EVGA GeForce GTX260 Core 216 Superclocked 896MB Graphics Card User Reviews

EVGA GeForce GTX 260, September 4, 2009

By MaximumPC

This card is based on Nvidia's most current GPU architecture, the GT200. Priced at $200, it's the least expensive model we tested that's capable of running Crysis at 60-plus frames per second.

If you shop for a GeForce GTX 260 card, make sure you're comparing apples to apples: Core 216 models like the one you see here are manufactured using a 55nm process, and are outfitted with 216 shader processors. Conversely, cards based on the original 65nm GTX 260 GPU remain on the market but possess only 192 processors. Both versions have a 448-bit interface to 896MB of GDDR3 memory.

Where to Buy

EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX260 Core 216 896MB DDR3 PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card - Lifetime Warranty

Buyer beware: There are two versions of the GeForce GTX 260. The original model has 192 shader processors, while the Core 216 has--you guessed it--216.

EVGA overclocks the core in this particular model to 626MHz (up from a stock 576MHz) and gooses its memory to 1,053MHz (Nvidia reference designs run at 999MHz). The shader clock runs at 1,350MHz (up from a stock 1,242MHz).

The GTX 260 Core 216 has two six-pin power sockets, and you'll need at least 500-watt power supply to run it. EVGA provides Molex adapters if your PSU isn't outfitted with the appropriate cables. The company also provides a DVI-to-HDMI adapter and the S/PDIF cable needed to pipe audio from your motherboard to the videocard.

This card served up Crysis at 64.9fps and Call of Duty 4 at an even more impressive 103.2fps. Oddly enough, it achieved only 58.7fps in Far Cry 2--but that's close enough for the guys we swing with.

+ Inexpensive model capable of running Crysis at 60-plus fps. 216 shader processors.

- Didn't quite reach 60 fps (58.7 fps) in Far Cry 2.

An Awesome Card, When it Works Properly, August 23, 2009

By J. Sterling

I bought this for my new computer build since this was faster and much cheaper than a 280. It ran any game a threw at it in 1680 x 1050 4x AA 8x AF while maintaining about 100fps and higher (can do about 400-500 in CS:S). This card is huge, and a bit heavy for a video card. I do like the cover on the card because I can just grab the card with my hand, and not worry about breaking or bending anything. It uses 2x 6-pin PCI-E cords, and they are located on the side facing the left side of the case. This allows them to be out of the way of the hard drive cage if that were to be an issue. I believe it is about 5-10mm longer than your standard ATX motherboard. So if you need to measure, just see if you have an 1" to 1-1/2" of space between your motherboard and hard drives, and you will be fine.

After a couple of weeks though, my 260 started having issues.

No matter what game, or how low the settings were, the card would shoot up to 90C and higher. Eventually it would hit the thermal threshold and restart the computer. I have a CM690 case, which has enough ventilation, but I even bought more fans. The card kept overheating for no reason, even when I had the fan run 100% at all times. The funny thing is, if it was 50-60C at idle, I would open up one of the Vista games, and it would jump back down to high 40C. Now this shouldn't happen when my Core 2 Duo E8400 was only running 40C under load.

I did some research around the internet, and saw a lot of forums where at least one person(per forum) was having a similar issue. I even opened up a thread on the EVGA forums to debunk the issue. They pointed to bad ventilation, but I got more powerful front and side fans and two 140mm fans for my case, to go on the top and bottom. I even re-arranged the power cords (modular PSU) to allow for more ventilation, all of that only delayed the overheating. Then the EVGA users pointed to the power supply, and asked me to check the rails. All of the voltages were above average (tested on an industrial Fluke meter). I even traded out the motherboard (EVGA 730i -> EVGA 790i Ultra) because the northbridge was heating up a lot too. Still the video card overheated.

I eventually ended up stepping up to a 275 GTX (which was faster and $20 less than this card at the time). Since then no video card overheating problems, and my 275 has been through hotter weather than my 260 had been in.

This card is a fast card, but most people were/are getting "lemons" like I did. If you get this card and don't have overheating issues, then you have a good deal. If you do not feel like going through what I went through, go ahead and get a base GTX 275. The 275 runs just as fast, if not faster, and runs cooler than this 260. EVGA of course is the best tech support in the business, so any video card you get should be an EVGA. I have never been disappointed with their tech support, and I have owned a 5200FX, 6600, 6800, 260, and 275 (all EVGA) and have always been happy after getting off the phone with them when I have a problem.