...sooo what now?

[mrmacman]

Hi,

I recently upgraded my old Q8200 and of course got myself a spanking lovely Z68 and 2500K.
Spanked up ram from DDR2 to DDR3 Corsair Vegeance and have been baffled by how much you can push this on stock equipment.

However my GPU a HD 5750, is starting to a feel a bit snazzy comparing to the rest.

An upgrade incoming sometime this year when i feel the right offer is there - is therefor what im planning now.

Specs:
i5 - 2500k
P8Z68 V Pro
8 GB Corsair Vegeance 1600 MHZ CL9.
Corsair CX 500W
XFX HD 5750


Now i've been looking at various cards in the 6800/6900 range.
Cause i want a card that'll play as high as possible with 1680-1050, and it seems to be the 5750 just ain't cutting it for Red Faction or Even SC2 with extreme settings.

My price range would probably be around 200 Bucks perhaps more, if i'm convinced the right card for performance is out.
I'd like to avoid Crossfire since i'm hoping i can get a higher end card, without having to upgrade Mr.PSU.
Else that would cut my budget :C

I've been partially more to ATI/AMD, because of price vs performance ratio, but perhaps i should go back to nVidia.
Should also note i'm OC'ING mr. Sandy to 4,2 GHZ (ON stock cooling! WOOH! , - temps stay at 60-65 under load with this oc - baffled at that btw!) - planning on going much further once i purchase a H60 Liquid Corsair Set.


So if i want to game in higher settings with 50+ fps with newer and future games - what am i looking at?
Waiting for 7000? Spending more on a nVidia card? or we'll i have to slam in a more powerful PSU in to achieve framerates in higher/highest settings?

Am i gonna be bottlenecked by my PSU? or can i find the right card?

 

[bystander]

To see a significant performance increase, and stick with AMD, I'd get an AMD 6950. If you don't mind seeing a bit less of an improvement, a 6850/70 is pretty good too.

 

[4745454b]

Not sure the 6850 would provide enough extra. Certainly no if you have the 5770. 6870 at least. With the CX500 I'm not sure I'd try any Nvidia cards. (or the 6950) 6870 seems to be the card for you.

 

[szbxa]

GTX 560 TI would be an ideal choice if you add $30 to the budget.
if not then 6870 all the way.
nevertheless both of them will max almost any games on 1680 resolution

 

[mrmacman]

Very interesting.


I thought GTX 560 would suck the *** outa of my CX500?


560 is within my range or it could be.

Would this keep me "set" for a year or two graphics wise?

I'm kinda shadowed by the 7000 series upcoming and getting a 7800/7900 when it comes.


The 6950 would consume more power than GTX 560 from what i read and provide
1,600.00 DKK = 303.998 USD
And would cost me this and ups - so i'd need a damn fine improvement from 6950 to GTX 560 / HD 6870

While the GTX would lower me down to 220/30 bucks.

HD 6870 would be around the 200 bucks and upwards based on manufactorer(saph,xfx etc).

6970 seems a tad outa range with a whopping 400 bucks.
Atleast in my area for cheapest supplier .


So i'm probably going to pin it against HD 6870 vs GTX 560.

Will i see much performance difference?


How long would i last with these? before my 1680-1050 res would start to again show crumbles?

And would it be risky to run GTX 560 with only a CX500?

 

[mrmacman]

Still looking for info wether GTX 560 TI or HD 6870 is most performance.
Prices is relatively the same, so it matters not to me.
(HD 6950 seems to suck a ton more power, seems a bit too risky for me without upgrading psu)


And if a CX 500 Corsair can handle it.

Note i will most likely be adding a H60 Corsair Hydro cooler into the mix very soon.
I'm kind of concerned on the power a bit, if i havea H60 + a GTX 560 or H6870.

 

[Gman450]

They're both similar in performance. The GTX 560 Ti and the HD 6870 I mean. If it was HD 6870 and a GTX 560, then the 6870 would do a little better. The HD 6870 is the one I'd recommend, unless you're planning to buy a better PSU. If so, then it would be okay to go for a HD 6950.

 

[mrmacman]

They're both similar in performance. The GTX 560 Ti and the HD 6870 I mean. If it was HD 6870 and a GTX 560, then the 6870 would do a little better. The HD 6870 is the one I'd recommend, unless you're planning to buy a better PSU. If so, then it would be okay to go for a HD 6950.

Even with a H60 Added, would it matter much to the current setup?
Does the LiquidCooler take much watt?


Im kinda reading that with a 6870 it would be... running bare minimum on requiremnts, and not really considering to mass push it.

 

[Gman450]

I would get a better PSU first just to be on the safe side. This way, you won't need to upgrade your GPU again.

 

[mrmacman]

I would get a better PSU first just to be on the safe side. This way, you won't need to upgrade your GPU again.

So my CX500 is bottlenecking my GPU? ... say what now?
I want to upgrade my GPU, cause i want better quality and framerates on high settings.

.. but i'm geussing you mean, if i want some of the top end cards - i should invest more in a PSU to handle it, especially with other add ons and over clocking.
I'd be running a bit too tight race

Should perhaps wait til after christmas and do a romping GPU/PSU upgrade.

 

[mrmacman]

um......at 1680*1050, I wouldnt even recommend an upgrade, performance wise u will see a boost but unless u are lagging in games, I dont see the point of upgrading

I'll give an example.
Red Faction Guerrilla is lagging on standard High/Max settings.


I'd prefer to game without that

30 FPS has become(i've a snob apparently) unacceptable framerate to play anything in for me.

 

[Gman450]

Also, if you're thinking of upgrading you're PSU and your GPU to a high end one, get a better monitor as well. A full HD 1080p monitor in this case.

 

[mrmacman]

Okay, so i can run a HD 6870 with a CX 500, but i'd be running on minimum requirements. No OC'ing it.


Also i have a 5750 , not 5770.
Hence why i want an upgrade.

And greghome well i'd get same framerates if i did that, but i won't play with those rates.

45+ minimum please.


And no, i don't want a new monitor, gman, my issue is clear performance.


But to cut it out, in clear stone.
Since you confuse and don't reply specificly.


a CX 500 with the current rig, can run a single HD 6870.
Even perhaps with a 25watt extra hog from a H60 Hydro Cooler - but it be running bareminimum and would be preferred to get atleast 600 or 750 W supply to go with it.

 

[bystander]

Still looking for info wether GTX 560 TI or HD 6870 is most performance.
Prices is relatively the same, so it matters not to me.
(HD 6950 seems to suck a ton more power, seems a bit too risky for me without upgrading psu)


And if a CX 500 Corsair can handle it.

Note i will most likely be adding a H60 Corsair Hydro cooler into the mix very soon.
I'm kind of concerned on the power a bit, if i havea H60 + a GTX 560 or H6870.

Where did you learn that the 6950 uses a "ton" more power than the GTX 560 ti?
http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-560-ti-review/7
http://www.techspot.com/review/359-nvidia-geforce-gtx-560ti/page11.html
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/40119-nvidia-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review-18.html

Of those 3 reviews, only 1 showed the 6950 using more power than the 560 ti. They use similar power. I don't know where you were told it used a ton more power. Perhaps you saw a chart and compared 6950 crossfireX vs a single 560 ti?