Originally posted by: error8
For 5$ it's a great deal. Even extra 1% in performance will justify that cost.
+1
Even if it doesn't perform much better, I think it will retain value better in the future when you get a new card and sell this one.
Originally posted by: Just learning
Does this 275 GTX have a better PCB or PWMs (something like that) to allow better OC headroom than 260 GTX?
I think it depends on the partner. Most are probably just using a GTX 260 PCB to keep costs down. While a better PCB (maybe based on GTX 285?) is possible and would make an awesome card, the problem is that the manufacturer would not be able to make that cheap enough to sell at what all the other cards are selling for. Once you raise the price a bit, then you are nibbling at the heels of the GTX 285 in price, let alone the GTX 280 still in the channel being sold at a discount (heck, BFG GTX 285 OC were for $250AR at Frys).
This is the same problem that the Gainward Golden Sample Radeon 4850 is facing. Sure, a "cheap" 4850 with a huge overclock and GDDR5 sounds awesome because it is within spitting distance of a "real" Radeon 4870 in performance, right? Well, it is also within spitting distance in price. So, you buy a "4870-like" card for $10 less than a "real 4870" and lose a few MHz. But, you still have a 4850.
It's a tough choice for both manufacturers and consumers.
At the end though, I'd think that the best value... would be the GTX 260 at $180. :shrug;
I'm going through that myself... want another card but do I get a "cheap" GTX 260 or pay almost twice as much for a GTX 285 that is not twice the performance...