Sirusly Cornfuzzed

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[H]F Junkie
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I'm building a new computer (for the hell of it) and have reached the point where I pick my video card. I am not in the least bit interested in a Crossfire or SLI setup. I've looked at the GTX280, but that's a bit more than I want to spend. So that leaves the GTX260, and HD 4870.

I was originally going to get the 4870 because people were saying three months ago that it was very competitive with the 280, but priced like a 260. Now I'm reading that the 4870 can't touch a 280, but is trading blows with the 260. I've read so many reviews and previews that eye are bleeding and I can't keep track of what I've read.

So here's what I need it for:

games (a mix of current and old games, and of course games yet to come.)
1920x1200
eye candy is awesome
HD video
folding


So which direction should I go to get the best performance for under $300. Oh and I don't do mail-in rebates.
 
Overall the GTX 260 and 4870 trade blows. The two are pretty close in performance. The 4870, however, has better AA and in rare cases can catch up to a GTX 280.

That said, I would go with whichever is cheaper. If both are the same price, then I would lean towards the GTX 260 from BFG or EVGA so you can take advantage of their step-up programs.
 
kllrnohj said:
Overall the GTX 260 and 4870 trade blows. The two are pretty close in performance. The 4870, however, has better AA and in rare cases can catch up to a GTX 280.

That said, I would go with whichever is cheaper. If both are the same price, then I would lean towards the GTX 260 from BFG or EVGA so you can take advantage of their step-up programs.
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Well, since the 4870 is going for about $260 and the GTX 280 about $420, seems like an easy choice if your on any kind of budget.
 
WhiteZero said:
Well, since the 4870 is going for about $260 and the GTX 280 about $420, seems like an easy choice if your on any kind of budget.
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Are you saying that the 4870 has similar performance to the GTX280, and smokes the GTX260?
 
The GTX 260 isn't bad. The GTX 280 is even better when you get them for ~$340 after rebates and the Microsoft cashback :)
 
I purchased a 4870x2 and ended up returning it after 2 weeks, the drivers are a real hassle.. it would work great for a few days.. reboot and be all the hell again.. uninstall, driver sweeper, reinstall all different versions to get it working good etc.. finally I said screw it and returned it.. when the 4870x2 worked though it screamed. If the drivers were more mature and worked like they should I would recommend the 4870, but as is I would go nvidia atm. I am waiting for the 260/280 refresh that is coming up shortly and going to go that route.
 
It's not really fair to diss the 4870 based on a bad experience with a 4870x2. You know that the dual GPU configuration causes many problems (particularly heat and driver related issues) that don't exist on a single 4870.

HB
 
GTX260 all the way! And if you're gonna hold onto that card for a while, I'd suggest buying an Asus or an MSI.
 
HenryBravo said:
It's not really fair to diss the 4870 based on a bad experience with a 4870x2. You know that the dual GPU configuration causes many problems (particularly heat and driver related issues) that don't exist on a single 4870.

HB
Click to expand...

that would be true if it were an isolated case, but many people have these same problems. I just know a vanilla 4870 uses the same drivers.
 
Again, if you like AA then HD 4870, gtx260 has PhysX advantage but not yet proven.
 
One last question, when it comes to HD videos (Blurays, h.264, etc) which card is going to give me a better experience? Does it even matter since I'll be getting a Q9400?
 
i think both Ati and Nv solutions are virtually equall when it comes to HD videos experiences, there's small differences but both are OK.
 
Well, seems that flipping a coin is about the best way to decide on which of these two video cards to get. Having done that, a Palit GTX260 will be in my hands this week.
 
My 4870 had no issues.. my 4870x2 can be buggy at times but I also blame that on me not sticking with the first driver I had that worked great. The 4870 is a nice card.
 
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