GTX 470, 460 or HD 5850

[stregalaw]

I'm seriously struggling with this decision. Help!!

Is the 470 worth the temperature and power consumption?

Is the HD 5850 a better compromise between performance and power/temp?

Is the 460 better bang for your buck all around?

 

[faxon]

need more info. what res you play at, what are the most demanding games you play, whats the rest of your system look like (cpu model + clock speed, ram quantity, mobo model, PSU model), whats your budget?

 

[extra]

Hard to recommend one over the other without knowing more details about your system. What's your power supply? What's your processor? Is budget a huge priority? Do you at some point want to add a second card? What resolution do you game at and what games do you play most?

Answer those and we'll be able to help more...

I'd say if you can afford it and have big PSU, go for one of the 470 deals and OC it...they are a beast.

If you game at super high res, 5850 overclocked may be best choice...or if you don't have a meaty power supply...

If you're on a budget OR you want to add a second card later, go for the 460...

I wouldn't worry about drivers and such, mostly worry about what you can get the best deal on (i have a 5770 and a 470, drivers for both are just fine and both are good cards).

 

[stregalaw]

Here's my build so far. Note, I am in the research phase and haven't bought anything yet.

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case
MOBO: ASUS P7P55D-E Pro ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i5-760 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
PSU: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W Power Supply
SSD : Haven't decided, looking at 120GB
HDD : Haven't decided, looking at 1TB
Fan: Scythe GentleTyphoon D1225C12B5AP-15 Case Fan
Sink: CORSAIR CWCH50-1 120mm High Performance CPU Cooler

Display: For now I will be using my 42" 1080p LCD TV as my monitor, but would like the ability to switch to a higher resolution monitor.

Budget: I am trying to keep my total cost (w/ OS) around $1500

Games: I plan on playing FF14 and Diablo III mostly.

 

[happy medium]

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case

ooooops

 

[SlowSpyder]

I guess it depends on what the prices are at the time you are shopping. Will you be overclocking?

 

[happy medium]

Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case

For this reason I would not go with the gtx 470. Thats not a very good case for a hot card.

I'd go with a Gigabyte gtx 460 1gb for 230$ or a 5850 if you can find one for 260$ or less.

 

[Compddd]

5870 bra

 

[happy medium]

5870 bra

The 5870 is terrible for the price, steer clear from this card.

 

[stregalaw]

Yes I plan to OC.

The 5870 is too expensive for me. From what I'm reading, the 5850 or 460 1gb may be the way to go.

Also this rig will be in my living and I want it to be quiet, so maybe the extra load on my fans from a 470 would be a nuisance.

 

[DaveSimmons]

For 19x10 the 5850 is a better choice, except that at $270 it's overpriced by about $20.

If you wait long enough the gtx 475 will be out, offering lower power consumption and heat than the 470. It might also force ATI to drop the 5850's price a bit.

 

[Patrese]

Not to hijack stregalaw's thread, but to avoid staring a near identical topic, I have sort of the same doubt between a GTX460 1GB (the Gigabyte dual fan model) or the HD5850 (reference model).

My power supply is strong enough and SLI/CF is out of the question. I'll game at 1680x1050 for now, but I plan on getting a 1920X1080 monitor in early 2011 and I don't want to change the videocard in doing so.

Important stuff: I'll play GTA IV, so if there's issues about that game it'll be a major deal-braker for me.

Sorta important: cool and quiet is appreciated. Doesn't need to be dead silent... just as loud as my old Sapphire HD4850 will do. Louder would get me nuts. lol

Thanks a lot!

 

[happy medium]

I'll play GTA IV

Grab a gtx 460 2gb. $260 and overclock it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-077-_-Product

 

[Patrese]

Grab a gtx 460 2gb. $260 and overclock it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-077-_-Product

Thanks for the response, but not an option. I'm in Brazil, so I can only get my hands on this cards I mentioned for now. Between the Gigabyte GTX460 1GB and the HD5850 reference card, any clear winner considering what I said?

 

[happy medium]

Thanks for the response, but not an option. I'm in Brazil, so I can only get my hands on this cards I mentioned for now. Between the Gigabyte GTX460 1GB and the HD5850 reference card, any clear winner considering what I said?

What are the best prices for both cards in Brazil?

 

[ZimZum]

thanks for the response, but not an option. I'm in brazil, so i can only get my hands on this cards i mentioned for now. between the gigabyte gtx460 1gb and the hd5850 reference card, any clear winner considering what i said?

5850

 

[RussianSensation]

Yes I plan to OC.

Also this rig will be in my living and I want it to be quiet, so maybe the extra load on my fans from a 470 would be a nuisance.

For these 2 reasons, I would go for GTX460 or 5850. Remember 5850 can also be overclocked to reach 5870 speed. My recommendation would depend on the prices of GTX460 and 5850 in Brazil. 5850 is faster than GTX460 (unless you get an overclocked version).

 

[Patrese]

What are the best prices for both cards in Brazil?

There's a US$62 difference between the two. Just for your amusement, the exact prices including shipping are:

GTX460 1GB - R$720 (US$408 )
HD5850 - R$830 (US$471 )

Yes, it sucks to be a PC gamer here.

 

[happy medium]

There's a US$62 difference between the two. Just for your amusement, the exact prices including shipping are:

GTX460 1GB - R$720 (US$408 )
HD5850 - R$830 (US$471 )

Yes, it sucks to be a PC gamer here.

gtx 460 all day long. I really feel sorry for you with those prices.

 

[RussianSensation]

There's a US$62 difference between the two. Just for your amusement, the exact prices including shipping are:

GTX460 1GB - R$720 (US$408 )
HD5850 - R$830 (US$471 )

Yes, it sucks to be a PC gamer here.

I remember when I walked into some electronics stores in Sao Paulo, prices were through the roof (like $800-1000 for a mid-range Canon point and shoot camera). Having said that, I stayed in Moema Sao Paolo last year and we ate out at some amazing places for very reasonable prices!

I found everything else about Brazil amazing (especially the women, food and beaches). I was also amazed that the wealthy landed in helicopters to their skyrise condos. So I suppose high electronics prices are a small price to pay for mostly all year-round beautiful weather, company paid lunches, grass fed beef that melts in your mouth and fresh seafood, and drinking delicious Brazilian cachaca and Caipirinha in the company of some of the nicest & most beautiful women I have ever met (sorry for being a bit off topic).

I guess in this case, I would look at the games the OP is interested in playing the most. These reviews should help: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/nvidia-geforce-gtx-460_11.html#sect1
http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_gv_n460oc_1gi_geforce_gtx_460,5.html
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/grafikkarten/2010/kurztest_zotac_geforce_gtx_460_amp/3/

5850 will be better in BF:BC2, Mass Effect 2, Crysis/Warhead, Splinter Cell Conviction. GTX460 will be better in Far Cry 2, Starcraft 2, WOW. I would probably lean towards the 5850 if you want more performance (without overclocking) since if you are paying $410 for 460 and you'd need to overclock it just to match the speed of the 5850. If a more quieter system is more important, I would get the 460 (but not the ones with an external exhaust fan). If you don't mind overclocking, the 460 is the better bang for the buck at 800mhz+ (of course 5850 can also be overclocked).

How expensive is the 470 then?

 

[Patrese]

gtx 460 all day long. I really feel sorry for you with those prices.

Thanks for all the responses.

[Offtopic]Well, the prices I get are on the cheap side here in Brasil. It could be A LOT worse, I've seen the GTX460 1GB for US$624. Keep in mind US$1=R$1,76. But nothing compares to this

https://www.kabum.com.br/cgi-local/kabum3/produtos/descricao.cgi?id=01:01:01:154:08

A mind-boggling 1567 Dollars for a HD5970, sir! [/Offtopic]

 

[SlowSpyder]

There's a US$62 difference between the two. Just for your amusement, the exact prices including shipping are:

GTX460 1GB - R$720 (US$408 )
HD5850 - R$830 (US$471 )

Yes, it sucks to be a PC gamer here.

That's about 15% more expensive for the 5850. I think the 5850 is something like 7% faster on average, not a huge amount. But, it is the faster part. I guess you have to decide if you want to spend $15% more for 7% more performance. Both cards are great overclockers from what I understand.

 

[stregalaw]

Sounds like 5850 is the way to go if we're willing to spend the extra dough.

 

[Patrese]

I remember when I walked into some electronics stores in Sao Paulo, prices were through the roof (like $800-1000 for a mid-range Canon point and shoot camera). Having said that, I stayed in Moema Sao Paolo last year and we ate out at some amazing places for very reasonable prices!

I found everything else about Brazil amazing (especially the women, food and beaches). I was also amazed that the wealthy landed in helicopters to their skyrise condos. So I suppose high electronics prices are a small price to pay for mostly all year beautiful weather, grass fed beef and fresh seafood and drinking delicious Brazilian cachaca and Caipirinha in the company of some of the nicest & most beautiful women I have ever met (sorry for being a bit off topic).

I guess in this case, I would look at the games being played. This review should help depending on the games OP plays: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/nvidia-geforce-gtx-460_11.html#sect1

Sounds like a quite accurate description of Brazil to me... and I'm Brazilian (from Belo Horizonte), so I know first hand. The country improved dramatically over the past 5 to 6 years too, so there's a good vibe around here. The electronic prices are out of hand though. Sony has just released the PS3 here for US$1135!

@topic: Considering what you guys said, the price difference and what I saw at AT's bench, seems to me that the GTX460 is the way to go. The HD5850 is better, but not US$62 better. Thanks a lot for all the responses!

 

[RussianSensation]

That's about 15% more expensive for the 5850. I think the 5850 is something like 7% faster on average, not a huge amount.

Not sure where the 7% came from, but 5850 is more like 12-15% faster than the GTX460 (stock speeds) -- look at the 3rd link I provided for the average. So the price difference is more or less in line with the performance. Of course, depending on the game the 5850 may be faster or slower by more/less than 12-15%. Still, once overclocking and noise are taken into account, the 460 wins on price/performance by a hair.