Some GTX 560ti Vs. Sapphire HD 6950 1GB

[shumbian]

Hey people, I'm setting up a new gaming computer and need some advice. I'm buying at amazon.co.uk to be delivered in Spain, so it has to be sold by amazon (elligible for free super saver delivery). Here's the competitors:

Asus 1GB GeForce GTX 560TI DirectCUII (not TOP oc'ed version I guess)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-GeForce-560TI-DirectCUII-Graphics/dp/B004K8R8DA/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1306111299&sr=1-1

Zotac GF GTX 560Ti 1GB OC
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zotac-GTX-560Ti-Graphics-Card/dp/B004KPLS84/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1306111299&sr=1-2

Zotac GF GTX 560Ti 1GB
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zotac-GTX-560Ti-Graphics-Card/dp/B004KPLS7U/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1306111299&sr=1-3

Palit 1GB GeForce GTX 560TI Sonic
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Palit-GeForce-560TI-Sonic-Graphics/dp/B004K8R8JY/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1306111299&sr=1-4

Sapphire HD 6950 1GB
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-6950-GDDR5-Graphics-Card/dp/B004IO5BL2/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1306110968&sr=1-4

I'm not interested only in perfomance, I'd also like a card that lasts for a while before it melts due to high temperature. By the way, I'll have it running with a i5 2500 in a CM Elite 430, 4GB RAM, p8h67-m PRO mobo. Thanks in advance!

 

[majesticlizard]

The HD 6950 and GTX 560 TI have almost identical performance and about the same price. It amounts to personal preference. I've had problems with ATI drivers recently and the HD 6950 runs a bit hotter. Based on that I would narrowly choose the GTX 560 TI.

Watch out for the GTX 560 NON-TI that just came out; it only has as many shader-processors as a GTX 460 and you don't want that.

Get a standard GTX 560 TI. Overclocked variants are standard cards which technicians picked at random and BIOS flashed to be OC models (an XFX employee admitted this to me back in 2009). Despite rumors, they are not cherry picked; that would take time and money no manufacturer is going to spend.

What I'm saying is that a standard video card can usually be overclocked, on stock voltage, to match the overclocked versions.

1) Use cable management (zip ties) to keep the case as roomy as possible so that air flow can be conducted in and out of the case easily.

2) Use EVGA precision, Riva Tuner, or Speed Fan to set the fan speed permanently at 70% or greater.

With good air flow and cool temperatures a video card should be able to last for several years.

 

[purple stain]

Out of those cards choose the Asus GTX560 and the Saphire 6950.Since they compare so close the only way to determine which one is better for you is to look at some benchmarks.

What resoultion do you game at and what games do you play?

 

[shumbian]

So do you think http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-GeForce-560TI-DirectCUII-Graphics/dp/B004K8R8DA/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1306111299&sr=1-1 is a good choice, over the zotac and palit models? As one of the reasons for my wanting a gtx560 is the cooler temps=longer life span? Is Asus a good brand, good customer service etc?

I'm probably going to get a LG E2250V, so that would mean 1920×1080 right? And no particular games, my last graphics card was a 9400gt lol so I just want decent graphic quality for a good time.

 

[purple stain]

Well that Asus GTX560 has the best cooling out of all of those cards.I can't really tell you which one is better because you haven't told me any of the games you play.If you list some games I can look up some benchmarks and then we can decide which one is better perfromance wise.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

At 1920 x 1200, I'd take the 560 Ti (900Mhz) (495 fps in Guru3D's game test suite, 862 in SLI .... 6950 gets 479 in Guru3D's test suite, 759 in CF))
http://www.amazon.co.uk/GIGABYTE-GeForce-GTX-560-GV-N560OC-1GI/dp/B004LXT1MU/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1306117197&sr=1-6

At 2560 x 1600, I'd take the 6950 2GB

 

[shumbian]

I'll probably play SC II and Diablo III. I'm also really interested in the upcoming Elder Scrolls. WoW is a maybe, too much time consuming... that's what comes to my mind right now.

Edit: by the way sorry for posting two games for which there are no benchmarks as they're not out yet lol

Edit 2: The gigabyte model seems very good, but it cannot be shipped to my address :/ and if it could it would still be almost £30 more expensive :X

 

[majesticlizard]

Out of those cards choose the Asus GTX560 and the Saphire 6950.Since they compare so close the only way to determine which one is better for you is to look at some benchmarks.

What resoultion do you game at and what games do you play?

When I said the performance was nearly identical I was referring to benchmarks, which are the only objective measure of gaming performance. I thought this was implicitly clear. I apologize for not stating it.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6950-1gb-vs-geforce-gtx-560-ti-review/
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1533/1/
http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/graphics-cards/geforce-gtx-560-ti-vs-radeon-hd-6950-942751

Again the GTX 560 and the GTX 560 TI are now technically two different cards. When the GTX 560 TI first came out many articles referred to it only as the GTX 560, which further confuses matters. The difference is that the GTX 560 vanilla (non Titanium Edition) has only 336 shader processors, while the GTX 560 TI not only has 384 shader processors, but is clocked higher as well.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=657&card2=641

GTX 560 IS A DIFFERENT CARD THAN THE GTX 560 TI. See link above.

 

[purple stain]

I always refer to the GTX560ti as the GTX560.In the whole lineup of the GTX5xx and 4xx series their has never been a "ti".I guess since the actual GTX560 is out now I should start using the "ti".

 

[shumbian]

What I'm saying is that a standard video card can usually be overclocked, on stock voltage, to match the overclocked versions.

That's something I liked to read. So the asus model (which is a GTX 560TI) can be overclocked later if I feel the need to, with almost no difference to the "out of the factory" overclocked models? It seems like a very solid choice, taking into consideration the benchmarks, the price, and the quality of the asus model regarding cooling and such.

 

[purple stain]

Well it looks like your going to be mostly playing Blizzards games.Thats a no brainer then, I don't even need to look at the benchmarks.Blizzard games really like Nvidia cards so go with the GTX560ti.For some reason the Nvidia cards are coded better than AMD cards with Blizzard.It's possibly due to the fact that Blizzard use's Nvidia cards,lol.

That Asus GTX560ti is a very nice card with really good cooling.You should easily be able to max out Diablo III and WoW.
SCII relys more on CPU performance and theirs not really any way to max that game out because of how many units can be on the map at the same time,that and the fact that other people have to have good gear as well or else they will pull you down.

I think you will be very happy with the Asus GTX560ti

 

[purple stain]

Most Asus cards are already factory O.C.'d.The Asus card has very very good cooling with that DirectCUII technoology.You should be able to O.C. to some really high numbers if you ever feel the need to.

 

[shumbian]

I guess I've made my choice then, the asus model it will be. If I ever feel the need to I can OC it, and maybe a future mobo upgrade will allow sli. Many thanks.

 

[shumbian]

Best answer selected by shumbian.