Buying new video card to replace Geforce 8800 GTX

[benzebut]

Hi,

I want to replace my old 8800, it doesnt support dx11 or dx10.1 neither can i run newest games on high/ultra settings.

My budget is between 200-250ca$ with taxes and shipping.
I'm look at 3 differents models:
-ATI Radeon HD 6870
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desk...d-6870/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-6870-overview.aspx
-ATI Radeon HD 6950
http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-6950-overview.aspx
-NVIDIA Geforce 560 ti
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product-geforce-gtx-560ti-us.html

I dont know if my PSU will support a bigger card, i dont think it has enough amps on the 12v rails.
-OCZ 700W ModXStream Pro
http://www.ocztechnology.com/ocz-500w-700w-modxstream-pro-power-supply.html

Here's my rig

Intel Core i7-860 OCed 3.46ghz
Gigabyte P55-UD3R
G.Skill Ripjaws 4x2gb DDR3 1600mhz CL7
Western Digital RE4 6x2TB in RAID5
OCZ Vertex 2 60GB
Optiarc DVD burner
6x 120mm Fans

What video card would you pros recommend me? Why? What differences?
Is my PSU going to support it taking in consideration whats powered already?

Thanks

 

[skipsneeky2]

6950 if you wanna tinker and chance flashing it to 6970

Love the gtx 560 myself but i think the bigger bang is there with 6950

Hate Ati drivers but others have more patience then me but i say 6950 and flash

Quick reading shows your psu has 46amps on the 12v,should about hold any card shy of the 6990 or gtx590.

 

[toyota]

unless there is just something bad about those power supplies, the 700 watt would easily support any gpu that you want with tons of headroom. what resolution are you wanting to play at?

 

[RussianSensation]

You can get the 6870 for around $155 CDN, before rebate and taxes:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...X&promoid=1337

At 1920x1080 4AA/16AF, the GTX560 Ti is 12% faster, while HD6950 1GB is 15% faster:
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/...9-grafikkarten/3/#abschnitt_leistung_mit_aaaf

Asus Direct CU GTX560 Ti is about $215.

With today's prices, the performance increase over the 6870 is only 20%, but the price difference is a huge 40-50% more for the 560/6950. You can just get a 6870 to hold you over and then sell it in 4-5 months and get a next generation $250 HD7800/7900 series card.

 

[superccs]

This could help...

http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_value.html#alltime

I'd look for a deal on a 6870 or hop on a GTX 560 or 460 deal.

Either one will only set you back $100-175 and should run many games maxed.

 

[benzebut]

6950 if you wanna tinker and chance flashing it to 6970

Love the gtx 560 myself but i think the bigger bang is there with 6950

Hate Ati drivers but others have more patience then me but i say 6950 and flash

Quick reading shows your psu has 46amps on the 12v,should about hold any card shy of the 6990 or gtx590.

How did you find out this 46amps?
Does my two 12v rail(25a each) adds up for a total of 50A?

I can't find out whats the minimum amps on the 12v required by the 560ti, all i can find is Graphics Card Power 170W.

If i remember my science class, i got to divide watts per volts to get my amps. so 170W / 12V = 14.166A...am i right on this one?

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

How did you find out this 46amps?
Does my two 12v rail(25a each) adds up for a total of 50A?

I can't find out whats the minimum amps on the 12v required by the 560ti, all i can find is Graphics Card Power 170W.

If i remember my science class, i got to divide watts per volts to get my amps. so 170W / 12V = 14.166A...am i right on this one?

Your fine with a 560 Ti.

 

[benzebut]

unless there is just something bad about those power supplies, the 700 watt would easily support any gpu that you want with tons of headroom. what resolution are you wanting to play at?

1920*1080 with all maxed out if possible.
games:
sc2
cod:black ops
crysis 2
portal 2
CIV5
upcoming far cry 3
upcoming guildwars 2
upcoming starwars The Old Republic

 

[toyota]

560ti will come closer to maxing Crysis 2 but you will not be running the full maxed DX11 and high res textures smoothly. most of those those other games are not very demanding so you would be fine with any modern mid range card for those.

 

[skipsneeky2]

How did you find out this 46amps?
Does my two 12v rail(25a each) adds up for a total of 50A?

I can't find out whats the minimum amps on the 12v required by the 560ti, all i can find is Graphics Card Power 170W.

If i remember my science class, i got to divide watts per volts to get my amps. so 170W / 12V = 14.166A...am i right on this one?

While newegg and a couple other wholesale sites did not tell me actually a post right here in anandtech did:thumbsup: Was a posting concerning the purchase of this psu.

If its 50amp i apologize but heck that makes his options just that much better.

 

[XX55XX]

I went from an 8800 GT to a GTX 560 Ti. Reason I chose it over comparable Radeon cards was because the GTX 560 Ti was much shorter than the Radeons (Antec 300 doesn't hold much).

 

[max347]

The psu has 46a on the 12v rail.

Check the label, you will see it can output a total of 552w on the 12v. 552/12=46.

the 12v rail is what you are going to need to focus on with system specs. We can estimate the oc'ed chip takes a max of 150w, or 12.5a. A 6950 has an 8 pin (150w), 6 pin (75w), and the PCIe slot itself (75w), so an absolute MAX of 300w (I believe the TDP is actually closer to 260), or 25a. So, you have maybe 37.5a used, giving you about 19% headroom.

Are you comfortable with that? I would be, though honeslty I am not a fan of that line of psus.

Anyway, If you have the money for it, I would pick up a reference design 2GB 6950 and try an unlock on it. If it works, you get free power. If it doesn't, you will still be playing all those games with the eye candy turned up.

 

[benzebut]

I went from an 8800 GT to a GTX 560 Ti. Reason I chose it over comparable Radeon cards was because the GTX 560 Ti was much shorter than the Radeons (Antec 300 doesn't hold much).

i got the exact same case (Antec Three Hundred), my old 8800 was verrrry tight next to my HDDs.
Actualy both my gpu and hdd powercords were bending hard.

the 560ti im looking at is 1/4 inch shorter than my old 8800 so i'll be fine.

 

[benzebut]

The psu has 46a on the 12v rail.

Check the label, you will see it can output a total of 552w on the 12v. 552/12=46.

the 12v rail is what you are going to need to focus on with system specs. We can estimate the oc'ed chip takes a max of 150w, or 12.5a. A 6950 has an 8 pin (150w), 6 pin (75w), and the PCIe slot itself (75w), so an absolute MAX of 300w (I believe the TDP is actually closer to 260), or 25a. So, you have maybe 37.5a used, giving you about 19% headroom.

Are you comfortable with that? I would be, though honeslty I am not a fan of that line of psus.

Anyway, If you have the money for it, I would pick up a reference design 2GB 6950 and try an unlock on it. If it works, you get free power. If it doesn't, you will still be playing all those games with the eye candy turned up.

what you mean by reference design? A brand that offers a stock model without any overclock? I thought the 6970 were unlocked for overclocking? not the 6950?

 

[benzebut]

is the reference design related to the PCB color? (red or green)

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Is my PSU going to support it taking in consideration whats powered already?

Yes. The 6950 and 6870 use a little bit less power than your 8800GTX. The 560 Ti uses about the same. And really that power supply should handle two 560 Tis, so you're good.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

After having a 5870 and now using a GTX 480, i'd wait for the next Gen GPUs ?28nm?

 

[tigersty1e]

if you don't plan on upgrading again for 4 years, get the 6950 2gb card.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

is the reference design related to the PCB color? (red or green)

Where's tweakboy when ya need him? He can tell you the pros and cons of each pcb color and knows which one overclocks the best.

 

[E6700]

if you dont mind REFURBISHED then grab this recertified GTX 570 for $258 shipped. is out of stock for today,check back tomorow or next days,it's been in and out for past weeks.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=gtx%20570

or here http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20

 

[toyota]

was: $399.99
$249.99
save: $150.00


lol, as if the card was ever $399 in the fist place. I would rather pay 20-30 bucks more(after MIR) to have a brand new card with the normal warranty and any accessories I might need.