ATI 4870 or nVidia 260

b0ng0 · 20 Nov 2009 at 15:31

I am planning to buy a new card within the next week or two and I was pretty fixed on getting an ATI 4870, but I recently checked a few benchmarks and have seen the 260 GTX getting higher FPS.

Also the 260 only seems to be 10/20 quid more than the 4870, although on many forums the 4870 seems to be highly recommended.

I've been an nVidia man for many years, but it's been a while since I bought a new card. Any advice on either of these cards?

reflux · 20 Nov 2009 at 15:34

Get a 5770 instead.

True_Scotsman · 20 Nov 2009 at 15:36

Depends on how much you want to spend, what res you game at etc.

b0ng0 · 20 Nov 2009 at 15:58

Well my highest res is like 1280x1024 I think... I only have a 17" monitor and don't intend on upgrading that until it breaks :-/

b0ng0 · 20 Nov 2009 at 16:12

Also, I read the thread on the 5770 (seems a lot of people on this forum have/want one), but after looking at benchmarks on Tom's Hardware, it seems to perform less well than the 4870 or the 260 GTX - so I am just curious as to why there is so much interest in them.

Thanks.

Rroff · 20 Nov 2009 at 16:15

5770 have DX11 and other newer tech features... and in some cases where newer shader features can be put into play they will beat last generation tech that is otherwise faster...

Either go for the 5770 or 260GTX.

The real deal atm about the 5770 is the fact that in crossfire they compete well on price and performance against the 5870 due to the current stock shortages - if the 5800 stock was higher levels there wouldn't be so much interest in them.

LoadsaMoney · 20 Nov 2009 at 17:26

5770's only about couple of frames slower, but its only had 1 driver, where as the 4870 and 260 have had loads of drivers to get them a couple of frames faster than it, so the 5770 will surpass em when it gets more, plus its not old tech.

niggyg · 20 Nov 2009 at 18:19

LoadsaMoney said:
5770's only about couple of frames slower, but its only had 1 driver, where as the 4870 and 260 have had loads of drivers to get them a couple of frames faster than it, so the 5770 will surpass em when it gets more, plus its not old tech.

Agreed and the power consumption will save you a bit towards the difference over a year.

Rroff · 20 Nov 2009 at 18:28

A few cases show a single 5770 keeping up with a 260GTX but in many cases its quite a way behind - if you look at the hardware specs even with matured drivers it doesn't have the pixel, texture or memory bandwidth/fillrate to keep up with the 260GTX - tho it will probably match or beat the 4870 consistantly with driver updates - where it will shine is newer games - in games where DX11 or compute shaders can really flex their muscle it will outperform the 260GTX.

Ritsugamesh · 20 Nov 2009 at 23:19

I would suggest the 5770, admittedly it's slightly less powerful in terms of brute computing than the 260, at resolutions stated frame rates won't be an issue with any of the 3 cards; 4870, 260 or 5770. Also you'll be getting the most power efficient card and the most advanced card technology wise with the 5770 for a reasonable price.

Also you will be able to crossfire in the future if you like the card or sell it off second hand for a higher price then the other 2 due to newer tech if you upgrade later on.

AMG · 21 Nov 2009 at 00:52

GTX260/ hd4870 are about equal depending on drivers how ever I would be tempted to knock out the HD4870 in favour for the HD5770 although its a little slow (atm) yes but the drivers are coming on nicly and they are ace when its got another HD5770 partner

marley82 · 21 Nov 2009 at 04:20

Legion · 21 Nov 2009 at 04:43

Gaming at 1280x1024 you could use an 8800GT/radeon 3850 and not see any difference to a more expensive newer card.

It's honestly not worth spending that much to game on a 17" monitor.

Just buy a cheap card now and when/if the monitor breaks upgrade the gfx card and the monitor together.

Either that or buy a 4870/260GTX/5770 now and save for a 19"/22" widescreen monitor as these cards are total over kill for gaming at 1280x1024.

xGaffner · 21 Nov 2009 at 08:43

Legion said:
Gaming at 1280x1024 you could use an 8800GT/radeon 3850 and not see any difference to a more expensive newer card.

It's honestly not worth spending that much to game on a 17" monitor.

Just buy a cheap card now and when/if the monitor breaks upgrade the gfx card and the monitor together.

Either that or buy a 4870/260GTX/5770 now and save for a 19"/22" widescreen monitor as these cards are total over kill for gaming at 1280x1024.

I disagree, what if he likes to play with lots of AA and AF? At that res AA will make games look a lot better than without it. I hate it when people say that, just because you game at a lowish res doesn't mean you should not get a fairly decent card? What if he wants to play the latest games? DX11? To be honest, bottlenecking that would happen aside, i woudn't criticise someone who buys two 5970's in quadfire at 1024x768 resolution. It would certainly last them a long time resulting in money well spent. Of course it's the buyers money at the end of the day, he can do what ever he pleases with t.

gurusan · 21 Nov 2009 at 08:47

An old 8800GT or 3870 can play 1280x1024 with 4xAA perfectly fine.

If someone buys two 5970s for quadfire at 1024x768 I absolutely would criticise them. It would be totally idiotic move and a waste of money.

Final8y · 21 Nov 2009 at 08:52

gurusan said:
An old 8800GT or 3870 can play 1280x1024 with 4xAA perfectly fine.

If someone buys two 5970s for quadfire at 1024x768 I absolutely would criticise them. It would be totally idiotic move and a waste of money.

It would be fine if the features were not continually evolving as the power would be come irrelevant without the features.

Legion · 21 Nov 2009 at 09:03

xGaffner said:
i woudn't criticise someone who buys two 5970's in quadfire at 1024x768 resolution. It would certainly last them a long time resulting in money well spent.

I stopped reading right there,money well spent? lmao.

I'm not critising anyone,the OP asked for advice and after 20 years of building pc's for a lot of different budgets and uses that's exactly what he got.
If he wants to spend his money that's cool,I just gave an opinion and some advice on an upgrade path to get the most from his money.

I suggested a 19"/22" widescreen monitor as either won't tax any of those cards he's considering,allowing him to run them with most if not all of the eyecandy on at a res more suited to them therefore giving him better value for his money and an overall better gaming experience.

Caracus2k · 21 Nov 2009 at 11:01

dont buy a 5770 just because it has dx11..... it does not perform all that well (compared to last gen) in dx 9/10 games and by the time dx11 games become more mainstream it will lack the power to keep up.... 260 or a 4890 bettwr buy atm unless you a really worried about higher power usage... or save up for a 5850

arc@css · 21 Nov 2009 at 11:21

5770 but xfire them. One on its own...hmm not so sure.

To answer the original question - get a 260.

Ritsugamesh · 22 Nov 2009 at 00:10

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-120-OK&tool=3

Same price as all the others and will outperform any of the other cards.

My opinion I would also say get the 5770 over either the 4870 or the 260, but a 4890 would be your most powerful option in the same price bracket as these carrds.