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GTX480, which one to get?

Neloz

Neloz

Neloz

Associate
Joined
11 Jun 2009
Posts
149
Location
London
Hello, I've decided to bite the bullet and go for a GTX 480. Though with the small differences between prices and brands, (those listed on OcUK and those not) I'm wondering which one to go for (excluding H20).It may be worth noting I do intend to OC it from day one :).Please could you share your experiences and recommendations, thankyou.
 
Hi, I have the EVGA SC 480, 24/7 clocks are 850 core and 1000 memory " fantastic performance at these clocks " with a custom fan profile that does not exceed 70% with max temps of 80c in games like crysis and metro2033.

Now any brand with the same reference cooler as mine should do the same clocks so you should really go with the cheapest 480 you can pick up, if you have the cash a Zotac 480 amp will keeps temps well down even when clocked.

My recommendation would be http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-087-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1750 Bargain at £349 plus a free copy of mafia 2 to test your 480's physx capabilities..
 
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Go with the one that has the longest warranty.

Also amp! edition is quite good because of the custom cooling, so that when you oc the temps won't be mad.

Besides amp! they're all the same reference design cards.

Evga has a step up program so that if gtx 485 comes out you can pay the difference, send off your 480 and get new 485.

So longest warranty brand or amp! for cooling and oc or evga for step up program
 
My last two cards have been different brands. Normally I make my decision based on the price, it's warranty, and whether it's in stock or not (when my last card died I needed a replacement pretty quickly). I picked the Zotac version of my card as it met my budget, and came with 5 year warranty.
 
Nerusy said:
Go with the one that has the longest warranty.

Also amp! edition is quite good because of the custom cooling, so that when you oc the temps won't be mad.

Besides amp! they're all the same reference design cards.

Evga has a step up program so that if gtx 485 comes out you can pay the difference, send off your 480 and get new 485.

So longest warranty brand or amp! for cooling and oc or evga for step up program
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I didn't think the step up program worked in the UK...? It's been awhile since I looked. :p

Asking some friends also, they're all telling me to wait for 485.:confused: What a pain, I'd be in denial if I said my GTX275 can't handle vast majority of things at VH settings at my reso, but the intention is to get a U2410.
 
Although there are alternatives out there, that may seem better value ,bare in mind that the 480 has 1.5GB of memory compared to 5870 1GB and 470 1.2GB, you get more for your cash, more rops, more cores, and of course more performance, it distinguishes itself from the rest very well.
 
kylew said:
True, me neither, 5850s much better, I only have a 5870 because I got it for £240 :p (a 2GB one with 6 outputs at that too!)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-148-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=411 would be perfect, and with a nice overclock you could get 480 performance for nearly half the cost.
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Good purchase on the 5870, although I'm very much in doubt you'll ever need/use these 6 outputs :p

Also I don't think 5850 is that a great choice, granted it's £150 less than 480 and can match it's stock performance when heavily overclocked (although with reference cooler and relatively low temps - still), but it won't do any better than that unfortunately. If the OP can cope with 480, 470 will give him even more than a stock 480 when overclocked and won't have more issues than expected ;)

RavenXXX2 said:
Although there are alternatives out there, that may seem better value ,bare in mind that the 480 has 1.5GB of memory compared to 5870 1GB and 470 1.2GB, you get more for your cash, more rops, more cores, and of course more performance, it distinguishes itself from the rest very well.
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More memory matters the least, look at 2GB 5870 compared to 1GB, it's only a deciding factor at huge resolutions most people won't touch. ROPs and cores matter the most, I understand both 470 and 480 clock similarly.
 
Crysis/warhead with 8xAA and max detail easily exceeds the 1GB buffer even at 1680x1050 " you can monitor vram usage on nvidia card with afterburner " the more texture heavy games come out and the more AA you apply that 1GB shrinks fairly quick, best to be future proof.
 
if it is a 480 gtx you are after then get the msi one as it is the cheapest, or if you want the best cooling one get the zotac amp or a water cooled card. I just got the amp for £394 elsewhere but if I hadn't got it for that price I would have got the msi 480 here as its a really good price.
 
Not to bring the fanboi hammer down, but I don't intend to purchase ATI anytime soon (have in the past). Explaining my opinions will more than likely fuel the fire so let's leave it at that please.

I do have my eyes set on a 480, though I did wait out for the 275; something is telling me to do the same here. :p
 
Well nothing has been confirmed regarding a 475 or 485, IMO you are looking at marginal gains with a 485 anyway, but it's you cash and your decision, I'm not the patient type, I see it, I like it, I get it LOL.
 
I'd get the Asus 480. An extra year's warranty for a fiver more than the MSI, sounds like a no-brainer to me.
 
^ no mafia 2, and yes three years is better than two but most peps upgrade before two years.


Edit, my bad, it does come with mafia 2, yes the Asus all the way for the sake of a fiver.
 
RavenXXX2 said:
Well nothing has been confirmed regarding a 475 or 485, IMO you are looking at marginal gains with a 485 anyway, but it's you cash and your decision, I'm not the patient type, I see it, I like it, I get it LOL.
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How much would you be willing to pay for these shiny shiny jingly keys? :p

I do see your point, I don't really remember but was there much difference between the 280 and 285 anyway?
 
Mr Krugga said:
Good purchase on the 5870, although I'm very much in doubt you'll ever need/use these 6 outputs :p
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3 monitors and a 1080p TV all plugged in at once? Yes please! :D

I may never use 6, but I definitely use more than 3, and t he 2GB of RAM is a nice bonus. Did I mention that it was also new? :p
 
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