Upgrading system from SLI to single card

Status
Not open for further replies.

talmania

Honorable
May 28, 2012
6
0
10,510
Looking at an upgrade for my secondary (read SO's) system that's occasionally used as a gaming platform for when friends come over. I'll be repurposing my i920/x58 system with 2x GTX 285 SLI's for this secondary system and getting myself a new Ivy Bridge Z77 solution.

My question is I don't want to step down in graphics quality from the SLI GTX-285 but I definitely don't want to consider another SLI system at this time. Comparing SLI configs to single cards gets tricky when looking at Tom's and other sites.

What cards should I be considering if I don't want to take a step backwards but also don't necessarily want to buy top of the line? Ideally it'd be under 500 and closer to $250.

Thanks in advance for the advice and recommendations!



APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:Within 30 days.
BUDGET RANGE: Want to keep it under 500.00, would prefer 250 or so.

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming--not a hardcore gamer and have a huge backlog of titles such as Bioshock, Fallout3, Elder Scrolls Skyrim, Crysis, Batman etc. Currently playing alot of Diablo III, SWTOR.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: SLI NVidia EVGA GTX 285 SC, Corsair PRO HX 850W

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: Most likely doing full upgrade to Z77 and i5-3750K IB.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg by far.

PARTS PREFERENCES: Typically gone with EVGA and NVIDIA in the past but not opposed to other offerings.

OVERCLOCKING:NO SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not now and preferrably not for awhile.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1900x1200 1600x1200 (secondary)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: None.
 

davemaster84

Distinguished
Jun 15, 2011
464
0
18,810
Sad you need to be under $500, otherwise I'd have recommended you the MSI twinfrozr gtx 680, but since it has to fit the budget I'd say a gtx 670 is very OK (gigabyte OC version) . That way you'll notice a significant upgrade.
 
The graphics card is the real engine of gaming. More so than the cpu.
A $500 budget gets you a GTX680.
A $400 budget gets you GTX670. It is almost as strong as a GTX680.
Your psu is fine for either.
My preference would be for a EVGA reference card. I like the dual slot direct exhaust cooler. It gets the heat out of the case directly. Something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787
 
Solution

talmania

Honorable
May 28, 2012
6
0
10,510
Thanks all for the replies... I did say $500 or less but honestly after looking at that MSI 680 card 40.00 more isn't a deal breaker for me. $700.00 would absolutely be a deal breaker. I don't like throwing money away (duh) but if 40.00 gets me a better solution then I'm in.

Throwing another wrinkle into it, what if I stated I preferred a quiet solution? Obviously it's not going to be silent but I do everythign i can to keep the noise down (case, fans etc.).

Thanks!
 


I am using a EVGA GTX680 and it really is a quiet card.
For quiet, put your parts in a quiet case, with large, slow turning fans.
Avoid the all in ine liquid coolers, they seem to need fast fans. A decent air cooler will do the job and be quieter.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.