experts... Please help me choose a VGA should I buy "9800GX2" or "GTX260" ?

[j_h3000]

hi there I'll Upgrade from Asus 8600 GTS

and i wonder what should I buy

should I go for XFX 9800GX2
or XFX GTX 260 ?

price is not an issue this comparison
I Just want to make sure that I made the right decision, though I like the concept of having a card with 2 GPU performing together
but some people say that GTX 260 is better and others say that 9800GX2 is better

Please note that my Display resolution is 1440 x 900

please help me choose the Best card and give me the reason... "features, frame rates ..."

and thanks in advance

[RaV3N]

Are you gaming?

[j_h3000]

yes I am

but i have a limited budget

[j_h3000]

what about GTX 280 ?
is it really the best ?

[j_h3000]

man ... look at the comparison table of these VGA cards at Tigerdirect.com shop !!!

prices are close man, so i just need to choose the best item considering the specs and the manufacturer so please help me choose the best one

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8311/comparisoniy2.jpg

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8311/comparisoniy2.th.jpg (http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=comparisoniy2.jpg)http://img141.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

[bda1967]

Any of those cards will do you just fine but I would go with the 260 at your resolution. I had a GX2 and it was a great card but the 200 series is the replacement for the 9800 series. The GX2 also encounters micro-stutering in certain games that do not like dual card configurations. If you have a Nvidia board then you can get another one down the road and run them in SLI.

[j_h3000]

thanks bda1967

so you are saying that 260 is more than enough for my resolution, and i can play any game right now in full details ?

[bda1967]

I don't have a 260 but everything that I've read suggests that you should be able to. What's your rig specs? You definitely want to run an overclocked cpu to get the best performance out of it too.

[jobrien2001]

wair till the 28th to buy @ tigerdirect, they have a special the 28th only

[splat]

you're running 1400x900? i'd take some of that budget and spend it on a better monitor. 1400x900 isn't going to stress either of those video cards.

[RaV3N]

If your gaming at 1400x900 then you dont need more then a 9800GTX or a 4850 at that resolution. What splat said is what I would do as well, save for a better monitor cause thats a major thing that determines your visual quality. (A videocard cant be better without a better monitor to show you)

[bda1967]

I would get the better card (gtx260) and get a new monitor to fully utilze that new card. The others are correct in saying that the 4850 or a 9800GTX is all that you need now but that's not what you asked an opinion on. If you get a lower grade card now to match your current monitor then when you upgrade the monitor you'll just want a better card again. Your best bet is to just get the better card now and save yourself the hassle later on unless you don't plan on upgrading the monitor anytime soon then get the lower grade card. :)

Afterthought: Unless you're stuck on Nvidia a HD 4850 would be a nice investment now even if you upgrade the monitor, it will keep up with almost anything you throw at it. They overclock well and they're pretty cheap too.