Which are the most important things to look for in a graphics card?

[Flare2712]

Im about to start my build but i just need to pick a graphics card and was wondering which are the most importing things out of:

GPU MHz
Shader Clock MHz
Stream Processors
Memory Mb
Memory Clock MHz

Which has a better spec out of these 2?

GPU MHz.............................602MHz
Shader Clock MHz...............1296MHz
Stream Processors.............192
Memory Mb.........................896MB
Memory Clock MHz..............2052

OR

GPU MHz.............................755MHz
Shader Clock MHz...............1890MHz
Stream Processors.............128
Memory Mb.........................512Mb
Memory Clock MHz..............2300

Cheers =D

[Lasher13]

May I ask you which cards did you get these specs from? I would say the top card, you could overclock the core/shaders/ and memory if thats what your worried about. I've always heard the more stream processors the better.

[KarmaKiller]

The make/model number is the most important one to start with. That tells you what core your working with. All of the numbers you listed vary by core,model,brand, etc.
A 600Mhz ATI R700 core is a lot different from a 600Mhz G92 core.
What cards are you looking at getting?

[Flare2712]

Thanks for the info.
The reason i did not state the cards names was to get rid of all bias.
The top card is the EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB Superclocked Edition and the second is the BFG GeForce 9800 GTX OCX 512MB.

[KarmaKiller]

Well the GTX 260 is the faster card then, no matter what the specs of the 9800GTX.
BUT, the 9800 is a very nice card. I have the XFX Black Edition version, and I love it.

[eagle1]

As far as I know (and read) the GTX 260 will dance around the 9800 gtx anyday (heck, even the 9800 gtx +). The 260 is based on their new 200 series. So this means that the GTX has more stream processors, ROPs, wider mem. bus, etc..

Check the comparison table here:

AnandTech: NVIDIA's First 55nm GPU: GeForce 9800 GTX+ Preview

and some benches...

So basically, if you want good quality + performance, get the GTX 260.
If you want good quality, good performance plus budget price, go Ati 4850HD.

Heck, since you are willing to spend money on the GT260 I would get Ati 4870HD...

[ShyguyXPC]

oh darn, he named the cards, I was going to guess, I knew the top one, 192 stream processors & the memory was the give away, GTX 260, the second one was a bit tougher, as it could of been an Overclocked 8800GTS (G92) chip, or 9800GTX/GTX+ model, but the Stream processors & amount of memory gave it away on that one too, couldn't of been a 8800GTX/Ultra, otherwise it would have 768MB

anyways, like the others said, the GTX 260 would be the best,

though as Karma basically said the 9800GTX/GTX+ isn't a slouch either,

And Me & Eagle are running G92 based 8800GTS's (9800GTX is just a slightly enhanced better performing version of this card anyways), I think we both agree on that one, when I say its a pretty darn good performer too.

agreed on what eagle said, about if your willing to spend on a GTX 260, grab an ATI HD4870 instead, performs better than GTX 260 (lands somewhere between GTX 260 & 280's range) & costs the same as a 260 or in that general price range.

[pullmyfoot]

You should take a look at the ATI HD4850 or HD 4870. Theyre much better than the NVIDIA cards in value for your money. And they can match up to the NVIDIA cards in terms of performance

[ShyguyXPC]

ah, which nvidia cards would that be?

[pullmyfoot]

The 9800GTX the GTX 260 and even the GTX 280 in some benches. The HD 4870 cant beat the last one but its almost there . And its cheaper too. Basically all the cards he was talking about. The HD 4850 beats the 9800GTX in many cases and is cheaper than that as well like its 4870 big brother