Palit GTX 460 Sonic. ***Important update***

[Serradifalco]

Consider the 2 video cards below. Is the only difference the factory overclock? The pcb design looks to be identical. If so, I can overclock the non-Platinum card myself, right? Please advise. I am replacing my GTX 260 sli with a GTX 460 sli set-up. Thanks.

Palit GTX 460 Sonic edition:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-075-_-Product

Palit GTX 460 Sonic Platinum edition:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-076-_-Product

Important update. Read my post below

 

[happy medium]

You should be able to get over 800 core with most gtx 460 cards.
I haven't seen one that hasen't.

 

[Serradifalco]

Update

I think I have had a change of heart on the Palit gpu. Read these Newegg reviews. I normally take Newegg reviews with a grain of salt, but I think there is a real issue.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=14-261-075

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=14-261-076

Now read this update from Guru3d:

"Update Wednesday 14th July 2010 - We noticed some reports in our forums that batches of the Palit GeForce GTX 460 is missing the VRM heatsink. As a result the card can heat up and the cooling will try to compensate by spinning way harder and this it makes the product very loud. Here's how you can identify the issue:

If you purchased a Palit GeForce GTX 460 Sonic Platinum edition graphics card, please check if that black heatsink is missing. If it is to loud for you, we recommend you to RMA the product or contact Palit directly. Looks like Palit has send out better samples to the press then they are offering in etail."

Wow, scarey stuff! I will definitely stay away. I think I will look at the MSI Cyclone instead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-510-_-Product

 

[bryanW1995]

check with russian sensation, he bought a couple of gtx 470 cards for $200 each yesterday after incentives.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

I'm constantly reminded why I always stick with EVGA.

 

[Petey!]

Yeah, I'd never buy off anyone buy evga when it comes to nvidia

 

[Acanthus]

LOL @ the sonic card being extremely loud due to cooling issues.

 

[d4a2n0k]

I have one of these at home that I got on Tuesday but was still in the box. After reading the Guru3d article, I opened it up and sure enough, no heatsink on the VRM's!

I am still contemplating returning it, not because I dont think it will work but because my plan was going to buy another and SLI them. The thought of coughing up another $240+ to a company that send special cards to reviewers is what bothers me.

Am I being stupid?

 

[Skott]

Well, I know for sure now to avoid Palit cards. I been wondering about them and this seals it in my mind its a brand to avoid. I'll stick to the eVGA and ASUS brands.

To d4an0k: You know you have one of the bad cards. Its up to you. If it were me I'd RMA and get a different card but its your money and your decision. I guess you have to ask yourself is if you feel lucky or not. Good luck.

 

[RussianSensation]

check with russian sensation, he bought a couple of gtx 470 cards for $200 each yesterday after incentives.

TigerDirect had a $30 coupon that unfortunately expired today

But still that would mean a GTX470 for about $230 or so. The eVGA card on sale ends in -AR, so it qualifies for Limited Lifetime warranty as well

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...095&CatId=3669

$359.99 - $30 instant - $30 E-Book coupon (+$12 out of pocket to buy online) - $45.60 BCB - $20 eVGA rebate - $20 eBillme Rebate = $226.39

- $30 instant savings when added to cart

- $30 off $300 if you buy $12 worth of Entertainment Coupons. You get 2x $30 coupons so you can use these if you want to buy 2 graphics cards. Type Tigerdirect.com in "Search" once you purchase the books. The $30 off is applied instantly as "Discount: $30" if you have another TAB open in the same Browser.

- $45.60 off with Bing cash back. Open Bing.com in another TAB in the same Browser and type "Motherboard". You will see 15.2% BCB on Tigerdirect. Press it and you will see an updated card with $45.60 in BCB at the bottom of your price.

- $20 EVGA Rebate (either EGA-8786 or EVGA-8790 work. You will want to use 2 of them, 1 for each videocard)

- $20 eBillme Rebate for purchases ending July 31, 2010 for first time users.

= $226 for the first graphics card.

The 2nd one will be $246 since you won't be able to apply $20 eBillme again.

Check this thread here for all the info: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2127580

Since there is no $30 off coupon code anymore (UKG-3685), you are probably better off not going through all that hassle above and just getting a $230 GTX460 1GB with a good cooler instead. As far as GTX460 1GB cards go, I'd go for the MSI Cyclone 1GB or the dual fan Gigabyte version (that one looks really nice). Since the value in the GTX460 is overclocking, I'd choose an aftermarket beefier design over the stock EVGA versions.

MSI Cyclone: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GeForce_GTX_460_Cyclone_OC_1_GB/

GTX460 Roundup: http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-460-review/1

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

TigerDirect had a $30 coupon that unfortunately expired today

But still that would mean a GTX470 for about $230 or so.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...095&CatId=3669

$359.99

- $30 instant savings when added to cart

- $30 off $300 if you buy $12 worth of Entertainment Coupons. You get 2x $30 coupons so you can use these if you want to buy 2 graphics cards. Type Tigerdirect.com in "Search" once you purchase the books. The $30 off is applied instantly as "Discount: $30" if you have another TAB open in the same Browser.

- $45.60 off with Bing cash back. Open Bing.com in another TAB in the same Browser and type "Motherboard". You will see 15.2% BCB on Tigerdirect. Press it and you will see an updated card with $45.60 in BCB at the bottom of your price.

- $20 EVGA Rebate (either EGA-8786 or EVGA-8790 work. You will want to use 2 of them, 1 for each videocard)

- $20 eBillme Rebate for purchases ending July 31, 2010 for first time users.

= $226 for the first graphics card.

The 2nd one will be $246 since you won't be able to apply $20 eBillme again.

Check this thread here for all the info. http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2127580

Since there is no $30 off coupon code anymore, you are probably better off not to go through all that hassle and get a $230 GTX460 1GB with a good cooler instead. As far as GTX460 1GB cards go, I'd go for the MSI Cyclone 1GB or the dual fan Gigabyte version (that one looks really nice).

Seriously? I'll pass.

 

[RussianSensation]

Seriously? I'll pass.

haha ya it is a shady transaction for sure. I got my first card for just $190. Even if I don't get some of the coupons, it's far cheaper than in Canada where the same videocard in a store is $369.99 before 13% tax = $418. D: Also if you buy from Newegg.ca, you still have to pay 13% tax and $11.50 shipping.

For those residing in the US, the GTX460 is a much better choice. I just wish there was a good deal on the 5870, somewhere out there.

 

[bryanW1995]

so in canada you pay sales tax even if it's shipping to a different state?

 

[thilanliyan]

TigerDirect had a $30 coupon that unfortunately expired today

Aren't you in Canada? How do you do BCB in Canada?

 

[Dark Shroud]

Tigerdirect also supports Bing Cash Back which ends at the end of this month.

 

[Serradifalco]

Palit's response:

http://www.guruht.com/2010/07/bios-update-for-palit-gtx460-sonic.html

I think Palit may just handle their next gpu introduction a little differently!

 

[ViRGE]

Palit's response:

http://www.guruht.com/2010/07/bios-update-for-palit-gtx460-sonic.html

I think Palit may just handle their next gpu introduction a little differently!

Holy hell, have these guys ever heard of copy editing? Palit has a US office, so that response is just painful.

 

[pmv]

As you can't see the relevant heatsink in pictures because of the shroud, how can one tell whether any given brand has the issue or not? Especially if the reviewers may be getting different samples?

E.g. here Amazon have the Zotac (known to be noisy, right?) and some brand called KFA2 that I don't know.

 

[Skott]

I'm still going to avoid their product this go round and maybe in the future. Like I said I'll buy my 460 from another manufacturer. Just going to wait until after my vacation before buying.

 

[RussianSensation]

Aren't you in Canada? How do you do BCB in Canada?

You are right you. You can't do BCB in Canada. I am currently visiting relatives in the US. :sneaky: BCB expires July 31, 2010 though. So this little savings incentive is going the way of the dinosaurs.

so in canada you pay sales tax even if it's shipping to a different state?

Before you didn't have to pay the provincial taxes if you ordered outside of your province. I live in Ontario which now has a Harmonized Sales Tax (which combines Federal and Provincial taxes). So I get charged full taxes if say I order in British Columbia. Before I would save 8% if I ordered from another province.