Asus gtx 590 vs 3 asus gtx 560s

[tyler94]

I am building my first gaming computer and the last precise I need is my gpu I was wondering since I am running a I5 2500k and a asus p8z68 deluxe I wanted to know wether it would be better to go with an asus gtx 590 or 3 asus gtx 560 in sli mode to get the best gaming. also is there any drawbacks from using sli mode?

 

[Maziar]

3-way SLI doesn't scale very well,so I'd recommend getting 2 GTX 560's which will give you the performance of a GTX 590.

 

[Overclocked Toaster]

drawbacks from sli mode:

1. some games have no/poor support
2. extra heat, noise, and power
3.worse driver support
4. extra costs associated with getting sli-capable motherboard.

you will be using sli with even a gtx 590 because it has two GPUs. Me personally, I think even a single 560t is enough for gaming with a single monitor 1080p or lower. the most powerful single gpu card you can get is the gtx580 if you dont want to deal with the hassles of sli.

 

[Mousemonkey]

I am building my first gaming computer and the last precise I need is my gpu I was wondering since I am running a I5 2500k and a asus p8z68 deluxe I wanted to know wether it would be better to go with an asus gtx 590 or 3 asus gtx 560 in sli mode to get the best gaming. also is there any drawbacks from using sli mode?

The GTX560 is only capable of 2 way SLi.

 

[shrkbay]

OP: what resolution will you be using?

 

[Maziar]

The GTX560 is only capable of 2 way SLi.

Yep,you're right.I first thought all 5xx GPUs support 3-way SLI

 

[tyler94]

So If I got the gtx 590 will it have poor support with some games and lack of drivers because it is technically using sli in one card? Also between the two 560's and the 590 which one would be the safer bet to invest into.

 

[renz496]

The GTX560 is only capable of 2 way SLi.

^ +1.

So If I got the gtx 590 will it have poor support with some games and lack of drivers because it is technically using sli in one card? Also between the two 560's and the 590 which one would be the safer bet to invest into.

most games are fine with dual gpu in fact in some cases the scaling a very good that the performance real close to double the performance of a single card. but adding the third card always does not translate into 3 times performance. this is always comes from the complexity of driver optimization needed to optimize all three card in one games. so in short GTX590 should perform just fine in games (though it will not going to equal to 2-way SLI GTX580 in term of performance due to GTX590 default specification). as which one are safer i think it will favor for GTX560 in SLI. for example if one card goes bad you still have one card to use while waiting for your replacement to arrive. it is better than having nothing at all

 

[Overclocked Toaster]

So If I got the gtx 590 will it have poor support with some games and lack of drivers because it is technically using sli in one card?

yes, but usually it just means only one of the two gpus will be used. im not sure how common exactly these problems are. also, gtx 590s are hard to find last time i checked, and they tend to be overpriced. If I were you, i would bu a single gtx 560ti for now, if you are not satisfied with performance, get another one and use them in sli

 

[tyler94]

one more question if i go with 2 gtx 580 how much more space will it take?

 

[renz496]

it depends on your case spaces

 

[kss207rc]

My opinion is to go with a gtx580 and if it is not enough for you in the future get another one(the prices would drop to).You can run 3way sli with gtx560's but the one will run physx only so it doesn't worth it.Generally us the guys tell you sli is not so stable,many games have poor support and the drivers arent the best,plus cost,heat,noise..etc.

 

[17seconds]

It's hard to tell what your budget is. You have gone from comparing $700 setups to $500 dollar ones to now $900 dual GTX 580's (the price has come down recently).

 

[tyler94]

well i have a big budget for my gpu i just want whatever is going to give me the best performance weather its a single card or sli.

 

[mdd1963]

"best" should never be confused with most 'cost effective'....

Twin 580's are indeed formidable...; they are really only 'necessary', IMO, if you are a Metro/Crysis junkie, but, at nearly $1000 cost, I'd give a hard look at twin 560Ti or twin 6950 performance alternatives...

85-90% of the performance at ~50% of the cost.

 

[shrkbay]

"best" should never be confused with most 'cost effective'....

Twin 580's are indeed formidable...; they are really only 'necessary', IMO, if you are a Metro/Crysis junkie, but, at nearly $1000 cost, I'd give a hard look at twin 560Ti or twin 6950 performance alternatives...

85-90% of the performance at ~50% of the cost.

That's only possible with 6950CF / 570SLi, 560Tis are slower than 6950s (and of course 570s) + SLi scaling is not so good as with 6950/70s, but overall i agree with you 580 SLi is too overpriced.

OP: Will you use multiple monitors? If not then a single GTX570/HD6950/70 will be fine. IMO it's not worth spending that much money on 580SLi/590, because you really gain nothing noticable (at least on a single monitor) over a single 560Ti/ SLi/ single 6950/ CF (which is faster than 560Ti SLi) or even a GTX570/HD6970. Btw, imo 560 non-Ti is a waste of money, it's performance is too low for it's price, because spending 10-20$ more you can get a lot faster 6950 or saving 10$ you could get a little faster 6870.

EDIT: TYPOS

 

[allbies1]

I think you should just get a gtx 580, running pretty much any game on max graphics and no need to hassle yourself with another card. save the money and invest it in another card a year or two down the line to upgrade your system

 

[Mousemonkey]

My opinion is to go with a gtx580 and if it is not enough for you in the future get another one(the prices would drop to).You can run 3way sli with gtx560's but the one will run physx only so it doesn't worth it.Generally us the guys tell you sli is not so stable,many games have poor support and the drivers arent the best,plus cost,heat,noise..etc.

No you can't, the third card could be used for PhysX but it won't be in SLi with the other two.

 

[tyler94]

I think i will go with a single 580 for right now so i will have the ability to upgrade to a second gtx 580 in the future. Lastly will i be able to fit 2 ASUS GeForce GTX 580 Direct CU II on my motherboard http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8Z68_DELUXE/#specifications

 

[Embra]

May I ask what PSU you plan on buying and at what resolution?

Some info ==> Comparisons of different cards, sli and cf

 

[tyler94]

1920x1200 and i have a 1200w thermaltake

 

[Embra]

At that resolution, I would get a 6950.70 or a 570 to start. I think you will find them to game rather well. You can add another if you need more go-go juice.

 

[17seconds]

Watch out for dual DirectCU's. They are reported to be 3x slot cards, but I hear they take up more like 2.5x slots.

 

[shrkbay]

Yeah i agree with Embra, it'd be a better choice (IMO) if you go with 6950/70 or a GTX570

 

[17seconds]

Don't sell yourself short. If you have GTX 580 cash, get the best.