Buy factory OC or OC yourself?

[_ZR1_]

Well im stuck deciding between getting a GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked or Just a regular GTX 260 Core 216.

After its about a 20$ difference so is it worth it?

GTX 260 SC Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433

Regular GTX 260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130434

System Specs:
AMD Phenom II x4 490 Black Edition
OCZ Reaper 4GB
OCZ StealthXStream 700watt
Antec 902

 

[hunter315]

The factory overclocked ones are better quality parts than the normal ones, you might not be able to achieve the same overclock on a regular one as they have gotten because they get to pick the best cards out of the bunch and overclock them from there.

 

[alvine]

oc yourself.

 

[efeat]

I buy stock and OC myself. The factory OCed cards are nice if you don't mind paying a little premium for a guaranteed overclock, but I can't afford that premium. With a stock card, you still have a chance for getting a solid overclock at no extra cost.

The two examples you have listed are 50 mhz apart. I'm no expert on gtx 260s, but it seems to me that a 50 mhz overclock isn't worth $20.

 

[megamanx00]

You should be able to hit those speeds by overclocking the card yourself. Of course it is nice to have a factory overclocked part as it is generally a better sample than those used for stock speeds. If the extra money is not a big deal for you, then go for it, but personally I would buy the stock clocked version and overclock it myself.

 

[mactronix]

The factory overclocked ones are better quality parts than the normal ones, you might not be able to achieve the same overclock on a regular one as they have gotten because they get to pick the best cards out of the bunch and overclock them from there.

This isnt always the case, sometimes they are stock parts. Alot of it depends on the size of the OC.
The warning about not getting the OC yourself is very valid though as sometimes performance can do down with Overclocking.

Mactronix

 

[swifty_morgan]

Seeing how close together they are clocked I don't think it would make much difference. I would seek out a higher clocked version though............. even if it only had 192sp vs 214.......... why...see below

I have an XFX GTX260.. 640/2300...192sp. I just bought an MSI lightning....... all you see and all you read suggests it's going to be a better card. IT BLOWS.

Go with the highest clocked card you can find and don't even think about trying to over clock. It's not a sure bet that you will be successful. Keep looking.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150330

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130441

 

[jerreece]

Unless you specifically want eVGA, I'd recommend this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127430

Higher OC, and cheaper. I run the OCv2 of this card, and it works great.

Otherwise, I generally would recommend OC'ing yourself.

 

[jaguarskx]

OC yourself. I would only buy a factory OC'ed card if it came with a better cooler.

 

[jzsang]

I agree with jaguarskx. I only get factory overclocked cards if they come with a non-reference cooler and/or some other unique thing (ex - more ram, HDMI output, free game, etc.).

 

[rewindlabs]

There is no reason to choose a card based on clock speed...i grabbed my MSI 260 gtx due to being an msi fan and it was at a verrryyy nice price...stock clock of 655mhz...overclocks just fine to 700mhz...may do above that albeit i have no reason to go higher....no real reason to do 700mhz either