Looking for a GTX 260M upgrade recommendation

I'm looking for something in the 200-250 price range that will be a solid upgrade from the 260. Right now it looks like the 5870 and GTX 460 are in my price range, but I'm not sure how much more performance they will offer over my current card. I'm only looking at gaming performance, although I would like to stay with nVidia (Splashtop THD, already have drivers, etc.) unless there is a substantial gap in performance to a similarly priced AMD card. Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

 

Both the 460m and the 5870m will offer a decent performance boost over the 260m (~ +80%)

There isn't too much difference between the cards, the 5870 is a bit faster stock. I'm not sure if either is more overclockable than the other.

 

Skip the 5870. If you go for AMD a great performing but cheap card is now the 6970M.

It shouldn't cost much more than the 5870 now but it a good step up! High end nvidia cards have issues in the M15x so best to steer clear above the 460/560M.

I would say with the release of the 7970M the 6970M can be had for about $275. More than your price range but the increase in performance makes the extra price worth it.

 

how about between the 560m and the 5870m?

i need to upgrade the 540m....

 

5850M.... apparently a beastly OCer too.

 

I would definitely be willing to go for the 6970 at that price. Know a seller?

If I can't find a good deal on the 6970, were you saying the 5850 is better than the 5870?

 

About the same apparently as it OC's so well. Plus the M15x was specced originally with the 5850 so it works well with it.

I will have a hunt around. I sold a 6970 for $300 a couple of months back. Now the 7970M has been released I supposed the price would have dropped somewhat. If it hasn't already it will very soon...

There is a glut of 6990M's for sale on the forum at the moment. I am pretty sure prices will get pretty low. Even thr 6990M will be hard pushed to sell at $350 now.

 

I'm in no rush at the moment, so I'll wait to see if anything turns up. I'll try posting in the market as well to see if anyone is looking to sell there. Thanks so much, and +rep

 

Sure. Perhaps try PM directly to sellers. You might be able to shave a few dollars off that way if they want a quick sale.

Cheers for the rep..!

 

Going from an Nvidia to an AMD, do you have to change out the heatsink, or can you use the same one from say, an Nvidia 260M but with a different X plate?

 

You can use the same heatsink. During my time with an M15x I upgraded 260m to AMD 6970m

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk

 

Thanks! Appreciate the information. I'm on the hunt for a video card upgrade and the question of using the same heatsink was the only thing I hadn't seen answered in the stickies in the M15x threads.

 

Along the lines of the heatsink, does anyone have a good recommendation for where to buy good thermal pads (and what kind to get)? What is a good way to tell if you need to replace them? Mine are over 2 years old now, but my temps seem fine so I'm not really sure if I should worry about it or not.

 

I think you can do better than the 560m. Check for Quadro 3000m and GTX 470m at auction.

I may have a quadro 3000m available for under 300$ soon.

 

Look here:
Fujipoly Premium System Builder Thermal Pad - 1/4 Sheet - 150 x 100 x 0.5 - Thermal Conductivity 6.0 W/mK - FrozenCPU.com

 

I like my 460m (went from a 240m) it was a huge difference, anything you buy besides a 240m will be a major upgrade.

 

Bought, would rep you but apparently I already did for something else =) Thanks!