Help choosing between 4 cards

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Hey everyone, I'm finally settling in on a build after a lot of consideration and it's pretty much down to these cards. Any suggestions as to which to choose? Thanks

Radeon HD 6850

Radeon HD 6870

GeForce GTX 560

GeForce GTX 550 Ti

Build (probably gonna change the ram to 1600, and probably gonna fiddle with the PSU but this is pretty much the final thing)

 

[DM186]

You can drop the GTX 550 Ti it cost more than it preforms. I know I have 2 of them in SLI. One HD 6850 will out do it. Here is my thought on your cards the HD 6870 over all the cards.

Now If you could spend about 40 to 50 dollars more then I would say the GTX 560 Ti fermi or the HD 6950. Both the cards need a 500w 80 plus PSU to drive them.

Here is a link for two differnt PSU's but if you go bigger then keep in the same brand name as the 500w. Also here is a link to the Hierarchy of graphic cards. I hope this has helped a little.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fastest-graphics-card-radeon-geforce,3067-7.html

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Im not sure if I can go any higher on the card, my limit was $100 before and I've already gone above that. So probably the 6870 would be my best bet? And what's the main difference between those 2 PSU's and this one, just the fact that it's modular and 20w extra basically?

PSU

 

[kajabla]

I'd take an Antec 430W for any of those cards.

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034

Something like this?

 

[kajabla]

That's the one.

 

[Outlander_04]

the 6870 is the most powerful of that selection . The GTX 560 is a close second .

What you should buy depends on the rest of your computer hardware and the resolution of your monitor

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

The website recommends at least a 500w PSU for that card though. Will 430 be kinda under doing it a bit?

And outlander, the rest of the build I'm lookin at getting is in the OP, and my monitor is 1920x1080

 

[kajabla]

430W will be fine if it's a good model, which the Antec certainly is. http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/10/22/ati-radeon-hd-6870-review/9
If you ever plan to go Crossfire, you could get a 650W.

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Nah I don't think I'll every really plan to do crossfire.

 

[kajabla]

The Antec's fine, then.

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Ok cool. Thanks for the help. So I think the only changes I'll make is the PSU, have the card as the 6870 and the RAM to 1600 instead of 1333

 

[kajabla]

Oh, and get a Hyper 212 EVO instead of the 212+. It's around $5 more and significantly better.

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Oh ok cool. Good advice. Thanks. I'm not sure if I'm gonna OC, but it gets hot in the summer so some evtra cooling can't hurt

Oh, on newegg the 212 EVO is actually cheaper

 

[spentshells]

I must disagree the 6870 is less powerful than the 560 but not by much but the gap gets bigger as you overclock the 560. But the 6870 is the best bet for you as it is cheaper by a good amount than the 560.

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Well I'm not sure how to OC a card and I'd probably be scared to mess it up, so I probably won't OC it. Is it worth the $20 extra to get the 560 instead? I don't mind another $20 on the price of the whole build if the 560 will be a good ammount better

 

[jdw_swb]

the 6870 is the most powerful of that selection . The GTX 560 is a close second .

What you should buy depends on the rest of your computer hardware and the resolution of your monitor

I support this. 6870 is the fastest, but the 560 (non TI) is a close second.

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Haha seems like they're pretty evenly matched. Maybe I should just flip a coin lol

 

[jdw_swb]

I must disagree the 6870 is less powerful than the 560 but not by much but the gap gets bigger as you overclock the 560. But the 6870 is the best bet for you as it is cheaper by a good amount than the 560.

Not true I'm afraid. They are pretty much equal, with the 6870 being faster in slightly more games.

 

[spentshells]

The drivers may have added more performance to tthe 6870 but have a look here and see a heavy overclock on the 460 you can see it shoot past the 6870. The 560 already comes with the overclock and can be pushed another 100mhz really creating a gap between the two cards.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/37499-hd-6870-hd-6850-vs-gtx-460-1gb-overclocking-study.html

 

[jdw_swb]

The drivers may have added more performance to tthe 6870 but have a look here and see a heavy overclock on the 460 you can see it shoot past the 6870. The 560 already comes with the overclock and can be pushed another 100mhz really creating a gap between the two cards.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/37499-hd-6870-hd-6850-vs-gtx-460-1gb-overclocking-study.html

and a 6870 can't be overclocked too...........

 

[spentshells]

The gains overclocking the 6870 are minimal please follow the link and see for yourself.

 

[jdw_swb]

The 6870 is also cooler, uses less power and cheaper than the 560.

They really are equal in terms of performance.

 

[xJACKTHERIPPERx]

Well I might as well go for the 6870 then because I don't really plan to OC, so for stock performance, it sounds like that card has it

 

[spentshells]

Yes save money and go with a 6870.