Best and Cheapest Video Card

**Jun aka Pekto** · October 5th, 2009 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by jut703

Just to clarify. 216sp is notan overclocked GTX 260. The initial release of the GTX 260 had 192 shading processors (sp). However seeing that this placed it as an equal (performance wise) to the 512 MB HD 4870, which at that time was selling a little cheaper, nVidia decided to increase the amount of shading processors to 216 (which is still not equal to the GTX 280's 240) along with a die shrink from 65 nm to 55 nm (this also brought about a code name change from GT200 to GT200b).
So GTX 260 216sps are stock. There are overclocked versions of these which are usually sold as GTX 260 216sp OC. :D

I take it there's 3 in the GTX 260 family

GTX 260
GTX 260 216
GTX 260 216SP

I don't think newegg's got the GTX 260 216SP. Even so. The HD 4870 1GB is still a bit cheaper than a stock GTX 260 ($25 cheaper). The only other GTX 260 I see is the GTX 260 216. It's dead heat between the HD 4870 1GB and the GTX 260 216 with the HD 4870 slightly quicker in the majority of benchmarks, at least based on Anandtech's tests:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3650&p=4

or

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/P..._216_SP/1.html

Even against an overclocked GTX 260 216SP, the stock non-overclocked HD 4870 512MB still did better in some games.

That plus I expect a lot less issues with ATI cards on AMD systems because after all, AMD owns ATI.

Add the fact that an HD 4870 is cheaper than even a stock GTX 260 (at least here). It's probably because the HD 5000 series are already on sale.

**Jun aka Pekto** · October 5th, 2009 03:28 AM

Looking at various reviews of the HD 4870 (and HD 4890), a lot of the older reviews (last year and early this year) had it at a big disadvantage against the GTX 260 216/216SP. But, the most recent reviews have the HD 4870 doing much better.

I imagine it's because the HD 4870 drivers finally had time to mature.

The cheapest GTX 260 216 (SP?) has a Core Clock Speed of 650Mhz + HDMI sells for $180. Compare that to $155 for the HD 4870 1GB and $190 for the HD 4890 ($185 if I go with Powercolor with no HDMI) .

**ssaloon** · October 13th, 2009 12:57 PM

Up ko lang.

Which is better, Sapphire Vapor-X HD4850 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E HDMI or Inno3D GeForce GTS 250 512MB DDR3 256bit Dual DVI HDMI PCI-E? Both are in the same price range.

Looks like I have to fast track the upgrade of my VC since the display turns to/flickers to white randomly (it's not the LCD's fault). Will the new VC simply bolt-on to the PCI slot of the 7300GT I will be replacing?

Could this be purely a VC issue or can it also be related to the PSU? It started acting up when I was playing NBA 2K9 a few weeks ago.

Also what would be a decent PSU with a 2k budget?

**rion** · October 13th, 2009 03:56 PM

never tried those two, but kung benchmark score lang basehan... mas ok 4850

at yes, bolt on lang yan as long as PCI-E, NOT AGP. you will likely need 6 pins power supply plug...

psu for 2k... I'm not sure the HEC 500w raptor is enough... recently it became one of those exploding series like the HEC AB.

yung maganda parin feedback so far yung HEC 550+ 80%

if only may stocks pa sa Tacens Supero 500w modular (80% daw) ok pa siguro. right now wala ng stocks. at 600w nalang available * 3k

you could also venture on Powerline 650W Modular Dual Rail

http://tipidpc.com/viewitem.php?iid=4218501

but it's a new product... hindi pa subok... atleast yung Tacens medyo subok na kasi ilang buwan narin dito at FSP yung manufacturer nila. I also own one.

**ssaloon** · October 13th, 2009 04:03 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'm also considering the radeon HD 4830 since not that far off sa benchmark and cheaper siya.

Will the new VC be plug and play sa old pci-e slot ng 7300 ko?

**rion** · October 13th, 2009 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by ssaloon

Thanks for the tip. I'm also considering the radeon HD 4830 since not that far off sa benchmark and cheaper siya.

Will the new VC be plug and play sa old pci-e slot ng 7300 ko?

as long as pci-e, ok lang po. but you will need a 6pin for the vc's power source.

may HD 5750 na pala... * 6.9k.... upgrade itch... layo-an mo kami. haha..

**ssaloon** · October 13th, 2009 09:48 PM

May nabibiling adaptor ba for 6pins para sa PSU?

I'm going to disconnect 1 of my optical drives (since I rarely use it) and probably 1 of my fans since my CPU is always open on the side.

**jut703** · October 13th, 2009 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Jun aka Pekto

I take it there's 3 in the GTX 260 family

GTX 260
GTX 260 216
GTX 260 216SP

I don't think newegg's got the GTX 260 216SP. Even so. The HD 4870 1GB is still a bit cheaper than a stock GTX 260 ($25 cheaper). The only other GTX 260 I see is the GTX 260 216. It's dead heat between the HD 4870 1GB and the GTX 260 216 with the HD 4870 slightly quicker in the majority of benchmarks, at least based on Anandtech's tests:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3650&p=4

or

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/P..._216_SP/1.html

Even against an overclocked GTX 260 216SP, the stock non-overclocked HD 4870 512MB still did better in some games.

That plus I expect a lot less issues with ATI cards on AMD systems because after all, AMD owns ATI.

Add the fact that an HD 4870 is cheaper than even a stock GTX 260 (at least here). It's probably because the HD 5000 series are already on sale.

Sir hindi po, yung SP diyan means Shading Processors. :P

Anyway, malapit na lumabas yung GT300 series, so hindi mo na kailangan mawindang sa naming scheme ng GT200. :P

But presently, what's out is the 5800 series.

Oras na para mag-ipon para sa 5850 + i5 750 set up. :P

**jut703** · October 13th, 2009 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by ssaloon

May nabibiling adaptor ba for 6pins para sa PSU?

I'm going to disconnect 1 of my optical drives (since I rarely use it) and probably 1 of my fans since my CPU is always open on the side.

Naubos mo lahat ng cable ng PSU mo? Usually sobra sobra yun ah.

**rion** · October 14th, 2009 12:07 AM

yep, myroon po. some vc also has adaptors as one of their free accessories.

if you intend to try your old psu... when on game mode... tingnan mo temperature ng PSU mo... kung mainit... try smelling it from the exhaust fan...

personaly, if it's a generic psu. I would not try it...

I would not expect Nvidia releasing the GT300 anytime soon... matagal na napako sa cruz yung pangako nila. haha...

they even claimed they will be the first to release it before AMD does...

though I will be waiting... atleast ok pa yung nilalaro ko sa ngayon... walang pang deeper itch...

nvdia fanboy ako. may 3d vision and PhysX pa ang green team sa ngayon... Nvidia is sponsoring a lot of games... kaya pabor compatibilty sa kanila... (violating the Anti-trust)

and I got a lot of issues with Amd drivers, the Radeon X series cannot play RE5. my x1650's are lag on openGL kahit anong driver from the oldest to the newest