THG: Best Video Cards for the money (Aug 08)

johngalt · Aug 6, 2008

OK, so Tom's has upgraded their analysis for this month, which *does* include the nVidia price drop - and they're sticking with their recommendations for the most part.

Neither of the nVidia 200 series cards matches the 48xx series cards from ATI, according to them.

Best Video Cards For The Money: August '08 : The Best Graphics Cards for the Money: August 2008 - Tom's Hardware

Oskari · Aug 7, 2008

I certainly love my 4850. Cheap and fast - I'll be trying Crysis tonight, so maybe I'll have to consider crossfire. But every game I've tried at 1680x1050 maxed out runs without a stutter. I'm a happy 48xx user for sure!

xguntherc · Aug 10, 2008

Same here, but with the GTX260.. I am a very happy user. and even tho SOME rate it under the 4870.. It's cooler, and it OC's better. and in the end just as good in my eyes. I'm a happy 260 owner.

But waiting to see if NV drops a 55nm. if so, then I'll maybe try one out

edit* Nice thread John

johngalt · Aug 16, 2008

Another similar post - interestingly he likes the ATI for budget and midrange, but suggest the gt280 as a good high end card.

Huh?

Get the best graphics card upgrade | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

xguntherc · Aug 16, 2008

it was the best when he wrote it probably.. and still is, for single cards.. except the new x2 from ATI

kzone · Aug 21, 2008

For last 5 days I have:

mother M3A,
6400+,
4 gig,
4870 x2,
vista 64 prem,
sb x-fi exgamer,

First 2 days were nightmare as I play AOC and continually every 10 - 30 minutes bsod and ctd due to memeory leak to point game totally unplayable Hour after hour checking and reinstalling. Finally day 3, took out my sb x-fi, replaced with onboard realtek 2.02 drivers just released and all my problems stopped. Can now played flawlessly on max. everything except for occasional lag spikes. I am a very happy ATI customer considering I had nvidia for last 6 years...

xguntherc · Aug 21, 2008

wow not a bad machine there for a Dual core. sounds like ur enjoying that for ur games. do you have any real benchmark results of that x2?

kzone · Aug 22, 2008

xguntherc said:
wow not a bad machine there for a Dual core. sounds like ur enjoying that for ur games. do you have any real benchmark results of that x2?

nope sorry, no bench marks but still no problems...

Fumz · Aug 22, 2008

GTX260 vs 4870 round 2: [H] Enthusiast - ASUS ENGTX260 TOP

Now that the 260's are the same price as the 4870's things are looking a little different from when 4870 first dropped.

skunksmash · Aug 23, 2008

Fumz said:
GTX260 vs 4870 round 2: [H] Enthusiast - ASUS ENGTX260 TOP

Now that the 260's are the same price as the 4870's things are looking a little different from when 4870 first dropped.

i must admit that's a shock.... i was under the impression the GTX280 was closer to the 4870 performance

& the 4870 & 260 do cost about the same..?? once again the scales start to tip toward team green..

Fumz · Aug 23, 2008

The 260's are only $250.00 now; imagine how low they'll be come x-mas time with the 55's out.

skunksmash · Aug 23, 2008

Fumz said:
The 260's are only $250.00 now; imagine how low they'll be come x-mas time with the 55's out.

its true ....

& Nvidia are still far more solid in relation to compatibility
ATI are struggling with some H/W configs & i don't even need to go into their drivers!!

Fumz · Aug 23, 2008

Driver support is the one thing that has always kept me away from ATI. Doesn't really matter how good ATI cards are or how well they're priced, I'd happily pay a little more for a constant stream of updated reliable drivers.

tangster03 · Sep 2, 2008

Fumz said:
The 260's are only $250.00 now; imagine how low they'll be come x-mas time with the 55's out.

Hello Fumz,

Can you tell me the full product name of 260 you mentioned above? And can you post the link where I can check its specifications? Thanks a lot.

usmc_nam_vet · Sep 2, 2008

The question is purly subjective. What do you want the video card to do? Will you be running dual monitors? Need HDMI 1080 output. Just doing email and have a old crt green monitor? Shucks I can't spell for xxxx. I had a old fart attack. Vista won't run on anything that still uses a green monitor will it. Now where did I put that Packard Bell?

Fumz · Sep 2, 2008

tangster03 said:
Fumz said:

The 260's are only $250.00 now; imagine how low they'll be come x-mas time with the 55's out.

Click to expand...

Hello Fumz,

Can you tell me the full product name of 260 you mentioned above? And can you post the link where I can check its specifications? Thanks a lot.

The full and exact name of the card is going to vary dependent on who made it; however, pretty much all of them are going to perform reasonably close to each other. What you want to search for is the GeForce 200 series, from there you'll find all the 260's and 280's. Here are a few examples from the first page of newegg's search that are ~$250.00, some a bit more, some a bit less:
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1262-AR GeForce GTX 260 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - ASUS ENGTX260 TOP/HTDP/896M GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Newegg.com - PNY VCGGTX260XPB GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

I personally don't mind spending an extra few dollars to get a factory overclocked card because vid card OC'in just isn't something I do anymore for a variety of reasons: not enough control, the parts have become too expensive, this is one warranty I don't want to void, etc. etc...

xguntherc · Sep 2, 2008

Yes, the GTX260 is it's name. and they are great cards. the GTX280 is stronger and better, but also $460 and they overheat a lot.

I have one. the GTX260 and I love it. I have the top one. the eVGA. no SC, no overclocked edition. just normal. and I am the opposite of Fumz here, why spend 40 or even more for a card thats the same as the cheaper one, but they just changed one setting. Plus the new GTX260/280 actually come with a Software from eVGA that shows you how to very easily OC the cards yourself. Mines stock at 576 MHz core clock. and I play with it up around 720 MHz core, thats faster than the GTX280. and I paid $279.00

I do see Fumz point. as GFX cards are very very costly items to replace. but if your smart. and get one from a good brand. Then breaking them during overclocking will NOT void the warranty. No ATI company will do this.

But with Nvidia, if you get a XFX, or an eVGA card. and you Overclock and ruin it, or you change the cooler on it. and fry it. They will still replace the card Via it's "Lifetime Warranty". a great thing that only one ATI brand has.

So I have the normal lowest, stock eVGA GTX260, Cranked WAY up. and if it gets fried. they'll send another one. as they encourage the Overclockers and Enthusiasts to buy there cards, afterall. Those are who purchase the new and best of the best stuff anyways right..

Hope this helps. I'd only get eVGA, or XFX, or maybe BFG. but if your not going to overclock. and thats not a concern. the cheapest one is the PNY. and it's the same card, with a different sticker basically. but not a good waranty either. thats the drawback.

Hope this helps.

Skulltrail · Sep 8, 2008

It's not about which card is best, but which one fits your needs and gaming pleasure. I say the GTX 200s will be best due to the easy OCing, cooler equipment, and integrated PhysX card.

xguntherc · Sep 9, 2008

yes they are great cards.. do everything well.. I have the eVGA 260

yes Skulltrail they are much much cooler, they Oc easier, and better than ATI, and they do have physx. although thats not that big yet, not sure how big it will get. we will have to wait and see..

Skulltrail. thats regarding the Intel Skulltrail system right?? Dual QX9775 CPU's, thats one MEAN MEAN @$$ computer.

There is currently a drawing for the Skulltrail for people that work for Intel, my buddy does but never enters the drawings. So I did instead for him. He said I can have it if he wins. you can enter 10 times a day, but it costs you like chips you have to earn. and it's 100 a drawing. I've entered 7 times so far. and the last day is today, I think they will draw tonight or tomorrow.

that would be simply AMAZING if I won it, if I do I'll share all my current stuff with everyone, Fumz, John and whoever. lol.

Everyone wish me luck in the drawing, Pray for me, or whatever your thing is. Cuz I'd be a happy camper if I won.

I'll let you all know.

amplid · Sep 10, 2008

LOL gunther, I tried winning a blackbird once

Hope you'll be luckier...

Heard anything yet? Why are those 280's that much more expensive if you can tweak a card that is about half the price to a level higher than the 280??:s

Amplid

THG: Best Video Cards for the money (Aug 08)

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