8600 GTS upgrade

[shindigger]

I am running with this set up right now.


ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB)

I need to upgrade my video card as I am using a GeForce 8600 GTS. It has been a strong video card but has outlived it's usefulness. I am looking for something $300 or less. I would like to be under $150 but am willing to go as high the $300.

I am not stuck on any brand. I have looked at bench marks and pricing until my eyes have bled. I am confused and need help with the differences between AMD and GeForce cards. Also, which I can get more bang for my buck.

I would like something that I can use for the next couple of years (if possible).

 

[Rustyy117]

Hi

For something slightly over the $150 mark I'd suggest either a GTX560Ti or a HD6870.

At the upper end of your budget a HD7850 would be a good choice

 

[Gman450]

At what resolution will you be gaming at? 1080p?
For $300, a HD 7850 is a find choice.
HD 7850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150608
For $250.

Also, what's the model/make of your PSU?

 

[Sunius]

I'd second GTX 560 Ti if you want to keep the costs as low as possible. It's a very decent GPU for its price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500196

 

[shindigger]

I have a PSU specifically designed for the video card(s). My monitor is a 19" Samsung with a VGA input. I am looking at upgrading it in the near future.

 

[panwala95]

ide say a gtx 570 would be just right

 

[Desert Eagle]

shindigger, since you will be upgrading from a 8600 GTS then I'm assuming you don't buy cards very often so it will be a good idea to buy the fastest card that you can afford. No one knows for sure what the nextgen consoles are going to be but I suspect they are going to have significantly faster graphics and that is going to up the requirements for PC ports. I have a GTX 560 Ti and it has been a good performer for me but if my hunch is right about the nextgen consoles then I will be looking at getting a GTX 670/680.

 

[shindigger]

Is there a true difference between the GeForce and Radeon products? What are the comparable products in the GTX 560 Ti range? In the $300 and under range

 

[Sunius]

Performance wise, it goes like this:

GTX 570 > GTX 480 > HD 7850 > GTX 560 Ti > HD 6870.

GTX 570 is generally most expensive, around $270:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130621

Then comes hd 7850 at $260:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125419

GTX 480 at $250:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130759

GTX 560 Ti at $210:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500196

HD 6870 at $180:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121418

Their relative performance at 1920x1200:

As you can see, GTX 570 is around 12% faster than HD 7850, and only 4% more expensive.

GTX 480 is 8% faster than HD 7850, while being 4% cheaper.

HD 7850 is 9% faster than GTX 560 Ti, while being 24% more expensive.

GTX 560 Ti is 10% faster than HD 6870, as is 17% more expensive.

Performance per dollar (as a percentage of HD 7870 performance, which is out of your budget range):

GTX 570 - 95/270 = 0.352
GTX 480 - 92/250 = 0.368
HD 7850 - 85/260 = 0.327
GTX 560 Ti - 78/210 = 0.371
HD 6870 - 71/180 = 0.394

As you can see, higher costing card will have less performance for price with the exception of GTX 570 and GTX 480 (both of which is faster per dollar than HD 7850). Lastly, you should take power consumption into account as well, if you're that one that pays for electricity.

Considering 6 hours a day use, in an average 30 day month you'd use:

GTX 570 - 35.46 kWh
GTX 480 - 46.26 kWh
HD 7850 - 15.66 kWh
GTX 560 Ti - 26.64 kWh
HD 6870 - 21.42 kWh

Depending on where you live, you can calculate how much per month it would cost you. Personally, paying $0.16 per kWh, it would cost me:

GTX 570 - $5.67
GTX 480 - $7.40
HD 7850 - $2.5
GTX 560 Ti - $4.26
HD 6870 - $3.43

Now it's all your choice, gave you all the info I could .

 

[Gman450]

Is there a true difference between the GeForce and Radeon products? What are the comparable products in the GTX 560 Ti range? In the $300 and under range

Between GeForce and Radeon, the main differences between them are things such as CUDA, 3D Vision, PhysX etc (NVIDIA).
HD3D, Eyefinity (AMD Radeon).

A GTX 560Ti costs around $200-250, and for that range, you could get a HD 7850, which I linked earlier on.
If you take a look at the benchmarks, you can see that the HD 7850 does beat a 560Ti in most of the cases, it consume less power too.

HD 7850 review with benches including a 560Ti.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-review-benchmark,3148.html

Power consumption
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-review-benchmark,3148-19.html

 

[shindigger]

Best answer selected by shindigger.