GPU Possible Upgrade

Des_Zac

Des_Zac

Member
So I was looking up some things on eBay and noticed something.

For about the same price (~$200) I can get:

GTX 570 1.25GB
GTX 480 1.5GB
6970 2GB
7850 2GB

I currently use a 650 Ti, so which would be the best purchase, and are there any reasons I wouldn't want to get one of the above?
 
wolfeking

wolfeking

banned
Okay, 570 over 480. Same basic chip with a few refinements and a lot cooler (temp) operation.

6970 is about the same performance depending on the game. I personally would not touch it at this point.
7850 is about a 480 or so iirc. It is slower than the 6970, but has much better OC potential.

All depends on what you plan to do with it, and if you feel limited right now. You could also go 650ti SLI if your board supports it.
 
SpringWater

SpringWater

Member
Actually the gtx 480 is about 1%-5% faster then the 570 in some games, but then yeah... it gets quite hot :D After 30 minutes of playing crysis mine gets up to 80-85 degrees celsius.
Actually I just found this video an as you can see in some moments the 480 stays at 31 fps when the 570 barely gets 18 fps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pZB4FMp-2w
 
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Des_Zac

Des_Zac

Member
The 650 Ti isn't SLI capable sadly, so the 570 would be my best bet?

The 570 can be put into SLI so that can help down the road.

Would there be anything I would lose by going from the 650 Ti to the 570? Like something introduced in the 600 series?

If not then I'll probably list the 650 Ti and order the 570, but what were you saying about the 6970?
 
wolfeking

wolfeking

banned
SpringWater said:
Actually the gtx 480 is about 1%-5% faster then the 570 in some games, but then yeah... it gets quite hot :D After 30 minutes of playing crysis mine gets up to 80-85 degrees celsius.
Click to expand...
If it is getting that hot, turn the fan speed up.
And it is only better in games that are demanding on the memory bandwidth. If you OC the memory a bit on the 570 and you will beat the 480 by a good margin.

Actually I just found this video an as you can see in some moments the 480 stays at 31 fps when the 570 barely gets 18 fps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pZB4FMp-2w
Click to expand...
As stated, memory bandwidth. OC the memory and it will match/beat it.
 
SpringWater

SpringWater

Member
wolfeking said:
If it is getting that hot, turn the fan speed up.
And it is only better in games that are demanding on the memory bandwidth. If you OC the memory a bit on the 570 and you will beat the 480 by a good margin.


As stated, memory bandwidth. OC the memory and it will match/beat it.
Click to expand...

It gets that hot cause I overclocked it to 801mhz :D
 
Des_Zac

Des_Zac

Member
So is the 570 the best card I can get or is there something else you would suggest? I'd prefer to stay Nvidia but I'm open to either I guess.
 
SpringWater

SpringWater

Member
I saw manufacturer refurbished 580 on geeks.com for $250, but they're all gone right now, you have to "hunt" for those :D. And by the way I got my new (not used) 480 for $160 on e-bay a month ago, if you can find one of those deals on a 570 or a 580 you can save a lot of money, so my advice is be patient and wait for some amazing deal.
 
Des_Zac

Des_Zac

Member
I don't have the money yet, waiting for some eBay sales to go through etc.

I've seen some 580s for about ~230 but I also have to get a new PSU, and I'm thinking of getting one around 1000W so I can do crossfire in the future too, so about ~$110 for that new. I don't really want to get the 580 first in case it doesn't work and I have to return it, so I say this purchase might happen mid April or so.
 
Okedokey

Okedokey

Well-Known Member
The 480 is the best option. A new one especially if you can.

Yes it'll run hot, who cares. The 1.5GB VRAM is needed in many modern games and a 570 with only 1.25GB is bottleneck. It is. You play Skyrm or Metro or BF3 and see at 1080p how much it takes with full settings. 1.25GB VRAM will constrain a GTX570 core.

The 480 will be faster. Buy a GTX480 reference PCB and attach a GTX580 aftermarket cooler. It should fit as they appear to share the same reference design.
 
Des_Zac

Des_Zac

Member
SpringWater said:
I don't think you need 1000w for sli, you should be good with a quality (something like corsair) 750/800w psu
Click to expand...

I was just going by the Newegg psu calculator which told me about 900w, I know it isn't necessarily exact but I wouldn't want to buy something under-powered.
 
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