http://images.anandtech.com/gr...042209122109/18828.png

compared to x3 and other crossfire setups:

http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?p=7964&page=6

 

[sofakng]

Well, I received my GTX 285 FTW and it's defective. After reading the comments on NewEgg it looks like this is very common and a bunch of people have to go through three, four, or even five (!!!) replacement cards.

I've contacted NewEgg and they issued me a prepaid return label as well as free shipping on another order.

I don't plan on getting another GTX 285.

Anyways, what about the 4870x2? I'm mostly concerned about micro-stuttering and I'm also worried about CrossFire support. For example, does the new Ghostbusters game work with CrossFire?

jaredpace: My motherboard (P5B Deluxe) does support CrossFire, but it's only PCI Express v1.0 and has one 16x slot and one 4x slot. (or it might even be 1x but I can't find any solid information on that)

That seems to make CrossFire not possible but let me know what you think...

(...or maybe I should just stick to console gaming and upgrade my TV?)

 

[apoppin]

4870-X2 is a solid card; i have one

Your MB could handle 4890CF with only a slight loss of frame rates in a few games because of constricted bandwidth of the 4x 2nd slot; generally it is no biggie or deal breaker

There is also the Sapphire Atomic - vapor cooled core of 1000 MHz - about $300 at NewEgg - very close in performance to the GTX285, i guess

 

[Hauk]

Well that's a shame OP. Ponder the options but do keep the 285 in mind. FTW is cool, but vanilla's clock too. All three of mine clock to SC speeds and could prolly go higher but I have three so no need (flashed from stock to posted speed).

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: apoppin
4870-X2 is a solid card; i have one

Your MB could handle 4890CF with only a slight loss of frame rates in a few games because of constricted bandwidth of the 4x 2nd slot; generally it is no biggie or deal breaker

There is also the Sapphire Atomic - vapor cooled core of 1000 MHz - about $300 at NewEgg - very close in performance to the GTX285, i guess

Yea, if you don't want to worry about multi card issues the 1GHz Sapphire Atomic 4890 should be an awesome card. It'll be cheaper than a reference GTX285 and be as fast to faster. The only real drawback of that card from what I've read in reviews is the overclocking head room, don't expect much at all. Good luck with whatever replacement you go with, it's unfortunate that your new card was DOA.