Which card would be a worthwhile upgrade from a GTX 460?

[cardshark828]

I currently have a Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB, and the main reason I am considering an upgrade is that the 460 doesn't allow me to run smoothly at max settings on most newer games. Usually I have to turn down in-game settings to High (instead of Very High or Ultra) to get close to max FPS. The games I am having issues with are The Witcher 2, Crysis 2, Metro 2033, Total War Shogun 2, Dragon Age 2 and Mafia 2. These are my current machine specs:

Core i7 950, OC'd to 4GHz
Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB
6GB DDR3 RAM
Asus P6X58D-E board
750w XFX PSU
60GB OCZ Vertex 2 SSD, 1TB Samsung HDD
Samsung monitor, max resolution 1920x1080

Would a GTX 570 be enough for me to run any or all of these games at max settings and high FPS, or should I be looking at a 580 or 590? I am not really interested in SLI'ing. I'm just looking for a high end single card that would represent a big improvement over the 460. Any opinions or recommendations would be welcomed greatly.

 

[Powermoloch]

6950 2 GB or 6970

 

[kmmatney]

Well, I know you said you weren't interested in SLIing, but your board supports it, and it seems like a good bang-for-buck option, and will beat a GTX 570.

Here is the direct comparison using Anand's bench feature:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/306?vs=314

I would say the minimum you'd want to go would be something comparable to SLIing your existing setup, so it looks like the GTX 580 is the only thing that comes close:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/305?vs=314

But SLIing seems like a better way to spend your money - better performance at a fraction of the cost.

 

[FalseChristian]

A GTX 560 Ti would be a good upgrade as it's about 40% faster than a GTX 460 1GB and they overclock to over 1000MHz core.

 

[gorcorps]

Well, I know you said you weren't interested in SLIing, but your board supports it, and it seems like a good bang-for-buck option, and will beat a GTX 570.

Here is the direct comparison using Anand's bench feature:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/306?vs=314

I would say the minimum you'd want to go would be something comparable to SLIing your existing setup, so it looks like the GTX 580 is the only thing that comes close:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/305?vs=314

But SLIing seems like a better way to spend your money - better performance at a fraction of the cost.

A lot of games still suffer from micro-stuttering when running SLI or Crossfire setups. It doesn't matter what the benchmarks say when you're dealing with stuff like that. IMO a single card is the best option.

 

[tnt3k]

A GTX 560 Ti would be a good upgrade as it's about 40% faster than a GTX 460 1GB and they overclock to over 1000MHz core.

yup my gigabyte gtx560ti is at 900mhz and can go up to 1000mhz which can compete with the 570 cards. It runs witcher on ultra everything and everything enabled except ubersampling and blur. on 1080p monitor

Galaxy GTX 560 Ti + 20% off coupon code 206777 and $40 rebate.

Subtotal: $234.99
Coupon Savings: - $47.00
Shipping: $2.95
Total Savings: $47.00
Rebate : $40
Total: $150.94

 

[vrait]

I'd say get a 2gb 560 ti like :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814261099



Many games now a days actually DO use over 1gb video ram.

 

[RussianSensation]

Galaxy GTX 560 Ti + 20% off coupon code 206777 and $40 rebate.

Subtotal: $234.99
Coupon Savings: - $47.00
Shipping: $2.95
Total Savings: $47.00
Rebate : $40
Total: $150.94

That's a smoking deal :thumbsup:

 

[SandyM]

I'd say get a 2gb 560 ti like :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814261099



Many games now a days actually DO use over 1gb video ram.

Don't bet on ever getting a rebate from Palit - they'll weasel out of it one way or another.

 

[OCGuy]

SLI all the way...none of these other cards being suggested will be worth the money.

 

[OCGuy]

A lot of games still suffer from micro-stuttering when running SLI or Crossfire setups. It doesn't matter what the benchmarks say when you're dealing with stuff like that. IMO a single card is the best option.

Noticeable "micro-stuttering" is mostly garbage.

 

[vrait]

That's a smoking deal :thumbsup:

Actually go with this one haha. $150 for a 560ti is a steal.

 

[tweakboy]

A GTX 560 Ti would be a good upgrade as it's about 40% faster than a GTX 460 1GB and they overclock to over 1000MHz core.

Roger that.

 

[dakU7]

460 1GB are so cheap nowadays, you can get one for 130$, or even less if you're willing to wait for a deal. Best bang/buck IMHO.

 

[cardshark828]

I just have a question about SLI'ing. If I was to get another 460, would I still be able to run new games smoothly 6-12 months from now? What do you guys think the shelf life of 2 460s would be before they become obsolete? I am concerned that the 460s might be obsolete in a year, but a 570 or 580 obviously wouldn't be, which is what puts me off SLI.
Thanks for your responses.

 

[OCGuy]

I just have a question about SLI'ing. If I was to get another 460, would I still be able to run new games smoothly 6-12 months from now? What do you guys think the shelf life of 2 460s would be before they become obsolete? I am concerned that the 460s might be obsolete in a year, but a 570 or 580 obviously wouldn't be, which is what puts me off SLI.
Thanks for your responses.

The performance of two 460s is better than a 570 or 580 as long as the game scales, which most do.

 

[kmmatney]

Actually go with this one haha. $150 for a 560ti is a steal.

It's a good deal, but I don't think it will be enough of an upgrade. Someone said 40% faster, but I doubt that - and that would only be at the maximum frame rate. The minimum rate rate is what matters, and its not much better than the GTX 460 (it goes from 27.2 to 30.5 fps in Crysis, for example).

 

[toyota]

I guess some people are forgetting a stock gtx460 has about 20-25% of untapped performance. oc both the gtx560 and gtx460 and you are probably looking at 25-30% difference at most which is hardly worth the trouble IMO.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

A GTX 560 Ti would be a good upgrade as it's about 40% faster than a GTX 460 1GB and they overclock to over 1000MHz core.

560 Ti is only 30% faster than the reference 460.

 

[skipsneeky2]

i had a gtx460 for a couple days till i got tired of the heat the stupid thing put out,maybe cause it was a cheap pny one from best buy which i returned pretty quickly in favour of a gtx580,for me i play right now mainly just bc2 and the difference in the cards was night and day but i would think a gtx570 is the first worthy card in consideration,sorry for my lack of ati suggestions in threads,ive had multiple cards with driver horror stories from dual 5770 to a single 6850 and then a 6990

 

[drizek]

SLI if you need it, wait until the fall if you don't.

Have you OCd your 460?

 

[Rifter]

Go SLI, there isnt any games i can think of that i cant max out with my OC'ed SLI 460's at 1080p. They are right up there with the 580 in performance. I also have that same motherboards it will work fine for you just run them in the first and third 16x slots, this will give them more than enough room to breath without overheating the top card and the bottom card being only 8x will not effect performance at all.

 

[riteshshergill]

Its easy.. get a Gtx 560 for now.. if you feel that you aren't getting the 'bang for buck' get another Gtx 560 and use SLi. And if you don't want SLi, then go for the Gtx 570 from any manufacturer with factory overclocked versions. Although if you have the budget I would highly recommend the GTX 580..

 

[toyota]

560 is such a silly upgrade over the 460 that its not worth it IMO. by the time you factor in the money lost on the 460 depreciation and the money being paid for the new card its downright stupid for such a modest gain.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Agree with Toyota. Either get a 570 or simply get a second 460 and SLI it. That in my view is the best option.