Point of View GeForce GTX 260

[W1zzard]

To read this review go to: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/P...Force_GTX_260/

Please Digg the review to help us promote it.

[btarunr]

Nice review.

Ok, the HD4870 beats it fair and square.

[lemonadesoda]

Oh man, Mr. Magic has got a freaking time machine!

Excellent, thorough review.

PS. In other news... GTX 260 is officially $330 now. That might affect your price/performance graph and conclusions.

[newtekie1]

Needs to be $100 cheaper, though the overclocking potential is very nice, and worth something in my book. However, it certainly isn't worth $100.

[W1zzard]

fixed the power connectors

time machine?

[farlex85]

Thanks wiz! It really is a solid card, just gotta make that price right. W/o the right price it's almost obsolete, but priced equally w/ the 4870, this seems to have a leg up on account of it's oc potential.

[lemonadesoda]

time machine?

You created thread yesterday (Wed). Review dated today (Thr).

PS. In other news... GTX 260 is officially $360 from 7 July 2008. That might affect your price/performance graph and conclusions. http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=64729

Interesting summary:


The 10% price cut announced for the GTX260 only takes it to "110%" on the performance per dollar scale, and therefore still behind the other cards. But with w1z's successful "easy" overlock by 20%... that would take it to "130%"... and a good match for the 4870! Hmm. Interesting. By a small whisker nVidia still has a competitive product. Not with the GTX280 though. Still too expensive by a longboat.

[W1zzard]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

You created thread yesterday (Wed). Review dated today (Thr).

PS. In other news... GTX 260 is officially $330 from 7 July 2008. That might affect your price/performance graph and conclusions.

thats the way our review creation process works. make thread, write up stuff, finish it, get it posted up and move thread to reviews

theinq thgaily claims those price drops. until they are real there is nothing that affects the end user who reads the review today other than "wait"

[lemonadesoda]

Sorry, I actually misread it first time. I thought the price cuts were today. Quite right! Graphs perfect. Sorry about my late edits.

[vojc]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

You created thread yesterday (Wed). Review dated today (Thr).

PS. In other news... GTX 260 is officially $360 from 7 July 2008. That might affect your price/performance graph and conclusions. http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=64729

Interesting summary:


The 10% price cut announced for the GTX260 only takes it to "110%" on the performance per dollar scale, and therefore still behind the other cards. But with w1z's successful "easy" overlock by 20%... that would take it to "130%"... and a good match for the 4870! Hmm. Interesting. By a small whisker nVidia still has a competitive product. Not with the GTX280 though. Still too expensive by a longboat.

and if you overclock 4870? that puts it on to 140, if u OC it by update bios, than u go on 150%
so OCing a card and say yeah that puts it on 130% is not rigt, either of card can be overclocked and go higher on scail

[lemonadesoda]

^^News from w1z's OC experience (PLEASE READ HIS REVIEW esp. the overclock and conclusion comments: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/P...TX_260/24.html) is that the GTX 260 can be pushed to a higher clock very easily. You can OC the 4870, but not by much. The 4850 however OC's better than 4870.

Need to remember how these things are brought to market: nVidia is perhaps underclocking the GTX 260 to make sure there is a performance gap to thier high-end card the GTX 280. Whereas, the 4870 is already ATI's top card. They will already push that baby to the max.

I havent tried any of this: I dont own either card. Just picking the info up from elsewhere to summarise.

[lemonadesoda]

Wolf has spotted the GTX260 at $299 already. Nice. http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=64755

nVidia are back in the game. Albeit without making much money. But at least they acted quick. (Or their partners did). So now, GTX260 same price as 4870 for same stock performance, but with better OC ability on GTX260.

[candle_86]

no that price is showed on newegg, thats the real price nvidia allows it to sell for, Nvidia are back, and right now id say GTX260 over 4870 for preformance, heat, and power

[DarkMatter]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

^^News from w1z's OC experience (PLEASE READ HIS REVIEW esp. the overclock and conclusion comments: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/P...TX_260/24.html) is that the GTX 260 can be pushed to a higher clock very easily. You can OC the 4870, but not by much. The 4850 however OC's better than 4870.

Need to remember how these things are brought to market: nVidia is perhaps underclocking the GTX 260 to make sure there is a performance gap to thier high-end card the GTX 280. Whereas, the 4870 is already ATI's top card. They will already push that baby to the max.

I havent tried any of this: I dont own either card. Just picking the info up from elsewhere to summarise.

I also have the impression that Nvidia was underclocking almost every card since G80, so that they left some room for their partners to OC and because they didn't need that extra bit of performance themselves to be on top. In fact almost every partner sells cards with more than 10% OC and are very stable, have similar or same cooling (didn't need more) and temperatures and power consumption are not a lot higher and you can still OC them quite a bit more. This means they were underclocked IMO.

OH and GTX260 at $260 after rebate is definately a very good deal.

[Blacklash]

If you're an AoC addict it's a great card for 1920x with AA|AF, full shadows, bloom and max details. I love mine.

Most people should be able to score 690 or better on the core. Of course that is luck of the draw, and right now I am seeing a lot of 700-712s from overclockers with this card.

[vojc]

4870 is still faster than 260gtx, at least on default setting. U can OC either of cards, 4870 goes on 900+ with bios mod

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by vojc

4870 is still faster than 260gtx, at least on default setting. U can OC either of cards, 4870 goes on 900+ with bios mod

No the 4870 is not faster than the 260GTX at default settings. At default settings they are equal.

[vojc]

as u can see on 90% of games radeon is faster, so i don`t know how they calculate 100%:100%

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...0,1964-19.html

and
http://www.expreview.com/img/topic/h...70vsgtx260.png

[echo75]

Originally Posted by btarunr

Nice review.

Ok, the HD4870 beats it fair and square.

no it does not mate only in some games, and in all the games that matter to me GTX 260 outperforms the 4870.

PS. In other news... GTX 260 is officially $360 from 7 July 2008. That might affect your price/performance graph and conclusions. http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=64729

Interesting summary:

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by vojc

as u can see on 90% of games radeon is faster, so i don`t know how they calculate 100%:100%

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...0,1964-19.html

and
http://www.expreview.com/img/topic/h...70vsgtx260.png

W1z's calculations are based on his benchmarks. Toms tested it on 9 games across 3 resolutions, Expertreview tested it on 11 across 2 resolutions, W1z tested it on 15 across 4 resolutions.

I think I'll believe his numbers since he did the most thorough well rounded review.

[W1zzard]

look at all the numbers individually, look at what you games you play etc. but overall there won't be any big difference unless you are playing quake 4

[OzzmanFloyd120]

Heh, I'd still rather have a 9800GX2, looks like it's better at higher res.

[TooFast]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

No the 4870 is not faster than the 260GTX at default settings. At default settings they are equal.

the 4870 is faster than the gtx260!! you need to read!

[vojc]

Originally Posted by echo75

no it does not mate only in some games, and in all the games that matter to me GTX 260 outperforms the 4870.

so i belive u play only one game
To make thing worse.....ATI beats nvidia in games with Nvidia logo.........such a shame

[lemonadesoda]

If, like me, you are a HD desktop/gamer, ie 1920x1200 or higher, then it seems the GTX260 is the winner. For 'low', e.g. 1600x1200 and below, the 4870 and GTX260 are even stevens at stock clocks. But the GTX260 will OC more than the 4870 will. GTX260 wins.

P.S. My systems are all ATI. But that doesnt mean I wont switch on my next upgrade, if there is a better value card available.