Need Help choosing new Video Card

[Darkim0285]

I built this set-up about a year and half ago. At the time I intended to put in (2) GTX 460's if I remember correctly, but they weren't yet available to purchase so I put in the (2) 9600 GT's to get by with every intention on replacing them. Well, it is now time to replace. Like everyone else I would like to run Battlefield 3 at the highest settings. I do alot of gaming and some other graphics things with this system. Here is what I have right now, I have not yet messed with overclocking the CPU, but have been reading about and am about ready to give it a shot.

I have always used Nividia cards, but not opposed to whatever would work best. I would like some opinions as to what card or cards would work best with what I have. I'm pretty sure I couldn't get my monies worth out of a GTX 590, I don't think the rest of my set-up could keep up with it. With that being said what could run well in this system (if I overclock the CPU). Should I try 1 or 2 560i's, 1 or 2 570's, 1 or 2 580's or what else.

Any ideas are very much appreciated. Money is tight so I would rather have a card(s) that will work well within the current set-up and not have to upgrade any other parts. Price range can be as high as $600 or so, I could save for a 590, but I think that is overkill for my set-up.

Thanks to all...


Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX950 (CMPSU-950TX) 950W ATX12V v2.3/EPS12V v2.91 SLI Ready
CPU: Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601920
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler Intel Core i7 compatible
Additional Fan: Cooler Master Megaflow 200 R4-LUS-07AR-GP 200mm Case Fan
RAM: OCZ Platinum 12GB (6x2gGB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) OCZ3P1600LV6GK
Drives: Sony Optarc DVD Burner w/Lightscribe SATA Model AD-7241S-OB
Sony SATA DVD-ROM DDU1681S-OB
Fan Controller: NZXT SEN-001LX Sentry LX Aluminum dual bay fan controller
Hard Drive: Wester Digital Caviar Blue SATA 6Gb/s, 1TB
GPU: (2) GeForce 9600GT 1GB each
Keyboard: Saitek Eclipse III
Mouse: Razor DeathAdder
Monitor: ACER H243H 23" Monitor ran in 1920 x 1080
Game Pad: Cyber Snipa Game Pad v2

 

[sayantan]

For BF3 I would recommend 570 SLI or 6950 CF.Your CPU won't be much of an issue as you can easily overclock it to 3.6Ghz on air.

 

[monsta]

2 X 560ti's would do the trick

 

[bwilliams83]

2x 6950's or 2x 560ti would max out the game no problem. Nvidia and ATI make great cards. Its like Ford vs. Chevy, both are great products! I personally perfer ATI, I currently have xfired 6950's and they handle any game I own maxed completly out.

 

[Darkim0285]

Thanks for the reply's. Since there is a $100 per card difference between the 560ti and the 570, is there $100 worth of performance. I'm ok spending for the 570's but don't want to spend foolishly for what I have in my set-up. If the 570 will be a more effective card for a longer period of time (next year, two, strechiing into maybe 3 years from now) I would go with it. If the 560 ti is just as good, then why not save the $100. Which should I go with.

Also, in the reading I've done I will probably go with EVGA, although a lot of people like the MSI cards as well. I'm not married to a position with this but if I go EVGA is the a noticable gain with the 2560mb 570 vs the Classidied 570 vs the Superoverclocked 570 HD. I see there are price and performance differences, but on my set-up will I see it. I will probably end up running two cards in SLI if this makes a difference.

http://www.evga.com/products/compareV.asp

Same question if I were to go with the 560 ti, which one would I best be served by, the 2048MB 560 ti, the Superclocked 560 ti DA, or the Superclocked 560 ti. And again most likely running two cards in SLI.


http://www.evga.com/products/compareV.asp

I know, I know...so many questions, but I would like to get it right and keep my system running well for as long as a I can before having to build another one. My wife is understanding, but she has limits to my computer spending at times. Don't want to have to by another ring to balance it out.

Thanks again for your help, I'm a bit in over my head with this stuff. I'm not against ATI cards I've just never used them and am really out of loop with them and the different terminology.

 

[sayantan]

Yes , $100 is worth the performance.I would go for the plain vanilla flavor without any oc but with better cooling and higher vram.

 

[Darkim0285]

Well then I guess I should go ahead an order the EVGA GTX 570 HD 2560MB card. I'm guessing in my system that will run BF3 pretty good for now, then in another couple of paychecks I can add a second one to match.

Thanks for your suggestions, it nice to have access to those who know a lot more than I do.

 

[Darkim0285]

I have ordered two of the EVGA GTX 570 HD 2560MB card. They won’t be here in time for the release of BF3 but I guess I can be patient for another week. I have a question; I have overclocked my CPU to 4.0GHz, although it seems to run better at 3.6GHZ (I think my RAM timings are causing problems when I go higher) so I’ll probably leave it there. Will I have an issue when I install these Graphic Cards with the overclock. Should I be prepared to load default Bios and start the process all over, or should they just slip in and work with everything else?

Thanks

 

[sayantan]

i7 920 isn't supposed to be overclocked to 4Ghz.In most of the reviews I've seen they have overclocked it to 3.6Ghz without any problem.Since you have a nice cooler I would suggest increasing the memory and vcore voltages.Also relax the memory timings if needed.No there shouldn't be any problem with the overclock.They should just slip in and work fine.