660 vs. 660ti

[Rioisbeast]

Hey guys Im doing my first build and have picked out everything but the graphics card. I feel that the best two for me would be either the 660 or the 660ti. I play Star Craft 2, Skyrim, BF3, Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, Mass Effect 3, League of Legends, Fallout NV, and any games similar to the ones listed above. With those types of games in mind would I be able to get by with the 660 or should I go up to the 660ti.

My build:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Tempest 410 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $771.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-26 17:06 EST-0500)

 

[902]

this will help, compares games you play bear in mind your monitor res and number of monitors

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/09/13/asus_geforce_gtx_660_directcu_ii_video_card_review/11

 

[lostgamer_03]

I wouldn't recommend you either.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-graphics-card-review,review-32611-5.html

As you can see in this review the GTX 660 or the GTX 660 ti are not included. GTX 670 has great value for a high-end GPU.

I've owned GTX 660 and I currently have the GTX 670. The GTX 670 is marginally faster. I don't think I need to show you any benchmarks to convince you about that.

Also, I wouldn't recommend buying a case without dust filters. NZXT also has bad quality, it's a plastic hell.

Tomshardware recommends the Fractal Design Define R4 of all their silent cases and I don't know about you, but I like to listen to my games, not the fans of my hardware or case.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl

IF you won't go for the GTX 670, then my vote goes for the GTX 660. Simply because both are limited by their 192-bit bandwidth at higher resolutions.

 

[determinologyz]

I wouldn't recommend you either.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-graphics-card-review,review-32611-5.html

As you can see in this review the GTX 660 or the GTX 660 ti are not included. GTX 670 has great value for a high-end GPU.

I've owned GTX 660 and I currently have the GTX 670. The GTX 670 is marginally faster. I don't think I need to show you any benchmarks to convince you about that.

Also, I wouldn't recommend buying a case without dust filters. NZXT also has bad quality, it's a plastic hell.

Tomshardware recommends the Fractal Design Define R4 of all their silent cases and I don't know about you, but I like to listen to my games, not the fans of my hardware or case.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl

IF you won't go for the GTX 670, then my vote goes for the GTX 660. Simply because both are limited by their 192-bit bandwidth at higher resolutions.

I agree with this which is why my vote would go to a 670 even more so then a 660 unless you really really on a tight budget..I have the 660ti and im looking to shift to a 770 or 780. If the 780 isnt much better then the 770 which we dont know the specs yet then ima go 770 but either way ill be glad to get off the 660ti for sure

 

[Rioisbeast]

I wouldn't recommend you either.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-graphics-card-review,review-32611-5.html

As you can see in this review the GTX 660 or the GTX 660 ti are not included. GTX 670 has great value for a high-end GPU.

I've owned GTX 660 and I currently have the GTX 670. The GTX 670 is marginally faster. I don't think I need to show you any benchmarks to convince you about that.

Also, I wouldn't recommend buying a case without dust filters. NZXT also has bad quality, it's a plastic hell.

Tomshardware recommends the Fractal Design Define R4 of all their silent cases and I don't know about you, but I like to listen to my games, not the fans of my hardware or case.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl

IF you won't go for the GTX 670, then my vote goes for the GTX 660. Simply because both are limited by their 192-bit bandwidth at higher resolutions.

Ok well in response to your comment the NZXT has dust filters everywhere except the top which will be exhaust fans. Also I dont plan on upgrading my monitor to anything above 1920X1080 any time soon as it is stretching my budget to put this machine together as it is and I wont be able to afford a $200 monitor.

 

[bigshootr8]

The Fractal Design Define R4 is mainly a silent pc gamers wet dream mainly because it has sound dampening padding. However if it doesn't fit within your budget The case you have choosen works or even the Corsair 200R if you are more on a budget. I had a GTX660Ti for a few days and decided to return it for a GTX670 and it is worth it if your budget permits.

my rig

 

[Rioisbeast]

In reply to determinologyz why do you want to get rid of the 660ti so bad what is wrong with it is it just not enough fps for your set up or what?

 

[Rioisbeast]

Also if I was to go with the 670 which one should I get. I was leaning toward the MSI one with the 660 ti just due to the triple over-volting of the gpu.

 

[determinologyz]

In reply to determinologyz why do you want to get rid of the 660ti so bad what is wrong with it is it just not enough fps for your set up or what?

Nothing is wrong with the card just want something a bit stronger and even the 770 will prob be that card. Honestly if i had to do it again i would of bought a 670 over the 660ti back when the 670s came out

 

[bigshootr8]

Well it depends on your budget I would recommend the ASUS DCUII cards.

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/video-card/#i=39&sort=a5&c=113,101&m=8


This 660Ti
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/video-card/#i=39&sort=a5&c=113,101&m=8

and this 670
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx670dc22gd5

 

[bigshootr8]

Although you could also go with a EVGA card and take advantage of there step up program when the new cards come out allowing you to upgrade. For example if you get a 660Ti you could move to a 770.

 

[Rioisbeast]

Like a month ago all I kept seeing is that MSI is by far the best to get what happened is that no longer the case becuase now I am seeing that everyone is recommending asus ir evga.

 

[determinologyz]

Although you could also go with a EVGA card and take advantage of there step up program when the new cards come out allowing you to upgrade. For example if you get a 660Ti you could move to a 770.

Yea with paying for shipping..I would just wait honestly till the new cards come out..By getting the 660ti now you may have a chance to get it in the 90 days if the cards come out and hope that its going to be in the list..To much trouble imo just be patient

 

[Rioisbeast]

Also the asus clock speeds are much lower than the MSI cards for around the same money with the 670 and like $20 more on the 660ti.

 

[bigshootr8]

Its because ASUS uses really good quality components. However it depends on what msi card we are talking about if we are talking about the basic twin frozr then that could be the reason its cheaper also the powered edition is a factory overclocked card.

http://event.msi.com/vga/2012/series-comparison/

 

[Rioisbeast]

Yea with paying for shipping..I would just wait honestly till the new cards come out..By getting the 660ti now you may have a chance to get it in the 90 days if the cards come out and hope that its going to be in the list..To much trouble imo just be patient

Its not a matter of being patient its a matter of I already bough some parts because Im dumb and I got them on sale for a good price so now I have to finish this build now or risk having falty parts that I get stuck with.

 

[Rioisbeast]

I was looking at the power edition from msi.

 

[bigshootr8]

The powered edition is good its a little louder then some of the other cards but the cooling is good and the performance is good. If its a matter of saving a little and getting a MSI card at the 670 level then I would say go for it. If you are looking at the 660Ti maybe get the basic ASUS DCUII card as it is cheaper then the MSI PE
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/video-card/#m=8,27&c=113&sort=a5

 

[Rioisbeast]

The 670 MSI is the same price as the asus after rebate so overall you would recommend what the asus or the msi at the same price for a 670.

 

[bigshootr8]

I would prefer the asus card. If you want a larger factory overclocked card you could go for one however I don't think its necessary you won't lose anything cooling wise with asus by not getting a overclocked card. I'm curious what others think though. This is just my personal feeling on it yours may be different.

 

[Rioisbeast]

Ok for one last thing what is the major difference between a 192 bit for the memory vs 256 bit. I dont know what the memory really does so how much benefit the increased size actually helps would be nice to know.

 

[bigshootr8]

The memory bit change is like pixel piplelines from the past as far as I understand it where its the amount of colors that can be moved onto your screen and how fast. Both are just fine for 1080p but as you would expect the 256 will get you further then if you were to get a 192 bit card.

 

[Rioisbeast]

Ok thanks for the info if I was going to go for a bigger display would it be a problem to be running with the 192 bit of the 660ti.

 

[bigshootr8]

I wouldn't go with anything beyond a 1200p display.

 

[determinologyz]

The memory bit change is like pixel piplelines from the past as far as I understand it where its the amount of colors that can be moved onto your screen and how fast. Both are just fine for 1080p but as you would expect the 256 will get you further then if you were to get a 192 bit card.

Is it just colors and/or data