I just want nice looking games. Advice Please

[RedTalonTPF]

** sorry I posted this in the wrong forums before. Posting it here now.

Simple question. What card (or cards) do I need for the best looking experience in games. I do not care about FPS I just care about what is noticeable to the eye. So this is really two factors: graphics quality & smoothness.

I know SLI is great for graphics processing but I am still worried about micro stuttering (good graphics but not smooth = bad looking experience). I know from talking to others it seems like micro-stutter is not a problem with current games but what about more intensive games a year from now?


So if I am running at 1920 x 1080 what GPU set up do I need to get the best looking experience out of games like BF3 and metro 2033? I know the best looking setting is definitely subjective (if you can tell a difference between Ultra and high ect.) but that is what I want peoples opinions on. So in your experience and perception what does it take to pull the best looking and smoothest experience without overkill?

Is a GTX 580 enough?

 

[Warmacblu]

It's going to be different for every person. For most, a reasonable priced GTX 560 Ti or even a GTX 570 is enough. A few will not want to compromise and will purchase the best but they will also pay a hefty price.

What are the rest of your system specs?

 

[Helltech]

At that resolution with max settings with Metro 2033 a GTX 580 gets about 26-30FPS. Which is just on the edge of "noticeable". So with Metro 2033 in mind a GTX 580 is the least I would get. A 570 gets about 21 FPS. A 6970 gets about 23.

Even with all that said, I would just drop some of the settings in Metro 2033 like AF, not run it at max settings, and get a 570, 6950, or 560TI. A 580 is wayyy over priced in my opnion.

 

[RedTalonTPF]

It's going to be different for every person. For most, a reasonable priced GTX 560 Ti or even a GTX 570 is enough. A few will not want to compromise and will purchase the best but they will also pay a hefty price.

What are the rest of your system specs?

I am building a new system so they are flexible. But I was thinking of:

i5 2500k cpu
8gb of RAM
asus p8z68 mobo.


Is AF noticeable in Metro 2033? Like if you were paying the two games could you tell which setting you had on and which you did not?

 

[Helltech]

Well I wouldn't turn it OFF, I'd just turn it down off of 16 to 8 or 4 (not really sure what the GTX 470 can handle smoothly). If you have a really good eye you can tell the difference, but it’s barely noticeable, and definitely not worth the 200~250 dollars it would cost to get a 580 over other options.

I'd rather put that money towards an SSD, or a nicer monitor, something like that.

What is your budget?

 

[RedTalonTPF]

What is your budget?

Budget is flexible too, but around $1500 I guess.

Here is exactly what I have been planning:
Mobo:
ASUS P8Z68-V PRO
CPU:
Intel Core i5-2500
RAM:
CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB)
GPU
2 x EVGA SuperClocked GTX 570 (SLI)
Or 560 SLIed
HD:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
PSU:
OCZ ZS Series 750W
Cooling:
ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
Case:
Corsair Graphite Series 600T

SSD I was planning on waiting a bit till the prices drop. Instead pumping the other stuff into the graphics card that will last me awhile. I suppose that is the other thing to consider is getting an overkill set up now and being set for the future.

 

[Helltech]

Go for a 2500K instead of a 2500. Don't get that Zalman cooler either my 9000 is horrible! It was by far the worst choice I made when I built this system.

I also wouldn't start off with SLI cards. Get a single card for now, and upgrade if necessary.

Also if you're lookin' to spend that much on a PSU you could get this instead. Good brand, solid PSU, 100 more watts will be helpful if you SLI in the future.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011

EDIT - HDD Prices.... what a shame. That flooding really put everything out of wack.

Same price HDD, this is a good drive, and its larger.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Also you don't really need 16GB of RAM. 8 is more then plenty if you're just gaming.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220484

 

[woshitudou]

Graphics quality, audio quality and smoothness for me too when I game. I'm always willing to sacrifice frame rate for graphics quality unless I'm in a multiplayer game.

I agree with Helltech with getting a single card for now. The 580 is a good choice. It plays nearly all games smoothly at their highest settings with decent AF + AA however if you really want the best chance the best graphics quality + smoothness then you'll want to shell out $750 for something like a 6990.

I use a Radeon 5970 and it's faster than the 580 for most games due to it having 2 gpus. It plays Metro 2033 with everything maxed @ 1920x1080 and the game has the best visuals I've seen. The fps are more than playable but not 60 fps. I googled for benchmarks and the 580 looks to be a bit faster than the 5970 in Metro so you will be fine.

You could always wait until early 2012 for AMD's 7000 series and get one of them. The top card will probably be $650-$800 like always. Nvidia is supposed to have new 600s in 2012 but I read they're having the same troubles as they had with the 500s so I wouldn't wait for them.

 

[RedTalonTPF]

I also wouldn't start off with SLI cards. Get a single card for now, and upgrade if necessary.

So I am temped by the 580. Is the extra memory size work the extra money?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130655
vs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130658

or i suppose i could just go a 570. Not sure if there is much difference between the 570 and 580 from what I have seen. Just a few fps difference.

 

[Warmacblu]

The extra memory on the GTX 580 isn't worth it if you are only gaming on a single 24" or less monitor.

Honestly, purchase the GTX 570 and if you are not satisfied then add another one for about the same price as a GTX 580.