I'm getting a new graphics card and is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 worth it?

[Matteus]

I know it is probably very dated this day, but it's going to be my first new graphics card.
I will mainly be using it to play VALVe games (such as Portal, HL2, etc.) and would like to know if it would be good for these kind of games.

I also feel like I'm being ripped off by PC world, who's selling it for 269.99 Euros (roughly $300), EXCLUDING installation fee which is 50 Euros.

My mom's friend's husband said that he will install it no problem, but my mom said that he "did enough for her" (no perverted thoughts pl0x).

So, all-in-all, should I buy the GTX260 as a first new graphics card or search in another place near to it for a better one?

[Ad Bot]

[Burger]

Get the GTX460. It's a great card for the price of around 200USD

[Matteus]

Get the GTX460. It's a great card for the price of around 200USD

Thing is, I can't get anything online right now.
Blame the function of credit cards.

I'll check if the store beside it has a graphics card in the NVidia GTX 400 series, first.

But I don't want to be spending too much on one.

[Matteus]

Get the GTX460. It's a great card for the price of around 200USD

Also, I forgot to mention that I don't live in the US, so the graphics cards are alot more expensive for as far as I'm concerned.

[Sirrus]

I'm using it right now.

Terrific card. There's only a few games it can't quite max.

[Matteus]

I'm using it right now.

Terrific card. There's only a few games it can't quite max.

OK, so it is pretty good?

Can it run Portal/HL2 on high settings with motion blur?

[Sirrus]

OK, so it is pretty good?

Can it run Portal/HL2 on high settings with motion blur?

Yes.

Honestly all Valve games are like child's play on it. The 260 can run those games with one hand on the wheel.

By the way, $300 is a bit pricey. For that price you should be able to get a better card.

[Headcrab Zombie]

Yes, you are being ripped off. A lot. A 260 is like $150-200. And $70 to install it? What the forget? It takes like 10 minutes and it's not hard at all.
 
But yes, a 260 will run it fine, my old 250 ran TF2 completely maxed at 1920x1080 at around 200 fps
I'd get a 460 though, they're not much more.

[Matteus]

Yes.

Honestly all Valve games are like child's play on it. The 260 can run those games with one hand on the wheel.

By the way, $300 is a bit pricey. For that price you should be able to get a better card.

I know, it is really pricey... :(

Still, I will check the electronics store beside PC World, see if I can get a better card there and if my mom INSISTS on having PC World install it, that's her loss of 50 euros, not mine.

Ironically, PC World had an awesome gaming PC not too long ago yet they have only 260 GTX graphics card as their best Nvidia one.

Also, thanks for all your help, and just one more question:

Will Portal PRELUDE run fine on it, as well?

It noms up more graphics usage than normal Portal.

And as ONE FINAL THING TO SAY, I WILL be using the graphics card I buy for Portal 2 when it comes out.

Oh well, I guess it won't matter, as I will probably still be playing Monster Hunter Portable 3rd by then and/or have GMod.

[Matteus]

Yes, you are being ripped off. A lot. A 260 is like $150-200. And $70 to install it? What the forget? It takes like 10 minutes and it's not hard at all.
 
But yes, a 260 will run it fine, my old 250 ran TF2 completely maxed at 1920x1080 at around 200 fps
I'd get a 460 though, they're not much more.

I know it's a rip-off...

I freaked out when I saw that a wireless 360 controller for the PC in there was 60 euros, but THIS?
I've been waiting for over 2 months to get a new graphics card and its price only dropped by around 10 euros.

Heck, I don't think it even dropped at all.

[Headcrab Zombie]

Why can't you buy stuff online? You didn't really explain it.
Just because it's your mom's money doesn't change the fact that it's still good money - you could spend that ridiculous amount for installation on a better card.
If you really don't trust yourself with the installation, explain to your mom that it's not hard or long and it's not a problem to have her friend's husband do it.
There's only a few games that you won't be able to max completely (Such as putting full anti-aliasing on Crysis)

[Matteus]

Why can't you buy stuff online? You didn't really explain it.
Just because it's your mom's money doesn't change the fact that it's still good money - you could spend that ridiculous amount for installation on a better card.
If you really don't trust yourself with the installation, explain to your mom that it's not hard or long and it's not a problem to have her friend's husband do it.
There's only a few games that you won't be able to max completely (Such as putting full anti-aliasing on Crysis)

Well, my mom is ALOT over her spending limit on her crdit card.

I tried to order a theme from the Japanese PSN that costs 100 Yen (less than 1 euro) and even that wouldn't go through.

Therefore, I have to take money out of my account and buy it in a store that sells graphics cards.

Also, my mom is pretty awesome so she would understand, but she feels a bit bad after her friend's husband came over to our house 5 or 6 times just to set up a WARDROBE.

He also picked up his daughter who was crying to come home after we took her with us on a weekend's holiday to Clare (which is in Ireland) which is about a 80-100KM drive from where we live.

EDIT: Made more sense of the last part.

[Headcrab Zombie]

You have absolutely no other options? Such as someone you could give the cash to and they buy it online for you? A good friend? A relative? Your mom's friend's husband?

If not, at least shop around at a few other stores.

[Matteus]

You have absolutely no other options? Such as someone you could give the cash to and they buy it online for you? A good friend? A relative? Your mom's friend's husband?

If not, at least shop around at a few other stores.

Pretty much, nope, I don't.

But there is this one place that MIGHT sell them...

Altough I highly doubt it.
I will be going into town on Saturday, so I'll spend over an hour or so looking around.

[HaloHalo]

Get the GTX 460. You'll get more years out of it than the 260.