Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 20

Thread: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    862
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    38 times in 30 posts
    • rob4001's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte z97
      • CPU:
      • Xeon 1231 v3
      • Memory:
      • 16GB
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 840 256GB SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1660 super
      • PSU:
      • Sliverstone 500w SFX-L
      • Case:
      • Silverstone SG13 mitx
      • Operating System:
      • windows 10 64 bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus 27" 1440p
      • Internet:
      • Comcast 75MB

    Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    All the new cards / refreshes coming out I was wondering if it was actually worth upgrading my 280GTX

    Do any cards have significant performance gains that are under £300? I game on 24" monitor at either 1680×1050 or 1920×1200.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Butter king GheeTsar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    The shire of berks
    Posts
    2,106
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked
    260 times in 163 posts
    • GheeTsar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 2500k
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 8GB
      • Storage:
      • Samsung EVO 850 1 TB + 2 x 1TB Storage
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS Radeon R9 280X
      • PSU:
      • Tagan TG600-U33 600W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define R3
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Acer 24" 120Hz GD245HQ
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 100mb

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Unless you are having performance issues, I'd suggest not bothering.

  3. #3
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    I'm in the same boat, albeit at 2048x1152, and personally i'm sticking it out till the new ATI high end cards arrive early next month. My 280 is overclocked on water and atm there isn't really anything pushing it to the point where i'm annoyed. I'm toying with the following options:

    - Single 580
    - Single 6970
    - Crossfire 68xx
    - SLI 460 (1gb)

    The latter option is a problem tho as nvidia block SLI on my motherboard so i'd have to hack it to get it to work and i'm not sure if I can be bothered. In addition CF/SLI solutions means two waterblocks instead of one for me so i'd prefer a single card solution (but i'd accept a dual GPU on one PCB solution).

    In any case new ATI GPUs will force pricing down so sit tight.
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


  4. #4
    I'm Very Important
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    2,928
    Thanks
    318
    Thanked
    360 times in 318 posts
    • Domestic_Ginger's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
      • CPU:
      • Phenom II X2 550
      • Memory:
      • 4GB DDR2
      • Storage:
      • F3 500gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 5850
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 550vx
      • Case:
      • NZXT beta evo
      • Operating System:
      • W7
      • Monitor(s):
      • G2222HDL

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by GheeTsar View Post
    Unless you are having performance issues, I'd suggest not bothering.
    Seconded

    The sub 300 market is a little sparse atm and AFAIK currently only contains the 5870. The 6950 and 6980 will come in at that price point next month if you really need to get something new.

  5. #5
    I'm Very Important
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    2,928
    Thanks
    318
    Thanked
    360 times in 318 posts
    • Domestic_Ginger's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
      • CPU:
      • Phenom II X2 550
      • Memory:
      • 4GB DDR2
      • Storage:
      • F3 500gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 5850
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 550vx
      • Case:
      • NZXT beta evo
      • Operating System:
      • W7
      • Monitor(s):
      • G2222HDL

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by dangel View Post
    The latter option is a problem tho as nvidia block SLI on my motherboard so i'd have to hack it to get it to work and i'm not sure if I can be bothered.
    Was looking at this the other day and it looked okay. I suppose you have to do it everytime yo chnage drivers but its not a huge biggie. I think getting the second card and finding out you can't hack your drivers would be a bit of a bummer though! As its just convincing your driver you have an x58 mobo you should be able to do this with a single card.

  6. #6
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by Domestic_Ginger View Post
    Was looking at this the other day and it looked okay. I suppose you have to do it everytime yo chnage drivers but its not a huge biggie. I think getting the second card and finding out you can't hack your drivers would be a bit of a bummer though! As its just convincing your driver you have an x58 mobo you should be able to do this with a single card.
    That's my worry - having a redundant second card! Gotta hate these stupid decisions that nVidia make really I was planning on trying a couple of 8800's from work to see if it basically worked first but i still don't like the lack of certainty.
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


  7. #7
    Not a good person scaryjim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Gateshead
    Posts
    15,196
    Thanks
    1,231
    Thanked
    2,291 times in 1,874 posts
    • scaryjim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Dell Inspiron
      • CPU:
      • Core i5 8250U
      • Memory:
      • 2x 4GB DDR4 2666
      • Storage:
      • 128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Radeon R5 230
      • PSU:
      • Battery/Dell brick
      • Case:
      • Dell Inspiron 5570
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • 15" 1080p laptop panel

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by dangel View Post
    Gotta hate these stupid decisions that nVidia make really
    Are any P45 motherboards SLI certified? Surely it's a mistake Intel made not paying up for the license!?

    As with everyone else, I'd recommend not upgrading a GTX280 yet. Firstly there's the imminent ATI 69x0 cards which should (hopefully!) shake things up a bit (although prices may be high to start with if they're having yield problems), and secondly there's more GF11x cards coming from nvidia (theoretically a GTX570 and GTX560) which will probably be worth looking at given the improvements of the GTX580 over the GTX480.

    It's never a good time to buy new tech, as there's always something new "just around the corner", but currently I think it's a worse time than usual...

  8. #8
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by scaryjim View Post
    Are any P45 motherboards SLI certified? Surely it's a mistake Intel made not paying up for the license!?
    The problem I have with it is that there's no electrical reason for the restraint, and commercially it seems far smarter to me that nVidia sell two cards instead of one to a wider range of customers. It just seems.. dumb. Period.
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


  9. #9
    Not a good person scaryjim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Gateshead
    Posts
    15,196
    Thanks
    1,231
    Thanked
    2,291 times in 1,874 posts
    • scaryjim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Dell Inspiron
      • CPU:
      • Core i5 8250U
      • Memory:
      • 2x 4GB DDR4 2666
      • Storage:
      • 128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Radeon R5 230
      • PSU:
      • Battery/Dell brick
      • Case:
      • Dell Inspiron 5570
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • 15" 1080p laptop panel

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by dangel View Post
    It just seems.. dumb. Period.
    Well, yeah. It's nvidia

  10. Received thanks from:

    dangel (23-11-2010)

  11. #10
    Pre-Cambrian nibbler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,668
    Thanks
    913
    Thanked
    266 times in 216 posts
    • nibbler's system
      • CPU:
      • i5-2410m
      • Memory:
      • 6GB ddr3 1333mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Plextor M5S SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 1GB 6650M
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64 bit

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Not worth bothering but you can get higher performance for way less than £300 if you need it.
    Join the HEXUS Folding@home Team!!


  12. #11
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    The land of Brum
    Posts
    10,128
    Thanks
    605
    Thanked
    1,220 times in 1,121 posts
    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by dangel View Post
    The problem I have with it is that there's no electrical reason for the restraint, and commercially it seems far smarter to me that nVidia sell two cards instead of one to a wider range of customers. It just seems.. dumb. Period.
    At the time nvidia where still producing their own chipsets for sli and didn't sell licences.
    When Intel changed the socket and underlying communication structure, they put the new licence fees so high that it's impossible for anyone else to make a competing chipset, so nvidia was forced to sell licences for sli instead or see sli drop off the face of the planet.

  13. #12
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Rugby, Warwicks
    Posts
    91
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    10 times in 10 posts
    • marktime's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6T Deluxe v1
      • CPU:
      • i7 920@4ghz
      • Memory:
      • 12gb Corsair Vengeance 12800
      • Storage:
      • 60gb OCZ Vertex 2E, 150gb VelociRaptor, 2tb Spinpoint F4
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Radeon HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • Antec TruePower New 650W
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-75
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung 245B
      • Internet:
      • Be Unlimited 24mb

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    It's always a fine balance in these situations between whether you 'need' to upgrade and the relative cost.

    I recently got rid of my GTX 280 once the cost of the 470 fell to ~£200, figuring I'd still be able to recoup a fair bit for the old card if I sold it before the next gen cards came out. In the end I got nearly £140 for the 280 (don't think you'll get that now, unfortunately, more like £80-100) which helped justify the decision.

    Did I need to upgrade? No, everything I play was running ok if I'm being honest. Am I glad I did? Yeah, the current card has got a bit more in reserve which should see me through the next 12-18 months and I haven't paid a fortune on balance.

    In your situation I'd say no harm in waiting to see what happens when the ATI 69xx series comes out. You often find some of the places like OcUK or Scan have a short window where they dump a lot of stock and you might be able to snap up something like a heavily discounted GTX480/ATI 5870.

  14. #13
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    The Forest OF Dean
    Posts
    59
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    9 times in 5 posts
    • TheodanUK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Z68-VPRO-GEN3
      • CPU:
      • Intel I7 2600k
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M4 512gb, 256gb & 128gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 780 FTW * 2 SLI
      • PSU:
      • BeQuiet 900w
      • Case:
      • HAF 932
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus 4k
      • Internet:
      • 8mb BT Total Broadband

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Well, the time has come to review this again...

    I have a GTX 280 and it is working fine in all games at 1920 * 1200, but it obviously is not DX11 and now the GTX 570/580 series and the ATI 6900 series are out, I am wondering again, if it is the right time to get a new high end card....

    I really like the GTX 570 .. but I think it is probably £50 overpriced so was thinking of waiting a couple of months for the release prices to drop.. but that may also cause a drop in my resale value of my current GTX 280...... I also would rather stick with high end now that I have made that jump from midrange cards I had in the past which only lasted me 12 months...

  15. #14
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by TheodanUK View Post
    Well, the time has come to review this again...

    I have a GTX 280 and it is working fine in all games at 1920 * 1200, but it obviously is not DX11 and now the GTX 570/580 series and the ATI 6900 series are out, I am wondering again, if it is the right time to get a new high end card....

    I really like the GTX 570 .. but I think it is probably £50 overpriced so was thinking of waiting a couple of months for the release prices to drop.. but that may also cause a drop in my resale value of my current GTX 280...... I also would rather stick with high end now that I have made that jump from midrange cards I had in the past which only lasted me 12 months...
    If it makes you feel better i'm still ummmming and ahhhing myself. I think i'd now go for a 580 if pressed, but i'm actually thinking i may even end up waiting for the NEXT series of cards or perhaps to see what the dual GPU cards are like early next year. If I see a good price for a 580 I might well go for it. Still.. having trouble feeling rushed at all!
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


  16. #15
    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Not here
    Posts
    31,621
    Thanks
    3,757
    Thanked
    5,060 times in 3,912 posts
    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    A pair of HD6950 cards in Crossfire is faster in many games than a single GTX580.

  17. #16
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Worth upgrading 280GTX yet?

    Quote Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH View Post
    A pair of HD6950 cards in Crossfire is faster in many games than a single GTX580.
    TBH I don't like multi GPU setups because they're never perfect on scaling/compatibility and secondly because it's two waterblocks to buy instead of two. I'd rather have a single PCB - but like I said i'd be interested in dual gpu cards and both ATI and nVidia are about to launch those.. All IMHO and i've no objection whatsoever to everybody making their own choices
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Upgrading a 8800GT worth it?
    By djglenn in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 21-02-2009, 11:10 PM
  2. Evil, amoral gazunderers
    By Rave in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 81
    Last Post: 30-09-2008, 03:32 PM
  3. Is DX10.1 worth upgrading to?
    By Bounty_Bam in forum Graphics Cards
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 23-09-2008, 06:33 PM
  4. E2180 @ 3Ghz worth upgrading to E8400?
    By wedge22 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 23-09-2008, 07:12 AM
  5. Worth upgrading my X800Pro
    By wedge22 in forum Graphics Cards
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-12-2004, 08:38 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •