Sry if I'm going over ground previously covered

[arc@css]

Hi all,

Though I like my 512mb 4870...gonna have to do a U-turn and get a better card despite having said earlier that I'm happy with what I have. Boogle's post was very accurate - I do get these fps dips, I'll be playing fallout 3 for example with everything enabled apart from AA and then you get parts of the game where the card runs like a dog. This occurs in Farcry 2 (unsurprisingly), Fallout 3 , Clear Sky etc. Simply ruins the gameplay experinece. You then get into having to tweak settings, vsync on / off , drop resolution down, fan speed, o/c cpu, passive cooler v maual fan etc etc etc. Then it still does it, not enough vram for texture swapping.
I've got my eye on either a top end 260 (BFG one looks nice) or a top end 1gb radeon 4870.
So, what do you people recommend ? I appreciate it can be hard to give a simple yes or no answer but 'broadly speaking' which ever you think is slightly better for consitency of performance / cooling etc. Noise and power consumption aren't really an issue for me but it won't hurt to give that a cursory glance too.
(Don't really think I can afford an X2 or 280, especially since the price rise). Took one look at the prices and nearly had a coronary.
Your help much appreciated, could really do with a Google 216 260 v 1gb radeon review

 

[pieman109]

This could/will open a can of worms but, I've gone from a 4870 512mb to a BFG 260GTX 216 max core and found the minimum and average framerates to be higher all round, also the card appears to run cooler and quieter. Gameplay also seems to be smoother, probably due to the extra Vram. I just find the 260 gtx a tad better than the 4870 512 in most of the more demanding games (crysis, warhead, etc) BUT maybe the 1gb 4870 addresses some of these things due to the extra vram, I don't know.

 

[arc@css]

Thanks for the post Pieman109, probably will order soon. I suppose either way I can't go wrong since both cards have way more than 512.

 

[GSDog]

I recommend you wait and see when the GTX 270 will be released and see what it's like. Apparently it was initally meant to be released this month, but some websites are now saying maybe next month (but these are not confirmed).

If you don't plan on waiting then I would recommend the XFX GTX260 (216) Black edition. It can be had for just £217 and it has a nice overclock, lifetime warranty and performs very well.

 

[arc@css]

Thanks Zildjian, unfortunately I can't wait. My mate is more knowledgable about computers than myself and recommends future proofing as much as is possible, which I agree with, but jees...the 280 cost?!? No one seems to be reporting the choppiness with the 1gb radeon so I might go for that. Need to order soon.