Judging by the graphics card characteristics, this article might have fit into this one picture or a single line: "GeForce GTS 250 = GeForce 9800 GTX+". Or "GeForce GTS 250 = GeForce 9800 GTX+ + 1GB", although this amendment changes nothing. However, being model journalists, we have published almost a full article. It's "almost" because we skipped theoretical data, which haven't changed for a long time, and synthetic tests, which make no sense in this case.

So, GeForce GTS 250 is an update of the popular GeForce 9800 GTX+ that competes with RADEON HD 4850. Let's retrace the history of all such "updates". The first model based on the sterling G92 with all stream processors unlocked was GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB, released in late 2007 for the recommended price of $349-399. We wondered why it hadn't got its own name instead of confusing users with the diverse 8800 series.

Then there appeared GeForce 9800 GTX -- almost the same card, just a tad faster, plus a new PCB design. So we were surprised why change the good design for a small increase in frequencies. The 9800 GTX was announced in February, 2008, with the recommended price of $299-$349. That year in summer it was overhauled again (slightly overclocked) into GeForce 9800 GTX+. That was in June 2008, when its price went down to $229.

And now the same card based on G92 (manufactured by the 55nm process technology) with a simplified PCB design (resembling the good old 8800 GTS 512) has been overhauled one more time. Now it's called GeForce GTS 250. It's not important to potential users how this card is called. What really matters is that a 512MB modification will now cost only $129, and a 1-GB card will be $149. However, these are recommended prices for the North American market, prices in our parts will be noticeably higher for several months.

Despite all our gibes, GeForce GTS 250 had a timely rollout for several reasons. The first one has already set our teeth on edge -- the notorious world recession. At such times people try to buy only bare necessities, or they slacken their appetites. So the GTS 250 is a good choice, offering a very good performance level sufficient for all multiplatform projects and most PC-exclusive games, and it's all for just $130-150.

Read the entire article at iXBT Labs.