Upgrading from HD6770 to GTX560Ti

AGENT_P6

Member
Dec 7, 2011
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I'm looking for some advice about upgrading to a GTX560Ti from an HD6770. I don't really know a lot about how to interpret the different specs of the varying models of the 560...all I really know is that the 560 will be a significant upgrade.

The thing I'm most worried about is the power supply requirements and the cooling requirements.

My budget is $300 max, and would prefer to keep it within $250 before tax, so I'm hoping I can just swap out the graphics cards without having to buy a better PSU and cooling.

Here is the specs of my PC:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02874899&cc=ca&dlc=en&lc=en&product=5097932
(Note that my CPU in this link is apparently capable of 3.4GHz in turbo, but I don't think it does, or I at least don't know how to overclock it, so for all intents and purposes, consider it 2.9)

And here is some of the models I've been considering at the store I plan on going to:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=gtx+560+ti



After looking at the specs of my computer, would you say I would be able to simply swap out the old card for the new one, or would the PSU need to be upgraded as well?

Which model(s) would you most recommend?

After installing the new 560, would I reap the full potential, or would anything in my rig cause a bottleneck and negate the benefits of the better GPU?

Is there anything else I should know before I go buy?

Thanks for your feedback

EDIT
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Majcric

Golden Member
May 3, 2011
1,369
36
91
I'm looking for some advice about upgrading to a GTX560Ti from an HD6770. I don't really know a lot about how to interpret the different specs of the varying models of the 560...all I really know is that the 560 will be a significant upgrade.

The thing I'm most worried about is the power supply requirements and the cooling requirements.

My budget is $300 max, and would prefer to keep it within $250 before tax, so I'm hoping I can just swap out the graphics cards without having to buy a better PSU and cooling.

Here is the specs of my PC:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02874899&cc=ca&dlc=en&lc=en&product=5097932
(Note that my CPU in this link is apparently capable of 3.4GHz in turbo, but I don't think it does, or I at least don't know how to overclock it, so for all intents and purposes, consider it 2.9)

And here is some of the models I've been considering at the store I plan on going to:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=gtx+560+ti



After looking at the specs of my computer, would you say I would be able to simply swap out the old card for the new one, or would the PSU need to be upgraded as well?

Which model(s) would you most recommend?

After installing the new 560, would I reap the full potential, or would anything in my rig cause a bottleneck and negate the benefits of the better GPU?

Is there anything else I should know before I go buy?

Thanks for your feedback

I'd stay away from the GTX 560 ti. (that card had a lot of issues and I still wonder how stable it is to this day.) Go with GTX 660/ti, HD 7850, HD7870, or even the 7950. If you can swing for the 7950 you should be able to get the free game bundle. keep them or resell you know the rest.

Edit: it looks like the game bundle comes with the 7850 and 7870.
 
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0___________0

Senior member
May 5, 2012
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What resolution do you play at?

I looked at HP's specs but they don't list the amps available on the 12V rail, could you open the case and take a picture of the sticker on the side of the PSU? Has all the information concerning how much power can be supplied.

There's more than one kind of GTX 560 Ti, there is one with 384 CUDA cores, and another with 448 cores. The 448 core version is noticeably faster, but it's not night and day. Your link contains both; you can check the specs section and see how many cores it has. If you can afford a 448 card, I'd get it. If not, the 384 is fine.

Your current card has a max power draw of 108 watts, the 384 version is 170, the 448 is 210. I think your PSU can handle the 384, but I'd still like to see how many watts it can supply on the 12V rail just to be sure.

I'd consider the Radeon 7850 if I were you, faster than the 384 version is most games, I think I'd get the 448 over the 7850 though. Trying to keep it cheap here.

I don't see any significant bottlenecks that would require an upgrade.
 
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raghu78

Diamond Member
Aug 23, 2012
4,093
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if you can tell the amps on +12v rail it would be helpful to suggest a suitable card. for 300 bucks the HD 7950 is king. but depends entirely on your psu quality. try and upload the psu label
 

Plimogz

Senior member
Oct 3, 2009
678
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560ti would certainly be a big upgrade from a 6770. But, so would many cards at this point.

You give a $300 max budget with an interest in spending a little less, but then you're talking about a 560ti and provide a link to TD which has the cheapest 560ti going for about $220.
I must say that you're frightening me, OP. Last week I picked up a Zotac 560ti OC for $100 after 30$ Mail-in rebate... So, if you're bent on a 560ti, just keep in mind that they can easily be had for $150, and considerably less if you look around and spot a deal. (for the record, I picked mine up from this current week's NCIX special.)

Also, if you're willing to buy a last gen card, you should have a look around the FS/T forum right here. Good deals to be had there, and definitely fine people to trade with.

Further, while a good 460W PSU would certainly be sufficient for 560ti, nVidia's recommended minimum is 500W (which is telling enough) and that OEM HP PSU is a gray area that needs to be addressed in better detail before just popping in a card which consumes a good deal more than the stock one.

Now, consider shopping for a current gen 28nm card instead. (or definitely look for a cheaper 40nm card otherwise) Both AMD and nVidia's current gen offerings under $250 are very power efficient and would offer you much increased performance over the 6770 while only consuming a little more power. Thus being safer upgrades on that stock PSU.

Finally, not that I have anything against TigerDirect -- having shopped there in the past and having found both good service and good deals -- but I can hardly think of a reason not to look around at NCIX's and Newegg.ca's prices and deals, because they also offer excellent service and enticing deals.
 

AGENT_P6

Member
Dec 7, 2011
36
0
0
Thanx a ton for all your quick replies :)
OP has been updated with pictures to show PSU specs and roominess inside the case

It seems I have a ton of room on the side of the GPU that does NOT have the outputs, but on the other hand it doesn't look like there's much room for a wider GPU
 
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Jaydip

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2010
3,691
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Both the 660Ti and 7870 will work with your psu(hers hoping it has not degraded much)
 

skipsneeky2

Diamond Member
May 21, 2011
5,035
1
71
Even the gtx 660 (non ti) is as fast, faster than the gtx 560ti.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...133&CatId=7387
Uses 1 - 6 pin pci-e power connector like you have in the 6770.
Should all work.
perfrel_1920.gif

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_660_HAWK/28.html

Techpowerup really needs to update their drivers,these results are dangerously tainted,12.8 cat drivers LOL.

12.11 basically would have 360 flipped those results,Op should be looking at like a 7850 and i know if a 6770 fit in his case,the msi twin frozr3 at 7.73'' would and be smaller then the majority of 6770s.

Did a 6770 xfx swap to 7850 swap,it was perfect size wise.
 

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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OP - the 560 Ti is an older model. There's no reason to buy it over the HD7850.

The most powerful card I'd recommend for your CPU is an HD7870 (mostly because it is close in price to the 7850), but you'll need an adapter to use a card with dual PCIe power inputs, including the 7870. The 7850 will be a slightly more straightforward upgrade.
 

AGENT_P6

Member
Dec 7, 2011
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Will I be JUST SQUEAKING BY with my power supply if I get a 660 or 7850? Like if I'm putting my computer in danger with that PSU I'll have to bite the bullet and buy a better one. The problem is that I don't know other PSU's are different sizes; my case is pretty small and the power supply in there basically JUUUUST fits in the case.
 

raghu78

Diamond Member
Aug 23, 2012
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OP with just 360W combined on 12v rails a HD 7850 is the card to get. Not worth pushing for a card any higher. HD 7850 at 1 Ghz matches GTX 570 and GTX 660. At 1.2 Ghz it matches GTX 580. massive upgrade from your HD 6770.
 

notty22

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2010
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power_average.gif

The 660 is 30 watts more than your 6770/5770. You won't have to o/c the 660, as being proposed with the 7850. So the 7850 o/c will probably pull close to the same as the 660,(if you o/c). Within 10 watts probably. Given what the 7870 pulls in the chart.
Think you would be fine with the stock psu, either choice. Not much more. And by the way, any standard ATX psu would fit in there. Similar to current Dells the last few years. They meet a standard.
 

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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OP - you are ok on the PSU with a 7850 or 660. I probably wouldn't bother with a 7870 at this point.

Question - do you have a fan installed in the front of the case? It's not clear if there is any front cooling on that case, and honestly, it looks like a cooling nightmare inside. I'd consider a reference 660 with a blower-style cooler to get hot air out of there. Another option, if you choose to use an open air cooler, is to remove the slot covers from those other PCIe slots below the card.

This is a reference 660: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...133&CatId=7387
 

Phynaz

Lifer
Mar 13, 2006
10,140
819
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A 560ti is a no-go with that power supply. Only one six pin PCI connector, and only enough power to drive one, so you can't do molex to PCI.

You need to look at Nvidia 660 or AMD HD 7850. The HD 7850 with the gaming bundle is an unbeatable deal right now. On the other hand the 660 is faster.

I have the same power supply and went with the 7850. I couldn't justify the price bump to the 660.
 

raghu78

Diamond Member
Aug 23, 2012
4,093
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The 660 is 30 watts more than your 6770/5770. You won't have to o/c the 660, as being proposed with the 7850. So the 7850 o/c will probably pull close to the same as the 660,(if you o/c). Within 10 watts probably. Given what the 7870 pulls in the chart.

At the same clocks HD 7850 is faster than GTX 660. also the fact is with overclocking the HD 7850 gains more performance because of a full 256 bit memory performance and 32 ROPs. At 1.2 Ghz the HD 7850 easily would beat a similarly clocked GTX 660. the MSI HD 7850 Power edition is one of the best cards. clocked at 950 Mhz and is a very good overclocker.

http://ncix.ca/products/?sku=72478&vpn=R7850 PE 2GD5/OC&manufacture=MSI/MicroStar
 

Phynaz

Lifer
Mar 13, 2006
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OP - you are ok on the PSU with a 7850 or 660. I probably wouldn't bother with a 7870 at this point.

Question - do you have a fan installed in the front of the case? It's not clear if there is any front cooling on that case, and honestly, it looks like a cooling nightmare inside. I'd consider a reference 660 with a blower-style cooler to get hot air out of there. Another option, if you choose to use an open air cooler, is to remove the slot covers from those other PCIe slots below the card.

This is a reference 660: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...133&CatId=7387

No, he only has a single exhaust fan in that case - the PSU. With a 7850 (fan, not blower) the heat does build up during a long session but it doesn't become an issue. Just takes few minutes to cool back down.
 

Termie

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
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No, he only has a single exhaust fan in that case - the PSU. With a 7850 (fan, not blower) the heat does build up during a long session but it doesn't become an issue. Just takes few minutes to cool back down.

Actually, it looks like he has a 92mm exhaust fan near the CPU. Even so, it's going to get pretty warm in there with an open-air fan, since it will dump a lot of hot air onto the PSU and CPU nearby. There is going to be barely any airflow front to back in the region of the GPU, so I caution against this setup.
 

Phynaz

Lifer
Mar 13, 2006
10,140
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i said at the same clocks. you are comparing a HD 7850 at 860 Mhz with a GTX 660 running at guaranteed 1033 Mhz boost clocks, even higher in some cases.

What a meaningless comparison.

How about this: The Nvidia card is faster when you compare the same number of compute units.

Anyway, it's 860 to 980. Even add on 15% to the 7850 and it is still slower.
 
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Granseth

Senior member
May 6, 2009
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I see they have started to squable again :)
It looks like you should be happy with 7850/7870/660 whichever you chose, and well under budget.
 

AGENT_P6

Member
Dec 7, 2011
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Hey everyone.

Termie's right, I do have a fan near the CPU. I know it's not the best cooling solution out there, but I generally don't play games for a really long time in one sitting so I think it shouldn't overheat too much in there.

So I went out and purchased the XFX7850, installed it and downloaded the AMD 12.11 beta drivers. I tested it out on some games and did some furmarks. I just did the 720p and 1080p benchmark presets and got scores of 2628@43fps and 1544@25fps, respectively. The max temp was 82C on both tests, which in my limited knowledge I believe is pretty hot...I was getting ready to abort but it finished up fine without any issues. I was surprised at how quickly the heat climbed up...like the fan kicked to high gear only 10 seconds into the test.

Not sure if that's what a typical benchmark for that card should look like, but its a fair bit better than my previous tests with the 6770

About the cooling... When I had to remove a little metal plate to take the old GPU out, there was a seperate tiny piece of metal that came loose from the case...it seems as if the case manufacturer uses the same cases for housing single pcie motherboards as well as for housing dual pcie motherboards, and I think that piece of metal is an access cover that would need to be taken off for the video outputs to be accessible in a crossfire setup. So what I'm getting at is perhaps I could leave that little hole open with that access plate off to improve airflow just a tiny bit? Or maybe the amount of dust that could enter through it would negate the benefits? Just a thought that came to mind when I was installing the new card

I checked out some of the power supplies while I was there. Everything seems to be running fine as is, but if I ever experience issues related to power, I'll have a better idea of what to look for

One last thing. The GPU came with a driver install CD provided by XFX (as opposed to AMD) In the little pamphlet they specifically encourage you to use their drivers...is there a difference between the AMD drivers and the XFX drivers? I just downloaded the AMD ones because I figured it wouldn't really matter, and if anything, the AMD drivers would be more effective.

Sorry I'm a noob lol.

Thanks for your help. I learned quite a few things today.
 
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