So, what gives? I thought the performance of the 4870 cards beat the GTX 260 cards, yet the 4870 512 MB cards can be had for around $20 cheaper than a GTX 260?
Why are 4870 512MB cards cheaper than GTX 260 cards?
- Thread starter Rockhound1
- Start date
HD4870 is roughly equal to the GTX260 192 sp card. They trade blows more or less. The GTX260 216 SP is roughly equal to the HD4870.
The HD4870 JUST got lowered in price, to $199, not counting rebates. If you're prepared to jump through some hoops, it is possible to get the GTX260 192sp for $158 though, but no-one knows for how long.
It's called competition, and it's great.
The HD4870 JUST got lowered in price, to $199, not counting rebates. If you're prepared to jump through some hoops, it is possible to get the GTX260 192sp for $158 though, but no-one knows for how long.
It's called competition, and it's great.
Nvidia's arrogance. Remember they started out selling the 260 at $450 until the 4870 came out at $300 and people just said no to the 260 and 280.
My last few graphics cards were geforce 3, fx 5900, 6800, 7900, then my first ATI since last century, a 4870.
My last few graphics cards were geforce 3, fx 5900, 6800, 7900, then my first ATI since last century, a 4870.
They only have 512MB RAM, which is a big liability for smooth gameplay at even 4X AA on some games.
They also don't perform as well as the GTX260 192SP since the latest drivers.
And they lack PhysX, CUDA, stereo, and NVIDIA's better driver support for new games.
That kind of stuff is worth at least $20..
3D Gaming support, but you need 120hz display. Also you need a very high end card to display 120FPS.
So out of the 5 +'s nRollo lists, all are actually highly argueable. And to the VAST majority of people moot.
Liablitlty for smooth gameplay at even 4X AA on some games--- This is resolution dependant usually 1920x1200 and higher, which equates to how many people? I for one am the only person I know (in real life, not AT..lol) that has a 24 incher let alone a 30"
Performace--- this is only the case as of the latest drivers, still waiting for AMD's answer to the big bang 180's and due to the fact that nvidia had to discontinue the original 260 cause it wasn't good enough
PhysX--- uh, as far as I know only UT3 has very minimal Physx content which happens to be the only reason for UT3 to exist, honestly the game kinda sucks. I'll admit that there are nice looking games on the horizon, but you can't count on hype as for telling if games are good... look how Spore, GTA4 (PC) and countless other games turned out
CUDA--- Nice feature.... What percentage of consumers are gonna take advantage of it?
Stereo---SS chevy called this one, Umm 120hz display :music: Crickets :music: Yes they are out there. I doubt there are very many people that have one which runs that kind of speed, at a high enough resolution at which the whole memory 4x AA performance advantage thingie he mentions as a plus. Besides 3d Gaming, what the hell is that? Obviously nothing the majority of us know anything about.
Better driver support in newer games--- come on man! Yeah Nvidia released the 180's, and nice drivers they are. But ATI/AMD released 3.0-8.10 with awesome results
You know I could puke out an equally impressive list of HD48XX features that I claim to be decision swaying factors which are actually not gonna mean SQUAT to most people on their PC... and I'm talking Gamers here.
I say both cards are phenominal, and industry leaders in their own respect at any given time in any given scenario.
You and a few other people which I care not to name in hopes to not start a poop war, should stop reguritation out green vomit cause I know I'm sick from it and I sure a few others are too.
If you guys have something useful and pertinant to add ... by all means.. do so.
With the newer GTX260 216 SP out (and dropping in price), I'm afraid the 4870 512MB must drop its price to survive.
Leyawiin
Diamond Member
- Nov 11, 2008
- 3,204
- 52
- 91
Smaller die size = less silicon need in the manufacturing process. 512GB RAM vs. 869GB = more money saved. Its a cheaper card by design. Thats why they can usually undercut Nvidia. I'm sure ATI would have like to kept charging $329 for them too (AMD could have used the money), but once a price war gets going and the public expects continued drops its kind of hard to stop. I'm a little skeptical that it can keep going. I've been buying video cards for years and the X800 XL AGP I bought in 2005 cost more than the EVGA GTX 260 "FTW" Edition I have now (and its far less card from both a materials and performance standpoint). I doubt manufacturing costs have dropped that much even with smaller chips. Something's gotta give.
well the die size of the GTX 260 is more than twice the size.
and the GTX uses 512-bit bus, which requires more complicated PCB layouts.
THe reason the GTX is expensive is because its a really inefficient design, so it costs more hardware to get the same performance.
and the GTX uses 512-bit bus, which requires more complicated PCB layouts.
THe reason the GTX is expensive is because its a really inefficient design, so it costs more hardware to get the same performance.
Far more appealing? LOL Cuda, PhysX, etc. has proved ZERO benefit at all in the mainstream games played. Take my 4870 1GB any day of the week.
MrK6
Diamond Member
- Aug 9, 2004
- 4,458
- 4
- 81
To answer the OP, probably simple economics. For a long time, the 4870 512MB sold for $30-50 more than a GTX 260 192 shader, and was probably kept there because it was selling well. Now nVidia introduced the 216 shader GTX 260, and ATI has the 4870 1GB and the 4850X2. All of these cards push the 4870 512MB out of the higher priced bracket as card line-ups from both companies slowly arrange themselves due to supply and demand.
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