Best Value Performance card?

[Rifter]

If WOW is a game you will play alot then it makes sense to go Nvidia as they offer better performance in that game. If you can squeeze a 560Ti into your budget that would be the way to go.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

An overclocked GTX560 Ti ~ GTX570. A GTX570 ~ GTX480.

At 1920x1080 8AA in WOW, a GTX480 was 48% faster in Tom's Hardware testing against an HD6870. Obviously, in large raids, your CPU performance will also matter a lot. So this difference may be smaller. But for an extra $30, esp. since you play WOW the most, GTX560Ti is the better card imo.

SuperBiiz has an EVGA GTX560 Ti for $209.99 after $20 Mail in Rebate with Free Shipping. Take $15 off your order over $200 w/ code: CHAMPS, ends 7/25. That would take the card down to $195 as well. KR- series don't have lifetime warranty with EVGA though.

Here's the problem with your main argument: the 6870 averages 60 FPS and has minimums of 40 FPS on WoW. That's a completely playable experience.

What you're telling him to consider is, frankly, a complete waste of money given he won't tell the difference.

Also, you can talk about MIRs all you want, but you still have to pay full upfront price unless you get a coupon code. There's rebates for the 6870, too.

 

[Rifter]

Here's the problem with your main argument: the 6870 averages 60 FPS and has minimums of 40 FPS on WoW. That's a completely playable experience.

What you're telling him to consider is, frankly, a complete waste of money given he won't tell the difference.

Also, you can talk about MIRs all you want, but you still have to pay full upfront price unless you get a coupon code. There's rebates for the 6870, too.

How do you know he wont tell the difference? Some people are alot more sensative to framerate drops than others.

I can always tell when a game drops below 50-60fps because i grew up playing twitch FPS games for 1000's of hours. Some game engines handle it better than others but in the end people have different levels of what is acceptable framerates.

 

[timma]

Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti SOC 1000Mhz core version.~

 

[3DVagabond]

Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti SOC 1000Mhz core version.~

Where? All I can find is the 950MHz version. Same name, slower clocks! It's pretty expensive, too.

 

[Keysplayr]

I think Russian Sensation's suggestion is best. It's around what the OP was willing to pay. Why not get him the most for THAT money and granting him a bit more future "resistance" with a 560Ti? A rebate requires you lay out full price initially, but you get the rebate back. So what difference does that make?
560Ti for @ 200.00 is the best he can do.

 

[RussianSensation]

Here's the problem with your main argument: the 6870 averages 60 FPS and has minimums of 40 FPS on WoW. That's a completely playable experience.

What you're telling him to consider is, frankly, a complete waste of money given he won't tell the difference.

Sorry, but I'd rather take a videocard with 60 fps minimums than 40 fps minimums if I play that particular game most of my time. But that's just comparing a stock GTX560Ti. Look at the GTX570. It gets an average of 95 fps / 66 fps min. HD6870 is clocked at 900mhz, which means at best it might get to 970-980mhz overclock. It gets an avg. of 65 / 40 min. So basically with the NV card, your minimums would be as high as AMD's average. That's a big difference. The extra $30-35 price difference would be well worth it to me in that case.

Regardless, I only provided OP with facts/information and he can make a decision for himself. If you wouldn't pay an extra $30-40 to go from 60 fps avg / 40 min to 80 fps avg / 60 min doesn't mean others wouldn't. People pay $200 to go from a GTX560 Ti to a GTX580 to get a similar performance boost. The $30-35 extra in this case is not that large of a price difference imo. Also, in large raids that 60 /40 might go to 50/30 vs. 60/40 for the GTX560 Ti.

I did consider rebates on the HD6870 cards. I see that Newegg has a Sapphire HD6870 for $162. You can also get an MSI TwinFrozr II for $170 with shipping after $10 coupon code and Rebate.

But again, if the OP is ok with the increased power consumption, an overclocked GTX560 Ti is as fast as a GTX570 and you even get lifetime warranty with the PNY version. There is nothing wrong with trying to save some $ and grabbing an HD6870 either.

 

[OCNewbie]

I'd also recommend a GTX 560ti if you can find a good deal on one. $195 after rebate/coupon at superbiiz sounds like a decent deal. Don't get that card in the first post, it's way overpriced for a non-ti GTX 560.

 

[Dulanic]

It's cool I went with the PNY as it was reasonable and only cost me about $40 over the 6870. While I am not looking to OC it or anything else, I do want something to last me a while and my WoW addiction doesn't look to be ending anytime soon so I think the nvidia will have more staying power than the AMD.

I tend not to have any brand loyalty as brand competition is a good thing 🙂 I just want something to last me a while with what I use it for.

 

[RussianSensation]

Make sure you register the card within 90 days to qualify for the lifetime warranty.

Otherwise, the default warranty will only be 1 year. Congrats on the new card. Once you get the card, drop by and let us know if you find the performance satisfactory.

 

[bryanW1995]

An overclocked GTX560 Ti ~ GTX570. A GTX570 ~ GTX480.

At 1920x1080 8AA in WOW, a GTX480 was 48% faster in Tom's Hardware testing against an HD6870. Obviously, in large raids, your CPU performance will also matter a lot. So this difference may be smaller. But for an extra $30, esp. since you play WOW the most, GTX560Ti is the better card imo.

SuperBiiz has an EVGA GTX560 Ti for $209.99 after $20 Mail in Rebate with Free Shipping. Take $15 off your order over $200 w/ code: CHAMPS, ends 7/25. That would take the card down to $195 as well. KR- series don't have lifetime warranty with EVGA though.

KR is still 3 year warranty however. Also, you can spend a few more $$ when you register it to upgrade to lifetime. I'd happily take an EVGA kr model over most other board partners.

edit: I see that you went with PNY, that is also very good.