$450-500 Budget GPU Solution

[mf2385]

I was thinking about getting a GTX 670, been waiting forever for the ASUS GTX Direct CU II Top card. I was looking at alternatives for around that price point, I'm considering even Crossfire/SLi setups. I was looking at GTX 480 Sli, but my Corsair TX 750w 80 plus bronze certified would be peaking out with those I think, what do you guys think? Can anyone offer me a solution for around $450 that would give me better performance then a 670/680? and work well with my power supply? GTX 470 SLi?

 

[mf2385]

Will my Corsair TX 750w v2 80 plus bronze be able to power 2 gtx 480's in SLi or is there another solution??

 

[shamsmu]

Since the 600 series is already out, i'd be a waste to go after older generations at this point. I'd say get a gtx 670, direct cu II top version is the best I have it myself, it outperforms other people's gtx680s in this forum. Check out this thread-
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=33&post=356531&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

tx750 may cut it too close for a gtx480 sli set up, You need at least a tx850 to be safe. However, the gtx 670 draws way less power than the gtx 480 so your tx 750 would most definitely handle the gtx 670 sli in the future. So, to be more future proof, get a single gtx 670 now and then get another one within a year when the price goes down. Not to mention the cool and quietness of the gtx 670 is unmatched.

 

[mf2385]

Yeah, that's the same answer people have been giving me. What about if I go with EVGA and get a 670 and then I can Step Up in like the new 2-3 months and get something better, like the GK110 that's supposed to come by then.

 

[shamsmu]

ye thats because it is the best way you can use your $500. Unless you get a crazy deal that saves you like $200 while giving you similar performance, get the gtx 670.

evga won't be as good as the direct cu II, but it won't be too bad either. Go for it if you want.
gtx700 will be much better than the 600 most likely.

 

[mf2385]

Well getting 2 gtx 480's for around $350 man, I could get them for like around that price range. Plus their performance is reallly nice. But I have been waiting and waiting for the GTX 670 that you had mentioned, the ASUS GTX 670 DC II Top, I want that!

 

[mf2385]

Are the new GK110 supposed to be out by August or?

 

[shamsmu]

yeah thats another thing I wanted to mention-

My mate has a dual gtx 480 set up, while he gets more fps than I do, somehow the games feel much smoother on my rig. Even my mate admitted it. There is something unusual about these new keplar gpus. Maybe cause its newer architecture or something idk.

Your case better have good airflow cause the dual gtx480 temps will be around 85 24/7.

i think they will be out by december before the christmas sale

 

[mf2385]

It actually does have good airflow dude, lots of fans and good amount of room, but my Power Supply can't handle them anyway dude, so I'm pretty much given up on them unless I hear otherwise. I may even get a GTX 680 and step up to a GK110 when they come out for cheap.

 

[mf2385]

Oh ok well what about the new Tahiti XT2 7970 basically a 7975, supposed to be better then a GTX 680 stock.

 

[bigcyco1]

I would just buy a Asus 670 DCII Cu TOP
second choice would be http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127685#top if you plan on Sli GTX480 you need to change the coolers which cost 55 a piece

 

[mf2385]

I was also looking at the new MSI Lightning GTX 680 and EVGA Classified GTX 680. So I don't have to SLi by just getting one of these until the new chips.

 

[mf2385]

I would just buy a Asus 670 DCII Cu TOP
second choice would be http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127685#top if you plan on Sli GTX480 you need to change the coolers which cost 55 a piece

Yeah, I hear you that's the card I've been wanting, but sold out always, but I have my eye on those other two new arrivals coming soon.

 

[shamsmu]

on second thought, your tx 750 might be JUST enough to power up the gtx480 sli.
The minimum recommended amp is 60A on 12v rails, your psu has 62A. So your barely meeting the minimum requirement here. Another thing is, you won't be able to overclock and have to deal with higher temps now and there won't be any room for upgrades in the future.

 

[shamsmu]

I was also looking at the new MSI Lightning GTX 680 and EVGA Classified GTX 680. So I don't have to SLi by just getting one of these until the new chips.

the gtx 680 would cost you way more only to get outperformed by the gtx 670 direct cu II. Not a wise move IMO>

 

[mf2385]

SOO what are you saying?? That's also minimum RECOMMENDED, not required. I wouldn't overclock SLI 480's anyway probably. I can sell them in the future though. But I don't know if it's worth it people tell me GTX 480's in SLi are amazing.

 

[mf2385]

Ok so either get a GTX 670 now or GTX 480's for cheaper then a GTX 670 and get more power with SLI 480's. I may be able to get GTX 480's for like $325-400. Either that or I wait for the new 7975's.

 

[shamsmu]

well, for gpus you can ignore the total amount of wattage. What you should look at is how much amps are needed on 12v rail. For gtx 480 sli, the minimum requirement is 60A, and the corsair tx 750 has 62A. So you should be able to power up the dual gtx 480 in your system. But there won't be any room for gpu oc and even the cpu overclocking will be off limit. Yeah they're right, dual gtx480 will give you heaps of raw power compared to any single gpu.

 

[mf2385]

My CPU which is a Sandy Bridge Core i5-2500K (Lower power consumption then older ones) is overclocked with my Corsair H80 Liquid cooling to 4.6 GHz. Will I have to lower it to like 4.1 and lower the Vcore?

 

[shamsmu]

Ok so either get a GTX 670 now or GTX 480's for cheaper then a GTX 670 and get more power with SLI 480's. I may be able to get GTX 480's for like $325-400. Either that or I wait for the new 7975's.

like I said before, getting a single gtx 670 now and then a 2nd one later on would be the best move to make.
However, you can get a gtx480 dual set up too but I would't spend more than $300 for it. remember gtx 670 in sli would own the gtx 480 sli later on with much lower temps and noise and you can oc your rig quite a bit.

You can wait for the hd7975 if you have got the patience.

 

[shamsmu]

My CPU which is a Sandy Bridge Core i5-2500K (Lower power consumption then older ones) is overclocked with my Corsair H80 Liquid cooling to 4.6 GHz. Will I have to lower it to like 4.1 and lower the Vcore?

to be honest, it might come to that considering your cutting it too close.

 

[mf2385]

Yeah I know GTX 670 in SLi would beat 480 SLi later on but it would be like more then double the price for a decent amount of fps different but probably not a huge increase.

GTX 480 SLi = $325 or less
GTX 670 SLi = $850 (around there)

 

[mf2385]

I wouldn't mind just going back to Stock VCore and just go to 4.1 GHz with the motherboard OC program that came with my motherboard.

 

[mf2385]

So what's the verdict??

 

[mf2385]

May just wait for the Tahiti XT2 7975 (or whatever it's going to be called) or atleast for the MSI Lightning GTX 680, it's supposed to be a monster card, no 670 will compete with it. I really like the MSI Lightning Series.