Upgrade to GTX570 - any other suggestions?

[WildW]

Hi folks. I'm about to pull the trigger on a graphics upgrade from my old Radeon HD5770 and I'm looking at a couple of EVGA cards that are on special offer this weekend. Either 560TI - 448 shaders, or 570 with the full 480 shaders.

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=012-P3-2066-KR - £215
http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=012-P3-1573-AR - £250

This is to pair with an i5-2500 (stock 3.3GHz) and 500W PSU (49A on 12V rails should be plenty.) However I have awkward requirements because it's going into my modified Shuttle case - and yes, I know these are hot cards, but airflow shouldn't be a problem. What is an issue is length and PCI-E power connector locations.

So, yes, while I know that a 6950 might be better value, all of the AMD cards I've looked at seem to have their power connectors on the "top" of the card rather than the end, which won't work for me. I also have an absolute length limit of about 10 inches, maybe 10.5. I think most more powerful cards are just a bit too long.

Does anyone have any other alternative suggestions?

 

[toyota]

what resolution? from those two cards, I would just get the gtx560ti 448sp. and what 500 watt psu has a 49 amp 12v line???

 

[WildW]

Gaming at 1920x1200 . . . at the prices I'm starting to lean towards the 560, it's very nearly a 570.

As for power supply, this one. http://www.shuttle.eu/products/xpc-accessories/pc63j/
Yes, I suppose it's not really 49 amp, since 49A x 12V is nearly 600W. It has 6 + 8 pin PCIe connectors though, designed for big hungry cards. Since I've been running the same system with 5770 on a 300W PSU for the last year it ought to handle it. Alternatively I could drop to the regular 560Ti and cut power consumption by about 50W. . . but then you start to compromise performance, although still a good upgrade.

 

[Jacky60]

Don't. Buy 6950/7950 not 570!!

 

[Jacky60]

They'll overheat your system will crash buy a bigger case or buy
6950 x2.

 

[WildW]

They'll overheat your system will crash buy a bigger case or buy
6950 x2.

I'd love to - can you show me a 6950 that's 10 inches long or less and has the power connectors on the end of the card?

 

[AtenRa]

Can you wait for the HD7870 ??

 

[ocre]

so far it looks like the OP is getting some great advice...........lol!!!


I think the 560ti would be decent for your rig, but its your call. The 570 is a notch better but uses more power. I would say the 560ti 448 is the way to go as it saves you cash for 570 performance. And its perfect for your case.

 

[joshhedge]

I agree with waiting for the HD7870, otherwise get the 6950 and flash the 6970 firmware.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Can you wait for the HD7870 ??

I second this. It's a couple weeks away and although it's probably not gonna offer anymore price/performance than 570 or 6970 it will use much less power and probably overclock very nicely.

 

[WildW]

I actually have been waiting on the 7850 / 7870 for what seems like an age. I could wait... It's just that I've noticed this thing with ATI cards and the placement of the PCI-E power connectors. . . they now ALL seem to have them mounted at right-angles to the card, which will never work in my case

I know I could change case, but I like the case I have - only small form-factor case I've seen that has space for 3 x 3.5" hard disks for instance. I've also just bought the powerful Shuttle PSU for it, so I guess I've made my bed on this one.

I'm now thinking I may save the power/heat budget a bit and get the standard 560Ti, give the PSU a more easy life.

Edit: Yes, actually the 560TI Superclocked is down to £175 this weekend. http://www.evga.com/products/moreInfo.asp?pn=01G-P3-1563-AR
I think the higher stock clock should compensate for a good fraction of the shader gap, and it's a lot less money again. It has a better rear bracket for getting heat out too, and won't make so much in the first place.

 

[kami]

Your PSU is really pushing the limit for a 570.

BTW the MSI Twin Frozr III cooler (they make em for the 560 and 570) are also shorter than reference cards at about 9.5 inches long. Mine run about 30C cooler than a reference 570 but you need some airflow since all of it gets dumped into the case and needs to be exhausted and replaced with fresh air.

 

[WildW]

I've decided to go with the regular 560Ti - well, the superclocked one anyhow. Quite a lot cheaper and should be a fair bit less hot. Should still be about a 100% improvement over my 5770. Thanks all - managed to talk me out of hot cards I didn't need

 

[Dark Shroud]

I hope you realize the HD 7800 cards will come out this week now that you made your purchase.

 

[toyota]

I hope you realize the HD 7800 cards will come out this week now that you made your purchase.

yeah but no telling what kind of crazy prices they will launch at. if the 7770 is any indication then the 7870 will be a bit slower than the 6950 while costing more.

 

[Dark Shroud]

I expect the HD 7800 1.5GB models to be in the $200 range and to over clock like monsters.

 

[toyota]

I expect the HD 7800 1.5GB models to be in the $200 range and to over clock like monsters.

lol you actually think the 7800 cards are only going to be around 40 bucks more than the 7770?

 

[Dark Shroud]

I never said $40 more. I've just spent the last several minutes looking at charts trying to get info on AMD's release plan.

1) Will there be 1.5GB models of the 7900 cars, at least the HD 7950?
2) Will there be a HD 6890?

I expect the HD 6850 to be around $250 and the HD 6870 to be around $280.
If there will be a HD 6890 $340. A 1.5GB 7950 be around $400. With the 7900 3GB models coming down a bit when Kepler finally gets here.

 

[toyota]

you had said $200 range and now you are saying $250-$280 since I assume you mean to say 7850 and 7870 not 6850 and 6870.

 

[lehtv]

560 Ti is a decent card for 1080p, it won't run everything smoothly but if you're fine with some compromises in image quality, you won't be disappointed. The only problems I see are that the EVGA SC card has a single fan cooling solution, it'd be quieter with a dual fan cooler; and that it's limited to 1GB VRAM. I've been using an overclocked 560 Ti for about a year now and a few games have been able to max out the VRAM. A 7850 or 6950 2GB would've been better in this respect.

 

[Ieat]

I expect the HD 6850 to be around $250 and the HD 6870 to be around $280.
If there will be a HD 6890 $340. A 1.5GB 7950 be around $400. With the 7900 3GB models coming down a bit when Kepler finally gets here.

Considering AMD seems to have gone insane I would think that even those estimates are on the low side. I wouldn't be surprised at $260-$300 for the HD 7850 and $340-$380 for the HD 7870 depending on performance. The 6950 launched at $300 and the 6970 was $380. Amd seems to be content with giving people roughly the same price to performance ratio as over a year ago.

 

[railven]

I hope you realize the HD 7800 cards will come out this week now that you made your purchase.

Woah, this week? No way? Hmmm...

I doubt I can talk her into going Team Red (AMD GPU), I did make realize AMD-CPUs are a joke.

Them benches will have to sing for me to make that pitch haha. Thanks for the heads-up, I was under the impression 78xx wasn't going to show until mid-to-late March.

 

[WildW]

I hope you realize the HD 7800 cards will come out this week now that you made your purchase.

Yep, I imagine they will.

Ultimately I realise that my dogged stubborness in playing the mini-ITX game is costing me dearly here. The 7800 cards would probably be better for me but I'm willing to bet 5 internets that they will all be incompatible with my case. I also think they're going to cost at least £40 to £50 more than I've spent on the 560Ti.

If something better comes along I'll upgrade. Considering I've lived with the 5770 for a year I'm quite used to not having the absolute best.