GPU Upgrade Assistance Required

[merloin]

Hello All,

I need some help in this decision. I have very recently upgraded my machine as follows:

ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3
Intel Core i5-2500K OC to 4.2
G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB

I purposely left my PS as is: OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W
My current video card is a HD 5850.

The situation is as follows:

I have twins on the way due sometime in Feb/March. I know for a fact that as soon as they're born, my funds for upgrading my machine (typically a video card upgrade every 2 years and complete overhaul every 3 - 4 years) on said schedule, will probably gone. I'm guessing I'll be only upgrading the occasional part every 4 years or so now.

With that in mind, I'm wanting to upgrade my video card to something now that will be able to last for the next 3 - 4 years or so while being able to stay at near high - ultra settings. I understand that may be a little unrealistic, but work with me here. If money wasn't a factor, the choice would be fairly obvious. However, I'm not wanting to spend a small fortune which is why I'm going back and forth. The single 570 would be the cheapest route but also the "slowest". The 560 ti's in SLI would be pretty good but possibly not last as long as I would hope for. Hopefully, you see where I'm at and can offer your suggestions.

I've been going back and forth for a few weeks now on what to do. Upgrade now or wait for the 7xxx series/keplar? SLI or not to SLI? Those types of questions. I've narrowed it down to the following:

560 ti 2GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127608 - SLI

570 2.5 GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130687 - Single or even possibly SLI if I can convince the wife to expand the budget that far.

580 3GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125399 - Single

I know a PS upgrade would also be in order so don't worry about that in your suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Forgot to mention, I would play at 1920 x 1080 on a single monitor. I chose cards with higher vram because even at just a single monitor at that resolution, I'm sure future games will hit a lower vram limit.

Merloin

 

[ewood]

580 then sli in ~2 years when you can get a 580 relatively cheap. seems to give you some wiggle room within your future financial hardships (twins) however cf 6950 unlocked to 6970s in a very compelling solution as well

 

[merloin]

580 then sli in ~2 years when you can get a 580 relatively cheap. seems to give you some wiggle room within your future financial hardships (twins) however cf 6950 unlocked to 6970s in a very compelling solution as well

I've heard of just too many driver issues when it comes to cf which is why I don't have any AMD cards in my list. Granted SLI may have it own problems, but I've heard/seen fewer of them.