Looking to Upgrade my GTS 450 - 225$ budget

[rgelhardt]

Need some help deciding which Card to get as an upgrade to my Palit GTS 450. I have my Eyes on the EVGA GTX 560, Its reletively cheep on newegg right now (179$ after rebate) and I can eventually get another one and SLI it. Since I will be spending roughly 350$ on both cards by the end of it all, would it be better to hold off on the purchase until I can get an upgraded card for approx 350-400$? If so which card do you all suggest?

Here is all the info.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: today/Near Future

BUDGET RANGE: 225% Before Rebates

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:Games - Battlefield 3

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Palit GTS450 with a 600W PSU

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: i5 Lyndfield, 8GB of 1600 DDR3. Antec 900 Case with 120mm top fan and 3 reg fans

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:I like Newegg and I live in the USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: I am used to Nvidia but I am up for suggestions

OVERCLOCKING: Sure? Maybe Future SLI

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Must Run BF3 on Ultra without the driver failing (my GTS 450 does this all the time, I have under clocked it and the errors seem to have stopped.)

 

[gnomio]

GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB goes for around $234.99. Wont do sli with it though.

For two card solutions ill go with the 6950 1GB

 

[sayantan]

I think it would be better if you hold off a little longer because AMD 7000 series are around the corner.And if rumors are true 7900 series will be available in early q1 2012.

 

[rgelhardt]

What exactly is the difference between the GTX 560 Ti and the GTX 560.

The one I was looking at on Newegg is the GTX 560 and it it 179$ after rebate. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660

 

[sayantan]

Here's the differece:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944.html

 

[rgelhardt]

Thanks for that link, i think I am sold on the Ti Model.



In the future why wouldn't I want to SLI two GTX 560 Ti?

 

[Mousemonkey]

Thanks for that link, i think I am sold on the Ti Model.



In the future why wouldn't I want to SLI two GTX 560 Ti?

In the future you might not be able to get another GTX560Ti that will SLi with the current model unless you get a second hand one.

 

[sayantan]

1.Performance per watt is not as good as 6950CF.
2.There's a new revision of 560Ti coming based on GF110 not GF114.Technically it would be a scaled down 570.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-graphics-chip-gf110-gf114-Geforce-560-ti,13832.html

 

[rgelhardt]

Roger that. So if I were to get two within a month apart, or saved my budget for the first one for a month till I saved enough for a better card. Same price for a nicer card vs two in SLI, which is a better buy in regards to performance?

 

[sayantan]

A single powerful GPU is always better than SLI/CF.If you are going for 560ti SLI then you have to pay a lot more than $350 as prices won't come down in a month.Also you would get a performance level clsoe to GTX580 along with other commen SLI/CF problems like micro stutter,higher heat and noise.

 

[Mousemonkey]

A single powerful GPU is always better than SLI/CF.If you are going for 560ti SLI then you have to pay a lot more than $350 as prices won't come down in a month.

I disagree with that but then I've not had any problems with my SLi rigs and by the time I would have needed to replace or dual up the single card there have been better newer cards available.

 

[sayantan]

The op says he's going to buy two of them within a month apart.So it doesn't make any sense to do SLI.

 

[rgelhardt]

That was my plan, but your right I should just save the extra 50-100$ and get a better card.

Something like this maybe? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121431

 

[Mousemonkey]

A single powerful GPU is always better than SLI/CF.If you are going for 560ti SLI then you have to pay a lot more than $350 as prices won't come down in a month.Also you would get a performance level clsoe to GTX580 along with other commen SLI/CF problems like micro stutter,higher heat and noise.

My GTX560Ti's cost less for the pair than a single GTX580 did and having had the chance to run a single 580 in the same rig I can attest to them having higher frame rates than a single 580 and I've yet to see this microstutter problem and heatwise they were about the same (a 580 can chuck out some when it's under a bit of stress) noise wise they're not too far apart either.

 

[sayantan]

Yeah that is a good card.You might wanna consider CFing them when you need to.

 

[sayantan]

My GTX560Ti's cost less for the pair than a single GTX580 did and having had the chance to run a single 580 in the same rig I can attest to them having higher frame rates than a single 580 and I've yet to see this microstutter problem and heatwise they were about the same (a 580 can chuck out some when it's under a bit of stress) noise wise they're not too far apart either.

But people do SLI when they have already bought one card or need some extreme performance levels(eg 580SLI).That's the point of doing SLI.As far as cost is concerned 560ti SLI and 580 cost almost the same.And for a few extra frames why would I go for SLI setup??

 

[Mousemonkey]

But people do SLI when they have already bought one card or need some extreme performance levels(eg 580SLI).That's the point of doing SLI.As far as cost is concerned 560ti SLI and 580 cost almost the same.And for a few extra frames why would I go for SLI setup??

That's what you think the point is not what I and others may think the point is.

 

[rgelhardt]

I think I have decided to go with the immediate satisfaction route. Get one GTX 560Ti and decide in a month or two if I need to put more power in, I don't NEED to SLI no r do I NEED to have a 580. From what I have read the GTX 560Ti will run everything I want it to run on Ultra settings.

 

[rgelhardt]

Best answer selected by rgelhardt.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey