picking new video card? plz help

herbert42

New Member
hi, well i wanted a new video card for my computer and I'm not too sure what video card to get. i want the best one i can get for my system without causing any bottle-necking issues. here are my system specs.
P.S: i think i might need a better processor, because i think it might be bottle-necking my video card right now.

SPECS

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157191

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231351

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061&Tpk=NZXT Gamma

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871&cm_re=amd_640-_-19-103-871-_-Product

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500173

thanks.
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523

I wouldn't take anything less than that, wouldn't be worth upgrading otherwise, and no, your CPU shouldn't be bottlenecking your system, or any video card on the market at the moment

i looked around on the internet a little bit myself and i think i found a pretty good one for $250. im not sure if i should get the one you posted or this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610
 
The 6950 will be way more powerful compared to the 560.Since the 6950 can be unlocked and overclocked to perform as good as a 6950.
 
The 6950 will be way more powerful compared to the 560.Since the 6950 can be unlocked and overclocked to perform as good as a 6950.

Alright, thanks. It's not like I don't believe you or anything, but from looking at the specs on the 560, it just looks so much better. I'm not an expert on this stuff, but to me, bigger numbers are better, lol. And the 560 has bigger numbers for pretty much everything. I understand most things when it comes to video cards, but I'm just wondering.
 
guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-560-ti-review/
Check this review out and decide for yourself. :D
Hey!! You are spending your hard earned money so you should be sure of what you are getting and getting the best for the price :)
 
alright, thanks. im going to read that in a second here... maybe not all 21 pages because im just lazy like that, but im going to read it, lol :D
 
You don't need to read the whole article just checkout the benchmarks and you will be able to make your decision.
 
You don't need to read the whole article just checkout the benchmarks and you will be able to make your decision.

ya. i just looked through it. im going to go find some info on the other video card right now. i think i might go with the 560 considering it's already overclocked and i've never overclocked before. it depends. i'll go see about the other one now. thanks for the link.
 
The 6950 even on stock clocks and locked shader will perform than the GTX560 as you can clearly see it in the benchmarks.The GTX560 is more of a competitor to the HD6870,the HD 6950 is superior,and you can see even in the games in which NVIDIA usually performs better the HD6950 kicks the GTX560s butt.
 
The 6950 will be way more powerful compared to the 560.Since the 6950 can be unlocked and overclocked to perform as good as a 6950.

May be able to be unlocked, not it can. Your newer ones have this feature disabled, so in the same way you may be able o unlock the extra cores on an AMD CPU, it isn't certain you can unlock the locked shaders on the AMD 6950. Even if unable to unlock the extra shaders, the 6950 would still be a better card

Alright, thanks. It's not like I don't believe you or anything, but from looking at the specs on the 560, it just looks so much better. I'm not an expert on this stuff, but to me, bigger numbers are better, lol. And the 560 has bigger numbers for pretty much everything. I understand most things when it comes to video cards, but I'm just wondering.

Clock speeds, amount of memory mean very little. Memory only helps at higher resolution, but, again with a comparison to a CPU, the same way you can't just say "this CPU has a higher clock speed, therefore must be quicker" you can't say that with video cards on different chip families.
 
Yeah, you cant compare AMD to Nvidia by clocks or shader count. Like both use shaders/processor units (what ever they want to call them today). AMD uses groups/blocks of shaders. Each process different data. Nvidia shaders are universal and are not blocked for different data, they can process any data depending on the need.
 
Yeah, you cant compare AMD to Nvidia by clocks or shader count. Like both use shaders/processor units (what ever they want to call them today). AMD uses groups/blocks of shaders. Each process different data. Nvidia shaders are universal and are not blocked for different data, they can process any data depending on the need.

You can't compare most AMD to AMD or Nvidia or Nvidia either. Anything across different familes, for instance the GTX 200 to the GTX 400 series, you can't do it
 
thanks everyone, but what DO I look for in a video card when choosing then? If most of the specs aren't comparable, then what should I be looking for? Just benchmarks?
 
You can't compare most AMD to AMD or Nvidia or Nvidia either. Anything across different familes, for instance the GTX 200 to the GTX 400 series, you can't do it

I didnt say you could. Where did comparing generations of the same company come into play here? I was taking about how each use their shaders regardless of generation.
 
I didnt say you could. Where did comparing generations of the same company come into play here? I was taking about how each use their shaders regardless of generation.

I don't think he was contradicting you,he was just stating a fact I guess. ;).


@OP
Benchmarks are your best friends,but only rely on some reputable sites.
Like I prefer HardOCP and Hardware cannucks and then second would be guru3D and anandtech.etc etc
Before deciding just don't check the performance benchmarks see everything like the temps and the power consumption and the value for money comparison.Especially of the GPU you intend to buy.Before buying it would be best if you know everything about it.
 
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