Shootouts

GeForce GTX 460 Roundup - Sparking NVIDIA's DX11 Revival

By Kenny Yeo - 2 Aug 2010

Conclusion

Conclusion

On a whole, our selection of factory overclocked GeForce GTX 460 cards performed commendably. But before we offer our analysis of the cards, here’s a quick summary of their clock speeds and prices, followed by the breakdown of scores. 

Cards Core Clock Speed Shader Clock Speed Memory Clock Speed Price (USD)
ASUS ENGTX 460 DirectCU TOP 775MHz 1550MHz 4000MHz DDR ~$275
Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 Super OC 810MHz 1620MHz 4000MHz DDR $269
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 OC 715MHz 1430MHz 3600MHz DDR $229
Sparkle GeForce GTX 460 700MHz 1400MHz 3600MHz DDR $229

Cards Performance Features Value Overall
ASUS ENGTX 460 DirectCU TOP 9.5 8.5 8.5 9.0
Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 Super OC 9.5 8.5 8.5 9.0
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 OC 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5
Sparkle GeForce GTX 460 8.0 7.0 7.5 7.5

In terms of raw performance, the Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 Super OC is simply unrivaled. Not only was it the quickest card in our roundup, it even outperformed the more costly Radeon HD 5850 and was capable of challenging the GeForce GTX 470.

Not far behind in the performance stakes is the Galaxy card is ASUS’ formidable ENGTX 460 DirectCU TOP. Clocked at a lower 775MHz at the core, it wasn’t as fast as the Galaxy card; but nevertheless, it was markedly faster than a reference GeForce GTX 460 and also the Gigabyte and Sparkle cards.

From the get-go, we knew the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 OC and Sparkle GeForce GTX 460 would have difficulty keeping pace with the faster Galaxy and ASUS cards. With core clock speeds of 715MHz and 700MHz respectively, they were faster than a reference card, but was significantly slower than its faster clocked rivals.

That said, considering both cards are priced the same as a reference card - US$229 - the two are actually value buys for those who want a no-frills GeForce GTX 460. Between the two, however, our pick would be the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460, as it's the better of the two in performance and is also cooler to run thanks to its custom-designed Windforce cooler. 

The ASUS and Galaxy cards are perfect for speed freaks; whereas the Gigabyte card offers great value for the casual user.

This leaves us with the Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 Super OC and the ASUS ENGTX 460 DirectCU TOP. The Galaxy card might be blisteringly fast, but its performance has come at the price. In our tests, we found that the Galaxy card runs a good deal hotter than a reference GeForce GTX 460. Furthermore, it is also more power hungry, no doubt due to its high clock speeds.

With that in mind, the ASUS ENGTX 460 DirectCU TOP is the better all-rounder. It might not be as fast as the Galaxy card, but it is appreciably quicker than a reference card and also both the Gigabyte and Sparkle cards. Despite that, it manages to record the lowest operating temperatures. The only chink in its armor is its slightly higher than average power draw figures.

Between the Galaxy and ASUS cards, it’s difficult to pick a winner, because the two are so competitive. Furthermore, at US$269 and around US$275 respectively, the two are also aggressively priced. In the end, we think it really boils down to what users want.

If you want a GeForce GTX 460 that’s fast out of the box, the Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 Super OC is an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you want a card that offers more overclocking potential, then the ASUS card, with its effective custom cooler, is probably the better buy.

Final Ratings


The Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 Super OC

The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 OC

The Sparkle GeForce GTX 460

 

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