I know 3DMark is pointless but... GTX280 vs. GTX260 Core216

[Blazestorm]

I had a GTX280, It has been running pretty hot (low 70c's for Idle, 105c in furmark, low 90's in L4D or TF2)
I setup an RMA with XFX, but not before ordering myself a GTX260 Core216 for $195 - $30 rebate (and Farcry2 + CoD5 to sell on ebay) from newegg

Card swapped just fine, had to switch my 8pin PCI-E to 6pin (My PSU doesn't do 6+2) and booted up fine, Vista found the card/drivers and asked me to restart, next boot detected my 2560 x 1600 and my 1920 x 1080 on the Westinghouse 37"

I ran Furmark and checked my temps, I don't think it got above 75c after about 10-15 minutes (that's where it peaked out at 105c on the GTX280) and the fan wasn't ramping up to 100% either, it was staying around 40-45%
Either way, I then ran 3DMark 06 and checked my scores... they were 300 less than with the GTX280... 14300 vs 14600 ... with the stats in my sig

So was my GTX280 really defective? Or is the GTX260 Core216 pretty comparable (I guess that was at 1280 x 1024)

 

[Dangman]

So was my GTX280 really defective? Or is the GTX260 Core216 pretty comparable (I guess that was at 1280 x 1024)

Pretty that's it right there. Around 1280x1024, you tend to be more CPU limited than GPU limited. Starting around 1680x1050, thats where the CPU becomes less of a factor and it's mostly GPU.

 

[Blazestorm]

Yea that's what I figured after I thought about it a little more...

Playing TF2 it feels about the same... 4xAA 8xAF 2560 x 1600, everything else maxed... drops below 60 occasionally but still smooth for most of it... GTX280 wasn't always above 60 either...

I didn't really pay super close attention though, it's not a significant downgrade for games I play, and it was only planned to be temp until I get the replacement card back, then i'll probably sell this / put it in a 2nd rig.

 

[vengence]

With a temp of 105C, your 280 was defective. However, a core 216 260 is really within 15% of a 280.

 

[sh0vet]

The 280 is going to slaugher the 260. At some settings the 260 216 core may get close to the 280 but that's it. In most benchmarks the 280 is gonna drag the 260 into a back alley and beat it to death.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

The 280 is going to slaugher the 260. At some settings the 260 216 core may get close to the 280 but that's it. In most benchmarks the 280 is gonna drag the 260 into a back alley and beat it to death.

Um...not really...the GTX 280 is faster, yes, but it's only about 10% more than a GTX 260/216.

I'd not classify that as a slaughter.

 

[TalonMan]

The issue is 3DMark06 is CPU dependant, and Vantage is GPU dependant.

For the 200 Series cards, you need to run Vantage to see the difference in performance. 3DMark06 won't show it...

- The Official Single and Dual 260 Vantage Score Thread - http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=100483443&mpage=1&key=&#100483443


- The Official Single 280, and 285 Vantage Score Thread - http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=769979&mpage=1&key=��


280's and 285 can hit 17K.
Single 260's can hit 15K.

Pritty close.

 

[sh0vet]

Um...not really...the GTX 280 is faster, yes, but it's only about 10% more than a GTX 260/216.

I'd not classify that as a slaughter.

If its not a slaughter then what would you classify it as? If the two video cards were people then the 280 could always bust in on the 260 no matter what it was doing and kick its ass. Not to mention at real high resolutuions the very "slight" extra memory in the 280 is gonna help out,

 

[TalonMan]

I like the 280 more myself.

It is a runner...

 

[HaMMerHeD]

If its not a slaughter then what would you classify it as? If the two video cards were people then the 280 could always bust in on the 260 no matter what it was doing and kick its ass. Not to mention at real high resolutuions the very "slight" extra memory in the 280 is gonna help out,

I didn't say the 280 wasn't better. I merely contested your assertion that the level of superiority warranted the term "Slaughter."

I would call it a Technical Knock-Out. It's better on paper, but for many people, the technical superiority mostly fails to bring about any real benefit or advantage.

 

[sh0vet]

I didn't say the 280 wasn't better. I merely contested your assertion that the level of superiority warranted the term "Slaughter."

I would call it a Technical Knock-Out. It's better on paper, but for many people, the technical superiority mostly fails to bring about any real benefit or advantage.

Fair enough.

 

[KVW]

Um...not really...the GTX 280 is faster, yes, but it's only about 10% more than a GTX 260/216.

I'd not classify that as a slaughter.

Always cracks me up with ppl use such dramatic words to describe a 10% performance difference.

I once had dual 285s in my rig (frys 30 days rental program ). I'm now back to my dual 260/216s. Played all my favorite games and was like WTF? 600+ bucks for 10% more is a joke. I'll wait for next gen.

 

[Blazestorm]

Yea, after overclocking this to 720/1440/2460 (core/shade/mem) it's been playing everything quite fast... and runs cooler.

I may / may not buy the top-level for next gen