Best GTX 460?

[cpoullas]

I've been scouting around to find the best upgrade from my former 4850 (defective unit). The best that I have found is the nVidia GTX 460. I am almost 100% set on getting this card, but I don't know exactly which brand to get. I do definitely want to OC the core to atleast 900 MHz, and have it run stable and cool. From what I have read, the best deal around is the MSI 460GTX cyclone: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=eg7zhvpn9v
Is this the best GTX 460 to get to OC and run at cool temps? I have also read that it runs very smoothly with the MSI Afterburner program, the program I intend to use to overclock the card. I don't want to spend the extra money to get the 1 GB version as I play on a lower resolution moniter (1280x1024), and from what I understand, more RAM is only used for the higher resolutions. I don't want to get a better monitor because I have plugged in my computer to my top-of-the-line full-HD Samsung 52 inch 120 Hz HDTV and noticed no graphical difference in the resolutions from my monitor. I think higher resolutions are overrated for gaming.

Lastly, my PSU is a Corsair TX650. This PSU will sufficiently power the GTX 460, correct?

I hope someone can give me some feedback here, thanks!

 

[cpoullas]

Here are my final two choices:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo MSI 5830 for $150

or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7510&cm_re=msi_gtx_460-_-14-127-510-_-Product MSI GTX460 Cyclone for $200


I'm pretty set on getting the GTX460 due to the extremely high amounts of good reviews of overclocking it and such, and I love nVidia, absolutely hate ATI. The one thing that caught my eye with the 5830 is the $50 rebate. The thing I don't understand with rebates is if you send them your UPC sticker from the box (requirement of the rebate), doesn't that void your warranty for the card? You wouldn't have a way to RMA the card if it malfunctioned, right? The reason I ask is because I have a defective Asus 4850 that I sent the UPC code to ASUS for a rebate, and now I can't RMA it.

Last question: What exactly is the vital point of a video card that most greatly effects its FPS in games? Is it the core clock, shader clock, memory clock...? I've never understood it.

 

[cpoullas]

all of the above and none of the above

graphic cards are like women *insert jokes here* you can look at them, check out their measurements, etc., until you actually meet them and spend time with them (reviews & benchmarks) its very difficult to judge them. Unless you compare two exact series cards from the exact same chipset family, most of those stats can go out the window.

hence why its so difficult to understand them...video cards and women

FYI it's a good thing my GF tech ability stops at texting, facebook and using an apple mouse....

Haha! That's great ! So which card do you think I should get?

 

[nforce4max]

I bought this yesterday and the reviews are good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

 

[cpoullas]

the GTX 460 itself is a great card. it runs cool so heat or fan noise is not an issue. you can't go wrong with picking any of them so get the one with the features you like the best. I personally went with the MSI Cyclone because of its cooler, the thing runs whisper silent and card never breaks 50c (34c at idle). The MSI hawk looks very nice but I got my card at launch and it was not available although I still probably would have went with the Cyclone. My GTS 250 had the same cooler as the hawk and it worked great. I have also heard good things about the evga, asus, and gigabyte models so that lead me to quoting myself

"you can't go wrong with picking any of them so get the one with the features you like the best."

I'm almost 100% set on getting the MSI Cyclone GTX460. Plus, I was just checking out a review of the GTX460's at http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3393/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_460_1gb_oc_video_card/index21.html and I found an amazing point at the end of the article: "These two cards have pretty much made the HD 5770 and HD 5830 from ATI redundant. Outside of wanting a triple screen setup off a single card, we're not sure why you would buy that model now the GTX 460 is here". While this article is about the Gigabyte version, the quotes references to the entire 460 lineup. MSI Cyclone, here I come!

 

[cpoullas]

Best answer selected by cpoullas.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey