Is upgrading to a gtx 260 worth the money?

[scheibler1]

I currently have an 8800gt oc and noticed that I can pick up a gtx 260 for $220 after rebates. I figure I can sell my 8800gt oc for $100 and get $80 out of it making the upgrade cost $140 total. I'm just not so sure the gtx 260 is a big enough upgrade and will be able to run Farcry 2 and Crysis Warhead @ 1920x1200

I currently play Company Of Heroes, Grid, COD4, CS:S, DOD:S, TF2. My 8800gt oc can handle all the games well except for COD4 with AA and Company Of Heroes frames drop from time to time when I zoom and change the camera angle.

I want to be able to play World In Conflict, COD World at War, Crysis Warhead, and Farcry 2 @ 1920x1200 with high/maxed details in DX9(windows XP)

I'm kind of thinking the upgrade may be worth it if the gtx 260 offers more AA and frames from the 8800gt oc. I'm just concerned if I wait I'll only be waiting for the same deal since the gtx 260 will have to drop pretty far in price(like to $200) while my 8800gt depreciates

 

[RussianSensation]

In 1 year from now $140 card will destroy the GTX 260. In other words, the longer you wait to upgrade, the more accessible and cheaper faster technology becomes. But you cannot always wait forever though. So upgrade when the games you play get too choppy for you, don't try to time depreciation/pricing etc. Since the games you mentioned haven't been released yet, unless your card really struggles, the price fall in GTX 260 or newer cards down the line will more than offset the price fall of your 8800GT which might fall maybe $30-40 more and disappear completely.

Just my opinion.

 

[error8]

For 1920X1200 8800 GT is pretty bad, to begin with, even in current games. I have the feeling that in Crysis Warhead, Stalker Clear Sky and Fallout 3 this card is going to struggle even in lower resolutions, so an upgrade to 260 GTX would be a good choice. So yes, I'd say go for it, sell it and buy the GTX but take a look at 4870 too, since it's a very fast card and maybe you'll find some great deals with it as well.

 

[nenforcer]

There is suppose to be a refresh of the GTX 260 (55nm, 9 SP for 216 shaders) sometime before Christmas. I'd hold off on upgrading until that card is released.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: nenforcer
There is suppose to be a refresh of the GTX 260 (55nm, 9 SP for 216 shaders) sometime before Christmas. I'd hold off on upgrading until that card is released.

That card might launch for more than $220AMIR so his $140 upgrade scheme would be broken.

 

[AzN]

The upgrade will be noticeable but it's definitely not worth the money.

My advice. Buy a smaller monitor with lower resolution or turn off AA and turn some settings to medium if you have to. The graphic quality difference would be minimal.

Then again if you have money to blow it wouldn't matter would it now?

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Azn

My advice. Buy a smaller monitor with lower resolution or turn off AA and turn some settings to medium if you have to. The graphic quality difference would be minimal.

:laugh:

It's going to be hard to convince anyone with a large monitor who is used to it to downgrade their monitor just to make gaming sufficient.

When you purchase a large monitor, it's already implied that you understand in the future you'll either have to live with playing in non-native rez, lower image quality settings, or upgrade your graphics cards more often.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: Azn

My advice. Buy a smaller monitor with lower resolution or turn off AA and turn some settings to medium if you have to. The graphic quality difference would be minimal.

:laugh:

It's going to be hard to convince anyone with a large monitor who is used to it to downgrade their monitor just to make gaming sufficient.

When you purchase a large monitor, it's already implied that you understand in the future you'll either have to live with playing in non-native rez, lower image quality settings, or upgrade your graphics cards more often.

just use 'centered timings' and play with the black bars

the 260 is an incremental upgrade over 8800GT-OC .. solid but not incredible ... if the 260 and the 4870 are equivalent they should just manage 19x12 considering you are not using Vista/DX10

I want to be able to play World In Conflict, COD World at War, Crysis Warhead, and Farcry 2 @ 1920x1200 with high/maxed details in DX9(windows XP)

go for it

 

[amtbr]

I am a 8800GT owner as well, but I play at 1680. After reading this article http://www.tomshardware.com/re...e-comparison,2007.html and checking out lots of benchmarks, I determined it just really isnt worth it to go from a 8800GT > 260 GTX at the current 220$ price. The increase in FPS is marginal at best and the only game I cant play in all its glory right now is Crysis. I'm sure this falls roster of games will tax the 8800GT, but those games won't even be out for at least another month. From the benchmarks I've seen you may only see a marginal increase beyond a 8800GT. I find it extremely difficult to rationalize selling a perfectly good card that I've had for less than one year to get a 10-15% boost in FPS. I decided to just wait until later this year when the 55nm refresh comes out of the GTX and see how it compares to the 8800GT again. If you are thinking about this over 140$, something tells me you dont have lots of disposable income to spend/waste on playing computer games, you just have to rationalize the purchase. Is it worth that much for a small increase? Personally I don't think it is. The 8800GT is been out for less than one year, I hardly think its obsolete yet. Sometimes you just get that upgrade itch....