GTX 280 or 295?

[-Gamerwillz-]

I am more of console gamer, so I only have 8 games for the PC. I thought it won't be worth spending lots of money for a decent graphics card. I'm happy with my 2x 9600GTs with SLI and still happy running Crysis on medium settings with no AA, still looks good! My PC can run Crysis on high settings with 2x AA of course but I'm picky with framerate So I stick with medium!

Perhaps later in this year, when the GTX 280 gets cheaper I might buy it. I knew the GTX 295 will be absolutely badass but it's expensive though...

So is the GTX 295 outperforms the 280 by a big gap or just little?

 

[Crashgate3]

Big gap.

You only really *need* a 295 if you're running silly resolutions on a massive screen though. For more 'normal' screens a 280 is fine.

 

[arc@css]

I can only go by the benchmarks which as we all know aren't set in stone but I'd say that there should be a reasonable increase, depends on the game in question of course.

Welcome by the way

 

[reflux]

Oh, you again. Try and be sensible this time.

GTX280s are going EOL, being replaced by the 285. So this week is basically the best time to buy one. 295s are massive overkill below 1920x1200, and yes, it walks all over the 280, although it doesn't provide a massive improvement over the HD4870X2.

 

[thepeganator]

What res screen are you on?

 

[stu.artd]

Oh, you again. Try and be sensible this time.

GTX280s are going EOL, being replaced by the 285. So this week is basically the best time to buy one. 295s are massive overkill below 1920x1200, and yes, it walks all over the 280, although it doesn't provide a massive improvement over the HD4870X2.

I've read that theGTX 295 does seem to run cooler and quieter than a 4870X2. That makes it a more attractive proposition, IMO.

 

[arc@css]

Hmm...reasonable increase I wrote. More like a big increase.

 

[reflux]

I've read that theGTX 295 does seem to run cooler and quieter than a 4870X2. That makes it a more attractive proposition, IMO.

Your decision as to whether you feel it's worth the cash then. My X2 runs everything on the planet on highest settings very well, even Crysis. So I'm not sure what extra benefit a 295 would bring in terms of game performance, which is the main thing. Having had a 9800GX2 for six months, I wasn't all that convinced Nvidia's 'sandwich' method was a brilliant idea, but the 295 is an improvement on that.

Bottom line; if the 295 drops to £350-£400, it'll be more worth buying. However AMD is dropping the price of the X2 to compete, so we'll see how the value works out.

 

[stu.artd]

Your decision as to whether you feel it's worth the cash then. My X2 runs everything on the planet on highest settings very well, even Crysis. So I'm not sure what extra benefit a 295 would bring in terms of game performance, which is the main thing. Having had a 9800GX2 for six months, I wasn't all that convinced Nvidia's 'sandwich' method was a brilliant idea, but the 295 is an improvement on that.

Bottom line; if the 295 drops to £350-£400, it'll be more worth buying. However AMD is dropping the price of the X2 to compete, so we'll see how the value works out.

It's always the person that's spending the money that makes the decision, all anyone else can do is advise as they see fit.

I never stated that the GTX 295 was faster, however cooler and quieter with the same or better performance means it would definitely suit me better.

What's the noise like on your 4870X2 ?
I notice my 3870X2, and want to move to something significantly faster and quieter.

 

[sh4dy1981]

my gtx 295 is running at 60-5 under load atm with a small oc its faster then the 4870x2 and the 295 is on its first set drivers the x2 has been out what 6 months? so has had all that time to have tweaked drivers etc.