Worth upgrading GPU?

[scorchedskulls41]

I want to know your opinion if it is worth upgrading my GPU. I currently have a GTX 280 and was thinking about getting a newer card, probobly a GTX 560 ti. I mostly motivated by haveing DirectX 11 support and better performance. My current card has no problem keeping up with what I am playing but I am not sure if I should upgrade now or just hold off for longer.

 

[wintermint]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/330?vs=317

I can't find the GTX 280 on the benchmark so I chose the GTX 285. The 560 ti shows better performance on each benchmarks. The GTX 280 is a good card though. I'm sure the 560 ti would last for a long time for you though. You can sell your 280 off and invest in a 560ti.

 

[rockyjohn]

The THG hiearchy charts show the relative ranks of both the GTX 280 and 560 Ti.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2964-7.html

You might also find the rest of the article helpful as it shows recommended video cards for different budget levels with convenient links to reviews of the cards.

I think you should also consider the GTX 560 - without the Ti as it has almost as good of performance as the Ti but at lower cost. Here is a good review on the card that shows the differences:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944.html

For additional information about upgrading graphics cards, I recommend this site:

http://www.upgradevideocards.com/

 

[geekapproved]

I want to know your opinion if it is worth upgrading my GPU. I currently have a GTX 280 and was thinking about getting a newer card, probobly a GTX 560 ti. I mostly motivated by haveing DirectX 11 support and better performance. My current card has no problem keeping up with what I am playing but I am not sure if I should upgrade now or just hold off for longer.

Without knowing what cpu you have, nobody can answer such a question, they can only guess that it will be worth it.

 

[scorchedskulls41]

Well here is my build:
Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz
EVGA X58 3-Way SLI
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB DDR3 1600
EVGA GeForce GTX 280 Superclocked 1GB
PC Power and Cooling Silencer 910W
4x Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

And I use a 37" LCD HDTV at 1920x1080

 

[geekapproved]

Then yes it would be a pretty large improvement over your GTX280, but maybe go for a GTX570 instead.

Keep in mind the GTX560 and GTX560ti are NOT the same card. The GTX560 is basically a GTX460 with slightly higher clock speeds.

 

[scorchedskulls41]

Yes I know the 560 and 560 ti are not the same card. And the price difference btwn a 560 ti and 570 is a a bit too much for me, I am trying to keep it around $200.

 

[geekapproved]

Then 560ti or HD6870 would be a nice improvement.

 

[geekapproved]

Can't beat this deal

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102913

 

[rockyjohn]

Yes you can, with this GT 560

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130661

It costs a little more ($175 vs $168 with shipping included) but for that $7 more you get a superclocked GT 560 and the advantage of the nVidia CUDA and PhysX features.

This review shows the two butting heads pretty much evenly with stock speeds:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944.html

So the factory overclocked GTX 560 wins easily. But the real advantage is having the CUDA feature which I believe more developers will start using to speed up other apps, and PhysX for gaming.

 

[rockyjohn]

Keep in mind the GTX560 and GTX560ti are NOT the same card. The GTX560 is basically a GTX460 with slightly higher clock speeds.

The GTX 560 uses the same GF114 ASIC chip as the GTX 560 Ti, it just has one less streaming multiprocessor enabled., which as the benchmarks show, has only a small effect on gaming performance.

 

[scorchedskulls41]

I personally stick to Nvidia every build I have ever done was with Nvidia cards and with OCing and SLI I have never had problems.

I was personally looking at getting one of the 560 ti's now that they have rebates:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130651]

I am always unsure when buying new cards since performance is always so close with them that it is not easy to know when spending a few extra $ on the next step up is worth it.

 

[chinoroy]

definitely worth it.

 

[wiyosaya]

I personally stick to Nvidia every build I have ever done was with Nvidia cards and with OCing and SLI I have never had problems.

I was personally looking at getting one of the 560 ti's now that they have rebates:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130651]

I am always unsure when buying new cards since performance is always so close with them that it is not easy to know when spending a few extra $ on the next step up is worth it.

IMHO, spend the few extra $$ especially if it is for a next generation chip.

 

[rockyjohn]

I am always unsure when buying new cards since performance is always so close with them that it is not easy to know when spending a few extra $ on the next step up is worth it.

Tis a conumdrum. And basically a choice of personal preference, is the extra speed worth the incremental cost.

And in this case - the GTX 560 Ti vs. no Ti - it is not a question of a new chip - they both have the same ones.

LOL - and the "definitely worth it" comment comes from one who lists his graphics card as the GT 240.

 

[swifty_morgan]

what's all the hardware in your system, what opsys and what games do you play ?

 

[geekapproved]

The GTX 560 uses the same GF114 ASIC chip as the GTX 560 Ti, it just has one less streaming multiprocessor enabled., which as the benchmarks show, has only a small effect on gaming performance.

It has 48 less SP's, and the benchmarks show a pretty big difference in gaming performance. I think your reading the heavily overclocked GTX560 vs. GTX560ti (stock) benchmarks, which can't be compared because the ti can be overclocked too.

The 560ti competes with the HD6950 1gb, the GTX560 competes with the 6870.

 

[scorchedskulls41]

Well I think I am going to go with the 560 ti but I will probobly wait since the rebates are good till the end of the month to see if I may want to fork up the extra cash for a 570.

 

[rockyjohn]

It has 48 less SP's, and the benchmarks show a pretty big difference in gaming performance. I think your reading the heavily overclocked GTX560 vs. GTX560ti (stock) benchmarks, which can't be compared because the ti can be overclocked too.

The 560ti competes with the HD6950 1gb, the GTX560 competes with the 6870.

In the THG review I linked above, THG had the "clock speed set to reference specification for reference benchmarks" for both the 560 and 560 Ti, as stated on the test setup page:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-560-amp-edition-gtx-560-directcu-ii-top,2944-4.html

The benchmarks show little difference in gaming performance - I refer you again to the THG review I linked above and as noted below with the non-Ti listed first:

Crysis 2 - 63.2 FPS vs. 66.9
Bulletstorm - 55.4 vs. 53.9 (non Ti actually wins this one)
Metro - 67.3 vs. 74.7
Loar Planet 2 - 64.3 vs. 70.6
Aliens v. Predator - 64.9 vs. 72.8
F1 2010 - 50.9 vs. 54.8
Just Cause 2 - 59.6 vs. 65.9
HAWX 2 - 115.0 vs. 124.0

Those are not big differences in gaming performance. And for both cards the minimums were pretty close to the averages. So most likely the differences will not even be noticeable while playing a game. So you would pay about 23% more for a 10% increase that will most often not even be noticeable. But as I noted above, it is a matter of personal preference if it is worth it to you.