EVGA 550ti vs 560ti, or...?

[Charlie98]

OK, I'll admit... I'm confused.

The last component for my new desktop business/game build is the GPU... I've waited to get it because I wanted to do a little research to get the best card for what I do. ...but I'm still just as comfoosed as I was.

From what I've been able to figure, the 560ti is about the best all-around GPU in the $200-250 range, I've pretty much settled on the EVGA SC 560ti 1G, but I wonder... do I really need all that? How much 'lesser' is the SC 550ti? (...besides $100... ) I understand it has half the cores the 560 has.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...E14-130-629-TS

What do I do? Besides all the graphically undemanding software I run for my business, I play MS flight sims and MW2, etc... currently with the OBG D: so probably anything is an upgrade. New monitor in the future, but I don't see running anything beyond 1920x1080.

I also understand some games run better (or were designed with) specific processors, what does MW run best with?

I'm open to suggestions, I don't have video card envy... I don't need the newest card, I just need something that will work and keep up with the games coming out in the next couple of years.

 

[notty22]

There is a distinction from a gtx 560 and a gtx 560ti
The non-ti is slightly slower and still much faster than gtx 550ti.

That would be my advice, choose between the gtx 560 and gtx560ti.
If you want to save a little money choose the non-ti.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130661

 

[superjim]

2GB 6950 confirmed unlockable to 6970 (read comments) with a better-than-reference dual-fan and copper heatsink for $220 AR. Considering a stock 6950 is slightly faster than the 560ti, cheaper than a 560ti at $220 and assuming you unlock it to a 6970, that's an easy choice (unless you need PhysX).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131393

Disclaimer: I am loyal to neither AMD or NV. I'm loyal to the dollar.

 

[Charlie98]

Disclaimer: I am loyal to neither AMD or NV. I'm loyal to the dollar.

I'm loyal to performance... buy the correct tools for the job and let the tools do the work... I don't mind spending a reasonable amount of money, but I want to do it right the first time.

If the GTX numbers are somewhat confusing (to me, anyway...) the Radeon numbers completely screw me up...

I'll take a look at the HD6950... does 1GB or 2GB matter? (I'm not Xfire'ing...)

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I'm loyal to performance... buy the correct tools for the job and let the tools do the work... I don't mind spending a reasonable amount of money, but I want to do it right the first time.

If the GTX numbers are somewhat confusing (to me, anyway...) the Radeon numbers completely screw me up...

I'll take a look at the HD6950... does 1GB or 2GB matter? (I'm not Xfire'ing...)

Not really. That's just how much vram the card has

 

[notty22]

At 1080p, 1gb won't hamper performance,especially in the games you mentioned.
Without posting a disclaimer about ones integrity, it's more important to answer the OP's question imo. From the 2 choices mentioned in the first post, the OP's knowledge in these things is beginner. The 2 original choices are way apart on performance.
Bringing in bios flashing/unlocking is not always necessary, because that's a enthusiast level undertaking. Any gpu bios can take a flash, does not mean it will be stable. Determining that can be fun for a enthusiast. But many don't want to be bothered.
You can also o/c all cards mentioned in this thread. Or buy higher clocked models directly. All that may be information overload.
Also consider warranty, size of the card in choosing.
The OP has all that covered with the case and PSU in his list.

 

[superjim]

My bad, I didn't deduce the level of knowledge of the OP. I wrongly assumed most on the AT forums would be familiar with such BIOS-flashing/overclocking shenanigans! Just trying to make the dollars of a fellow gamer go as far as they can :thumbsup:

If this doesn't scare you off, consider flashing the 6950:
http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/159

As notty says, 1GB VRAM is just fine for 1080p for today's games.

 

[notty22]

I respect the tech (my term) also.
Meaning if there were 28nm options available, even though I like Nvidia more, getting a updated, smaller die chip , would be a more heavily weighted PRO in choosing a card.
When I first put my rig together I chose a HD 4770 over a gts 250, in part because I had a set limit of about a 100 dollars to spend.
We could tell everyone looking for a new purchase many things and sometimes it's just information overload.

 

[Charlie98]

At 1080p, 1gb won't hamper performance,especially in the games you mentioned.
Without posting a disclaimer about ones integrity, it's more important to answer the OP's question imo. From the 2 choices mentioned in the first post, the OP's knowledge in these things is beginner. The 2 original choices are way apart on performance.
Bringing in bios flashing/unlocking is not always necessary, because that's a enthusiast level undertaking. Any gpu bios can take a flash, does not mean it will be stable. Determining that can be fun for a enthusiast. But many don't want to be bothered.
You can also o/c all cards mentioned in this thread. Or buy higher clocked models directly. All that may be information overload.
Also consider warranty, size of the card in choosing.
The OP has all that covered with the case and PSU in his list.

Well, I know there was an... enthusiastic... thread a few weeks ago about 1GB vs 2GB RAM on a GPU an all. As I said, I'm not crossfiring, etc, so I don't think 2GB will help me at all. I did spec the OC'ed 560ti, simply because I don't really want to go into all that trying to flash the BIOS... that's one of the reasons I picked the Gigabyte mobo... one-stop OC'ing, with a good chance of reliability. The EVGA has a lifetime warranty (for whatever that is worth... )

As far as the 550ti and the 560ti being 'way apart on performance,' I'm just wondering how much... and for that matter, the 560ti vs the 570 (although I'm not going there... too much loot.) Being a tech n00b, I have no experience with any of this hardware and I don't know the actual practical, useful differences between my two choices, for example, or between the 560ti and the 6950/6970, or which one would work better with MW2, etc or BF3 (if I ever venture that way...) Is it a waste of my money going with the 560ti at my pedestrian level gaming... or will I be able to tell a difference next year when MW16 comes out... :sneaky:

 

[Charlie98]

My bad, I didn't deduce the level of knowledge of the OP.

I think I should be insulted... :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: ... but my wife says I'm a dumbass all the time, too.

...but I'm a quick learner, and there is a lot to learn from yous guys... :thumbsup:

 

[notty22]

I think I should be insulted... :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: ... but my wife says I'm a dumbass all the time, too.

...but I'm a quick learner, and there is a lot to learn from yous guys... :thumbsup:

Discussing you briefly wasn't meant as a insult. If you like the 150.00 dollar price point of the gtx 550ti, the 6870 is one of the better values right now.
The 6870 came out and trumped the performance of the gtx 460, then Nvidia released the gtx 560ti. The non-ti gtx 560 has similar performance to the HD 6870, the 6870 can be bought in the USA cheaper right now.
Have you read this article ?
Best Graphics Cards For The Money: January 2012

 

[Charlie98]

Discussing you briefly wasn't meant as a insult. If you like the 150.00 dollar price point of the gtx 550ti, the 6870 is one of the better values right now.
The 6870 came out and trumped the performance of the gtx 460, then Nvidia released the gtx 560ti. The non-ti gtx 560 has similar performance to the HD 6870, the 6870 can be bought in the USA cheaper right now.
Have you read this article ?
Best Graphics Cards For The Money: January 2012

And I certainly didn't take it as an insult, in fact, I appreciate you guys keeping it on topic.

Good article, thanks for linking; I had not seen it prior.