SLI GTX 260 vs. GTX 285

paulm · Mar 12, 2009, 11:45 PM

Hey!

I'm currently debating which would be a better option...

Currently, I can get two EVGA GTX 260's off TigerDirect for $324 AR and after cashback.

I can also get a GTX 285 for $340 AR.

Which is the better choice, and why?

alexp999 · Mar 12, 2009, 11:51 PM

Well two GTX 260's are going to way outperform one GTX 285, but dont forget, you need a nvidia based mobo or an X58 to do so.

paulm · Mar 12, 2009, 11:52 PM

Massive unfairness to me

alexp999 · Mar 12, 2009, 11:53 PM

Only a GTX 295 could give you two GTX 260's on your mobo in SLI

paulm · Mar 12, 2009, 11:54 PM

Any cheap nVidia mobo's out there that would be worth upgrading to?

Might just need to get a 4870 x2 or something :*(

alexp999 · Mar 12, 2009, 11:56 PM

Only one I would say is the 750i. But I dont really recommend it. The experience I have had with nvidia mobos has put me off for a long time. Its single cards and intel mobos for me in the forseeable future.

Do you really need the power of more than one gtx 260?

paulm · Mar 13, 2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexp999

Only one I would recommend is the 750i. But I dont really recommend it. The experience I have had with nvidia mobos has put me off for a long time. Its single cards and intel mobos for me in the forseeable future.

Do you really need the power of more than one gtx 260?

You tell me:

I like to play games on the highest possible settings (switching to Q6600 and getting a decent cooler soon). I was in the middle of COD4, Crysis Warhead, and STALKER Clear Sky when my card died...

I had a GTX 280 at one point, but I had to RMA it and have yet to purchase a replacement.

May upgrade my monitor to a 1920x1200 monitor in the future.

alexp999 · Mar 13, 2009, 12:04 AM

Well only Crysis Warhead will get the benefit of something more than a single GT200 card, even at 1920x1200.

If I were you I would just buy one GTX 260 and then save the money for something else.

ShadowFold · Mar 13, 2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulm

Might just need to get a 4870 x2 or something :*(

Aww poor you

If you can get a 4870X2 why wouldn't you? They are 400-405$ on newegg right now.

alexp999 · Mar 13, 2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowFold

Aww poor you

If you can get a 4870X2 why wouldn't you? They are 400-405$ on newegg right now.

I personally would rather spend an extra $100 and get the GTX 295.

The choice between NVIDIA and ATI is largely based on the games you play, and your personal preference on drivers.

My last three cards before my GTX 260 were ati, but I'm loving NVIDIA atm.

paulm · Mar 13, 2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexp999

I personally would rather spend an extra $100 and get the GTX 295.

The choice between NVIDIA and ATI is largely based on the games you play, and your personal preference on drivers.

My last three cards before my GTX 260 were ati, but I'm loving NVIDIA atm.

4870 X2 is a little out of my budget as it is, but with 10% cash back at tigerdirect I may be able to afford it (supposedly turns out to be $356 shipped, after $15 rebate and $40 MS cashback, which is really a bit too much reliance on 3rd parties for my taste)...

alexp999 · Mar 13, 2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulm

4870 X2 is a little out of my budget as it is, but with 10% cash back at tigerdirect I may be able to afford it (supposedly turns out to be $356 shipped, after $15 rebate and $40 MS cashback)...

Just dont forget a GTX 260 can probably beat a 4870X2 in performance on Crysis Warhead and the other games you have listed, the GTX 260 will be more than enough to enable vsync with max framrates.

paulm · Mar 13, 2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexp999

Just dont forget a GTX 260 can probably beat a 4870X2 in performance on Crysis Warhead and the other games you have listed, the GTX 260 will be more than enough to enable vsync with max framrates.

You have seen this, right?:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Z...TX_295/10.html

GTX 260 has no chance against a 4870 X2, no way, no how.

That being said, I'm unconvinced that a GTX 260 is a good investment... According to those charts, it produces 20 FPS at 1680x1050, which is arguably unplayable... Similar results on Clear Sky...

ShadowFold · Mar 13, 2009, 12:19 AM

Anything single card at 1920 will not be able to play Crysis with 50-60fps.

phanbuey · Mar 13, 2009, 12:20 AM

i have a 750i... with 2 gtx in sli and it works great... you can get my mobo from the egg at 90 bucks open box.

paulm · Mar 13, 2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowFold

Anything single card at 1920 will not be able to play Crysis with 50-60fps.

Not aiming for that, but at least 20 FPS would be nice...

Quote:

Originally Posted by phanbuey

i have a 750i... with 2 gtx in sli and it works great... you can get my mobo from the egg at 90 bucks open box.

Any estimates to the value of my current board?

alexp999 · Mar 13, 2009, 12:21 AM

Looks like ATI finally got their drivers better optimized, havent checked back in a while but when all these cards first came out NVIDIA wiped the floor on crysis.

And even a GTX 295 cant get crysis to 50-60fps with everything on high

Oh my GTX 260 averages about 35 FPS in crysis on Vey High

Thats at 1680x1050 with edge aa 2 enabled

ShadowFold · Mar 13, 2009, 12:22 AM

I get 22-25fps in Crysis at 1920x1080 with 2x AA and all on VHigh except textures at High(4830). I think the benchmark in Crysis is just meant to get the lowest FPS honestly.

alexp999 · Mar 13, 2009, 12:22 AM

If it wasnt for the quad you're getting I would say go for the 750i, but I could not get any nvidia mobo to run my Q6600 stable even on stock, yet here I am running it at 3.6GHz on a P45 100% stable.

phanbuey · Mar 13, 2009, 12:24 AM

its a bx2 is about $120 and up... i have had my Q66 on this board at 3.6ghz without problems. But i have also heard some bad stuff about the 750i..

Jakl · Mar 13, 2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexp999

If it wasnt for the quad you're getting I would say go for the 750i, but I could not get any nvidia mobo to run my Q6600 stable even on stock, yet here I am running it at 3.6GHz on a P45 100% stable.

Eh everyone has their up and down... My System is currently running extremely smoothly. I love nVIDIA and I love their boards and GPU.

Anyways, I would say get the GTX 260 , and wait a couple months for the newest and greatest GPU's

DrPepper · Mar 13, 2009, 12:26 AM

I'd say go with a GTX260 because I can run everything full spec 8xaa and 16xaf at 1920 x 1080 or a single 285 which can only be better.

alexp999 · Mar 13, 2009, 12:27 AM

Thats what I was trying to say. Seeing as they are such good prices following the price drop (you can get them from as little as £134.99 here now), get the GTX 260 to keep you going till your next upgrade, which might be more than just a GPU

phanbuey · Mar 13, 2009, 12:27 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813130159R

actually $74 lol...

I run crysis at 1680 by 1050 vhigh at 40 - 60+ fps.

paulm · Mar 13, 2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phanbuey

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813130159R

actually $74 lol...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813131232R

$68

I don't think that I particularly want to be upgrading my GPU every 6 months...

Would the above board be a downgrade from my current board in any way shape or form?

Mar 12, 2009, 11:45 PM	#1
paulm Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: United States Posts: 412 (0.26/day) Thanks: 11 Thanked 49 Times in 36 Posts System Specs	SLI GTX 260 vs. GTX 285 Hey! I'm currently debating which would be a better option... Currently, I can get two EVGA GTX 260's off TigerDirect for $324 AR and after cashback. I can also get a GTX 285 for $340 AR. Which is the better choice, and why?

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Mar 12, 2009, 11:51 PM	#2
alexp999 Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 6,728 (3.17/day) Thanks: 684 Thanked 915 Times in 783 Posts System Specs	Well two GTX 260's are going to way outperform one GTX 285, but dont forget, you need a nvidia based mobo or an X58 to do so. __________________ ASUS P45 Club [FS] [WTB] Heatware ebay Elite Lounge USB Boot Guide 3DMark Vantage My Rig XBOX Gamertag Steam ID Dad's: EVGA 750i FTW, E6600, F7Pro, 4GB, 8800GTS 640MB SLi, SST 750W, Commodore EVE Gallente Case

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Motherboard:	Intel D975XBX2
Cooling:	Air
Memory:	Crucial Ballistix 4GB DDR2 800
Video Card:	EVGA 7900 GS
Hard Disk:	Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB
Optical Drive:	Samsung SH-S223F
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Mar 12, 2009, 11:52 PM	#3
paulm Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: United States Posts: 412 (0.26/day) Thanks: 11 Thanked 49 Times in 36 Posts System Specs	Massive unfairness to me

Mar 12, 2009, 11:53 PM	#4
alexp999 Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 6,728 (3.17/day) Thanks: 684 Thanked 915 Times in 783 Posts System Specs	Only a GTX 295 could give you two GTX 260's on your mobo in SLI __________________ ASUS P45 Club [FS] [WTB] Heatware ebay Elite Lounge USB Boot Guide 3DMark Vantage My Rig XBOX Gamertag Steam ID Dad's: EVGA 750i FTW, E6600, F7Pro, 4GB, 8800GTS 640MB SLi, SST 750W, Commodore EVE Gallente Case

Mar 12, 2009, 11:54 PM	#5
paulm Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: United States Posts: 412 (0.26/day) Thanks: 11 Thanked 49 Times in 36 Posts System Specs	Any cheap nVidia mobo's out there that would be worth upgrading to? Might just need to get a 4870 x2 or something :*(

Mar 12, 2009, 11:56 PM	#6
alexp999 Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 6,728 (3.17/day) Thanks: 684 Thanked 915 Times in 783 Posts System Specs	Only one I would say is the 750i. But I dont really recommend it. The experience I have had with nvidia mobos has put me off for a long time. Its single cards and intel mobos for me in the forseeable future. Do you really need the power of more than one gtx 260? __________________ ASUS P45 Club [FS] [WTB] Heatware ebay Elite Lounge USB Boot Guide 3DMark Vantage My Rig XBOX Gamertag Steam ID Dad's: EVGA 750i FTW, E6600, F7Pro, 4GB, 8800GTS 640MB SLi, SST 750W, Commodore EVE Gallente Case

Mar 13, 2009, 12:04 AM	#8
alexp999 Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 6,728 (3.17/day) Thanks: 684 Thanked 915 Times in 783 Posts System Specs	Well only Crysis Warhead will get the benefit of something more than a single GT200 card, even at 1920x1200. If I were you I would just buy one GTX 260 and then save the money for something else. __________________ ASUS P45 Club [FS] [WTB] Heatware ebay Elite Lounge USB Boot Guide 3DMark Vantage My Rig XBOX Gamertag Steam ID Dad's: EVGA 750i FTW, E6600, F7Pro, 4GB, 8800GTS 640MB SLi, SST 750W, Commodore EVE Gallente Case

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Mar 13, 2009, 12:19 AM	#14
ShadowFold Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 12,855 (6.51/day) Thanks: 1,381 Thanked 1,681 Times in 1,498 Posts System Specs	Anything single card at 1920 will not be able to play Crysis with 50-60fps.

Mar 13, 2009, 12:20 AM	#15
phanbuey Eligible for custom title Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 5,010 (2.49/day) Thanks: 1,484 Thanked 959 Times in 812 Posts System Specs	i have a 750i... with 2 gtx in sli and it works great... you can get my mobo from the egg at 90 bucks open box.

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Mar 13, 2009, 12:21 AM	#17
alexp999 Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 6,728 (3.17/day) Thanks: 684 Thanked 915 Times in 783 Posts System Specs	Looks like ATI finally got their drivers better optimized, havent checked back in a while but when all these cards first came out NVIDIA wiped the floor on crysis. And even a GTX 295 cant get crysis to 50-60fps with everything on high Oh my GTX 260 averages about 35 FPS in crysis on Vey High Thats at 1680x1050 with edge aa 2 enabled __________________ ASUS P45 Club [FS] [WTB] Heatware ebay Elite Lounge USB Boot Guide 3DMark Vantage My Rig XBOX Gamertag Steam ID Dad's: EVGA 750i FTW, E6600, F7Pro, 4GB, 8800GTS 640MB SLi, SST 750W, Commodore EVE Gallente Case

Mar 13, 2009, 12:22 AM	#18
ShadowFold Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 12,855 (6.51/day) Thanks: 1,381 Thanked 1,681 Times in 1,498 Posts System Specs	I get 22-25fps in Crysis at 1920x1080 with 2x AA and all on VHigh except textures at High(4830). I think the benchmark in Crysis is just meant to get the lowest FPS honestly.

Mar 13, 2009, 12:24 AM	#20
phanbuey Eligible for custom title Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 5,010 (2.49/day) Thanks: 1,484 Thanked 959 Times in 812 Posts System Specs	its a bx2 is about $120 and up... i have had my Q66 on this board at 3.6ghz without problems. But i have also heard some bad stuff about the 750i..

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Mar 13, 2009, 12:26 AM	#22
DrPepper The Doctor is in the house Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Scotland (It rains alot) Posts: 6,423 (3.29/day) Thanks: 976 Thanked 828 Times in 667 Posts System Specs	I'd say go with a GTX260 because I can run everything full spec 8xaa and 16xaf at 1920 x 1080 or a single 285 which can only be better.

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Mar 13, 2009, 12:27 AM	#23
alexp999 Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 6,728 (3.17/day) Thanks: 684 Thanked 915 Times in 783 Posts System Specs	Thats what I was trying to say. Seeing as they are such good prices following the price drop (you can get them from as little as £134.99 here now), get the GTX 260 to keep you going till your next upgrade, which might be more than just a GPU __________________ ASUS P45 Club [FS] [WTB] Heatware ebay Elite Lounge USB Boot Guide 3DMark Vantage My Rig XBOX Gamertag Steam ID Dad's: EVGA 750i FTW, E6600, F7Pro, 4GB, 8800GTS 640MB SLi, SST 750W, Commodore EVE Gallente Case

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