Which graphics card should I get?

[mchughjm]

I am building a new computer and have picked out almost everything, but I am stuck on what graphics card to get.

My current list of items is:
8 g ram (G.Skill)
Z68 mobo (ASUS)
i7 Sandybridge
1T HD (with a SSD to come later)
and powersupply TBD

(I can get more detailed if needed)

The graphics card I am looking at would be a Nividia Geforce GTX 560 or 560 Ti.

Now I am spending about $1000-1200 on this rig total and I want to know what card will match the rest of the rig, I don't want to get an underpowered video card for alot of new parts.

The rig will mostly be gaming with some video work and some cadd work. But mostly gaming. I'd like to be able to run SC2 on Ultra-high, as well as Skyrim, D3, BF3 and probably other with out much problem.

Let me know your opinions.
And if this is in the wrong section let me know.

 

[ubercake]

A 560 ti is a great option. You are dealing with top of the line components, so as far as a video card matching the rest of the rig, you could even go with anything 560 ti and up. If you can get a 570 and stay in your price range, I'd say go for it.

A 560 ti is a great card though. A 560 ti is definitely not underpowered.

 

[chesteracorgi]

Your TBD PSU is a concern. A poor quality PSU will bring more frustration and potential problems than saving a few $$$ will. Get a good quality (Antec, Corsair, OCZ, Seasonic, inter alia) with at least 550W (better 650W); 750W if you plan to Xfire/SLI (better 850W).

Go with what you have planned (including the GTX 560 ti) but don't scrimp on your PSU or case.

 

[mchughjm]

The PSU I was looking at was the a OCZ 550 W but since I do plan on SLI later on I was gonna look at a good 750 or 850 W, newegg does have a psu calculator but I'm not sure how accurate it is.
I'll look at some 570 cards and if they're in my price range but the 560 ti does seem like it will be my best bet.

And I know the consequences of a bad case and psu, built my first pc about 8 years back with the cheapest ones I couldn find, didn't turn out so well.

 

[ubercake]

A Corsair AX, TX, or HX 750 PSU would give you all the power you need for a 560 ti or 570 SLI setup.

 

[ubercake]

2 gtx 480's use 710 watts on a high end system.
work from there.....

One of the improvements brought about with the 500 series cards is lowered power consumption.

When I'm gaming, my system with 2 GTX 580s pulls around 780W max from the wall (I'm using an appliance load tester) and given my power supply is operating at it's lowest 80-plus level, it would be distributing 780*.8=624W to the system. Realistically, I could get by with a 750W and have wiggle room.

Check out this review of GTX 580 3-way SLI:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-580-3-way-sli-review/14

A good 750W supply would be more than sufficient for 560 ti and 570 2-way SLI set ups.

 

[mchughjm]

I think I've made up my mind to go with a 560 ti
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610)
and either a Cosair 650 or 750 psu (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006)
most likly 750.

But the new question is, could the 750 sli two 560 ti's? Because if it can't relialbly I'll just knock down to a cheap 550 W and upgrade my psu when I upgrade to sli.

 

[ubercake]

The 750W Corsair supply can run 2x560ti.

 

[mchughjm]

Okay, thanks.
I think I've made up my mind.