Looking for Best Value Nvidia Card for Physx

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FKSSR

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Hello all,

I hate posting threads like this one, but I've been doing research, and I feel like a couple opinions would be invaluable in helping me make the right call for my situation.

I currently have an ATI Radeon 5850. It runs everything fine, but I want to take advantage of GPU PhysX in a few games such as the Batman games, Mirror's Edge, and Metro 2033 (and it's upcoming sequel).

I'm not looking for a huge upgrade right now, since I'll probably build a new computer in the next year or so (at that point, I'll buy another $350 card). Right now, I really would like to spend $150-$200 (and I'll sell my 5850).

So, can anyone recommend the cheapest Nvidia card that will run Physx at a good rate while running my other games as well as a 5850?

Will a 560 Ti do this?

I usually buy from Amazon.com or NewEgg.com, but I'm open to other sites. I'm in the US.

My current system:
Power Supply: Antec True Power 750W TP-750
Motherboard: MSI P55-GD65
CPU: Intel i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHZ Quad-Core (Overclocked to 3.8GHZ)
RAM: Crucial 8GB (4x2GB) DDR3-1333 PC3-10600 Dual Channel (Overclocked to 1600MHZ)
Video Card: ATI Radeon 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
Monitor resolution: 1920x1200

Thanks!!
 
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You still can get the cards now, then place them later in your new rig, or wait for the newest ati/nvidia cards; it is up to you.

As some stated you can mix ati with nvidia cards for PhysX, but you need a special driver http://www.ngohq.com/graphic-cards/17706-hybrid-physx-mod-v1-03-v1-05ff.html

If you get the driver, and if you´re willing to have a try, then you can get a cheap nvidia cards just for PhysX, since the the heavy load (rendering) will be done by the primariry card (HD5850), and the second card set just for PhysX.

On the other hand if you get the...
Without direct experience, but looking at some charts, the best answer I can give is "maybe, but probably not." The GTX560Ti is one tier higher on the monthly GPU chart, but PhysX is likely to knock it back a fair amount.
What you may want to do is get a GTX560Ti, then add a relatively inexpensive GTS450 (~$105) for PhysX. I don't know if any even cheaper GT440 would be worthwhile; perhaps someone else can chime in on that?
 
Ok here is what i'd do, You may find it worth while to SLI. Like get one mid range like the GTX 550ti or 560 ti and like u said you are looking to spend some again later. When i tell you this i also keep in my that you are using one of the older I5's and it had to be overclocked to keep up to date. SO i don't want you to bottleneck your CPU getting the best stuff. So etierh get one mid range card now and SLI or your other option is to just replace the 58580 with the GTX 560 ti and like the guy said get a Smaller card like the GTS 450 but there is two ways you can do that, you could also flip it around and later on spend money on a bigger and better nvidia card and run the GTX 560 ti in Physx. Its your call i just think for your budget, thats your best options.
 

FKSSR

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Thank you all!

If a 460 will do enough for me now, and I can find one for $100-130, I feel that may be the best thing to do. Then, I could just buy a better card down the road (a year or so) and pair them together if I want.

That way, I don't feel like I'm wasting money now when I'll be upgrading soon.

However, it looks like a lot of 460's are about the same price as 560's...

So, I will be doing more research on the 460 and 560, to see how the performance would be.


Further opinions still welcome on my OP, this post, or any others!!
 

guavasauce

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will those cards be fine on a 1920x1200 res with physx enabled? the THW chart you posted is with physx disabled. your performance would be inbetwixed the 2 higher resolutions. (just above 1200, unless you ran lower resolutions)

whats the hit the gpu takes for enabling physx?

have you looked into a used card?
 

jemm

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From what I understood the OP wants to be able to play games with Physx enabled, at the same performance delivered by his HD 5850.

As many other said, if you want to have a cool gaming experience with Physx enabled, then you have to SLI 2 Nvidia cards. The main card will be used basically for rendering, while the second card for Physx.
 

FKSSR

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Yeah, that makes a lot of sense (and is why I needed some help to realize that).

I'm now considering 2x 550 Ti cards, since I could get each for a little over $100 with mail-in rebates...

any more thoughts, especially of that idea? :D
 

FKSSR

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Awesome. Thanks! I was about to research a dual 550 Ti setup, so thanks for saving me that trouble.

It sounds like anything less than a 560 Ti is a waste of money. :)
 

MKBL

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A single GTX 560 Ti 448 Core can play PhysX high, with other settings max on Batman Arkham City, which is comparable to vanilla GTX 570. On Newegg, the cheapest one is Galaxy for $249.99 after MIR with Batman Arkham City Coupon. If you sell the coupon on e-bay, I guess your total cost can be somewhere $220, which is not bad.

To be sure, my 560 Ti 448 is EVGA Classified, so it has better OC capability. Also, I play on 1920 x 1080, so I cannot comment on 1920 x 1200 playability. The in-game recommendation for High PhysX setting is GTX 570 + PhysX GTX 460.
 

JoeMomma

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FKSSR,

I think you have received good advice. I would recommend the GTX 560 Ti also.
I am running a one year old GTX 470 and I am very happy with it. For best PhysX performance look in the detailed specs for the number of CUDA cores or Stream Processors. To compare apples to apples, all of these cards are EVGA's from Tiger before rebates with no factory overclocking. Score = core x speed
The GTX570HD has 480 @ 732MHz for $350. =351,360
The GTX560Ti has 384 @ 822MHz for $300. =315,648
The GTX560 has 336 @ 810MHz for $200. =272,160
The GTX550Ti has 192 @ 951MHz for $150. =182,592
My GTX470 has 448 @ 607 for $225 (a year ago) = 271,936

I think a regular GTX560 now and a second one later seems like a good option.
What I am finding is it is nearly impossible to find a second 470 to SLI a year later.
I would have been better off with a 460, but the 470 is fine.
I can run every game at 1920 x 1200 with full quality and get 60-90 fps.
 

JoeMomma

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I always buy and recommend EVGA.
You get a LIFETIME warrantee no matter how hard you try to blow it up with overclocking.
I have never had a failure in 10 years (That is 4 video cards and my current mother board).

Good choice BTW either way.
 

FKSSR

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I guess I could do a regular 560 and buy a second Nvidia card for PhysX, but then my performance in non-PhysX games would suffer. Since I only want to play a couple PhysX games, I don't know if that's a good trade off. So, I'm still leaning toward the 560 Ti.
 

FKSSR

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That's good info, but I'm not sure if the extra money towards the 448 version is worth it, at this point, since I'll likely buy a new card in a year. Plus, I think I am more comfortable with buying EVGA than Galaxy based on some reviews.

Thanks for bringing my attention to the 448 models, though, and for the info about running Batman AC with it. That still helps me!
 

FKSSR

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Arg...Now I'm second guessing the whole thing. Perhaps I'll just not play those games until I build a new computer...that could also motivate me to do it later this year. :p
 

FKSSR

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Yeah, I'm starting to feel that idea. Then, I can get a new processor and everything else so I'm not bottle-necking or wasting money now just for a couple games.
 
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