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Help Choosing Video Card

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fire2havoc

Member
I'll be giving my 4850 to someone so I'm looking for a new card.

I play games and want this card to last for some time since I don't upgrade the GPU often. I'll be using it on my 24" (1920x1200) monitor and want to have the highest visual settings enabled (AA also if possible).

I should mention that I have a certain deal through which these are the prices I would be paying:
Asus GTX 285 - $262
Zotac GTX 285 - $270
MSI GTX 275 - $183
HD 4890 - $180

Right now, I'm on the fence between the 4890, GTX 275, and GTX 285. I've read several reviews and see that the 4890 1GB and GTX 275 trade blows. However, I have also read that the 4890 overclocks to 1GHz (core clock) and has more RAM, while the GTX 275 has a stream processor clock. I have also read that the GTX 275 uses less power but runs noticeably cooler when idle and hotter under load. AFAIK, the 4890 supports DX10.1 but the GTX 275 supports DX10. Not sure how much of a difference this makes.

I would be able to get the 4890 and GTX 275 for around the same price ($180). I'm also considering if the GTX 285 is worth the additional $80 for a price of $260. I don't upgrade GPUs often and don't want to be kicking myself for missing a good deal.

Please provide any and all suggestions/insight/recommendations as I am looking to close the deal asap.
 
you'd be saving around $60 on the nvidia cards, given current street prices. 4890's can be had for $200 or less, though.

obviously the 285 is going to be the best, but it's not worth the price gap. i'd take the 4890 or gtx275. as you said, performance is pretty much a tossup unless you push the 4890 hard.
 
What overclocks better a 275 GTX or a 4890?

I know a 275 GTX is faster @ stock speeds but maybe the 4890 has more OC headroom?

 
Here's a review of the GTX275 stock and GTX275 OC vs a HD4890 stock, a GTX285 stock and a GTX260 stock.

Here's a review of the HD4890 stock and HD4890 OC vs a GTX285 stock, a GTX 260 stock and a HD4870 1GB stock.

Two very nice reviews. Read up - make a choice 🙂

Take a GTX285 as baseline and you can easily compare a GTX275 and HD4890 - be it stock or OC clocks.
 
Originally posted by: Qbah
Here's a review of the GTX275 stock and GTX275 OC vs a HD4890 stock, a GTX285 stock and a GTX260 stock.

Here's a review of the HD4890 stock and HD4890 OC vs a GTX285 stock, a GTX 260 stock and a HD4870 1GB stock.

Two very nice reviews. Read up - make a choice 🙂

Take a GTX285 as baseline and you can easily compare a GTX275 and HD4890 - be it stock or OC clocks.
Click to expand...

Those reviews are saying that the HD4890 outperforms the GTX285... is that right?? (I'm looking at Crysis and Call of Duty results). Only gets beat by GTX285OC'ed.
 
They didn't have the 4890 in stock so I ended up getting the GTX 285 for $240. Do you guys think I should keep it or sell it for around $340 and use the money to get a 4890 with some cash left over?

How big of an advantage is the 4890's GDDR5 versus GTX 285's GDDR3? What about the fact that the 4890 overclocks to 1GHz?
 
4890's GDDR5 doesn't really hold a performance advantage over the GTX285's DDR3. The 4890 uses a 256-bit bus while the 285 uses a 512MB bus.

Either card will be good. You just have to see which one performs better in the games that you play the most.
 
Originally posted by: fire2havoc
They didn't have the 4890 in stock so I ended up getting the GTX 285 for $240. Do you guys think I should keep it or sell it for around $340 and use the money to get a 4890 with some cash left over?

How big of an advantage is the 4890's GDDR5 versus GTX 285's GDDR3? What about the fact that the 4890 overclocks to 1GHz?
Click to expand...

Unless you need to save some cash (sell the GTX285 for 100$ more and get that HD4890 for under 100$ in the end), just keep the GTX285 and enjoy your games.

The stock HD4890 is not as fast as a GTX285 (not counting some rare cases) and any overclocking isn't guaranteed.

Plug that GTX in, install the newest drivers and enjoy some games - the reason you bought it.
 
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