GPU Recommendations

[Continuity28]

After a very long time, I've decided to upgrade my system to Sandy Bridge, coming from an Athlon 64 4000+.

My monitor is a Dell U2410, which is a 24" IPS monitor running @ 1920x1200.

The rest of my system will be based around the 2600K, so which video card would allow me to run any game at 1920x1200 with great quality and "enough" speed?

I don't need 60+fps for every game. I would prefer NOT to have SLI or Crossfire, even if it adds a bit to the overall cost. I would prefer a card that didn't sound like a vacuum cleaner, or recommendations on after-market cooling. I have had excellent experience with nVidia for the past 10 years, but I'm not married to them.

My budget is fairly flexible, I can't really put a limit on it, but lower is always preferred. I can wait a few months if there's something coming in the near future, but I don't want to wait forever.

The main issue is I'm just not sure what games actually need nowadays. For a long time I've avoided the latest games because my PC wasn't good enough for them. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mnewsham]

GTX 560 on the 25th or the GTX 570 now.

 

[Continuity28]

Does anyone know what the performance difference between the two will be, off-hand? Will one GTX 560 be all that I need?

 

[brandonb]

^^^ or 5850 and above on the ATI side. Both would be decent picks. I personally have a 5850 and it is not loud at all, and plays just about every game at a decent framerate.

 

[mnewsham]

Right now the GTX 570 runs most games at 60fps on high-ultra settings in 1080p. The GTX 560 is going to be a slightly less powerful GPU (using less power as well ) and should also run most current games at 60fps on high detail settings at 1080p. If you aren't worried about getting your ULTRA setting a year from now or even ULTRA setting currently in EVERY game , then the GTX 560 is probably your best bet.

 

[Continuity28]

Thanks for the recommendations, all.

I had a feeling these were the right cards, but I just wanted to make sure.

As for the "Ultra" settings of the future, no, I'm not that worried about that. I would rather upgrade again at that point when I need another mid-high card of the new generation. I've bought beasts of the past and put them in SLI, and the noise/heat never made me happy even if I was dominating games of the day. I'd rather upgrade a little more often, and get cards that are good enough or only slightly better than what I want, while being much more efficient.

 

[mnewsham]

Then waiting for the 560 seems right up your alley. good luck