Timing your money...

[bglaze]

Okay, so I ordered a whole new PC that should be in this week. I ordered all except a new graphics card.

I am still deciding between a gtx560ti and a gtx580.

However, I thought about it, and here is the question I came up with:

The 580 is $450 respectively; the 560ti is roughly half that. If I have $450 to spend, I was thinking I could spend half of it now on the 560ti, and in a year or two spend the other half on an upgrade card. I am assuming the 580 will be half the price it is now in a year or two...

So that is my question. Is the 560ti good enough to handle every game for the next two years or so that comes out, and I can buy a 580 or better for the same price at the end of that time and possibly have something even better?

Does anyone shop like that when buying their graphics cards?

Any opinions?

FYI, my monitor maxes out at 1680x1050, and I don't plan on upgrading it any time soon.

Thanks!

 

[toyota]

you do know there is a gtx570 that sounds like it would be a good option. at 1680x1050 a gtx560Ti will do fine too but the gtx570 will certainly allow demanding games like Metro 2033 to run higher settings. a gtx580 is just too expensive IMO and at 1680 a bit too hard to justify.

btw what does this rest of this brand new pc look like?

 

[bglaze]

Thank you, Toyota. And here are the parts I have on order:

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) Processor
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
CORSAIR HX650 Modular PSU
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
CORSAIR Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T Steel / ATX Case

 

[toyota]

that's a really nice pc so I say go ahead and get a gtx570. if money is tight then nothing is wrong with the gtx560 Ti either.

 

[bglaze]

Thanks, Toyota, I really appreciate your advice!

 

[BD231]

Best to future proof your investment I say. 6950 2gb, performance will be excellent, you'll save some cash and you'll also have plenty of texture buffer for these new memory hogging games coming out.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

For 1680 I'd honestly say go for the 560 TI or the 6950. That resolution really isn't demanding enough for a GTX 570 card and the 560 can be easily overclocked to within 570 levels later in its life and a 6950 can be unlocked to a 6970 if need be. I'd give the edge right now to the 560 just because Nvidia is offering the free Arkham city game with it (and any card above it for that matter) and 2gb of ram probably won't be necessary for 1680 even 2 years from now.

You have the right strategy though. Go low high end for ~250 bucks today and spend the rest a couple years down the line to keep yourself up to date, you'll have a better experience overall than going for the highest end today then buying another $500 dollar card 4 years from now.

 

[toyota]

well I can slow down the gtx570 in a couple of games with max settings at just 1280x960. I would get a gtx570 for 1680x1050 if you can find a good deal. if not then a gtx560 ti is fine but you will have to turn down a few settings in some games. last I looked a gtx560 ti could be had for under 200 bucks with rebate and has the new Batman game. that would be a pretty good deal and then you can just check out the new cards in 6 or 7 months if you feel you need more power.


EDIT: I would probably get this one if you decide on a gtx560 Ti. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162074


just ignore the one egg review from the moron with a 3.4 P4 and hi pro psu.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

well I can slow down the gtx570 in a couple of games with max settings at just 1280x960.

Then even a 580 isn't going to be enough. There are some games that just need more than any modern gpu can give them for one reason or another and its hardly an endorsement of a 570.

At 1680 there is a whopping 9% overall difference between the 570 and the 560 ti. There is a whole 16% difference between the 580 and a 560 Ti at that resolution. The extra money simply doesn't make sense in this case (or I would argue much of any case unless unlimited money is involved). Even at 1980 there is still a 9% difference between the 570 and 560 ti.

I know, I know, TPU, flawed evidence blagh blagh blagh but it serves to illustrate a point. That point is that its pointless to get anything besides a 6950 or 560 Ti.

 

[toyota]

I said the gtx560 ti was fine and even gave a link to the one I would pick. I simply suggested the gtx570 if he can get a good deal on one.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I said the gtx560 ti was fine and even gave a link to the one I would pick. I simply suggested the gtx570 if he can get a good deal on one.

-Gotcha, wasn't trying to be all 'tarded about it. Just reinforcing the 560 Ti notion.

 

[WMD]

Then even a 580 isn't going to be enough. There are some games that just need more than any modern gpu can give them for one reason or another and its hardly an endorsement of a 570.

At 1680 there is a whopping 9% overall difference between the 570 and the 560 ti. There is a whole 16% difference between the 580 and a 560 Ti at that resolution. The extra money simply doesn't make sense in this case (or I would argue much of any case unless unlimited money is involved). Even at 1980 there is still a 9% difference between the 570 and 560 ti.

I know, I know, TPU, flawed evidence blagh blagh blagh but it serves to illustrate a point. That point is that its pointless to get anything besides a 6950 or 560 Ti.

The difference isn't 9%. The 570 at 60 is 17.6% faster than the 560 ti at 51. Both are good choices but the gtx570 is quite a bit better for demanding games.

 

[toyota]

The difference isn't 9%. The 570 at 60 is 17.6% faster than the 560 ti at 51. Both are good choices but the gtx570 is quite a bit better for demanding games.

yeah many people misinterpret those charts.

 

[epidemis]

Wait for the ATI fresh that will be in a month from now.

 

[Binky]

There's always the 6950 that might possibly unlock into a 6970. I just bought a MSI 6950 Frozer II and successfully unlocked the shaders and overclocked to make it more or less a 6970.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

or just wait for 7xxx series xDD

 

[toyota]

Wait for the ATI fresh that will be in a month from now.

oh really so its coming out next month? I don't even think AMD realizes that so please let them know too...

or just wait for 7xxx series xDD

he just built a new pc so he needs a gpu. kind of silly to wait months to get a gpu...

 

[m3t4lh34d]

Wait for the ATI fresh that will be in a month from now.

It's been delayed until next year... check the news.