GTX 260 vs. 280

[bchill]

I'm getting the nForce 750i and planning on running SLI shortly after I order all of the parts for my computer, which currently only includes 1 graphics card. So my question is, knowing that I'm going to get another graphics card that's identical, would it be better to do SLI with the 280 than the 260? And is it really worth the extra $100?

GTX 260:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130374

GTX 280:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130365

 

[murdoc]

get GTX 260 216 core. It can pretty much match the 280 and in some instance it can even over power the 280. It's not worth getting the FTW edition because you can OC the GTX260 216 core and get even better performance yet price is cheaper.

GTX 260 216 core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130398

GTX 260 216 core saves you 100 dollars but gets you pretty much GTX 280 after OC.

 

[dagger]

Gtx280 is faster, obviously.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=13
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=14
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=15
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=16
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=17
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=18
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=19

Still, I wouldn't think it's worth the extra.

There's also quad sli 9800gx2 if you're into that. After all, it only cost $280 right now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130338

FPS chart for Guru3d, including the rare 9800gx2 quad sli and gtx280 tri sli setups: