New XFX GTX260 Core 216 Black Edition

[pkirby11]

Well I broke down and bought one of these after reading the reviews on Firing Squad. Replaces a 3870x2 and I must say I'm quite impressed with the 180 release drivers and the performance of this over clocked beast. While I can't say the FPS is a major jump from my 3870x2 what I do notice is the lack of input lag, I mainly play World of Warcraft and while the game wasn't a heavy hitter it is now. They really bumped the view distance, textures and shaders up in Wrath of the Lich King. On my 3870x2 I was averaging with full in games settings at 1900x1200 around 35 to 60 FPS depending on the area but what really annoyed me was the lag, if I turned to fast the card would drop to 16FPS or lower and then go back up. On the GTX260 I notice little to none of this and my FPS are a solid 45 to 60. I love it!

Not that I'm trying to bash ATI, I think their cards are great but this XFX Black Edition was such a great price. $300 shipped from Newegg.com. I was debating a 4870 1GB but I went with NVIDIA due to all the rave reviews the Core 216 and release 180 drivers were getting. I may go back to ATI one day, I really have no allegiance but I can say I don't think I'll go multi GPU any time soon. I think that's one of the reasons I saw the lag, WoW doesn't play nice with Crossfire or SLI.

I do have a question, been about two years since I had an NVIDIA GPU. I wanted to know is there a way in the driver control panel to tell the temperature of the board? I just want to make sure it's not getting to toasty, my case is well ventilated and the wire management is pretty good but I just want to make sure seeing as the card is OC. Thanks for the advice, I can't see any option in the control panel but maybe I'm missing something.

System:
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4ghz
8GB DDR2 DRAM
XFX GTX260 Core 216 Black Edition (Core Clock: 666Mhz Core Memory:2300MHz)
Auzentech Prelude
4 320GB Western Digital HDDs in Raid 5
750 Watt PC Power and Cooling PSU
Windows Visa x64 Edition

[k0py]

Or GPU-Z http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

[pkirby11]

Thank you, GPU-Z worked for what I needed. I take it 68 degrees under load isn't too bad? I don't seem to get any problems when playing games but just want to make sure. Thanks again for the program.

[EciDemon]

Originally Posted by pkirby11

Thank you, GPU-Z worked for what I needed. I take it 68 degrees under load isn't too bad? I don't seem to get any problems when playing games but just want to make sure. Thanks again for the program.

68c on load is well within the limits. The most I've seen my card is 75c under load (fan speed at default)

[Ancient76]

Originally Posted by pkirby11

Well I broke down and bought one of these after reading the reviews on Firing Squad. Replaces a 3870x2 and I must say I'm quite impressed with the 180 release drivers and the performance of this over clocked beast. While I can't say the FPS is a major jump from my 3870x2 what I do notice is the lack of input lag, I mainly play World of Warcraft and while the game wasn't a heavy hitter it is now. They really bumped the view distance, textures and shaders up in Wrath of the Lich King. On my 3870x2 I was averaging with full in games settings at 1900x1200 around 35 to 60 FPS depending on the area but what really annoyed me was the lag, if I turned to fast the card would drop to 16FPS or lower and then go back up. On the GTX260 I notice little to none of this and my FPS are a solid 45 to 60. I love it!

Not that I'm trying to bash ATI, I think their cards are great but this XFX Black Edition was such a great price. $300 shipped from Newegg.com. I was debating a 4870 1GB but I went with NVIDIA due to all the rave reviews the Core 216 and release 180 drivers were getting. I may go back to ATI one day, I really have no allegiance but I can say I don't think I'll go multi GPU any time soon. I think that's one of the reasons I saw the lag, WoW doesn't play nice with Crossfire or SLI.

I do have a question, been about two years since I had an NVIDIA GPU. I wanted to know is there a way in the driver control panel to tell the temperature of the board? I just want to make sure it's not getting to toasty, my case is well ventilated and the wire management is pretty good but I just want to make sure seeing as the card is OC. Thanks for the advice, I can't see any option in the control panel but maybe I'm missing something.

System:
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4ghz
8GB DDR2 DRAM
XFX GTX260 Core 216 Black Edition (Core Clock: 666Mhz Core Memory:2300MHz)
Auzentech Prelude
4 320GB Western Digital HDDs in Raid 5
750 Watt PC Power and Cooling PSU
Windows Visa x64 Edition

Wise decision
But you need to overclock your CPU.

[pkirby11]

Originally Posted by Ancient76

Wise decision
But you need to overclock your CPU.

LOL

DOn't tempt me I've been debating it, currently it stays well below average temps so overclocking could be fun. I've never been into it much, any articles, pointers or ideas you could give me to go in the right direction?

I love the card, it's awesome I'll take some pics and toss em up here later tonight maybe if I have time. One other odd question though, maybe it's 3DMark Vantage but I can't get through a full benchmark. The first time the computer reset it's self and the second time the program froze. Any ideas what could be causing this? In WoW I have no problems so I don't think it's over heating or a bum card. But who knows.


Edit:
Well I figured out what was the cause of 3DMark Vantage however I'm not real sure how to fix it. Seems it crashed on the Physics part of the test, I'm not sure but I don't think it likes the NVIDIA PhysX driver? Any ideas, has anyone else experienced this problem? Thanks!

[john19055]

What is so special about the XFX GTX 260(216) Black Edition,when the GTX 260 Evga Superclock or the GTX 260 BFG OCX (216 version) offer the same thing and both over great.I was just wondering if I am missing something.

[pkirby11]

Originally Posted by john19055

What is so special about the XFX GTX 260(216) Black Edition,when the GTX 260 Evga Superclock or the GTX 260 BFG OCX (216 version) offer the same thing and both over great.I was just wondering if I am missing something.

It's the highest OC Core 216 out there at the moment. The price is only $50 more than the EVGA Super Clocked and about $45 more than the BFG Max Core. Figured if I'm going to spend the money might as well get the highest clocked model. Nothing against EVGA or BFG but I read several reviews and the XFX edition didn't seem any worse than those brands, good software bundle and lifetime warranty. I always say go with what you like, I just was happy with my Core 216 GTX260, wasn't bashing other brands.

Firing Squad XFX GTX260 Black Edition

[pkirby11]

Just tiding this place up.

[pkirby11]

Originally Posted by bromzue

Which explains why you paid $100 dollars extra to have someone else do it for you and I guess your 20 years experience also explains your Q6600 running at stock speed. LOL.

Said I could, didn't say I wanted to, I'm not a purist I see no reason to mess with overclocking (I would need some refresher been years since I've done it.). I work on 200 computers a day 8 hours a day 40 hours a week. I've not got time to mess with overclocking and unstable systems. Have a nice life looser, I'm still pleased with my purchase even though your not.

Heard of the edit button? Two post for one line? Again really don't care, if they cover it or not I never looked because again doesn't really matter. Apparently you care what I do.

Bromzue is it okay if I eat this afternoon? I'd hate to not have your approval.

[XDanger]

Originally Posted by bromzue

Standerd Evga GTX 260 192shader $219.00 Free shipping $189.00 after MIR

Riva Tuner+GTX 260=760core 1534shader 2500mem

The look on the guys face that paid to much for a pre oc card after reading this=Priceless.

The better cards are binned as being able to clock higher ,Standard cards you might get lucky but probably not so this point is invalid for people who want the faster card and dont care about a few extra bucks, OC'ing or not.

Still, When the price of an OC'd card is that much its time to look at the next basic card up.

[pkirby11]

Originally Posted by XDanger

The better cards are binned as being able to clock higher ,Standard cards you might get lucky but probably not so this point is invalid for people who want the faster card and dont care about a few extra bucks.

If it stock speed is the same as your OC, then its OC will be higher than your OC.

Why thank you for proving my point. XDanger, he's just a lonely troll but their are many reason to go with a factory overclocked card and this is one of them. Personally it really shouldn't matter to Bromzue what any of us do with our money but some people get kicks out of trying to act big.