MSI GTX 260 - $158.88 after MIR/Live cashback

[imported_sushicide]

Christ man, just as I was trying to save money for the holidays........this is way too tempting! I'm gonna have to bite :/

 

[bluemax50]

I ordered one on Saturday and it shipped but lo and behold no mention of the 25.00
couipon discount!! I've emailed newegg to get a credit we'll see how they respond. All and all though a great deal!!!

 

[Big Lar]

Thanks OP I ordered 1 last night, pretty nice deal!

Larry

 

[SunnyD]

Looks dead to me. Showing as $239.99 free ship now.

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: nyker96
wow that's the best price I've seen. they probably clearing out older non 216 stocks.

Is the 216 that much better?

What I meant by that is, is the 216 so much better that it's the only 260 that's going to be produced now? I thought it was going to be the mid card between the 280 and 260.

The deal is...

The GTX 280 and GTX 260 are created on the same assembly line; essentially they make a GTX 2n0. To determine if it can perform as a 280 or as a 260, they test it.

If all 240 processing cores work, they enable 240 cores and label it a "GTX 280".
If not all 240, but least 216 of the processing cores work, they enable 216 cores and label it a "GTX 260 core 216".
If not all 240, but least 192 of the processing cores work, they enable 192 cores and label it a "GTX 260".
If less than 192 work, they trash it (presumably).

Now that they've gotten better at making them, they're finding that most of their cards are coming out with at least 216 working cores. So since they can charge more for the "GTX 260 Core 216" version than the 192 core "GTX 260", they do so.

I expect the Core 216 version will drop in price as the 192 core version phases out, in order to remain competitive with AMD's 4850/4870 offerings in the ~$200-$220 price range.

 

[I4AT]

Aww, I was about to order one and now it's dead.

 

[looper]

With the state of the US economy, I would not worry about that price staying high.

 

[woodscomp]

Originally posted by: crimson117

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: nyker96
wow that's the best price I've seen. they probably clearing out older non 216 stocks.

Is the 216 that much better?

What I meant by that is, is the 216 so much better that it's the only 260 that's going to be produced now? I thought it was going to be the mid card between the 280 and 260.

The deal is...

The GTX 280 and GTX 260 are created on the same assembly line; essentially they make a GTX 2n0. To determine if it can perform as a 280 or as a 260, they test it.

If all 240 processing cores work, they enable 240 cores via bios and label it a "GTX 280".
If not all 240, but least 216 of the processing cores work, they enable 216 core via bios and label it a "GTX 260 core 216".
If not all 240, but least 192 of the processing cores work, they enable 192 cores via bios and label it a "GTX 260".
If less than 192 work, they trash it (presumably).

Now that they've gotten better at making them, they're finding that most of their cards are coming out with at least 216 working cores. So since they can charge more for the "GTX 260 Core 216" version than the 192 core "GTX 260", they do so.

I expect the Core 216 version will drop in price as the 192 core version phases out, in order to remain competitive with AMD's 4850/4870 offerings in the ~$200-$220 price range.

Your on the right path but not entirely accurate. All dies are cut from the same stock and they are tested to see which ones will be a 280 and a 260 however they do not just disable the extra cores in the BIOS. If that were the case then everyone would be purchasing the 260 and enabling all the shaders with patched BIOS's.

The shaders and such that do not meet the speck of the higher end cores will be altered physically to not allow the end user to mess with them.

 

[crimson117]

Thanks for clearing that up... "via bios" was a guess.

 

[UF Matt]

Back to $199, but now the discount code VGA12425 doesn't work =\

 

[OCNewbie]

Bump, use Code EMCBCBCCA now for $15 off, rebate still valid (though the wording in the rebate is a little unclear on what "retail price" is).

 

[NoSoup4You]

I'm in for one! A nice, early Christmas present for myself. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[chizow]

Ya that's really an amazing price. New refreshes are coming but they'll most likely be MSRP of $240+

 

[LumbergTech]

this seems to be a good deal as well..

174.99 after 20 dollar rebate for 4870

4870