Is Evga gtx670 FTW a good choice?

CluKincOk77

Honorable
Jul 12, 2013
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Hello,

I am interested in upgrading my graphics card and have looked at the Evga GTX 670 FTW found here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787

I have three questions,

1)is it any good for gaming(things like gta4,bf3,crysis3....etc)
2)Is it compatible with my motherboard
3)is it at a good price

also, I am thinking of upgrading my processor, but am unsure if it is worth it. I was thinking of getting the Intel i5 3570k.

Here's my current specs:

CPU Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.1GHz
RAM 16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 802MHz
MB Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3
GPU Gigabyte geforce GTX 560

Thanks.
 
Solution
1. Yes
2. You would have to dig up a motherboard from before ~2004 to find one that wasnt.
3. Not really no.

Nvidia have released its replacement, the GTX 770, and its at the same price point as that card. I suggest you get the newer (sorta) hardware.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125463

I wouldn't bother upgrading from a Sandy i5 to an Ivy i5, you get overclocking support with the 3570k but its not worth spending $200 to get. If you really want to upgrade the CPU, save up another $150 and get a Haswell CPU and Z87 board.
1. Yes
2. You would have to dig up a motherboard from before ~2004 to find one that wasnt.
3. Not really no.

Nvidia have released its replacement, the GTX 770, and its at the same price point as that card. I suggest you get the newer (sorta) hardware.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125463

I wouldn't bother upgrading from a Sandy i5 to an Ivy i5, you get overclocking support with the 3570k but its not worth spending $200 to get. If you really want to upgrade the CPU, save up another $150 and get a Haswell CPU and Z87 board.
 
Solution
DDR3= Double Data Rate (revision) 3
Basically the frequency that the OS reads is actually doubled down on the hardware level. Whenever you see an odd frequency like that just double it and youl probably get something resembling what you see on the RAM specs, in his case he is running 1600Mhz RAM.
 


I see. Thanks a lot for this instructional explanation.

Do you have any thoughts about why the 670 is so slow to go down in price? With the release of the 700 series and their decent prices, why, I wonder, is the 670 going down in price at such a snail's pace.
 
670's have actually dropped in price, just some like that EVGA for some reason are sticking to the $400 price. Probably just because its EVGA, I tend to find that they are fairly overpriced for what they offer. I just don't understand why people some swear by them, they release overclocked cards which use reference coolers for a massive premium when you can get aftermarket cards for far cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121637

I can sort of understand Classified Edition cards since their such a high bin, but even then unless your water-cooling its overclocking potential is going to be limited by the cooling.
 
It's largely because of the customer service and warranty cover. And of course they're no longer using just stock coolers now. Prices depend on where you are. Where I am, EVGA aren't excessively expensive at all. The cheapest option for any GPU is more likely to be a Palit of course, but sometimes it's actually EVGA that are cheapest.
 
I would go for the Gigabyte one I linked before, the Windforce cooler is better than the ACX on the EVGA.

With the non-reference design coolers, you do need good airflow in the case as the card itself doesn't exhaust hot air from the rear of the case like a reference blower design would. That case should be fine.