Money is an issue help me decide

[Trinitynzxt]

So i've pretty much decided to get a GTS 250 from EVGA for 120 bucks on newegg. I was talking to a friend of mine and he said that for an amd build to get an ati card. sounds simple to me but i've always liked evga and nvidia.

So my question is for under a 130 bucks (I dont care about MIR's cuz its too much of a pain in the ***) whats the best card to get an ATI or Nvidia based GPU for an AMD computer build. CPU is Phenom x II 3.1ghz BE Callisto on a Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P motherboard.

I really just don't know enough about ATI or Crossfire to really just take a leap of faith. But since this board supports Crossfire I'd entertain the idea of getting an ATI card.

[MadMan]

IF the 130 $ is the maximum limit,id suggest any 512 mb version of the 4870 would do the trick(peformance wise its about the same as the gtx 260 from nvidia,with less ram)
This one seems ok http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131140
EDIT:512 mb should not bother you unless you game at above 1650x1050

[Deluded]

You can go with this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131140

Is a great little card that can handle anything.

EDIT: Ninja'ed!

EDIT2: Ninja'ed by the same GPU too!

[Trinitynzxt]

Thanks for the info, but my question was never really answered. ATI or Nvidia on an AMD system and why. 4870 vs gts 250 is what it looks like would be the 2 options just still hanging on the fence.

[Deluded]

Because the 250 is actually a rebranded 9800. It's weaker than 260 by a large margin.

[jbmcmillan]

Originally Posted by Trinitynzxt

Thanks for the info, but my question was never really answered. ATI or Nvidia on an AMD system and why. 4870 vs gts 250 is what it looks like would be the 2 options just still hanging on the fence.

It doesn't matter what video card you use ATI or Nvidia get the best price/performance card you can.Which in this case I would say the 4870 just because it performs better than the 250 not because it's ATI.

[JEskandari]

if you are using it for games ,that 4870 will get you the money for power , but if you use a program that can use cuda feature of nvidia video cards ,i suggest get a gtx 260
and also if i'm not wrong nvidia gtx cards have internal physx capabilities while ati cards don't have them and for that you need another card.

[Drozdov]

only way he's going to get a gtx 260 for $130 or less is if he buys it second hand. Physx is a gimmick, not even a handful of games use hardware physx acceleration

[Enigma_AMDboy]

Originally Posted by Drozdov

only way he's going to get a gtx 260 for $130 or less is if he buys it second hand. Physx is a gimmick, not even a handful of games use hardware physx acceleration

But droz! Turning on physx can double your 3dmark vantage score!

[jbmcmillan]

Originally Posted by Drozdov

only way he's going to get a gtx 260 for $130 or less is if he buys it second hand. Physx is a gimmick, not even a handful of games use hardware physx acceleration

Yeah I thought money is an issue was a dead give away.

[unrlmth]

Personally I would try and find something used. There are some really good deals to be had especially on stuff that isn't the latest and greatest.

[travy25]

Since your board supports crossfirex, to me the choice is simple. Since money is an issue you can get more bang for your buck with ATI. You won't have any problem running an Nvidia card on an ATI chipset board if you decide to go that route either, but you won't have the option of adding a card down the road for a more affordable upgrade. Just my 2 cents.

[Witchdoctor]

I agree 4870.....

Personally I would save my lunch money for a week and get this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131148

[issa2000]

nvidia has physic .. ati does not...

[Trinitynzxt]

I was looking at a VisionTek 4870 512mb card for $139.99 on newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814129113

What do you guys think of this card. Me personally im not a big fan of visiontek but am up to trying it upon aproval from u guys

[Witchdoctor]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131140

this one is cheaper with a free copy of Stalker ......

Additional Comment:

if you are going to spend that add the 5 bucks and grab the 1GB version

Especially if you have a 24" monitor

[Trinitynzxt]

I guess the biggest thing is that i really know precisely jack about most of the manufacturers for ati vid cards. what company would compare to evga as thier customer support and warranty has been some of the best i have ever seen for any type of computer products. which even though i know the 4870 has better performance im still heavily entertaining the idea of getting the evga gts 250 simply so i know that if i have problems im covered.

[Witchdoctor]

That is your choice ......

As far as ATI card go though they are all being fabbed by the same company.

They just installl the specified cooling aperatus speced by the customer

AKA ASus, Power Color and so on

Same with Nvproducts the manufaturuire just puts their warrenty policies on the product ....

[JEskandari]

Originally Posted by Trinitynzxt

I was looking at a VisionTek 4870 512mb card for $139.99 on newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814129113

What do you guys think of this card. Me personally im not a big fan of visiontek but am up to trying it upon aproval from u guys

thats a 512mb Hd4870 Card ,to tell the truth i always buy one of these EVGA Recertified Card instead.
Recertified: EVGA 896-P3-1255-RX GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card 129.99 $
Recertified: EVGA 896-P3-1265-RX GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card 144.99 $

If you must get an hd4870 at least get a 1gb version of it.

Additional Comment:

Originally Posted by Witchdoctor

That is your choice ......

As far as ATI card go though they are all being fabbed by the same company.

They just installl the specified cooling aperatus speced by the customer

AKA ASus, Power Color and so on

Same with Nvproducts the manufaturuire just puts their warrenty policies on the product ....

Just wanted to mention that Gainward Golden Sample Series won't use the reference board and design at all

[Trinitynzxt]

Originally Posted by JEskandari

thats a 512mb Hd4870 Card ,to tell the truth i always buy one of these EVGA Recertified Card instead.
Recertified: EVGA 896-P3-1255-RX GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card 129.99 $
Recertified: EVGA 896-P3-1265-RX GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card 144.99 $

If you must get an hd4870 at least get a 1gb version of it.

Additional Comment:


Just wanted to mention that Gainward Golden Sample Series won't use the reference board and design at all

Does EVGA still warranty the refurbs from newegg? cuz if they do i know what im buying today lul

Additional Comment:

yea im buying evga i just called them they are open 24hours with live tech support my call was answered in 2min and was told that they will warranty the card but only for 90days and no stepup.