Vista - ATI or Nvidia... MEH!

I didn't see your post Skunk.. looks like you just bought a 280.. Cancel...

I've been reading nothing but bad things online about it.. 65% of all cards are being RMA'd or returned.. they all overheat. I just watched mine get to 107 degree's C in Crysis with the screen NOT even on fullscreen.. thats way to hot. It's still runs ok, no artifacts.. still looks good, but thats way to hot.
the fan stutters like MAD. and then when I went to fullscreen the card crashes.

I've heard this is happening to MANY people.
But I've also heard this is not happening at all for the GTX 260.. so if I was you I'd cancel that 280 and order a 260.. or wait until tomorr around 11am as I'll have a new 260 in my hand tomorrow morning and I'll give her a try.

just been told this elsewhere....

but for £225 shipped i think i will go ahead & as i said just leave it in the box & step up to whatever they have in 90 days time

if its the GT200b that should be cheaper than the 280 so im not sure how that works....they give me money back ???

i could just give him some crap on ebay about cash problems & find a 260 but they are averaging £200 - £210 ....so the deal i got looks great

i hate impulse buying & then you get hit with bad news.....lol
god...now im the one with the decision to make

lol sorry... well or give it a try.. might work.. some are good, some aren't. just a high amount.. if it doesn't work you can still step up.

OK, I got my new GTX 260 today. and it's all good. Everything is up and running MUCH better than the 280 was.

The GTX 260 only uses two 6 pin connectors instead of a 6 and a 8 like the 280. I think that 8pin might of been whats giving the 280's a lot of power, and then resulting in severe overheating. I'm happy to say that my GTX260 with the Fan set at "Auto" witch is 40% in eVGA Precision was good enough so far. I'll probably play with it. But idle temps are around 47C and When playing GRID for over 15 minutes it never got above 68C.. the 280 after 4 seconds of GRID went to 106C and shut down..

So I'm happy to say the GTX260 is much better, safer, and Cooler being the biggest thing. I will try Crysis later and let you all know how it went.

edit* with Fan speed set to 55% I get a idle of 46C and During 2 loops of Mark Vantage I never saw it above 52C. thats great news, and very comforting to see such a low temp.. Time for Physx now.

Having more fun with my GTX 260, and overclocking it and my PSU to a better, more stable clock.. Here's my Mark06 scores.

oh and for all of you that were doubting that I actually had a GTX 280 with a GTX 260 sticker on it.. Here's the pictures I took, Here you will see the 6 and the 8 pin PCI-E power connectors on this card.. the 260 only has two 6 pins. and the 280 has a 6 and a 8. Here's a picture with my GTX280, with a 260 sticker on it..

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/7941/1000314gn8.jpg

then, if you can see it. to the Left of the Vent. Past the Screw, there is a little round thing. thats the Power Indicator that only comes on the GTX280, and does NOT come on the 260.. yet my picture shows it on my 260.. thats becuase it's a 280.. hehe
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9020/1000312yd4.jpg