[Tech] nVidia Graphics Card replacement

[Ronin Storm]

So, there I was just about to start a game of Borderlands and my graphics card craps out and dies.

It was a BFG GeForce 8800 GTS 500someMB. It had served me well 'til this rather unfortunate incident.

I'd like to replace it with another nVidia card but I now realise that they've stopped doing the X thousand series and they're back to numbers 2xx... I'm not sure which is what, any more, except that the 295 cards appear to be horrifyingly expensive.

I don't have £300+ to spend on a graphics card. If I had to, I could pull together £200 but I'd prefer to keep under £150. Anyone got a current view on what is what with these cards?

 

[thatbloke]

does it HAVE to be nVidia?

You can pick up an ATi Radeon HD4870 for around £120-£140 now, and you get ALOT for your money.

Other than that, the nVidia card that is currently around the £150 mark is the GTX 260. I'd say the Radeon is the better of the two, but if you can stretch that far and you really MUST have an nVidia then look at getting a GTX275 (around the £180-£200 mark).

 

[Ronin Storm]

does it HAVE to be nVidia?

It doesn't strictly have to, but I've never had particularly good experiences with the two ATi cards I've had in the past so I'd need to feel pretty comfortable with it.

I'd say the Radeon is the better of the two, but if you can stretch that far and you really MUST have an nVidia then look at getting a GTX275 (around the £180-£200 mark).

I think I paid around £200ish for my 8800 GTS so that sounds about right. Not clear what one gets for that sort of money, though.

 

[PsiSoldier]

I'm with bloke on the 48xx (4890 myself, awesome card).

 

[waterproofbob]

A quick look between the two is summed up as basically the 4890 and the 275 are pretty comparable, the 4890 will run cooler under load however as is the want with ATis coolers it is considerably louder at full whack. The 275 runs much hotter but quieter. Basically I'd say go with what you know. The 275 is pretty damn good and if anything with slightly better drivers (usually) from nvidia probably the better card. Stick a aftermarket cooler on it if you find it is getting toasty and you are good to go.
I've been loving the ATi cards of late so for me it would be a 4890 but if you currently have an nvidia card it is much easier to stick with that, especially as there is so little to call between the 2.

 

[Ronin Storm]

Basically I'd say go with what you know. The 275 is pretty damn good

Yep. That seems to be the shape of things. There does seem to be a significant shortage of the 275, though. Maybe they're all on back order or held up by the postal strikes or something?

I found an Asus one available from Overclockers but it's probably the bottom end version of the 275. Everywhere else I've checked is pretty short on them...

Thanks for the help, everyone. Appreciate it. Cookies all round.

 

[Traxata]

Ronin I'd go for on of the Xfx cards if possible, they have double lifeTime warranties and I've never had a problem with them

 

[thatbloke]

Ronin I'd go for on of the Xfx cards if possible, they have double lifeTime warranties and I've never had a problem with them

The problem with a lifetime warranty is that once the item breaks, it's life is over (it died) and the warranty doesn't cover it anymore.....

 

[Traxata]

Bloke you deserve a facepalm.


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[PsiSoldier]

The problem with a lifetime warranty is that once the item breaks, it's life is over (it died) and the warranty doesn't cover it anymore.....

Heh. It's a lifetime warranty for you and the next owner of the card, so you can sell it on later and it will have a warranty for that person. Sorta lowering the depreciation of it.

@Trax, xfx bros, represent! <3

 

[Ronin Storm]

After consideration and scouting about, I've decided on:

XFX GeForce GTX 260 Black Edition 896MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card

I liked the look of the 275 but it seems that this (and the 285) are practically discontinued, or at least perpetually unavailable.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

 

[Ronin Storm]

Rar! I'm back. New graphics card appears to be working... now to put it through a game or two and see if it holds up.

 

[Thunder]

Loving my 5850 right now )

 

[Traxata]

I now have two of the 260s myself, got to replace both my dads gts 640 and my gts 512 as they're both on the verge of dying horribly admittedly I have double lifetimes on both cards, just need to wait until they actually die compared to nearing their deaths