ATI vs. nVidia

[audioave10]

Below is a Hiper Anubis case w/3 120mm fans (one is on top). This case
cost about $180 so it ain't cheap but it cools great! This has GTS512M -
8800's in SLI which run normal 54C temps and I've set fan speeds to 65% constant. As fast as I can come out of Clear Sky and check temps
I've never seen them over 58c. Air cooling is still easiest for me. Front
fan is intake - rear and top fan is exhaust.

http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f356/ ... NY0040.jpg

[Nightwatch]

I'm considering (currently, after some wavering, most recent currently, LOL ) a GTX260+ (216 cores version). But I like ASUS mainly, and haven't yet seen a GTX260+ 216 cores ASUS on the market. So I can go a 192 core GTX260 ASUS. If I decice on EVGA, it's a brilliant card as well, then I can opt for GTX260+.

There is only a small difference between 280 and 260+ and 280 consumes more power, particularly difference is even greater when 280 is on load; also 280 is significantly noisier.
Economy on heat and noise would be preferable for me.

ATI 4870 is far noisier than 280 and consumes much more energy (electric bill, people) than 280.


Further on noise and heat:

Yeah air cooling is still sufficient for me, too; though there's a noice issue that comes with it no matter how "silent" the fans are. Below is my main PC, a Lian Li case, a sort of giant aluminum heat sink

http://gallery.filefront.com/Nightwatch01//1100408/

Temps do not go over 55-58 in this case, either. Doublefront intakes, one top and one rear fans. actually most of the noise is coming from the Graphics Card and the CPU fan (Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro) it does the job of keeping CPU never go over 55C but sometimes kicks in like a mini-jet engine. LOL

So I'm thinking going for water cooling on GPU and CPU when I renew my Card.

[potamac77]

Hmmm... I see Nvidia seems to be getting ahead in the argument. I was just thinking getting an ATI.

[rockingmtranch]

I'm really enjoying my GTX260. NVIDIA FTW lol.

[Nightwatch]

I'm really enjoying my GTX260. NVIDIA FTW lol.

How is the noise level? I'm leaning towards it, too.

[rockingmtranch]

Quiet. Seriously. I don't really hear it. My 7600GT on the other hand was a bit noisy.

[Nightwatch]

Thanks, it's a big positive point to GTX260, at least for me.
My case is already a bit too noisy for my taste (well... 7 fans, it's inevitable. )

[audioave10]

I keep thinking about ATI (had some great cards in the past) but after
reading lots of forums it seems there are still issues with drivers and too
many posters saying they had to return their cards RMA. So...still leaning
towards Nvidia as of now.

[Nightwatch]

I keep thinking about ATI (had some great cards in the past) but after
reading lots of forums it seems there are still issues with drivers and too
many posters saying they had to return their cards RMA. So...still leaning
towards Nvidia as of now.

Yup, exactly the way my though process currently moves
(also heating, too. ATI in general consumes more power and heats more. Well, when you come to think of it, only good think is the price I guess, which is of course important, too)