ATI or Nvidia... MEH!

[johngalt]

Problem with the ATI cards is that they draw *huge* amounts of power compared to the nVidias - read the Tom's hardware guide articles that motarola posted (and that I also posted in another topic, along with the 4870 and 4850 review links).

 

[xguntherc]

ya no **** huh John... almost 300 that 4870 sucks. and the 260 is at 270.. big difference.. and even worse is the 4870 idle power consumption... it stays pretty high for some reason... I'm actually going to get a GTX 260 tomorro. I'm leaving in 15 minutes to sell my 8800 GTS OCE for $140 the G80 model. lol. and I'm getting a 260 in the morning. I've decided to go with it for the fact that it can OC farther than the ATI, and eVGA has a better warranty and step up program. if a better 200 series comes out on the 55nm process I'll just get one of those.. lol Looks like 260 is what I'll probably be getting.

 

[03hdfatboy]

The 3870X2 OC's better than any ATI card I've ever had.

 

[WildEagle]

My 3870X2 is far better than the two X1800's I had a few years ago. I ended up out of the two X1800's RMAing the X1800 Crossfire Edition card twice. For all intents and purposes I shouldn't have had to do that.

I game my backside off for hours on end with my 3870X2, and I'm not even overclocking, a lot more than I can say for the 8800GTS cards, and those two X1800's that I had before that.

 

[johngalt]

Gunter - out of curiosity - I can step-up to the 9800 GTX + for $6 because of the price I paid for my 8800 GTS - would it be worth it? I mean, there is a *slight* increase in performance, but not *that* much - and I am doubly surprised that the 9800 GTX+ is so much cheaper than the older 8800 GTS (even my G92 based GTS)....something doesn't make sense here....

 

[xguntherc]

well, you do have the KO edition.. but to be honest.. I would for SURE step up.. if you had a 9800GTX I'd say don't step up, just OC, but seein you have a 8800 I'd totally step up. the 9800GTX+ is right up there with the 4850. and the 8800 is not. The 9800GTX+ looks like a pretty good card. I was planning on getting one, then when I realised I could sell my old G80 8800 for as much as I just did. I figured use that cash, and what I woulda spent on the 9800+ and add them together and get a beast like the 260 or the 4870.... But honestly, I'm now even considering getting the GTX 280.... HEHEHE. I'm thinkin what the hell, might as well. it's only 100 more. not so bad. or is that not worth it over the 260. it's only a little better, and I can OC the 260 to equal the stock 280..

I'd say either do a step up and get the +.. or, OR since your in the states you could find a cheap used 8800 GTS and SLI them. I think you'd be best of with that. Getting another 8800 GTS used on craigslist locally, or on newegg.. MOST you'll pay is 150. I bet you could get one for 100 somewhere.. That would be on par or better than the 9800GX2 and better cuz the GX2 had stutter problems. yours would not.
but if your not lookin to spend any money. step up to the 9800 GTX+ is the best and right choice.

let me kno what you do.. and I just sold my G80 8800 GTS OCE for $150. thats a good deal as I paid 60 lol. i kno i kno don't ask..

so that plus i just sold my old computer for 400.. I might as well get the 280.. Or should I get the 260??? help.

 

[xguntherc]

I hate these hard choices.. lol! I really do, and love em at same time. but all I know is Far Cry 2 Here I COME... I can't wait.. BOOYA!

 

[skunksmash]

I hate these hard choices.. lol! I really do, and love em at same time. but all I know is Far Cry 2 Here I COME... I can't wait.. BOOYA!

lol.......

yep great times ahead..

johngalt ...for $6 its gotta be done the GTX+ is reported to clk like a beast ..

''Legit review claims the 9800GTX+ can do 855Mhz core / 2200Mhz shaders / 2550Mhz memory on the stock cooler... fully stable!'':D

 

[xguntherc]

I've heard that from More than 1 review.. I've been told from a freind I know personally at Fry's electronics that he has one at home running 835 Mhz, very very stable and he's lovin it. It might suck more power, but that smaller Core allows for some Great OC'n.

So question. Is it a Fair assumption to say that Nvidia cards can OC better than ATI..??? also is the 280 that much better than the 260, or is the price of 150 not worth the small increase in performance..???

 

[03hdfatboy]

Heres Mine..

 

[skunksmash]

I've heard that from More than 1 review.. I've been told from a freind I know personally at Fry's electronics that he has one at home running 835 Mhz, very very stable and he's lovin it. It might suck more power, but that smaller Core allows for some Great OC'n.

So question. Is it a Fair assumption to say that Nvidia cards can OC better than ATI..??? also is the 280 that much better than the 260, or is the price of 150 not worth the small increase in performance..???

yes....

in general nvidia cards clock better than ATI

the 4850 & 70 are really struggling to OC at the moment..
everybody is hoping its due to immature drivers

but that's another problem with ATI.....driver support
nvidia have hundreds of ''new'' drivers which offer gains & weaknesses from card to card & rig to rig

whereas ATI have 2 or 3 catalyst drivers & that's it !!!!!!
i hear stories all the time with their new drivers not responding due to an unknown H/W issue ..
(something in the rig just not liking that driver) ...& then they are forced to use a driver that was released over a year ago on a next gen card...

who the hell wants to buy they're latest & greatest card to have to run it on they're oldest driver ...not even optimized for that card range ....its stupid really

im gonna grab a 4870x2 but i will certainly wait until the drivers are tried & tested on many different rigs before i do so...
its their only let down IMO.. cos they're tech is just superb at the moment...

but nvidia are about to release they're new flagship..(already..lol)
to rival the 4870x2...
the ''280GTX+'' a 55nm version ... i love GPU wars

 

[03hdfatboy]

I've had a few dirver issues when I had my X1950XTX in CF but none sence I got the 3870X2

 

[xguntherc]

Ya see that was part of my problem. I've never had an ati card, I don't know much about there drivers. but I've never heard good things.. ever.. and the 4870 has been out for how long now, and there is currently NOTHING on there site about it. no drivers or anything. there is no official driver for the 4870, everyone is using there own Ghetto Mods, or the ATI hotfix. thats about it.. I do think that they are struggling to get anything to work, or they would have released one already. So they must be having a hard time getting it right, although i do think that once they get a driver out. The 4870 is going to rock even more.. but for all the other reasons, and the most important thing, the step up program by eVGA. I'm going to get a GTX 260, and Maybe, Maybe a GTX 280 today after work.. for sure one of those 2 though.. We will see. Depends on how much cash I make today.

oh and the new 55nm Nvidia card is not called the 280GTX+. it's the GTX280+ if anything. but I heard it's going to be the 270, and 290. or I saw one review calling it the GTX300 and GTX320.. Either way we will wait and see. but the GTX is at the front now, not the back. and whoever keeps posting about there old 3750's or whatever.. thanks for the info, but the thread is about the new cards.....

 

[03hdfatboy]

Oh 1 more thing.. Before I download a new driver I read the release notes to see if the things that are corrected with the new driver pertain to my rig, if not I don't download it.

 

[03hdfatboy]

Ya see that was part of my problem. I've never had an ati card, I don't know much about there drivers. but I've never heard good things.. ever.. and the 4870 has been out for how long now, and there is currently NOTHING on there site about it. no drivers or anything. there is no official driver for the 4870, everyone is using there own Ghetto Mods, or the ATI hotfix. thats about it.. I do think that they are struggling to get anything to work, or they would have released one already. So they must be having a hard time getting it right, although i do think that once they get a driver out. The 4870 is going to rock even more..

They do have a new driver that supports the 4870

and whoever keeps posting about there old 3750's or whatever.. thanks for the info, but the thread is about the new cards.....

The title of the thread is...ATI or Nvidia not new or old

 

[xguntherc]

I know, I wasn't tryin to be a dick.. but all we were talking about was the new ones.. I was just confused when you guys were talking about your overclocks.. No worries!

Problem.. Everywhere I look online it says the GTX 280 requires a 6 pin, and a 8 pin both. and that the 260 only has two 6 pin connectors.. Thats wrong. I have the 260, and it has both a 6 pin, and a 8 pin slot.. Completely confused, as online and my manual say it only takes two 6 pins.. so why would it have an 8.. and everyhwere online says the only difference in the cards is the 280 has a 8pin connector.. so WTF...? Should I do a 6 and a 8. or should I just do the 2 6's.. If anyone has this card please let me kno. I'm confused now...

um... also the 280 has a power indicator that is on the front near the S video output on the GTX 280, I've read on my manual, and everywhere online that only the 280 has the power indicator.. but for some reason my 260 has that also... I'm now hoping. and thinking that it's possible that I have a GTX 280, with a 260 sticker on it.. Because my 260 has the power indicator, that came with the 280 only, and it has the 8pin and 6pin connectors that only came on the 280.. yet It says it's a 260. This would totally be amazing and I'd be really happy if I just got a 280 for 279.. lol. We will see, I will be plugging it in very soon. I'll let you guys know

 

[03hdfatboy]

I will be plugging it in very soon. I'll let you guys know

I've NEVER been THAT lucky. I'd be the guy that got the 260 in the 280 box

 

[xguntherc]

I GOT IT.. Check under Nvidia Drivers.. I posted what happened there.. basically I bought the GTX260, it has the 260 sticker.. but it's the 280.. so I got the GTX280 for $279.00 hhehe Here's a Screeny of GPU-Z to show you guys.

 

[skunksmash]

look what i just bought.... i put in an offer of $400 & it was accepted ...what a great price £225 shipped :eek::eek::eek:

its all your fault xguntherc ......my missus is not happy with you...lol
though i cant run it in this rig cos my PSU don't have the legs for a 280

i may just leave it in the box & step up to the 55nm refresh..

ooooooh new GPU

 

[xguntherc]

don't believe it.. Well it's true!

One small problem tho. It's faulty and I'm going to be returning it.. lol Yup. and I wont be able to get a 280 the next time around.. oh well tho.

I was on a website and they had 48 people with 280's, and 65% of them had been returned for problems with Mainly Heat.. people's were getting to 104 C in Furmark within seconds. and people trying to load grid and Crysis were having the same head problem, and freezing and shutdowns.. thats 65%. Thats TERRIBLE. The fan starts stuttering really bad. and then it all goes flop.
Apparently this card is giving lots of people trouble and it's having a high RMA rate. but almost everyone that returned one. has gotten a better card the second time. one guy took 3 times tho.

The good news. the GTX 260 on the same site had a thread for problems also.. and there was like 60 something people with the 260, and a total of 2 people had a problem.. MUCH smaller number than the 280. So it sounds to me like the GTX 260 is the way to go.

I'm going to return my card tomorro for another one, witch will be a 260.. I wont be able to get another lucky draw like this. But It's ok, in all honesty I'm perfectly ok with that, ya a 280 woulda been nice. But the recommended Wattage for it was 550. and my PSU is only 520. I do have a corsair. but I am going to be more than happy with my 260.

Shame I couldn't have a perfect 280. But I don't wanna be having heat problems.. Tomorrow I'll let everyone know how things go when I get my new card bright and early...

p.s. I'm going to try Crysis right now, Grid lasted 3 secnds. and COD4 lasted about 5 minutes.. before going to 106 Degree's CELSIUS. thats pretty darn hot. Oh well, I'm not to upset. I don't care, I'd rather have a for sure good card in the 260 then this 280. and John, I've heard nothing but good things in the 260. so you should for Sure get that on your step up