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Looking to replace my GTX 260. What card should I get?

Peterbaey

Peterbaey

Peterbaey

Associate
Joined
10 Mar 2009
Posts
11
Hello all,

I'm wanting to buy a new card to replace my GTX 260. Can anyone suggest a graphics card out now or coming out in the very near future that would be worth getting?

I have a budget of about £250, although I could go as high as £300 if need be.

Specs:

Windows 7 32 bit
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 3.16GHz
4 GB RAM
GTX 260
372 GB Hard drive
20'' LG monitor
 
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if u can go 300 i would say a gtx 480 but then again gtx 570 is round the corner and so is the new ati 69** cards...
 
I'd be inclined to overclock that cpu. ;)

As touched on above, my first choice would be to wait for AMD's new cards, last I heard they are out mid December.

If you were wanting to buy right now and not wait then ideally I'd buy a 480 and perhaps pick up a custom cooler at a later date. They have dropped so much in price now that I think they are worth considering.

Other valid mentions for me would be :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-066-GI&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1810

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-136-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1502

Edit : I see you have just mentioned your cpu. The more of an overclock you can squeeze out of it the better. I'd try and aim for something like 3.6+ with the cpu model you have.
 
Peterbaey said:
Thanks for the quick reply.

Would my processor be able to cope with a gtx 480?
Click to expand...

Yes, the only games where it would be held back are those which are coded to use more than 2 cores, this is only now becoming common place
a cracking deal atm if you dont have to have the latest thing is the OcUK own brand 5870, £180 and still one of THE fastest cards available right now
 
95thrifles said:
a cracking deal atm if you dont have to have the latest thing is the OcUK own brand 5870, £180 and still one of THE fastest cards available right now
Click to expand...

I was looking it this card, but then I also saw the 6870 are at a similar price. Is the 6870 worth having a look at over the 5870?

Also, I have never had an ATI before, so I am not sure of the positives and negatives of these cards.
 
If you've only got a 20'' LG monitor then your res is at max 1680 x 1050 and a 260 should be more than up to that for 95% of all games.

A 460 768MB for around £125 would certainly be enough.

A 470 or 5870 would be a waste at that res. Far better a 460 and save the rest to upgrade the rest of your spec.
 
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VFM Addict said:
If you've only got a 20'' LG monitor then your res is at max 1680 x 1050 and a 260 should be more than up to that for 95% of all games.

A 460 768MB for around £125 would certainly be enough.

A 470 or 5870 would be a waste at that res. Far better a 460 and save the rest to upgrade the rest of your spec.
Click to expand...


The gtx 260 does perform well for most games I have. However, Arma2 is the game I play most, and the gtx 260 does not perform well. Would a 460 handle this game substantially better? Or would I have to look to improving my processor first?
 
At the upper end of your budget (£300.00), you could wait for the new nvidia 570, rumoured to cost that price, but who knows tbh. Current cards, a 6870 or an nvidia gtx 470 would be a nice upgrade, either would be grand at 1680x1050, 470 overclocks pretty well, cant comment on 6870 oc potential as ive never used one.
 
ARMA 2 is quite cpu intensive. Is the problem really screen based or more control responsiveness? My bet would be mainly the latter.

For £250 you could easily pick up a used Q6600 G0 stepping plus a new gcard.

A used Q6600 should cost you around £80 (if you are happy with used items?) and that leaves £170 for a new gcard but I suspect that the Q6600 (oc'd to around 3.2Ghz) will clear up your current problem.
 
VFM Addict said:
If you've only got a 20'' LG monitor then your res is at max 1680 x 1050
Click to expand...

Missed that, good point, D'Oh

VFM Addict said:
ARMA 2 is quite cpu intensive. Is the problem really screen based or more control responsiveness? My bet would be mainly the latter.

For £250 you could easily pick up a used Q6600 G0 stepping plus a new gcard.

A used Q6600 should cost you around £80 (if you are happy with used items?) and that leaves £170 for a new gcard but I suspect that the Q6600 (oc'd to around 3.2Ghz) will clear up your current problem.
Click to expand...

And as such, agree with this
+1
 
I found ARMA2 to be a hard game to run, spec at the time was a 3.8ghz q9550 and a gtx 280, had to lower a few settings on it at 1920x1200.
 
Peterbaey said:
Hello all,

I'm wanting to buy a new card to replace my GTX 260. Can anyone suggest a graphics card out now or coming out in the very near future that would be worth getting?

I have a budget of about £250, although I could go as high as £300 if need be.

Specs:

Windows 7 32 bit
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 3.16GHz
8 GB RAM
GTX 260
372 GB Hard drive
20'' LG monitor
Click to expand...

One question? Why are you running a 32 bit operating system with 8 gig of ram? It will only recognise 3.5 gig.
 
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