Graphics Card and System for Sim Racing

[robbie_cozza]

Hi Guys,
Long time reader first time poster (cliche anyone?)

I have been out of the computer sim / sim racing scene for about 4 or 5 years now. I have looked at old threads and reviews etc etc, it needs to be a budget system; I have settled on this but need help with the graphics card. (Any suggestions/recommendations on the rest of the setup will be helpful too if you have any / it needs to be budget but with upgradability - doubt ill be overclocking either cpu/gpu. I want to be able to run Rfactor / iRacing & Rfactor 2 (when .. if it arrives) on full detail @ 1920x1080..

Gigabyte H61M
Intel i3 2100
4gb GSkills NT
Seagate Barra 500gb 7200
Antec Sonata III case (incl. Antec Earthwatts 500w psu)
Now question:

HIS 1gb 6850 $165
HIS 1gb 6870 $189
Gainward 1gb GTX 560 (Not ti) $195

Prices are Australian dollars.

Which is going to give me the results I want?
Which is the best overall performer?
Is the i3 2100 going to be a bottleneck for any of these?
Value for money taking into account my needs?

You advice will be most helpful and I can push the order button.

Also any other suggestions would be most helpful.

 

[Maziar]

Hello and welcome to the forums
GTX 560 is the fastest choice here.
i3 2100 s fine but if you can afford 2400/2500,then go for it.They're both better

 

[jdw_swb]

Hello and welcome to the forums
GTX 560 is the fastest choice here.
i3 2100 s fine but if you can afford 2400/2500,then go for it.They're both better

Not so, the 560 and 6870 are about the same.....each coming out on top depending on the game.

 

[Maziar]

Yep,but overall 560 is slightly faster in most games
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944-17.html
And since the price difference isn't much,I'd recommend 560

 

[jdw_swb]

Yep,but overall 560 is slightly faster in most games
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944-17.html
And since the price difference isn't much,I'd recommend 560

From the review you linked to:

Crysis 2 - 560 wins
Bulletstorm - 6870 wins
Metro 2033 - Tie
Lost Planet 2 - 560
A vs P - 6870
F1 2010 - 6870
Just Cause 2 - 560
Hawx 2 - 560

So that's 4 for 560, 3 for 6870 and 1 tie........hardly faster in most games.

In addition to this, the last page also shows some interesting data.....where the 560 is more prone to FPS dips than the 6870, which maintains a more consistent level of FPS. Look at the minimum performance of the 560 in the chart, a fair bit lower than the 6870.

In addition, check out this Guru3D GTX 560 review.

With a different set of games....the results can change dramatically.

Modern Warfare 2 - 6870
Far Cry 2 - 560
anna 1404 - 6870
Crysis Warhead - Tie
Metro 2033 - Tie
Dirt 2 - 6870
Battlefield Bad Company 2 - 6870

When it is also considered that the GTX runs hotter and consumer more power, the GTX seems to pale i comparison when the 6870 offers the same performance levels for less.

 

[Maziar]

oops,my bad.I was talking about the Ti version(just realized that the OP was considering the non Ti version)
So I agree with JDW here.Go with the 6870.It's cheaper,runs cooler and offers pretty much the same performance

 

[jdw_swb]

oops,my bad.I was talking about the Ti version(just realized that the OP was considering the non Ti version)
So I agree with JDW here.Go with the 6870.It's cheaper,runs cooler and offers pretty much the same performance

Indeed, easy mistake to make given the naming structure.

The Ti is a better card than the 6870, more in line with 6950.

 

[robbie_cozza]

Hi guys thanks for that very helpful info. I have a couple of extra questions now.
Based on the rest of my system and it's limitations on CPU side of things am I going to see a tangible benefit by going with a GTX 560 compared to say a 6850? Of course there will be a difference but will it be worth the price difference .. Will the i3 2100 be a bottleneck to these cards.

Based on what you have said and disregarding your answers to the above question .. I have basically settled on these 3 GTXs (fan of nvidia in the past). Please help me with a decision; I have not heard great things about gigabyte cards and is this justified because it looks the most appealing of the 3.

Gainward gtx 560 - 195 (reference spec) 195
Gigabyte gtx 560 oc (830mhz core clock) 214
MSI GTX 560 Twin Frozr II (not the oc version) 209

I have also heard that the MSI cooling solution make it a card that is very overclockable. I would be overclocking it if I got that card as from what I have read it can handle it comfortably.

I am torn between the msi and the gigabyte at this stage and am not wiping the 6870 from the list yet either.

 

[Maziar]

Well,6850 is slower than 560 and in some games it's notable.
As for CPU,yours fine but a quad core will definitely help
I recommend 6870 though.It's cheaper than 560 and offers pretty much the same performance with lower power consumption

 

[jdw_swb]

For the present, the 6850 is still quite an effective cared at 1080p.......but looking forward, going for a 560 (non ti) or 6870 will give you a little more time before needing to upgrade.

Maziar's recommendation is spot on, the 6870 is a very useful card at 1080p and should remain so for a good length of time.

 

[robbie_cozza]

Just to let you know I have purchased with the 6870 so I've taken on board the great advice. Thanks.

 

[Maziar]

Hope you enjoy it !

 

[robbie_cozza]

Best answer selected by robbie_cozza.