Upgrading from an HD Radeon 5770

[sensesfail47]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a few opinions on a new graphics card.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: next few weeks

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Heavy gaming, crysis 2, dragon age 2, starcraft II, Civilization 5, pretty much everything.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: XFX HD Radeon 5770 & 750W corsair PSU
GFX card = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447&cm_re=5770-_-14-150-447-_-Product

SYSTEM SPECS: CPU = Q6600@3.0ghz 4 GB RAM, 60GB SSD, Nvidia 750i SLI FTW Motherboard

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: NVIDIA, This 5770's drivers have made me decide to never go ATI again, or tell me why I should go ATI, and more bang for the buck isn't going to change my preference.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, or in the future if I get a better single card...

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I really want a card that will last me a while. I upgraded about a year ago from a 9800 to the 5770, I would also like a card that wont bottleneck with my CPU. I have been looking at the 560ti's, but I really am having a hard time choosing what I should get.

BUDGET: I am looking for something less than $300


TLDR Version: Graphics card that is a good chunk better than the 5770, it must be NVIDIA, and be able to run crysis 2 well.

 

[4ktv]

My HD4870 drivers seemed to work better than the NVIDIA drivers 260 and 266 for the GTX 580 vs when I had the 4870. ( It messed up my star trek armada 2 game.)

I think for 290 you can get the GTX 570. The 560 seem good too. good luck

 

[purple stain]

I'd reccomend going with the GTX560.It's a great card and since your thinking of SLI in the future the GTX560 is the perfect canidate for it.It's probably the best scaling card Nvidia has to offer right now.I'd definitly recocmend getting an Asus or MSI version because of their aftermarket cooelrs they have.Makes O.C.ing so much better if you decide to.You should be able to play Crysis 2 maxed out with a GTX560ti.If not you can always SLI when you have the money.
I've played Crysis 2 with my 6870 and I was maxing it out no problem but I believe that was mostly part to my quad core at 3.9ghz.Crysis 2 likes really fast CPU's.

MSI Twin Frozr II GTX560ti $250=$230 after MIR + $5 Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565&cm_re=gtx560-_-14-127-565-_-Product

 

[nforce4max]

gtx 560ti or 6950

 

[Tamz_msc]

MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565
A great NVIDIA card for 250$, stays cool, quiet and overclocks well.

 

[megamanx00]

You know, if you had added a second 9800 card in SLI it would have been faster than a single 5770. Anyway if you want the card to last you for three years than go with a GTX 560 or Radeon 6950. I suppose since you have an SLI board you would be partial to nVidia, but either card is going to be limited by that CPU so no sense in adding a second card till you upgrade the rest of your system ^_^

 

[purple stain]

^ I agree.
Even with a high end single card like the GTX560 or 6950 it's going to be held back by your CPU.

 

[sensesfail47]

Best answer selected by sensesfail47.

 

[sensesfail47]

You know, if you had added a second 9800 card in SLI it would have been faster than a single 5770. Anyway if you want the card to last you for three years than go with a GTX 560 or Radeon 6950. I suppose since you have an SLI board you would be partial to nVidia, but either card is going to be limited by that CPU so no sense in adding a second card till you upgrade the rest of your system ^_^

Thank you very much for the response. Do you believe I should spend $500 and upgrade my motherboard/cpu/ram and wait for the graphics card, or upgrade the graphics now and wait to upgrade everything else.

 

[purple stain]

Are you going Intel or AMD?

If AMD then wait until the new processors come out.
If Intel i would suggest getting the mobo/cpu/ram,etc. now and getting the GPU later.You still have the 5770 and when pared with a new Sandy Bridge you will see some FPS gain.The mobos and cpu's will stay the same price for a long while but GPU's are always going on sale and special deals.

 

[sensesfail47]

Are you going Intel or AMD?

If AMD then wait until the new processors come out.
If Intel i would suggest getting the mobo/cpu/ram,etc. now and getting the GPU later.You still have the 5770 and when pared with a new Sandy Bridge you will see some FPS gain.The mobos and cpu's will stay the same price for a long while but GPU's are always going on sale and special deals.

Thanks for the response, definitely looking at 2500k or 2600k, don't know which would be better for gaming, obviously the i7 but is the extra $100 worth it?

 

[majin ssj eric]

THere is little difference in games between a 2500k and a 2600k. If you are looking for value for money the i5 is definitely the way to go....

 

[purple stain]

I agree,go with the i5.Really aint a huge difference.

 

[megamanx00]

Basically the 2600k is more of a luxury item. The performance difference is small but it's nice to say you can afford it anyway ^_^.

 

[purple stain]

Really is no difference at all, in the gaming performance aspect at least.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/20