New video cards for 2 systems (your help please)

[Filorux]

Hey all got a question for you. With the upcoming release of Diablo 3 and GW 2, I am thinking about upgrading our graphics card in 2 of our computers. Both computers are the same build with the exception of a mobo everything else is the same. Here is our build.

AMD Phenom II x4 955 Black
MSI HD5770 PCIe and Saphire HD5770 graphic cards
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB in each computer
Mobo MSI 870-G45 in one system and the other system has MSI 770-G45
Both have 700watt gaming power supplies

One computer uses 2 monitors so I would like to keep it that way. Current games we play are Rift, Skyrim, WoW, SW:ToR and when they finally release we will play Diablo3 and GW2.

We are partial to buying from Newegg. As far as preference for graphics card I have used ATI and Nvidia but am open to which ever graphic cards you suggest. I am leaning towards nvidia though as I have only used ATI cards in the current builds and no other experience with them. As for a price range we are open to that aswell up to $200.00 each. So if you don't mind I would like to hear what you have to say.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Recommendations for your price range in bold

Guru3D uses the following games in their test suite, COD-MW, Bad Company 2, Dirt 2, Far Cry 2, Metro 2033, Dawn of Discovery, Crysis Warhead. Total fps (summing fps in each game @ 1920 x 1200) for the various options in parenthesis (single card / SL or CF) are tabulated below along with their cost in dollars per frame single card - CF or SLI:


$ 155.00 460-768 MB (314/592) $ 0.49 - $ 0.52
$ 155.00 6850 (371/634) $ 0.42 - $ 0.49
$ 170.00 6870 (434/701) $ 0.39 - $ 0.49
$ 220.00 6950 (479/751) $ 0.46 - $ 0.59
$ 240.00 6950 Frozr OC (484/759) $ 0.50 - $ 0.63
$ 205.00 560 Ti (455/792) $ 0.45 - $ 0.52
$ 215.00 560 Ti - 900 Mhz (495/862) $ 0.43 - $ 0.50

If considering the 560, there's a new 560/570 hybrid called the 560-448 about to hit the shelves in 9 days

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nvidia-s-GTX-560-Ti-448-Core-Get-Detailed-Expected-on-Nov-29-233176.shtml

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121418
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425

 

[Filorux]

I updated my original post to reflect some system changes we did specifically the memory. We are now ready to go ahead and upgrade our video cards and wanted to see if you suggest anything different. Is there really that much of a difference in your opinion between brands? Why do you feel one is better than the other when suggesting for example asus, xfx, msi, gigabyte so forth and so on? Which video cards would you suggest we upgrade to?

 

[Filorux]

Kind of upsetting, one used to be able to get some really good feedback from the community here. Not so much as of late though, hope things turn around.

 

[esrever]

I'd get a 6870 in the system with 1 monitor and a 6950 in the one with 2 monitors.

6870 costs $145 and is the best card for its performance out right now. It will probably max both guild wars 2 and diablo 3 on 1 monitor at 1080p.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

the 6950 is a good boost but costs somewhat more. for about $230 you get to drive 2 monitor gaming for good performance. It is about 20-30% faster than the 6870.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127604

going nvidia would mean you switching the 6950 for a 560 ti but the 560 ti does not support eyefinity so you will not be able to run a game on both monitors at once.

 

[Filorux]

@Esrever, I appreciate your input about the video cards and the links you provided. Question for you about the 560ti just so I understand you correctly... You are saying that if I have the 560ti video card in my system, I will not be able to have the game on one screen and lets go with my website pulled up on the other screen. Is that correct?

 

[esrever]

no you can still do that, just you won't be able to have the game run on both monitors if even ever want to do that.

 

[Filorux]

Very well, thanks for clearing that up. Last question for you then looking at my system specs for the two systems is there anything you think would need to be updated in order to use the suggested cards to their full potential or would we be good for a few years?

 

[esrever]

you'd be good for a while, I'd think your cpu and gpu will get outdated arround the same time.

you can try to OC the 955s which is really simple, you can get 3.6ghz with just a change of the multiplier in the bios. If you want you should invest in an aftermarket fan like the hyper 212+ and OC the cpu to get somewhat more out of it if needed.

 

[Filorux]

Thank you very much for the feedback, I appreciate it. Having never done overclocking before can you point me in a direction on how to do it to our processors? A guide or something would be great if there is such a thing.