Which GTX 460 to get, and which machine it should go in?

[Slugbait]

I'm looking at playing musical chairs with video cards: the recently-built living room HTPC is currently running an nVidia 6200/128 PCI-e, which is not adequately powerful enough for OTA HD (it's OK for DVD playback). So I'm thinking about dropping in the 8600GTS/256 which is currently in my primary HTPC...which means I need a new card for the primary HTPC. Or do I...?

My main box has an 8800GTX/768. I'm thinking this card should go in the primary HTPC, and then I get a GTX 460 for my main box. The only problem: if I later upgrade the primary HTPC with a Blu-ray drive, the 8800GTX won't do HDCP, so I don't get 1080P on my Panny. But I suppose at the time that Blu-ray upgrade happens, I could just switch cards.

But then...which GTX 460? There's 192-bit vs. 256-bit, 768 megs vs. 1G, 288 stream procs vs. 336...so I'm kinda shotgun shy. And the prices are pretty close.

To make matters worse...I thoroughly enjoyed HL2 with all the eye-candy cranked at 1080P rez on a 54" plasma. With a job/house/wife/4-year-old boy, I don't have THAT much time for gaming, and for all the shits-n-giggles I would enjoy, the primary HTPC will likely also be the primary gaming machine.

Then there is the noise factor...the HTPC should be fairly quiet while watching video.

To get started, the basic specs...

Primary HTPC:
C2D/EE, Bad Axe II, 4G RAM, 650W (Mushkin AP-650), P54G25 at 1080P

Main box:
W3570 (equivilent to 965/EE), Smackover, 6G RAM, 750W (PP&C Silencer), Mits 2060U (primary, 1600x1200 true) and Sony 400PS (secondary, 1280x1024 true)

The contestants:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...E14-130-597-TS

So...best perf<->price? Or is there another 460 card at newegg you would prefer? (notice: don't recommend MSI). And up against my 8800GTX, which card would you put in which box?

 

[MrK6]

So...best perf<->price? Or is there another 460 card at newegg you would prefer? (notice: don't recommend MSI). And up against my 8800GTX, which card would you put in which box?

Why not MSI? They have by far the best deal on Newegg right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-551-_-Product . You actually get two free games with this card when you add it to your cart, and it's only $135 AR. Either way, add a GTX 460 to whatever computer you're going to be gaming on. As long as it isn't an external exhaust design (with a blower/radial fan), it should be quiet.

 

[happy medium]

Why not MSI? They have by far the best deal on Newegg right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-551-_-Product . You actually get two free games with this card when you add it to your cart, and it's only $135 AR. Either way, add a GTX 460 to whatever computer you're going to be gaming on. As long as it isn't an external exhaust design (with a blower/radial fan), it should be quiet.

I agree , thats gotta be the best deal on newegg right now for a 1gb gtx460.:thumbsup:

 

[timma]

gigabyte GTX 460 SOC seen good~

 

[Slugbait]

Why not MSI? ...it's only $135 AR.

Read up. If MSI takes the time to acknowledge that you sent in a rebate, it is only to tell you that the rebate will not be honored for (enter excuse here). Besides, whereas I've only owned two MSI products, both gave me nothing but problems. I am more than just OK with spending another $10 on a different company...eVGA has been berry, berry good for me (hence, the three different cards...my old 8800GTX is not my first eVGA), Sparkle has my confidence, and I hear that Gigabyte is pretty good. Plus, I like Gigabyte's cooling design.

 

[Slugbait]

...while I like Gigabyte's cooling design, here's the thing I'm curious about. It has more proc cores, but it's only 768 megs and 192-bit. I haven't been keeping up lately, and I assume the SE doesn't have as much oomph, but wouldn't the wider interface and more memory = better perf? This stuff just drives me crazy, which is why I'm asking...

 

[s44]

I couldn't resist the 1gb Gigabyte OC2. $200-$30 isn't a bad price, the HSF seems both effective and quiet (actually, reference design beats most of the others on those scores), and there aren't any reports of a run of bad cards like the OC1 had.

Probably wouldn't get any of the SE shader-crippled versions, with the 768mb being even cheaper and with full shaders and clocks.

edit: Yeah, but you're missing the third option, which is the full complement of both.

 

[Skurge]

I couldn't resist the 1gb Gigabyte OC2. $200-$30 isn't a bad price, the HSF seems both effective and quiet (actually, reference design beats most of the others on those scores), and there aren't any reports of a run of bad cards like the OC1 had.

Probably wouldn't get any of the SE shader-crippled versions, with the 768mb being even cheaper and with full shaders and clocks.

edit: Yeah, but you're missing the third option, which is the full complement of both.

Yeah, stay away from the SE. the 768 is really no match for 1080p gaming. The 1gb is the one you want.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Don't put the 8800GTX in your HTPC; that's a lot of heat, power, and maybe noise. The 8600 should do fine, or just get a new cheap card.

Probably wouldn't get any of the SE shader-crippled versions, with the 768mb being even cheaper and with full shaders and clocks.

SE >= 768mb. The extra memory, memory bandwidth, and overclocking potential put it over the top overall, so I think it's justified being more expensive than the 768.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Just bought another EVGA GTX460 1gig at Newegg yesterday for SLI. An easy bios flash makes them the super clocked version. The precision software gives you complete control. LIFETIME warranty, have never had a problem with their rebates. Great support from EVGA, and their forums members.
$180 shipped, (after rebate), with the games; Just Cause, and Mafia II