Seeking advice for next graphic card config
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
So let me preface this by saying I only look into hardware about once every four years when I'm upgrading or buying a computer, so please forgive me for any ignorance I expose inadvertently. :-)
Anyway, I'm now in that position of getting my next computer, and I have a question I'd love some advice about. About a year ago my power supply blew and took my GPU with it, and I ended up getting a 560 GTX Ti 1GB at that time. (I forget the brand offhand, PNY maybe?) So for my next computer I'm wondering if I get more bang for my buck by getting a second one and going SLI or if it'd be better to spend what appears to be $80-100 more for something like a GTX 660 Ti 3GB. I've never run SLI before so I don't know how that would compare to a single newer card. Thoughts? More details below.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Ideally the next couple of weeks
BUDGET RANGE: 200-300ish
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Primarily for gaming (all genres of games). Beyond that relatively run of the mill tasks like web surfing and word processing.
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: See above for current GPU. I'll get whatever power supply is needed for the next GPU configuration.
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: For CPU, leaning towards Intel i7-3820, though maybe just something like an i5-3570K. Not sure about motherboard, though of course I'll ensure it's compatible with whatever config I want. I plan for 16G DDR3 RAM.
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I'm not particularly picky. Whatever appears the best price on something like a google shopping search with reasonable reviews for reliability.
PARTS PREFERENCES: I've always preferred nvidia for reasons I can't quite verbalize and probably aren't rational, but there you go.
OVERCLOCKING: Probably not.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, depending on what you recommend!
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Still deciding as it's time to upgrade my 7 year old monitor. Leaning towards a 1920x1080 option.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Thanks so much for any help!!
Anyway, I'm now in that position of getting my next computer, and I have a question I'd love some advice about. About a year ago my power supply blew and took my GPU with it, and I ended up getting a 560 GTX Ti 1GB at that time. (I forget the brand offhand, PNY maybe?) So for my next computer I'm wondering if I get more bang for my buck by getting a second one and going SLI or if it'd be better to spend what appears to be $80-100 more for something like a GTX 660 Ti 3GB. I've never run SLI before so I don't know how that would compare to a single newer card. Thoughts? More details below.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Ideally the next couple of weeks
BUDGET RANGE: 200-300ish
USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Primarily for gaming (all genres of games). Beyond that relatively run of the mill tasks like web surfing and word processing.
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: See above for current GPU. I'll get whatever power supply is needed for the next GPU configuration.
OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: For CPU, leaning towards Intel i7-3820, though maybe just something like an i5-3570K. Not sure about motherboard, though of course I'll ensure it's compatible with whatever config I want. I plan for 16G DDR3 RAM.
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I'm not particularly picky. Whatever appears the best price on something like a google shopping search with reasonable reviews for reliability.
PARTS PREFERENCES: I've always preferred nvidia for reasons I can't quite verbalize and probably aren't rational, but there you go.
OVERCLOCKING: Probably not.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, depending on what you recommend!
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Still deciding as it's time to upgrade my 7 year old monitor. Leaning towards a 1920x1080 option.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Thanks so much for any help!!
More about : seeking advice graphic card config
Since you don't upgrade often the 1GB memory on the 560 ti could be an issue in two years. The 560 ti's in SLI are about on par with a GTX 680 so performance in some games will be better going SLI 560's. The 560 TI's will generate more heat and use much more power. In your price range and your affinity for Nivida i think your thought processes is good just have to decide what is more important with the trade offs.
First, read the SLI FAQ and get yourself aquainted with how it works and if you can live with its shortcomings.
Unless you're using a lot of multi-threaded software that takes advantage of the i7s' capabilities, you're better off with an i5.
That's a lot of RAM! Again, unless you're doing tasks that need that much memory, I'd install 8Gb and put the cash elsewhere.
The above are just opinions, feel free to ignore them, I will not feel offended![;)]( ";)")
.
At that sort of resolution, either SLI the current card or go for something like the 670, it'll be a shame to put in a 'weak' 660Ti into a new build only to find it's struggling a year down the road.
Unless you're using a lot of multi-threaded software that takes advantage of the i7s' capabilities, you're better off with an i5.
That's a lot of RAM! Again, unless you're doing tasks that need that much memory, I'd install 8Gb and put the cash elsewhere.
The above are just opinions, feel free to ignore them, I will not feel offended
.At that sort of resolution, either SLI the current card or go for something like the 670, it'll be a shame to put in a 'weak' 660Ti into a new build only to find it's struggling a year down the road.
In the $200-300 range, good options are:
GTX 660, HD 7870, HD 7950
The HD 7850 is a bit slow so I don't recommend that, and the 660ti is overpriced compared to the superior HD 7950.
I recommend one of these, depending on how much you want to spend:
$230 GTX 660 --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$240 7870 --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
or $280 7950 --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
All those are easily recommendable, though I think that 7950 would serve you best if you don't want to upgrade for a couple years.
And I know you don't really want to overclock, but if in a year or two you need more power, the 7950 can pretty easily get you 25-50% more performance through overclocking.
GTX 660, HD 7870, HD 7950
The HD 7850 is a bit slow so I don't recommend that, and the 660ti is overpriced compared to the superior HD 7950.
I recommend one of these, depending on how much you want to spend:
$230 GTX 660 --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$240 7870 --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
or $280 7950 --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
All those are easily recommendable, though I think that 7950 would serve you best if you don't want to upgrade for a couple years.
And I know you don't really want to overclock, but if in a year or two you need more power, the 7950 can pretty easily get you 25-50% more performance through overclocking.
Related ressources:
- ForumSeeking advice : ~$1.4K Software dev wrkstn - solid config - i7
- ForumSeeking advice on upgrading my graphics card
- ForumIntel i7-3770S config BIG questionmark
- ForumSeeking Advice on $550-$700 Budget Desktop Build
- ForumBudget Gaming Build, First Time Build, Seeking Advice
- ForumBuilding a gaming rig seeking advice from the pro
- ForumSeeking CPU selection advice
- ForumNewbie Seeking Advice (1st non-Gateway Custom job)
- ForumOC potential for this config ?
- ForumSeeking advice for new i7 Core Gaming Rig
- ForumSeeking advice - building a decent gaming/video editing rig
- ForumSeeking advice : upgrading GPU
- ForumSeeking advice on affordable home-build graphic design workstation
- Forum50% Completed New Gaming Rig Seeking Advice
- ForumEVGA FTW or Gigabyte GTX 670?
- ForumVga graphic driver for mobile display for hp430
- ForumDual Card M9750
- ForumBest NVIDIA Card for £50 and Below?
- ForumAdvice in buying a new GPU
- ForumWill adding a new video card work
- More resources
Read discussions in other Graphics & Displays categories
!
