Saphire 4870 vs MSI 260 OC

[nyfirefly11]

Saphire 4870 1gb ($215 shipped w/mir): http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102801

or

MSI GTX 260 OC addtion ($179 shipped w/mir): http://www.newegg.com/Product/...Cards-_-L3A-_-14127409

If I'm primarily using FSX, the MSI is probably the way to go, right?

 

[error8]

FSX = ?

 

[Wreckage]

Yeah the the 260 will be faster in most games and the fact that it's cheaper makes it all the better.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
Yeah the the 260 will be faster in most games and the fact that it's cheaper makes it all the better.

It's an equal battle between them, most of the time. But being cheaper, the GTX is clearly the choice here.

 

[nyfirefly11]

fsx = flight sim 10

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: Wreckage
Yeah the the 260 will be faster in most games and the fact that it's cheaper makes it all the better.

It's an equal battle between them, most of the time. But being cheaper, the GTX is clearly the choice here.

+1

What games do you play OP? That may have an impact on which card you choose.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

the 4870 trades blows with the gtx260, but sometimes it'll catch up and beat the gtx280. the gtx260 never beats the gtx280..

 

[LOUISSSSS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269

4870 1gb $199AR

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
the gtx260 never beats the gtx280..

If you overclock the sh** out of it, it might reach the gtx280.

 

[yepp]

Nvidia cards perform better in FSX, strange the older generation Nvidia cards out perform the newer gen.

http://www.tomshardware.com/ch...mulator-X-SP2,785.html

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: YEPP
strange the older generation Nvidia cards out perform the newer gen.
[/L]

That happens because Tomsharware is crap.

 

[SunnyD]

Geez, THIS again? :roll:

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269

4870 1gb $199AR

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2277111&enterthread=y

4870 1gb $189.99 AR, free ship. (I know, I posted both this and the MSI deal in HD)

I went through this same exact conversation with myself up until about 15 minutes ago. After looking at the Anandtech GTX285 review, seeing that the 4870 1GB was generally faster than a stock GTX260-216, the fact that I have a CrossFire-capable board, and the fact that I also currently own a 9600GSO which I can use for PhysX for now (if the damn drivers decide to work right in Win7)...

I ordered the 4870 along with a new PSU and HSF for my CPU.

(e-peen time)

So when it's all said and done, my system will be:

Phenom II 940BE
Gigabyte MA-790GP-DS4H
2x2GB G.Skill DDR2-1066
HIS 4870 1GB
eVGA 9600GSO 384MB
2x200GB Seagate 7200.7 SATA-II
Antec P180 Black
Corsair TX850W
Dell 2407FPW
Sunbeam CCF
Overclock... unknown.

 

[Wreckage]

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1414

We weren't expecting it, but the Nvidia BFG GTX-260 Core 216 (MaxCore) made it a clean sweep. With every game at every resolution, it took the lead and kept it. If this were a Shootout at the OK Corral the ATI GPU would be sprawled in a pool of blood with five holes in its core and the Nvidia GPU would be left standing unscathed.

You can't get much clearer than that. "The perfect GPU for the 2008 Christmas seasons hottest games, in the $300 dollar price range, is the GTX-260 Core 216." Be sure when you set on Santa's lap you tell him no GTX-260 Core 216 or don't slide down my chimney!

That card did not have much of an overclock. So the MSI 260 card should do as well or better.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1414

We weren't expecting it, but the Nvidia BFG GTX-260 Core 216 (MaxCore) made it a clean sweep. With every game at every resolution, it took the lead and kept it. If this were a Shootout at the OK Corral the ATI GPU would be sprawled in a pool of blood with five holes in its core and the Nvidia GPU would be left standing unscathed.

You can't get much clearer than that. "The perfect GPU for the 2008 Christmas seasons hottest games, in the $300 dollar price range, is the GTX-260 Core 216." Be sure when you set on Santa's lap you tell him no GTX-260 Core 216 or don't slide down my chimney!

That card did not have much of an overclock. So the MSI 260 card should do as well or better.

That article is written on the 29'th of November 2008. You do know that drivers have improved by now and probably the 260 doesn't have such a clean victory today.

 

[badnewcastle]

I can't speak for the 4870 1gb but I do know that the 260 was very nice for most games even if it gets beat by a few it was still nice a smooth for me in almost everything I played. The games that it had trouble with were no better with the 4870... that being Crysis and Stalker: Clear Sky. I'd say go with the less expensive card as they are both awsome cards.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: Wreckage
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1414

We weren't expecting it, but the Nvidia BFG GTX-260 Core 216 (MaxCore) made it a clean sweep. With every game at every resolution, it took the lead and kept it. If this were a Shootout at the OK Corral the ATI GPU would be sprawled in a pool of blood with five holes in its core and the Nvidia GPU would be left standing unscathed.

You can't get much clearer than that. "The perfect GPU for the 2008 Christmas seasons hottest games, in the $300 dollar price range, is the GTX-260 Core 216." Be sure when you set on Santa's lap you tell him no GTX-260 Core 216 or don't slide down my chimney!

That card did not have much of an overclock. So the MSI 260 card should do as well or better.

That article is written on the 29'th of November 2008. You do know that drivers have improved by now and probably the 260 doesn't have such a clean victory today.

http://www.neoseeker.com/Artic.../Reviews/xfxgtx285xxx/

February 12th, 2009. Pretty much the same results.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: Wreckage
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1414

We weren't expecting it, but the Nvidia BFG GTX-260 Core 216 (MaxCore) made it a clean sweep. With every game at every resolution, it took the lead and kept it. If this were a Shootout at the OK Corral the ATI GPU would be sprawled in a pool of blood with five holes in its core and the Nvidia GPU would be left standing unscathed.

You can't get much clearer than that. "The perfect GPU for the 2008 Christmas seasons hottest games, in the $300 dollar price range, is the GTX-260 Core 216." Be sure when you set on Santa's lap you tell him no GTX-260 Core 216 or don't slide down my chimney!

That card did not have much of an overclock. So the MSI 260 card should do as well or better.

That article is written on the 29'th of November 2008. You do know that drivers have improved by now and probably the 260 doesn't have such a clean victory today.

http://www.neoseeker.com/Artic.../Reviews/xfxgtx285xxx/

February 12th, 2009. Pretty much the same results.

Here's a much better review with many more games from January 29th:
http://xbitlabs.com/articles/v...geforce-gtx285ssc.html

The cards are so well matched...6 wins for 4870 vs 4 wins for 260 and the others are too close to call.

@1920x1200

World at War (avg/min):
4870-->51.4/33
260--->57.8/28

Warhead (avg/min):
4870-->14.1/8
260--->13.4/8

Quake Wars (avg):
4870-->80
260--->86.6

FC2 (avg/min):
4870-->39.54/29
260--->38.3/31

L4D (avg):
4870-->71.2
260--->61.2

Clear Sky (avg/min):
4870-->25.4/18
260--->23/17

Dead Space (avg/min):
4870-->88.4/70
260--->104.6/84

DMC4 (avg/min):
4870-->85.5/60
260--->76.5/52

Prince of Persia (avg/min):
4870-->40.2/21
260--->42.8/23

Fallout 3 (avg/min):
4870-->60.2/42
260--->40.8/29

Mass Effect (avg/min):
4870-->18.8/14
260--->22.3/15

GRID (avg/min):
4870-->81.4/64
260--->70.9/54

X3 (avg/min):
4870-->78.5/24
260--->58.2/13

Red Alert (avg/min):
4870-->28.4/20
260--->13.7/7

WiC (avg/min):
4870-->33/18
260--->33/20

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Geez, THIS again? :roll:

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161269

4870 1gb $199AR

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2277111&enterthread=y

4870 1gb $189.99 AR, free ship. (I know, I posted both this and the MSI deal in HD)

I went through this same exact conversation with myself up until about 15 minutes ago. After looking at the Anandtech GTX285 review, seeing that the 4870 1GB was generally faster than a stock GTX260-216, the fact that I have a CrossFire-capable board, and the fact that I also currently own a 9600GSO which I can use for PhysX for now (if the damn drivers decide to work right in Win7)...

I ordered the 4870 along with a new PSU and HSF for my CPU.

(e-peen time)

So when it's all said and done, my system will be:

Phenom II 940BE
Gigabyte MA-790GP-DS4H
2x2GB G.Skill DDR2-1066
HIS 4870 1GB
eVGA 9600GSO 384MB
2x200GB Seagate 7200.7 SATA-II
Antec P180 Black
Corsair TX850W
Dell 2407FPW
Sunbeam CCF
Overclock... unknown.

I think we got the PSU, CPU HS/F and possibly the physX card in common
still debating on which case to get... I am already using a P180 on my secondary rig, kinda wanted try something by CM this time around.

 

[josh6079]

This is why I prefer HardOCP's benchmarks.

They give the min., avg., and max. frames for those that want to know those potentially scewed results, but also provide a display of the playable frame range and each card's activity to that effect.

Here's a benchmark that's a little more than a month old comparing an overclocked GTX 260 core 216 to both a standard GTX 260 core 216 and 4870 1 GB.

http://www.hardocp.com/article...U5NSwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: thilan29


Here's a much better review

Well no as it uses a 260 with a clock speed of 576MHz.

While the OP is looking at a card running at 655MHz. That's why I used an article with a closer clock speed to give a more accurate picture.

 

[nyfirefly11]

I've heard that some people who get the overclocked version of a card have to underclock it b/c of heat issues...is that true? Is it better to get a stock version and overclock yourself?

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: nyfirefly11
I've heard that some people who get the overclocked version of a card have to underclock it b/c of heat issues...is that true? Is it better to get a stock version and overclock yourself?

I have a factory OC card and don't have heat issues. I even run Folding@home. You can up the fan speed if you need to.

 

[nyfirefly11]

good to know, thx. either way, I'm upgrading from a radeon x700, so I'm sure I'll see a ridiculous difference

looks like either a OC 260 or a 280 if I want to spend the extra $100...

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: nyfirefly11
good to know, thx. either way, I'm upgrading from a radeon x700, so I'm sure I'll see a ridiculous difference

looks like either a OC 260 or a 280 if I want to spend the extra $100...

The only thing I will mention is that the card is huge so make sure you have room in your case.

 

[nyfirefly11]

any feelings on MSI? people seem to like evga, bfg and xfx b/c of the lifetime warranties and trade-up, but I haven't heard a lot about MSI