Best GTX 580

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datguy88

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Jun 24, 2011
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Hello, I'm looking to make my first build and have enough money for a high end card, and i feel like the GTX 580 is the best option (for Battlefield 2 and 3, gta 4, team fortress 2, etc.)

I wasn't sure though of which company and model are the best version (by version I mean overclocked or superclcoked or normal). My range is $450 to $550 and I don't need a 3072mb because I'm using 1600x900 Res. but I want constant 60fps and I dont want to have to upgrade for a while.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated as this will be my first build (which I'm getting for Christmas), and I will be able to keep an eye on great deals in the coming weeks.

Thanks! 😀

 
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It really depends on what you want to consider the best? Best in lowest temperatures? Best in Overclocking? Best in warranty?

Lowest temperatures - Galaxy GTX 580 or MSI 580 Lightning (both have exceptional cooling abilities), anything with reference cooling stay away because they get ridiculously hot.

Best in overclocking - every card is created differently, You will NEVER know which brand or model of a card will overclock higher until you get it and test it.

Best warranty -
Lifetime - BFG, EVGA, Zotac
3 years - ASUS, ECS, Gigabyte, MSI, PNY XLR8

I wish i had the money and time to benchmark every brand and model, but that is why there are sites out there that benchmark for you! HardOCP and Guru3d are the major consistent ones that will benchmark as cards come out, but you can always do a google search for more(Brand + model + benchmark + review).

Personally after a month or two of research I went with the MSI N580GTX Lightning. Never looked back and am completely happy with my purchase. I have it overclocked at 960/2400 as a daily and it never breaks 68 degrees(BF3 or Skyrim). My ambient is 25 degrees, and my case is Antec 1200 with all fans on max.
 
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At the resolution you plan on gaming at, I would actually recommend a GTX 570. You can save yourself about 200 dollars by taking a step down and will only be sacrificing about 10% performance.

Take a look at this review and compare the GTX 570 to the 3GB MSI GTX 580 Lightning Xtreme:

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/msi_gtx570_1280mb_power_edition_oc_review,1.html

The only game that this card struggles to keep up with the 580 is Metro 2033. All of the other benchmarks show less than a 10 frame difference at a fraction of the cost. Not to mention that the 570 will run cooler, quieter and will draw less power.
 
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My suggestion is to buy a decent 24" monitor before you waste your money on a fancy vid card.
 
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I agree with the last 2 guys. Save your money by not chasing after the best and greatest. Especially at that resolution. I thought the same thing you did when I got my GTX 280 FTW for 549 2+ years ago. It died on me a week ago. But even before that, I was already looking at a new card. Its amazing how slow your "best and awesome" card will feel in a few years time.

Not to mention having to chase after a new DirectX.

Id say the MOST you should get is a decent 570. Or even better, I bet you could go with a 560TI 448 when it comes out and that will last you more than long enough. 2-3 years+ at that 1600x900 resolution.

Cause I can almost promise you, in 2-3 years, youll be looking at that fancy new DirectX that your card cant use...or youll be eyeballing those new Geforce and ATI cards that are 60%+ faster or so than your card..yet only cost 200-300 bucks...youll be eyeballing them hard. Its not fun knowing that 500+ you put down is effectively crap in 2 years....
 
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This is also another option to consider, a used GTX 580 can be found for the same price as a new GTX 570. Personally, I would stay away from used hardware unless you can purchase it from a trusted friend or locally. That isn't to say anything is wrong with used hardware, just the people who sell it; who knows how much they have beat on it, etc.
 
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Today, I'd suggest (2) 560 Ti's (900Mhz) which will give ya 40% more fps than the single 580....and cost ya maybe $430

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006519&IsNodeId=1&Description=560%20900MHz&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

And then add a 1920 x 1080 monitor for $170

That's $600 or about the cost of a EVGA Classified.

However, at 1600 x 900, a single 560 TI would hold ya just fine till have have the extra bucks for the 2nd one and the monitor.

Now....again that was today...... on Tuesday, I'd give the same advice but the card would be the 560-448 which is coming out in Tuesday.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nvidia-s-GTX-560-Ti-448-Core-Get-Detailed-Expected-on-Nov-29-233176.shtml
 
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Someone has already bought one from Fry's, He paid 295
 
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