Which Graphics Card Should I Get? (Best P/P)

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MrJak

MrJak

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I'm planning on upgrading my GTX 570 for Borderline: The Presequel.
I intend to play at as high of settings as I can, hopefully max, including Physx, if able, at 1080p at at least 40avg fps, 30min. (Nvidia only) I also want to be able to record with ShadowPlay, as soon as it comes out, hence the upgrade. I also would like to be able to run all four of my monitors off of 1GPU, since using a 8800gt for this is just wasting power.


So I'm looking at a wide range: GTX 650 TI Boost 1GB: $100, GTX 750 TI: $80-140, TBD, GTX 660 - refurb (says 3 year warranty) $140, new gtx 660 $180, $150 after rebate, 760: $220-240, GTX 770: $275-300 after rebate, but effectively $215-270, since I won't need to pay for the game, though I may have to wait for the pre-order DC -- and not get a physical copy. (If I don't just buy a code off ebay.)

I'm also a bit concerned with heat and power usage, but not my main concern.
Also, am concerned about how this will affect future upgrades: I know a 650 TI and a 750 ti would make great physx cards down the road, but anything more would be overkill -- always can SLI later though :)

Any help would be appreciated! :D

Edit: got on Desktop, added better explanation below:
I'm not only getting a graphics card -- I'm getting a 120-256gb SSD to replace my RAID 0, so when I buy a new motherboard, CPU, and case, I'll be able to transfer over my files quicker, also, I won't have to worry about one failing and breaking RAID.
I also will be buying at the very minimum a 1tb hard drive that will be used to store my games, but I'm really looking at 2+TB.
Also, I love Physx too much to go AMD, as they are making it harder to use a Physx GPU with AMD main card -- if that weren't the case, I'd definitely look into it.

My budget is $371 guaranteed, with a good probability for $476, possibly up to $531. (assuming I sell parts)
However, that needs to cover a decent GPU, a decent SSD, Borderlands Pre-Sequel, a new CPU, and hopefully a 3-4TB hard drive.

SSD: $60-120
HDD: ~$40/TB, $120max
Game: $35-60, since I have someone who is very anxious to play it with me.
CPU: ~$50
So all of that will cost around $245-350, leaving me, at most, $176 to $221. (realistically: 151-196)
So assuming that I get everything I want, at best prices, I'm looking at a fairly strict budget.

 
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The GTX 750 Ti is a newer architecture with much lower power usage. I would choose it over the GTX 650 Ti Boost.
I would strongly suggest you choose a 2GB model (the GTX 750 Ti boost comes in both 1GB and 2GB variants).
The performance difference over your...
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Nuckles_56

Nuckles_56

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The GTX 770 is the best card there and will give the best results and I have a feeling that it should be able to run all 4 monitors at once as well. It will also depend on what your CPU is as to what the best choice is as you don't want to bottleneck the GPU
 
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viewtyjoe

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Looking at the OP's signature, I would guess that their CPU is a Core 2 Quad Q9400
 
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VincentP

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If this game has similar requirements to Borderlands 2, the GTX 770 is overkill.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-770-gk104-review,3519-6.html

I would avoid any 1GB cards as these will limit detail settings in many games.
The GTX 750 Ti 2GB version seems like a good compromise. Very good performance per dollar, very energy efficient (60W compared to 230W for the GTX 770 or 219W for the GTX 570).
Both the GTX 770 and GTX 750 Ti support 4 displays, but you will have to check the available connectors on the card you choose.
 
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MrJak

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Why would I downgrade to 560? I want to be able to record, and run multiple (non-gaming) monitors.
Also, I know the 650ti is faster than a 560, but I do intend to play other games, just this is the one I'm focusing on, so I'd prefer not to lose performance, if possible Since I know the 1GB can be limiting at times, that kinda goes against it, problem is, I don't know how much, and that's why I'm not going straight to it.
 
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MrJak

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Not too bad, since it can get 30fps -- enough to record a mostly smooth video.
But, with FRAPS, it can get between 3-25, and that's not good for anything, and thus I want Shadowplay.
 
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MrJak

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GTX 600 series was the first to include a h264 encoder, and if not, the first to allow it to be used for recording, so my 570 cannot use Shadwplay, unfortunately, or I wouldn't bother.
 
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MrJak

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I'd love to do that, but at their current prices, a GTX 660 isn't much ($0-20) more, so it's a better deal, unless I can guarantee I can get a good 750TI with a 1year, or longer warranty for under $120.
 
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VincentP

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The GTX 570 may be listed as the minimum required on game debate, but minimum specifications won't let you run at high settings.
If you do go with the GTX 750 Ti, you get a bunch of new features over the GTX 570 and much lower power usage.
The performance of the GTX 750 Ti is similar according to the hierarchy chart so expect similar performance (but of course can use ShadowPlay with the GTX 750 Ti).
The GTX 760 and GTX 770 are faster, but not the new architecture used in the GTX 750 and GTX 750 Ti.
Nvidia is due to release new cards very soon and you can expect more performance and less power for the same budget.
If I were you, I would wait a few months. If you can't wait, then the GTX 750 Ti or GTX 760 are probably both good choices.
 
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MrJak

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Not arguing, just stressed due to low budget, and timing -- I'm a perfectionist, and I'd rather not look at my purchase with regret. I know I'm being impractical, but so is my situation, or at least I think it is, specifically with how unrelaible my source of funding is.

Also, If I buy a significantly better CPU than the one I plan to buy, I'd need a new motherboard, and that'd set me back another $80, plus at least another $1-200 for a CPU, then I still need more storage, and I still would have to deal with RAID, so I simply can't afford that -- not to mention, I'd really rather not use the horrible case that I got when I bought this PC. ($200 for whole thing, from an acquaintance.)

Edit: Just to answer your question, "Who cares?" -- I and my wallet do: I'm unemployed, and am having trouble finding a job in my area, but I'd rather get spend a bit more to get a more optimal Price/Performance Ratio, rather than strictly going with the absolute cheapest that meets my minimum requirements.
 
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MrJak

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I'm going to try and get the 750 TI for under $120, or the 650 TI Boost for around $80-90, but if I can't, I want to know what my third choice should be.
Thanks for all the replies so far, I especially appreciate the ones that understand my budgetary issues, despite of what I demand from them.

Realistically, I want to know if the 650 TI is really disadvantaged from the 750 TI due to lack of extra VRAM, or if both are too slow. Those are the main ones I'm looking at, but opinions on my other considerations may help me make the best decision.

Also, note: I've updated the original post to reflect my situation better.
 
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VincentP

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The GTX 750 is a little faster than the GTX 650 Ti boost and a similar price. It also uses less power. Of the two, choose the GTX 750.
Both these cards are slower than what you currently have, but you do get ShadowPlay support.
The GTX 750 Ti is on par with your current card.
The GTX 760 is the next model up.
There currently aren't other options but will be soon.
Even better if you can save and just build a new PC when you have the money.
 
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MrJak

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I understand, wholly, what you're saying, but I'm kind of hoping that modding my board to fit a Xeon e5450 will get me just enough performance to hold me over until DDR4 becomes more mainstream, besides, that just creates more of a budget issue for me -- though, I may have to re-consider it.

Though, I also don't want to dismiss the 660, just because it's not in the same generation as the 700 series
That'd be like if someone got a GT 640, because it was newer than the GTX 460

Also, this article shows the 750 TI going back and forth with the 650 TI boost, and NVIDIA actually has a graph showing the 750 TI to be slower, so I'm conflicted, since I'm fairly certain both used 2GB versions...
 
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VincentP

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DDR4 is so far down the list of things to worry about. There is more than enough bandwidth with DDR3.
Your processor is a long way behind the current generation, but not worth going to any great lengths to upgrade on your current motherboard.
Just upgrade to a core i5 when you have the money. Sandy-bridge or later will be a huge step up from what you have. Certainly don't worry about DDR4.

The GTX 660 is the same generation of architecture as the GTX 760 and 770. There is nothing wrong with it as such. It is faster than the GTX 650 Ti boost, GTX 750 or GTX 750 Ti.
I made a mistake before too, the GTX 750 is faster than the GTX 650 Ti, not the boost.

 
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MrJak

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Unfortunately, I doubt very much that I'll be able to afford an upgrade I'm satisfied with before DDR4 is mainstream.
I'd feel that I'd be cutting more corners to budget it, than I would be to fit this GPU in this build -- and I don't think $35 for a CPU +modding a motherboard is too much, since it should easily reach 4.0+Ghz, and I will be selling the Q6600 after the upgrade, so may even be free.

Really, I'm fine at around 45fps with decent settings, until I can afford my perfect Rig, but I do appreciate all of your help very much. :)

Though, out of curiosity, what would you say about a q9650?
By the way, CPU preformance with Borderlands 2: http://www.techspot.com/review/577-borderlands-2-performance/page6.html
 
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VincentP

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The Q9650 has a higher stock clock rate than your current CPU and more level 2 cache. I guess it could be a little faster once you have overclocked it.
The Xeon E5450 is the server version of this part and as such has features aimed at servers. It won't offer any performance benefit over the Q9650.

These aren't bad CPUs, it is just a very old architecture. Anything that plugs into your motherboard will be the same.
Some comparisons from CPU mark:
Core2 Duo E8600 @ 3.33 GHz - 2421
Core2 Quad Q9400 @ 2.66 GHz - 3422
Core2 Quad Q9650 @ 3.00 Ghz - 4241
Xeon E5450 @ 3 GHz - 4261
Core i5-760 @ 2.8 GHz - 3926
Core i5-2500 @ 3.3 GHz - 6209
Core i5-3570 @ 3.5 GHz - 7000
Core i5-4690 @ 3.5 GHz - 7703

This is comparing four different CPUs available for your socket to the core i5 from each generation with the highest stock clock speed.
I have a Core i5-760 myself running at stock speed and this is with a GTX 770.
Not once have I seen a game max out any core of my CPU.
Your current over clocked CPU is likely faster then the Core i5-760.
The Core2 Quad Q9650 gets a higher passmark score even before over clocking.
Passmark isn't a great indicator of games performance, but old CPUs are not generally benchmarked against new CPUs.
All I see from the link you sent us rubbish performance from AMD CPUs.

I wouldn't bother upgrading your CPU until you are ready for a new motherboard and RAM as well.
If you are going to upgrade your CPU, the Q9650 is a good choice.
 
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MrJak

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Okay, well Q9650, at worst, should be equal to the e5450, since, other than their orientation, they are basically the same chip -- so I'm going for the one that is cheaper, and uses less energy, and will create less heat -- saving me electrcity, and keeping me from having to worry as much about cooling :)

Also, I can get an e5450 for ~$35, vs Q9650 for $120, so I think you can see why I'd want the Xeon.
I think the 12MB cache, along with higher overclock will give me just enough performance to make my RIG worth keeping for just a few more years, since this Q9400 is already so close to my needs.

Also, what you saw on that chart were similar, but worse CPUs, performing similarly to mine -- common denominator: more cache, typically ~8-10MB, at equivalent speeds, the e5450 should do better than the Phenom X4 980, no?
Then that's more than good enough for me -- when I origianally got into PC gaming, I started with a PC that got 15fps in Borderlandws 2, and that was almost good enough for me then, and I also was used to consoles, and other than anti-aliasing, or lack thereof, I'm really fine with them too, so I think I'll be fine, thank you. (Besides, the Q9650, and thuse the e5450 are still in tier 3, as of this month, so if I can't get by with that, on a low budget, what's the point?)

I'd rather focus on moving the stress of recording from PC to GPU, and keep the framerates, or maybe slightly improve, if it's not too much trouble.

Really, the e5450 is 1/3 for fun, 1/3 for performance (higher overclock, woo :D), and 1/3 because it's coming out of $50 ebay bucks that will be available Oct 1.
Edit: Even if it wasn't already free, someone will be buying my Q6600, with the BSEL mod, so it starts a 3.0GHZ, for $35, so the e5450 would still be as good as free.

And I bought my PC, aside from my RAM, and the hard drives, last year, for $200 -- I'm not so quick to through out everything, just the parts that desperately need it.
 
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VincentP

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It seems like you knew what you wanted to do before you posted. Maybe you were just looking for someone to agree with you.
I'm not sure how you plan to mod your motherboard to take a different CPU socket, but best of luck.
If you have the sort of technical expertise to be doing this sort of thing, surely you would be better to use that to earn money and not have to scrimp on PC parts.
 
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