Is it the right time to upgrade from GTX460's in SLI???

[beekermartin]

I am currently using MSI Cyclone 1 gb 460's in SLI. I have them overclocked to 800mhz with stock voltage. I could push them further but 800mhz is the sweet spot for temps and performance at stock voltage. I should be able to get @125-135 including shipping for each one on ebay right now. If I wait until the 660ti is officially released and the non reference boards start becoming available I imagine the value of the 460s will drop even more.

I might end up getting a 670 depending on how the 660ti does in most of the reviews. If the 660ti reviews put it very cloe to the 670 then I will go with that if the price is that much cheaper.

I have an i7 X58 at 4.0ghz so a cpu bottleneck shouldn't be an issue. I am currently using only one 1080p monitor.

Is it worth upgrading from 460's in SLI to either the 670 or 660ti now or am I better off waiting a bit longer?

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

The 660ti is essentially a 670 that only has 192 bit bus and lower clock. But non reference will be superclocked. The 660ti outperforms a 580. It is a really good card based on what I'm hearing, I think it sounds like a better value than the 670. I would imagine dual 460s get about 670. So there will definitely be a noticeable upgrade but it might not be worth it. I would consider waiting another year. I think both will be better but the 660ti might be almost exactly the same as to 460s in sli performance wise. So if you do upgrade I think it would be smartest for you to get a 670 but it might be smart to wait a year for the 700 and 8000 series to come out. But if you absolutely have to sell now you will probably fetch around 200 for them both

 

[mocchan]

^ I agree with most

The 460's are still a very good card, what is making you want to upgrade?

 

[Deemo13]

460SLI is still pretty viable.

 

[crisan_tiberiu]

i have a single GTX 460 1 Gb from asus ..and i still dont think to upgrade

 

[xxaamxx135]

The problem with putting your 460s in SLi is microstuttering. So the single 660 Ti or the 670 would give better performance.

 

[beekermartin]

I was just thinking that now is a good time to upgrade and get the most money for my 460s. I believe even a 660ti should perform better than 460s in sli. So if I can get @200-250 for my 460s then it will only cost @100-150 to upgrade to the 660ti.

I am not having any issues playing games as of right now. Believe it or not I have mostly been playing the original Crysis still. I work 60 hours a week so I don't have much time to game. The 460s handle Cyrsis with everything set to max but with only 4 x AA. It does slow down every once and awhile but for the most part it plays well.

I imagine that an overclocked 670, like the Asus TOP version, would outperform the 460s by a good amount. Especially with more AA since the 460s only have 1gb of memory. If an overclocked 660ti comes close to the performance of an overclocked 670 for @100 less then the 660ti will be huge seller.

 

[renz496]

its not official nor i can confirm this is true but i think its not hurt to peek on this right?:

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4869/nvidia_geforce_gtx_660_ti_2gb_reference_video_card_review/index.html

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/4873/nvidia_geforce_gtx_660_ti_2gb_reference_video_card_overclocked/index.html

 

[beekermartin]

I read both of those reviews before. That is what got me excited about the 660ti. I am very curious how the non reference boards, like Asus and Gigabyte, will perform and for how much.

 

[beekermartin]

The reviews on the non reference 660ti's are out! It looks like the Asus TOP version is gonna be one of the best just like the 670.

I am gonna put my GTX 460s on Ebay and see what I get for them. If they bring @225-250 combined I will pick up a 660ti. The 660ti should be an @25% increase over the 460s in SLI according to the reviews.

 

[mocchan]

The reviews on the non reference 660ti's are out! It looks like the Asus TOP version is gonna be one of the best just like the 670.

I am gonna put my GTX 460s on Ebay and see what I get for them. If they bring @225-250 combined I will pick up a 660ti. The 660ti should be an @25% increase over the 460s in SLI according to the reviews.

You beat me to it :lol: I came back to recommend those cards to ya.

 

[beekermartin]

So far it looks like the factory overclocked MSI and ASUS GTX660ti are the best two available in terms of performance and temps. I posted my Cyclones on Ebay but they haven't sold yet. If the Asus TOP is available when I am ready to order then I will probably go with that. If it isn't then I will go with the MSI. They appear to be about even in most scenarios but the ASUS appears to offer slightly better cooling in most reviews I've read.

 

[beekermartin]

The more I read the more I am reconsidering my decision. The 7950 is starting to look like a better overall card for the money than the 660ti or even the 670. It appears that if you get a 7950, like the Gigabyte Windforce model, it can be easily overclocked to 1000mhz. I've read reviews pushing them as high as 1200mhz with voltage tweaks. Even at 1000mhz the 7950 seems to be a great card. The Gigabyte version is available now for $330 after rebate. That seems like a good deal. I haven't owned an AMD card in years so I am still not sure I am going to go that way.

My cards haven't sold yet so I still have time to decide. What do you guys think???

 

[renz496]

considering the price 7950 will be solid choice. other than that its just a matter of brand preference. amd or nvidia

 

[beekermartin]

I am flip flopping like crazy. I am now leading towards the 670 again. It is more furture proof if I decide to get a second card. I read some reviews comparing the 660ti to the 670 both in sli and the 670 had a significant advantage. I know a single 660ti or 670 would be fine for now but if I ever decide to get more than one monitor I will be better off with a 670 sli setup than a 660ti.

I was considering the 7950 but since I have had so much luck with Nvidia I am going to stick with them. When a good deal comes along on the 670 I will jump on it. I would like the Asus TOP but that appears to be discontinued. The Gigabyte Windforce is my next choice.

 

[beekermartin]

I still haven't decided what direction to go. I am starting to lean towards the 7950. This one was just released and appears to be one of the best 7950s currently available. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202003

There is a good review of it here: http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/sapphire-hd7950-vapor-x-edition-review/

I am still nervous switching to an AMD card but the 7950, especially overclocked, seems to be the best bang for the buck card right now. I already sold one of my 460's so I need to order a new card soon. I can't play Crysis the way I'm use to with only one 460!

I was going to wait for the Asus TOP 660ti but the 7950 I linked to above appears to be a better card for around the same price.

 

[beekermartin]

I am 99% sure I am going with the Sapphire Vapor X 7950. Can anyone tell me why I shouldn't?

 

[beekermartin]

I gave up waiting for the Vapor X to come back in stock. I ordered the Gigabyte WF3 GTX 670 from Newegg today for $360. The Vapor X would have been a bit cheaper but it is only competitive with the 670 if it overclocks to @1100mhz. I know most Vapor X's will be able to do that which is why I was waiting for it to come back in stock. Since it hasn't come back in stock and the promotion code on the 670 was ending today I decided to just get the 670. Also, I've had my GTX 460s listed on Ebay and the second one sold today. So I had to order a new card immediately!

 

[mocchan]

Nice choice!

 

[beekermartin]

Thanks!

After Ebay and Paypal fees for selling my 460s it ended up costing me $135 to upgrade to the 670. I also got a free copy of Border Lands 2. I could always sell the game to help offset the cost of upgrading but I might keep it.

 

[mocchan]

Thanks!

After Ebay and Paypal fees for selling my 460s it ended up costing me $135 to upgrade to the 670. I also got a free copy of Border Lands 2. I could always sell the game to help offset the cost of upgrading but I might keep it.

:lol: I would personally keep it! That's one of the games I'm looking forward to playing TBH

 

[beekermartin]

I came upon this thread in my tracked threads listing. Thought I would post an update for any other 460 users still out there. I upgraded from 460s in sli to a single 670. The single 670 trounced the 460s in sli, obviously. I have since added a second 670 and I am extremely impressed. I know the 760/770s are out but the 670 in sli is working awesome for me.

 

[determinologyz]

I came upon this thread in my tracked threads listing. Thought I would post an update for any other 460 users still out there. I upgraded from 460s in sli to a single 670. The single 670 trounced the 460s in sli, obviously. I have since added a second 670 and I am extremely impressed. I know the 760/770s are out but the 670 in sli is working awesome for me.

Always good to hear news like this which we dont get every day at toms hardware and with 2 670s in sli at 1080p you doing some pretty good gaming at high quality settings. NICE

 

[Omegaclawe]

Honestly, my single GTX 460 1GB version can still run high settings at 1080p on Tomb Raider and Bioshock: Infinite. Not maxing them out anymore, but it's still a solid card... if a rather hot-running one.

Sure, it gets beat by cards that go less for $150 now, but...