9800gx2 vs gtx260 Poll. Pick for me!

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08-07-2008, 09:21 AM
[XC] Synthetickiller

9800gx2 vs gtx260 Poll. Pick for me!

Guys, I can't decide what card to get.

I am torn between the gtx260 and the 9800gx2. Both are similarly priced. On the egg, the 9800gx2 is about $300 and the gtx is $270 ($25 MIR = $245).

I want an nvidia to fold on as well, not just game, although I do game a lot. I mostly play FPSs and RTS. I'm concerned about micro-stutter and if I can't use SLI, the card is about as good as my current 8800gts g92.

Which card is better for the long haul?:shrug:

If there is a better nvidia card that'll do the job, let me know. I don't want any ati cards b/c they can't fold worth a damn. So please, don't bring up the 4850 or 4870. Those would be my choice if I didn't fold.

Edit: I have a 650 watt psu running a q6600 @ 1.5v, and a mcp655 pump. If the 9800gx2 takes too much power, I'll end up having to go w/ the gtx260.
08-07-2008, 11:38 AM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Bump!

Anyone? 19 people viewed this and have no opinions?
08-07-2008, 12:43 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Anyone care to explain why the gtx260 > 9800gx2?

Just wondering since its 7 votes for the 260 and 1 for the 9800gx2.
08-07-2008, 12:48 PM
annihilat0r

Obviously GTX 260, 9800GX2 has microstuttering and most of its displayed FPS numbers are not reflecting the speed / fluidity of the game you see on your screen.
08-07-2008, 12:52 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Quote:

Originally Posted by annihilat0r

Obviously GTX 260, 9800GX2 has microstuttering and most of its displayed FPS numbers are not reflecting the speed / fluidity of the game you see on your screen.

That is the kind of responce I was waiting for!

I was worried about micro-stutter. I'd look into the gtx280, but the price point isn't there.

Thanks. GTX260 it is!
08-07-2008, 12:55 PM
Budwise

4870?
08-07-2008, 01:01 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synthetickiller

Guys, I can't decide what card to get.

I am torn between the gtx260 and the 9800gx2. Both are similarly priced. On the egg, the 9800gx2 is about $300 and the gtx is $270 ($25 MIR = $245).

I want an nvidia to fold on as well, not just game, although I do game a lot. I mostly play FPSs and RTS. I'm concerned about micro-stutter and if I can't use SLI, the card is about as good as my current 8800gts g92.

Which card is better for the long haul?:shrug:

If there is a better nvidia card that'll do the job, let me know. I don't want any ati cards b/c they can't fold worth a damn. So please, don't bring up the 4850 or 4870. Those would be my choice if I didn't fold.
Edit: I have a 650 watt psu running a q6600 @ 1.5v, and a mcp655 pump. If the 9800gx2 takes too much power, I'll end up having to go w/ the gtx260.

No ati cards! They don't do folding @ home well at all.

I'm officially a broken record.
08-07-2008, 01:05 PM
annihilat0r

Actually, if both were at the same price I'd go for GTX 260 instead of a 4870. More RAM, better cooler, much better overclockability.

Where I live, 4870's are around $290, but we didn't get the GTX price drops so I had to go with 4870.
08-07-2008, 07:53 PM
tiro_uspsss

gtx260
08-08-2008, 12:45 AM
Nanometer

GX2 if you want a good heater.
08-08-2008, 01:09 AM
Kondik

GTX 260, I had 4870, then i had CF and i thought it's amazing, then i returned them took the GTX 280 and I was amazaed how great a card can be, The FPS is maybe lower but the gaming experience ,working experience , Physx and Cuda ... and it's a new monolithic chip, after thermalright releases its GTX heatsink, I'll be the happiet man in the world. And More Ram , stock cooling is amazing, power consumation in 2D is amazing, and ofc propper driver support.

GTX260
08-08-2008, 01:32 AM
Solarfall

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanometer

GX2 if you want a good heater.

exactly LOL man they run really hot.. personally i'd pic the 260gtx they are pretty affordable and if you wanna add a second card to your system it will come cheaper than getting a nother 9800gx2.... BUT if you can find a cheap 9800gx2 from ebay for exsamble go for it...atleast you would have a freaking awesome heater to keep you warm on those cold winter nights :D
08-08-2008, 07:11 AM
Nanometer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solarfall

exactly LOL man they run really hot.. personally i'd pic the 260gtx they are pretty affordable and if you wanna add a second card to your system it will come cheaper than getting a nother 9800gx2.... BUT if you can find a cheap 9800gx2 from ebay for exsamble go for it...atleast you would have a freaking awesome heater to keep you warm on those cold winter nights :D

I think we all know here how to deal with the cold winter nights.... we play chess.
08-08-2008, 07:49 AM
stangracin2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synthetickiller

No ati cards! They don't do folding @ home well at all.

I'm officially a broken record.

we know you are and you live under a rock because folding @ home is only using 320 shaders on ati cards so don't say they don't fold worth a damn

pay attention
08-08-2008, 08:58 AM
[XC] Synthetickiller

They don't.

ati cards:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...chart_rev1.gif

nvidia cards:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d_then_PPD.gif

I want to thank legoman666 for these charts. :up:

8800gt beats 4870 in folding. :fact:

If the program isn't using the card to its full extent, that still means they don't fold well. I care about real world, not "what ifs" I said no ati anyways. ;)

Like I said, I'd be looking at ati for purely gaming purposes, if that was the case.
08-08-2008, 12:00 PM
Asgard_thor

my vote is the 9800gx2, if you can get the evga, if it isn't too much more, just because of the stepup :D
08-08-2008, 12:06 PM
JohnZS

My vote was for the gtx260
Although the 9800GX2 is the faster card, (in quite a few current games), there are already signs that the 256Bit 512MB VRAM is becoming a limitation, and also the problems associated with MutiGPU solutions being that with the 9800GX2 you will be subjected to Microstuttering and also praying to the driver Gods for a Good SLi Driver to work with your new Game.
You will not have to worry about any of that with your shiny new gtx260 :)
However if you just want raw speed and pretty impressive benchmark results the 9800GX2 does push a fair few pixels more than the gtx260 (I seem to recall it is around the same speed as a stock gtx280)
However in newer games and 1920*1200 the gtx260 will start to shine.
John
08-08-2008, 05:22 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asgard_thor

my vote is the 9800gx2, if you can get the evga, if it isn't too much more, just because of the stepup :D

Now that's an interesting point. What would I be stepped up to?

I've heard a few horror stories about evga as of recent which scares me a bit.

The gtx260 I have my eye on is the msi version.
08-08-2008, 05:30 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

I took a look at the evga step up. I could get the 9800gx2 for 300, then step up to a gtx280. the 280 is selling for 390 w/ MIR at newegg. Do they step up since both cards are out? I mean, isn't that cheating, not that I care?
08-08-2008, 05:49 PM
perkam

The GX2 is $299. Here is the apples to apples GTX 260: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121262

Perkam
08-08-2008, 06:13 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Better price... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127361

Question still remains... if I buy a 9800gx2, can I trade to the gtx280? That would be worth the extra 50 bucks over the MSI gtx260.
08-08-2008, 06:20 PM
demowhc

maybe you didnt understand what stangracin2 was saying.....

atm ATI cards are only using 320 shaders for folding.. not the full 800... so you can expect ATI to kick ass when F@H is updated for the newer ATI cards.. :up:
08-08-2008, 06:23 PM
CedricFP

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synthetickiller

Better price... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127361

Question still remains... if I buy a 9800gx2, can I trade to the gtx280? That would be worth the extra 50 bucks over the MSI gtx260.

Why not just buy the GTX280? It's not like you save any money taking the long way around...
08-08-2008, 06:26 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Quote:

Originally Posted by CedricFP

Why not just buy the GTX280? It's not like you save any money taking the long way around...

I could spend 250 to 300, but I can't justify 400.
08-08-2008, 06:29 PM
xMrBunglex

Quote:

Originally Posted by demowhc

maybe you didnt understand what stangracin2 was saying.....

atm ATI cards are only using 320 shaders for folding.. not the full 800... so you can expect ATI to kick ass when F@H is updated for the newer ATI cards.. :up:

makes sense. the 4870 has a lot more compute power than the GTX 260. if F@H is a big priority for you, you might regret your purchase when updated ATI F@H drivers come out.
08-09-2008, 05:35 AM
[XC] Synthetickiller

Quote:

Originally Posted by xMrBunglex

makes sense. the 4870 has a lot more compute power than the GTX 260. if F@H is a big priority for you, you might regret your purchase when updated ATI F@H drivers come out.

I see your point, but that's a big if and more importantly, when? If the client doesn't support ati for 6 months, that's a lot of ppd to miss out on. I can't say the programmers will ever take advnatage of ati's current architecture. Its just unknown and I'd rather spend money on something I know that works. No regrets on picking up something that works. If ati is finally picked up, maybe I'll pick one up and drop the gtx260 into a folding machine. Its not like it wouldn't be utilized. :up:

Since the gtx260 seems the best, I'll pick one of those up. The ppd is at least double that of any ati out there.
08-09-2008, 05:56 AM
phelan1777

You can step-up if your card qualifies, in that you won't know for sure till you register your card on in EVGA's site and it will tell you if you are able to step up.

Ie GX2 to 280.

If you buy a GX2 on fleabay and not from a reseller (which there are limited ones EVGA supports) then you not only will lose warranty but also the ability to step up as well.

My .02 I own a GX2 as well as an 8800 Ultra. I was getting stuttering with the GX2, installed the Ultra even though an older card, get better FPS and no stuttering..........I am happy for now.

Debating moving to a 260 as well.
08-09-2008, 12:08 PM
[XC] Synthetickiller

9800gx2 is a good folder, but like you and many others, that micro-stutter just doesn't sit well with me.

Newegg should be a proper reseller, but I don't want to take my changes and wait for a card that much longer.

The gtx260 looks ideal. I don't think the gtx280 is worth the cost over performance.
08-10-2008, 02:10 PM
Retro

Quote:

Originally Posted by phelan1777

You can step-up if your card qualifies, in that you won't know for sure till you register your card on in EVGA's site and it will tell you if you are able to step up.

Ie GX2 to 280.

If you buy a GX2 on fleabay and not from a reseller (which there are limited ones EVGA supports) then you not only will lose warranty but also the ability to step up as well.

My .02 I own a GX2 as well as an 8800 Ultra. I was getting stuttering with the GX2, installed the Ultra even though an older card, get better FPS and no stuttering..........I am happy for now.

Debating moving to a 260 as well.

I stepped up to a 280 from a GX2, damn glad I did. As for the 260, if you want to save a few bucks over the 280, go for it. The 260 is also a good performer, and they overclock very well. I also had the stuttering with the GX2, the 260/280's run smooth as silk. As for the extra memory, just as with the 8800 Ultra, it makes a big difference from the 512 (actual) on the GX2, I'm quite surprised how much better my games run now.
I also think it's a worthwhile upgrade from an Ultra, and there are some really good deals out there on the 260/280's now.

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