Manufacturer: Gigabyte Price: $ 230 US Author: Steve Date: 08/10/2010

[ Introduction ]

This time last month we were taking the wraps off some new GeForce GTX 460 graphics cards, so it is only fitting that we take the time to check out another great GeForce GTX 460 product, this time from Gigabyte. The Gigabyte GV-N460OC-1GI comes factory overclocked and fitted with an upgraded cooler, so it is certainly worth checking out... Despite the awesome power of the GeForce GTX 400 series, this latest generation of GPUs has not been a raging success for Nvidia. Although the GeForce GTX 480 is able to stick it to ATI in terms of performance, its price, thermals and power efficiency are all working against it. The GeForce GTX 470 also suffered from all of the same problems, despite providing reasonably impressive performance. Just two months after releasing the initial GeForce GTX 480 and GTX 470 graphics cards, Nvidia came up with the GeForce GTX 465 which was a huge failure in our opinion and therefore we decided to skip it. Making the GeForce GTX 465 look silly was the recently released GeForce GTX 460, which came just two months after. The GeForce GTX 460 has become an important product for Nvidia, as it is the only sensible member of the GeForce GTX 400 series. The GeForce GTX 460 is the perfect graphics card, delivering solid performance in all games while maintaining excellent operating efficiency and best of all it represents unbeatable value. Since the release of the GeForce GTX 460 we have seen the Radeon HD 5830 drop down to $200 US, where it matches the price of the GTX 460 (768MB). Despite the price drop we still preferred the GeForce GTX 460 over the Radeon HD 5830, as even the cheaper 768MB version was found to be faster. However the 1GB version is faster again, though at $230 US it does not represent quite the same level of value as the cheaper 768MB version does. That said, we feel for $30 more the 1GB version might have more legs in it and could stand the test of time a little better. While the GeForce GTX 460 is a force to be reckoned with when operating at the default Nvidia specification, we have also found an incredible amount of overclocking headroom in these new GPUs. Therefore it is not surprising to find that manufacturers are dishing up overclocked versions, though most come at a price premium. That said, it is possible to come across products such as the Gigabyte GV-N460OC-1GI which cost no more than a standard GeForce GTX 460, yet have a whole lot more on offer. Although the GV-N460OC-1GI only features a mild 6% overclock, Gigabyte has priced this product at just $230 US, placing it amongst the cheapest GeForce GTX 460 graphics cards available. Better yet, this graphics card features an improved cooler for better thermals and quieter operating volumes. Read on as we check the Gigabyte GV-N460OC-1GI out in more detail.

Table of Contents >>> Introduction <<< GeForce GTX 460 in Detail Gigabyte GV-N460OC-1GI Test System Specs & 3Dmark Vantage Test: Aliens vs. Predator, Mass Effect 2 Test: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Dirt 2 Test: Battlefield Bad Company 2, Far Cry 2 Test: Just Cause 2, Crysis Warhead Test: Metro 2033, Splinter Cell Conviction Test: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, World in Conflict Overclocking Performance Power Consumption & Temperatures Conclusion Next Page ->

FootSoldier

Posted on: 08/11/2010 12:46 PM I got a pair of these in SLI and they are faster than my friends GTX 480 and they cost less. Very pleased!!!

corky

Posted on: 08/11/2010 01:02 PM That's a good looking card with a nice price tag. I was thinking of pulling the trigger on one of these and the review has made it all the more tempting, thanks :S

cisco

Posted on: 08/12/2010 01:44 AM man these things overclock well. are there any versions that allow voltage mods?

boomslang

Posted on: 08/15/2010 01:06 PM nice review. this card looks the goods.

razor9

Posted on: 08/15/2010 11:43 PM I like how they have used dual fans. The load temps are really low.

userdude

Posted on: 08/21/2010 05:23 PM Would this card overclock better ,with a superior thermal compound ?

ProX	Posted on: 08/22/2010 10:32 PM Very cool looking card for the money. @ userdude - Maybe but it ran pretty cool as it was. Chances are they got an average overclocking card. What would really improve overclocking is a voltage mod

Mr.November

Posted on: 09/08/2010 11:15 PM When I use your overclocking numbers I get a Driver error when running 3D Mark Vantage? So I'm back on 800/1600/1900 Please tell me what I'm doing wrong? Already have the latest drivers...

Lee	Posted on: 09/14/2010 09:42 AM This looks much more impressive than those new GTS 450 cards. So whats your take, the 768MB of 1024MB version?

Ryoga

Posted on: 12/17/2010 06:51 PM Hey everyone. Anyone know of problems with these cards because newegg has a lot of spammers saying these cards are horrible and only last for a few weeks then crap out? Please post.

Whippit

Posted on: 12/21/2010 05:29 AM Ryoga thats BS I have had one for months now and I game almost every day with it. Great card for the money and it still is!