Help With Card Comparison

[carbondragon]

I'm looking for a little help with choosing a new card to replace my year-old GTX 250. I've got a budget of $200 and have found a couple of cards that seem to do what I need but I'm a little confused as to which I should get, or if I should toss my two ideas out and get something totally different.

I've got this GTX 550 Ti 2GB model here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130652

And this GTX 560 1GB model here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660

picked out right now, but I'm perfectly open to suggestions.

 

[chesteracorgi]

The GTX 560 is a more powerful card, with 336 as opposed to 192 processor cores. The GTX 550 ti has more RAM, but you will see much better performance from the GTX 560.

 

[chesteracorgi]

There are AMD 6870 cards available at your price range too. But the GTX 560 is the best Nvidia available under $200.

 

[carbondragon]

The GTX 560 is a more powerful card, with 336 as opposed to 192 processor cores. The GTX 550 ti has more RAM, but you will see much better performance from the GTX 560.

How much better are we talking? This being a Christmas present, that $10 difference means being able to get myself a new backpack for school or not. And would the 6870 be any better than these two? I'm not an Nvidia junkie, so either brand is fine. Just whatever is best for the money.