9800 GTX upgrade on nVidia heavy system

[austintacious]

I'll keep it short. In 2008 I built an SLi system:

ASUS Striker ii Formula 780i chipset
Q6600 OC'd 3.0 ghz
4 GB OZC Reaper PC8500
2x9800 GTX in SLi
Corsair 1050w xtreme PSU

Unfortunately, one of my 9800's has gone bad (artifacts on BIOS screen) and gaming at 1920x1080 on a 512 MB card isn't cutting it. The Radeon 6850 looks like the best deal, but losing SLi capability would be a downside.

Should I just bite the bullet and fork over the cash for a 560 ti? Would my system benefit in the future from SLi'ing two 560 ti cards? Given the age of the other hardware, upgrading other pieces isn't really an option without purchasing a new mobo/cpu.

option 1: Radeon 6850
option 2: gtx 560 ti
OR, option three : SLi two GTX 550 ti cards.

thanks!

 

[Sunius]

MSI GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II is the 560 Ti with the best cooling solution, so it will enable the highest overclocks.

However, at stock speeds HD6950 is slightly fast than 560 Ti, though, as I mentioned, it doesn't overclock as good as GTX 560 Ti.

 

[Headspin_69]

MSI GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II is the 560 Ti with the best cooling solution, so it will enable the highest overclocks.

However, at stock speeds HD6950 is slightly fast than 560 Ti, though, as I mentioned, it doesn't overclock as good as GTX 560 Ti.

6850 Cyclone constantly matches or beats the performance of 6950 to many times for it to be a solid recommendation over a cheaper and higher performance card like 6850.

 

[deadjon]

If you would really like SLI, try sourcing some GTX 460 1GBs.

The performance from 460 SLI is AMAZING - Typically they cost the same as 550ti's and are massivley more powerful.

 

[austintacious]

I think I've settled on this card:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+01G-P3-1563-KR+GeForce+GTX+560+Graphic+Card+-+900+MHz+Core+-+1+GB+GDDR5+SDRAM+-+PCI+Express+2.0+x16/3772085.p?id=1218431602373&skuId=3772085

It's already OC'd and I do like the EVGA warranty... hopefully I'll have better luck this time with it not burning out

 

[deadjon]

You ought to purchase a 560ti - the normal 560s are higher clocked 460s, and you can get 2 460s for the price on one 560 if you look in the right place.

 

[austintacious]

MSI GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II is the 560 Ti with the best cooling solution, so it will enable the highest overclocks.

However, at stock speeds HD6950 is slightly fast than 560 Ti, though, as I mentioned, it doesn't overclock as good as GTX 560 Ti.

So you would recommend going with this one for the extra $20?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/MSI+-+N560GTX-Ti+Hawk+GeForce+GTX+560+Ti+Graphic+Card+-+950+MHz+Core+-+1+GB+GDDR5+SDRAM+-+PCI+Express+2.0+x16/3771271.p?id=1218431579355&skuId=3771271

 

[deadjon]

That one will be blisteringly fast. Beware that for gaming @ 1080p games have begun to use more than 1GB VRAM - but I think you'll run into a CPU bottleneck before then. I know I have 🙁

 

[austintacious]

You ought to purchase a 560ti - the normal 560s are higher clocked 460s, and you can get 2 460s for the price on one 560 if you look in the right place.

BB has 460s for $150 a pop ( I have $100 in BB gift cards ).. two of those bad boys in SLi may be the way to go.... grrrrrrr i almost hate having options!

 

[Headspin_69]

I think I've settled on this card:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+01G-P3-1563-KR+GeForce+GTX+560+Graphic+Card+-+900+MHz+Core+-+1+GB+GDDR5+SDRAM+-+PCI+Express+2.0+x16/3772085.p?id=1218431602373&skuId=3772085

It's already OC'd and I do like the EVGA warranty... hopefully I'll have better luck this time with it not burning out

WoW for $250 you can get a much better higher end card.

 

[Headspin_69]

If you would really like SLI, try sourcing some GTX 460 1GBs.

The performance from 460 SLI is AMAZING - Typically they cost the same as 550ti's and are massivley more powerful.

GTX 460s are sold out and the ones that are left are the overpriced shitty ones that are pretty much same price as a cheap 560ti LOL. I would say 460 is a great buy for sure when you could pick up an msi TFZII GTX 460 for $150 but they are all but sold out.

 

[austintacious]

GTX 460s are sold out and the ones that are left are the overpriced shitty ones that are pretty much same price as a cheap 560ti LOL. I would say 460 is a great buy for sure when you could pick up an msi TFZII GTX 460 for $150 but they are all but sold out.

so this is a crappy card? : http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+GeForce+GTX+460+Graphic+Card+-+867+MHz+Core+-+1+GB+GDDR5+SDRAM+-+PCI+Express+2.0+x16/4690349.p?id=1218508092081&skuId=4690349

 

[Sunius]

It's not crappy, but it's considerable slower than MSI GTX 560 Ti counterpart. The HAWK card is your fastest option atm (not including GTX 460 SLI).

 

[Headspin_69]

so this is a crappy card? : http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+GeForce+GTX+460+Graphic+Card+-+867+MHz+Core+-+1+GB+GDDR5+SDRAM+-+PCI+Express+2.0+x16/4690349.p?id=1218508092081&skuId=4690349

The GTX 560 sans ti is just a re badged GTX 460 that being said for $160 a GTX 460 is an OK errr deal however for $140 a Radeon HD 6850 does offer up more performance for less money.

 

[Sunius]

Headspin, you're so wrong. GTX 560 isn't rebadged GTX 460.

 

[Headspin_69]

Headspin, you're so wrong. GTX 560 isn't rebadged GTX 460.

Less the fancy marketing words and hype yes that all it is and I think toms has a wordy spread about it that if you really listen to what they try and tell you they say it is just a Re badged GTX 460 for all intents and purposes.I will try and find this review

 

[austintacious]

well.. I think I've decided to hold onto my BB card for another day and just pickup one of these : http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Superclocked-PCI-Express-Graphics/dp/B004KZHRAM/ref=pd_ts_pc_284822_5?pf_rd_p=1306919122&pf_rd_s=right-7&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=193870011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ECF34J32FD93Y4EPZHF

I don't think I can beat that for $230 and zero tax (in my state would be another 10%). I'll pickup a second if I need more juice in the future. I didn't realize EVGA has a lifetime warranty now... so I'm sold!

 

[Headspin_69]

Headspin, you're so wrong. GTX 560 isn't rebadged GTX 460.

As said by Tom's about the GTX 560 sans ti and I quote "If those specs sound vaguely familiar, that's because they’re the same as Nvidia's GeForce GTX 460 1 GB. It makes sense; after all, the GF114 is functionally ((( identical ))) to GF104. It was simply reworked to deliver higher clocks while using less power." So in summery a GTX 560 is an overclocked GTX 460 with less power draw however IMHO the GTX 460 HAWK Editon is a greater value if you can still find one that is and at a decent price. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944.html

 

[Sunius]

well.. I think I've decided to hold onto my BB card for another day and just pickup one of these : http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Superclocked-PCI-Express-Graphics/dp/B004KZHRAM/ref=pd_ts_pc_284822_5?pf_rd_p=1306919122&pf_rd_s=right-7&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=193870011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ECF34J32FD93Y4EPZHF

I don't think I can beat that for $230 and zero tax (in my state would be another 10%). I'll pickup a second if I need more juice in the future. I didn't realize EVGA has a lifetime warranty now... so I'm sold!

Decent choice. You won't be disappointed! Don't forget to overclock it.. It's a sin to buy GTX 560 Ti and not do it :O

 

[austintacious]

Decent choice. You won't be disappointed! Don't forget to overclock it.. It's a sin to buy GTX 560 Ti and not do it :O

I may be seeking advice if I can't find a decent guide!

Thanks for all the responses! I used to be on top of the hardware knowledge a few years ago, but it passes you up quickly!

 

[austintacious]

Best answer selected by austintacious.