GeForce GTX 560 Ti Died, replace or upgrade?

Jan 2, 2019
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I had a pretty good gaming rig set up using an older machine. It's an XPS 420 with a new power supply, CPU, RAM, and graphics card. Recently, the graphics card died, and I'm not sure what I should do. I think I was pushing the limits of what this rig can do with the 560 Ti. Here are the specs:

Dell XPS 420
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 3 GHz 12 MB Cache
Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti
8 GB RAM, 4 x 2 GB sticks DDR2 UDIMM 800MHz NON-ECC (pc2-6400)
EVGA 500W 80Plus Power Supply Unit

The motherboard might be this one: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-TP406-Motherboard-Following-Processors/dp/B005CVLUHO/ref=sr_1_2/132-8893291-8632954?ie=UTF8&qid=1546489796&sr=8-2&keywords=dell+xps+420+motherboard

And here are some general specs for the original rig: https://www.cnet.com/products/dell-xps-420-desktop-computer-intel-core-2-duo-e8400-640gb-hdd-4gb-dxdwqj25/specs/

I'm not looking to get a new system just yet. I was able to play Witcher 3 and some other newer games on this system, apparently without any issues. So should I simply get another 560 Ti and continue gaming, or upgrade to a newer (but not new) card?
 
Upgrade for sure. Everything.

Failing that. New GPUs are more power efficient, have more features, and [generally] more VRAM. Let this chart be your guide. Even simply getting something modern equivalent (GTX1050Ti = $150 or RX560 4GB = $110) allows you get rid of your dual 6-pin power connectors completely.

What country? Budget?
 
It sounds like you were happy with what you had. That being the case, if I was you I'd just replace the 560 Ti with something slightly newer and better. I'm thinking a 2gb card of the Nvidia GTX 660 or AMD HD 7850 range. I suppose if you wanted to you could even find a 650 Ti or 650 Ti Boost and get that, as long as it's a 2gb model. I would not buy any videocard at this point, new or used, with less than 2gb vram DDR5.
 


'Merica, < $80 cuz that's what I bought the original graphics card for, on craigslist. You may not believe me, but this rig worked really well, and it's surprised me. Well, it didn't do Skyrim SE last time I checked... but hey all (?) of the mods are on 32-bit anyway. Surprisingly, the CPU upgrade was cheap, easy, and provided immediate improvements. I think I've spent less than $500 on this over a few years. Call me cheap, but it works.
 


Yes, I was able to play everything I wanted to. I'll give a slightly newer version a go with 2 GB. Thanks!
 
If you have no plans to upgrade any time soon, I would probably look in the 750ti range for a GPU. IF your plans include upgrading to a new system within the next year or so, I would probably look a little higher in the range, perhaps at 9xx or even 10xx cards.

I think you would be more than pleasantly surprised if you were to upgrade to something like an i7 in the 2nd or 3rd generation, office refurb on the cheap.