New GPU and PSU

[Firewood B B]

Hey,

I was looking at the GTX 570/GTX580. But it seems that an Antec BP500u is not enough for that videocard.

So I thought. Hmm, maybe I can get a quality 550/600W PSU so it will have enough power so it can work on full load.

Specs:
CPU :i7 870 Lynnfield @ 2.93Ghz
MOBO :ASUS P7H55
RAM :4 Sticks of DDR3 Ram (8GB intotal)
:1 HDD
:1 DVD/RW+



GT 240 (Current videocard)
Antec BP500u (Current power supply)

Regards,
Brian

 

[Firewood B B]

I was looking at the
Corsair TX550M (Modulair)
or
Corsair TX650 v2
or
Corsair TX650M (Modulair)

I think I will get the Corsair TX650M since it's modulair. And I don't really have a good case with a lot of airflow (Antec VSK2000)


And should I get a GTX 570 or a GTX 580 for €100,- more?

 

[Firewood B B]

If you are going to pay for a GTX 580, you may as well get the HD7970. I'm not sure if pricing is the same where you are, but in the U.S. the GTX 580 and the HD7970 are the same price. The HD7970 handily outperformed the GTX580. If you want an nVidia card, wait for Fermi. Not necessarily to buy one, just for the price reduction.

Well, HD7970's are €100,- more pricy here. And also is a 650W psu (Corsair TX650M) enough to power one GTX580? Since I really love the nVidia cards. And I'm planning on getting SLi once I got my new system.

 

[geofelt]

Today, a GTX580 needs a 600w psu.

AMD has introduced the 7xxx series of 28nm graphics cards. They need less power, even the 7970 needs only a 500w psu.
the 28nm kepler cards are near launch, and they will probably need much less power also.
Your Antec psu is a good one, and it might very well suffice if you upgrade to a 28nm card.

You might want to postpone any decisions for a week or two until the kepler launch is here.

I see nothing wrong with your case.
You might want to add some front intake fans if you really need more cooling.
Yate loon 120mm fans are cheap and good.

 

[geofelt]

Well, HD7970's are €100,- more pricy here. And also is a 650W psu (Corsair TX650M) enough to power one GTX580? Since I really love the nVidia cards. And I'm planning on getting SLi once I got my new system.

Permit me a perhaps unpopular rant on cf/sli:

a) How good do you really need to be?
A single GTX560 or 6870 can give you great performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.

A single GTX560ti or 6950 will give you excellent performance at 1920 x 1200 in most games.
Even 2560 x 1600 will be good with lowered detail.
A single 7970 is about as good as it gets.

Only if you are looking at triple monitor gaming, then sli/cf will be needed.
Even that is now changing with triple monitor support on top end cards.

b) The costs for a single card are lower.
You require a less expensive motherboard; no need for sli/cf or multiple pci-e slots.
Even a ITX motherboard will do.

Your psu costs are less.
A GTX560ti needs a 4500w psu, even a GTX580 only needs a 600w psu.
When you add another card to the mix, plan on adding 150-200w to your psu requirements.
A single more modern 28nm card like a 7970 needs only 500W.

Case cooling becomes more of an issue with dual cards.
That means a more expensive case with more and stronger fans.
You will also look at more noise.

c) Dual cards do not always render their half of the display in sync, causing microstuttering. It is an annoying effect.
The benefit of higher benchmark fps can be offset, particularly with lower tier cards.
Read this: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995.html

d) dual card support is dependent on the driver. Not all games can benefit from dual cards.

e) cf/sli up front reduces your option to get another card for an upgrade. Not that I suggest you plan for that.
It will often be the case that replacing your current card with a newer gen card will offer a better upgrade path.

 

[Firewood B B]

I'm gonna get the N570GTX Twin Frozr III Power Edition/OC and I'll get a Corsair TX650M power supply. So that should be good. I'm not planning on getting SLi on this system. This is just for about a half to a year so I don't have to play games with my GT240

 

[Firewood B B]

If you are going to get the TX650M, you may as well get the Seasonic X650 for the same price with no rebate - www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088

May as well get the best you can for the same money.

I don't live in the States, That PSU is about €40-60 more expensive than the TX650M. Is it worth it?