Decide the fate of my new GTX280...

[Toss3]

that would require a PC upgrade



with all the changes to happen soon. just keep what you have. there really is no point to go either SLI or get X2 especially at the resolution you are playing at.

Heh missed that one.. :bleh:

[Heinz68]

I say this is no brainer keep the GTX 280 and be happy, sure many people are happy with it..

The card should be plenty for the 1680x1050 res, specially since you said you never use AA plus you saved couple bucks.

If you sell the GTX 280 for only $300 you have to add up the loss to the cost of the HD 4870 x2 and that's a pretty lousy deal.

The 4870 x2 shines with higher AA use. Actually even the 4870 scales better with higher AA or higher resolution.

[Beavermatic]

I just never really beleived in AA.

Allways have viewed it as more of a gimmick than a corrective feature. A plugin that provides a serious drain on any card, and being the single main cause of such oversized and overpowered cards, and just masks the problem rather than fixing it directly.

There has to be a better way of implementing it... a card that is capable of producing aliasless picture without the need for anti-aliasing aditional hardware instructions.

I'm not sure how it would work, but I'm sure it could be done.

EDIT:

Now that I think of it... the 4870x2 is the perfect reason why a better form of aliasless-picture needs to implemented.

I've read a few articles out there that state the 4870x2 was designed, exclusively, to tackle AA, and not framerates themselves. This leads me to beleive the card is as hefty and power hugnry as it is, not for framerate, but to compensate for the serious drain from AA for their "enhanced" AA options on the card. I've been doing some more reasearch on the card that states you don't buy the card for the FPS gain (as it was stated that would be absurd, much faster than what you really need for increasing FPS), but to run high levels of AA for all of the AA fanatics out there. To buy it purely for the FPS is a waste of cash if your not using hi-res and AA.

It sounds logical, so that alone helped rest my mind a bit. I dont use AA and I dont have a extreme hi-res monitor. I dont plan to for another couple of years, or until my current moinotr explodes in my face, which ever comes first

[nekrosoft13]

Okay, I've heard enough.


I'm keeping with what I have.

I'm going to take that $600 extra i have, stick it in a bank, and add to it, so when the next plaftorm and chipsets come out, the next video card, processor, I'll just dump it all on a news system at that point.

many thanks for the help folks!

good choice, have fun

[gstanford]

Frankly, if you are only using a low res monitor and not using image filtering features then anything over a 9600GT would be a total waste.

The GTX280 will allow you to use PhysX in games that support it, ATi cards won't. This may or may not be an advantage for you.

[trivium nate]

just go to bestbuy n gt the 4870? n if its not good enough take it back n say your car broke down n u want to return it
its what ive done before :D

[SLippe]

Just mail your 280 to:

S. Lippe

Wait... PM me for rest of it! :bleh:





:p

[sillyeagle]

Frankly, if you are only using a low res monitor and not using image filtering features then anything over a 9600GT would be a total waste.


Really? A 9600GT would give me fluid gameplay in Crysis at 1600 res max settings when a 8800GTX won't? Care to explain?

[Beavermatic]

I just realized BFG is offering a Step-Up program for my card... gives me 100 days from date of purchase to trade in my card for purhase price of current card + difference of new card, as long as I register my current card :)

This definetely gives me some assurance as I know the 55nm GPU's will be releasing soon, so I'll wait till some of thos spring up to grab a newer card.

I thought only EVGA did this... guess it pays to poke around your card manufacturers site (nana2)

http://www.bfgtech.com/tradeupprogram.aspx

[john19055]

I don't think the .55 version is going to be that much better maybe use a little less power.If you could send it back ,then I would send it back and get that 4870x2 and spend that extra money you have and get you a 24" or a 26",you can get a 28" monitor for $459 and it has free shipping. or a Samsung 26" monitor with a Build in TV Tuner & Dolby Digital Surround Sound - Retail for $529.At least that what I would do because gameing at 1920x1200 looks so much better then 1680x1050.

[Beavermatic]

Is it not incorrect to think of a possible gx2 version of the gtx200 series to come out?

Nvidia isn't one to really rest on its laurels...

I think the 4870x2 was more a sucker punch blow nvidia just wasnt expecting at the time, though you must admit.... the gtx280 itselfs packs quite a whopping punch for a single GPU.... look at what it takes to beat it.... (2) weaker ATI GPU's.

Would I be incorrect saying that the GTX280 GPU is probably equal to 75% of the combined power of the 2 GPU's on the 4870x2? as in, it not only as powerful as the first GPU on the x2, but 75% of the second, leaving it equal to a 4870 with lets say, 1.75 gpu's?

I have to throw in the probability that the GTX280 has been out for nearly 4 months now, and Nvidia is due for a refresh.

Here's what I like about my GTX280 that is keeping me on this side of thin ice....

1. In the resolution I play at... both cards run nearly the same. My card for $75 to $100 less.
2. I do not plan on getting a newer monitor until my expldoes in my face, or until i see something really worthwhile.
3. This card can still handle AA fairly well
4. this card can still play higher res at extremely likeable framerates if i needed it to
5. It has a lifetime warranty
6. Its produced by a better manufacturer (BFG manufacturing FTW)
7. It can do physx (without any drag on the card)
8. It has potential for some pretty slick CUDA apps and possible potential for CUDA game instructions
9. It's drivers are undeniably far better than that of ATI
10. It doesn't suffer from common issues with dual-gpu single PCB cards, and has a longer life expectancy of the card itself.
11. I can trade it in at near full purchase price within 100 days for the latest card
12. Far better power consumption and less heating strain on the card than multi-gpu cards.
13. As I play many older games as well as new, I get the full potential of my card, as with some older games that did not support multigpu, you would only get half the potential of a multi-gpu card

[lips]

I cannot believe you are worried about better than gtx280. Perhaps you are thinking there are 120 fps screens.... ;) If you can average 60fps + free physx, there is not really much to consider....


... unless you mean to consider 4870x2 ... x 2 ~ quad crossfire, true performance crown!