New Gfx Card

**synthesis204** · Jan 10, 2011, 04:10 PM

So. I recently came into about $600USD, and am thinking about how much to allocate to fixing up my rig's graphics.

I'm currently running one stock GTX 460 1GB with a 9500GT as the PhysX processor.

The possilibites would be:

GTX 580 with GTX 460 as PhysX
GTX 580 with GTX 460 sold ($100 probably)
GTX 570 with GTX 460 as PhysX (most likely)
GTX 570 with GTX 460 sold ($100)
SLI GTX 460 (also very likely) with 9500GT as PhysX.

Given I don't want to completely shoot myself in the foot with the budget, I don't think I can justify a 580, though 570 is certainly an option. I also don't intend on doing any modifications in the next year, so it'd hopefully be able to run the following.

Games I play on 1920X1080:

Dragon Age Origins
Dragon Age II (To be)
Oblivion
Skyrim (to be)
Orange Box
Left4Dead 2
Multiboxing WoW
COD:BO
BFBC2
Just Cause 2
Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2
Warcraft III: Frozen Throne
Age of Empires II (lol! ♥)
Starcraft II (Wings of Liberty & others)
Counter-Strike: Source

And I'll see if I can think of any more

Thanks.

blibbax · Jan 10, 2011, 04:56 PM

Big respects for that play list. Multiboxing WoW. Wow, you're hardcore :P

I'm not sure you're getting full value out of a physics card there though, so personally I'd do without. A modern high end setup can cope ok without a dedicated PPU if it needs to, and a GTX460 is a very expensive item to use for this.

Personally, I'd sell the 460 and the 9500 and buy a GTX580. I know that you pay a lot more for a little more performance, but I really like the elegance of a fully enabled, single GPU. None of the wastage or technological ugliness of a chopped down core or SLI setup

**synthesis204** · Jan 10, 2011, 05:06 PM

That involves the effort of finding a buyer for my 460..and the 9500 sells for about $40 new, so there's really no point.

Assuming I'd get $100 (probably a low estimate) for my GTX 460, that would bring my funds up to $750. I had really hoped on avoiding spending the $510 (or so) for a 580, but I'll consider it. I really do like the 570's, however.

Now. In that realm, which should I get? Sparkle's stock is $510; evga's is $525ish, but they have better cs/turn around time for stuff (both have lifetime warranties). They both use vapor cooling.

Sparkle also has a special Calibre series 580 which uses an after market AC AcceloExtreme cooler...not sure if it'd be worth it (around $580).

iPlayer · Jan 10, 2011, 08:21 PM

EVGA also has those "step-up" programs in the Euro and American regions.

**synthesis204** · Jan 10, 2011, 09:03 PM

Unfortunately, the EVGA 460 was out of stock when I got mine -- it's a Sparkle.

blibbax · Jan 10, 2011, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synthesis204

That involves the effort of finding a buyer for my 460..and the 9500 sells for about $40 new, so there's really no point.

Assuming I'd get $100 (probably a low estimate) for my GTX 460, that would bring my funds up to $750.

You might be quite pleasantly surprised at how much second hand video cards can fetch. When I won my current one, I was able on ebay to sell my 9600GT, which I had owned for I think about 6 months, for £10 less than I had paid for it. At the time, this was about the price that they were available for new.

isaak · Jan 11, 2011, 03:42 AM

I agree with Blibbax about the elegance of having a single card, but the SLI GTX460 is a very tempting offer. I see you're not keen on AMD?

I'd go the GTX570 or SLI GTX460

**synthesis204** · Jan 11, 2011, 04:40 AM

The GTX 460 SLI and 570 are within similar costs of each other. I'm assuming the 570 would be the smarter route, although two 460s is more powerful and cheaper.

And as for ATI -- never been a fan. Never had any issues, but in terms of this gen, nVidia clearly has the upperhand.

Edit: Actually, I was planning on getting a 2GB Sapphire 5870 Vapor-X, but they discontinued the model right as I was about to get one. Alas.

RobertBruce · Jan 11, 2011, 07:10 AM

460's on ebay are selling at and a few even ABOVE what retail prices are at!

Takaharu · Jan 11, 2011, 07:55 AM

Given the choices I'd say either a 580 or two 460s as there are hardly any games that utilise PhysX. Out of the games that you listed, none are on the Nvidia site under PhysX.
Maybe you could stretch your budget to two 570s? We could start a club, sell t-shirts and everything.

blibbax · Jan 11, 2011, 11:16 AM

The t-shirts would be too expensive.

**synthesis204** · Jan 11, 2011, 10:29 PM

Just Cause 2 and DA:O both use PhysX.

Just saying.

And yeah. We'll see how that goes

I think if I upgrade I'll be ditching the 460 (unless I go 460 SLI).

**synthesis204** · Jan 16, 2011, 09:52 PM

Hmm...well, it's definitely the 570 or 580. Basically, if I can find a buyer for the 460, I'll be getting the 580. Otherwise, 570. Any other input on them? I could also consider an HD6970, but from the reviews, it seems a tad too loud and too warm.

Or should I hold out and see how the dual-gpu GTX590 goes? It's rumoured to be cheaper than the 580 and have either two 104 or 110 cores...though I still like the idea of a single strong chip over two weaker ones working in tandem.

***Veridian3*** · Jan 16, 2011, 10:38 PM

Sounds like the 570 is the card you should go for...

blibbax · Jan 16, 2011, 11:23 PM

I dislike the inelegance of a partially disabled high end card, but other than that, the 570 has everything going for it.

**synthesis204** · Jan 23, 2011, 08:41 PM

I am probably going to end up going for the 580 (and have the 460 for PhysX until I find a buyer, if I can manage ~_~).

Now, the questions I need answered:

What subvendors (EVGA, MSI, PNY, etc.)?
What model (FTW, SSC, Calibre, etc.)?
Should I wait for release of GTX560?
Should I wait for release of GTX590?

The latter two are mostly due to any possible price impacts. I'm not going to get a 590 -- I've never liked dual chips on one pcb.

Takaharu · Jan 23, 2011, 11:22 PM

EVGA. As people say, it's the Sapphire of the Nvidia world

Stock - you would consider an overclocked 580?
No. Power, man, power!
No. You said no so I'm saying no.

Oh, bonus tip: buy a lesser card (570, for example) then 3 months later (up to 90 days) you can send the card back to EVGA, pay the difference and get a 580 or whatever's out that you fancy in April. I did with my 460s as the 500 series wasn't due out. That way you won't have to sit um'ing and er'ing about it.

**synthesis204** · Jan 24, 2011, 12:27 AM

Tak, the point in waiting isn't to purchase a 560 or 590, but rather, to see if the releases of the 560 and 590 bring prices down more (i'd be willing to wait a week or two to see a $20+ pricedrop).

And I may end up doing that, but I think I'll wait till the 25th (560 release date?) to see if prices fluctuate (hopefully down!).

Thanks

isaak · Jan 24, 2011, 12:52 AM

Would you be willing to post that 460 to Australia

?

**synthesis204** · Jan 24, 2011, 12:54 AM

Depending on whether you'd be willing to pay for it ($120USD+shipping).

Edit: Shipping looks to be around $50USD, so total price would be ~$170 USD.

isaak · Jan 24, 2011, 02:13 AM

Damn shipping...... makes it as much as it is here..

Thanks anyway mate

**synthesis204** · Jan 24, 2011, 02:30 AM

I could fudge it to $150 with shipping, if you'd settle on that. (I need the cash more than the value of the card...oh well.)

**synthesis204** · Jan 25, 2011, 03:02 AM

Looks like I have a buyer for the 460 -- running off my 9500GT right now atm, and am waiting to post it out to good ol Oklahoma (assuming the money comes in).

I should order the 580 by the end of the week, assuming the 560s DO come out this week.

Edit: I also need peoples votes.

Do I go for the EVGA GTX 580 reference with lifetime warranty ($499):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-587-_-Product

Or the Galaxy GTX 580, which is OC'd and comes with an ArcticCooling $80 aftermarket cooler for the same price, but with only 2 years warranty?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-073-_-Product

I can't decide.

blibbax · Jan 25, 2011, 12:52 PM

I don't think that there's a lot of practical use in the difference between a two year anf lifetime warranty. Furthermore, if your PC is a quiet one, a triple slot cooler might be a pretty good idea.

I'd have thought that EVGA's stepup program would be the clincher though.

**synthesis204** · Jan 26, 2011, 12:43 AM

This is still up in the air. I'm running off my 9500GT right now.

Still wanting to hear more feedback. I don't think I'd be SLIing 580s, so the Galaxy could well be a possibility.

Throw a 560 SLI into the mix, too -- so EVGA GTX 580, Galaxy 3slot-cooler GTX 580, or GTX 560Ti SLI (Probably EVGA or ASUS at this moment).

blibbax · Jan 26, 2011, 12:34 PM

My preference would be for the Galaxy 580, if you can afford it.

It's not the fastest solution there, but I think it'd be the quietest, coolest, most reliable, best supported, most elegant, and plenty fast enough.

Also, if you do want to SLI it later, you can always put a 2 slot card in the top slot and the 3 slot card beneath it, no?

Jan 10, 2011, 04:10 PM	#1
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	New Gfx Card So. I recently came into about $600USD, and am thinking about how much to allocate to fixing up my rig's graphics. I'm currently running one stock GTX 460 1GB with a 9500GT as the PhysX processor. The possilibites would be: GTX 580 with GTX 460 as PhysX GTX 580 with GTX 460 sold ($100 probably) GTX 570 with GTX 460 as PhysX (most likely) GTX 570 with GTX 460 sold ($100) SLI GTX 460 (also very likely) with 9500GT as PhysX. Given I don't want to completely shoot myself in the foot with the budget, I don't think I can justify a 580, though 570 is certainly an option. I also don't intend on doing any modifications in the next year, so it'd hopefully be able to run the following. Games I play on 1920X1080: Dragon Age Origins Dragon Age II (To be) Oblivion Skyrim (to be) Orange Box Left4Dead 2 Multiboxing WoW COD:BO BFBC2 Just Cause 2 Mass Effect Mass Effect 2 Warcraft III: Frozen Throne Age of Empires II (lol! ♥) Starcraft II (Wings of Liberty & others) Counter-Strike: Source And I'll see if I can think of any more Thanks. Last edited by synthesis204; Jan 16, 2011 at 09:49 PM.

Jan 10, 2011, 04:56 PM	#2
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Big respects for that play list. Multiboxing WoW. Wow, you're hardcore :P I'm not sure you're getting full value out of a physics card there though, so personally I'd do without. A modern high end setup can cope ok without a dedicated PPU if it needs to, and a GTX460 is a very expensive item to use for this. Personally, I'd sell the 460 and the 9500 and buy a GTX580. I know that you pay a lot more for a little more performance, but I really like the elegance of a fully enabled, single GPU. None of the wastage or technological ugliness of a chopped down core or SLI setup __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH! Last edited by blibbax; Jan 10, 2011 at 05:09 PM. Reason: typo

Jan 10, 2011, 05:06 PM	Thread Starter #3
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card That involves the effort of finding a buyer for my 460..and the 9500 sells for about $40 new, so there's really no point. Assuming I'd get $100 (probably a low estimate) for my GTX 460, that would bring my funds up to $750. I had really hoped on avoiding spending the $510 (or so) for a 580, but I'll consider it. I really do like the 570's, however. Now. In that realm, which should I get? Sparkle's stock is $510; evga's is $525ish, but they have better cs/turn around time for stuff (both have lifetime warranties). They both use vapor cooling. Sparkle also has a special Calibre series 580 which uses an after market AC AcceloExtreme cooler...not sure if it'd be worth it (around $580).

Jan 10, 2011, 08:21 PM	#4
iPlayer Filled with noobsauce Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: between the buns Posts: 1,450 Rep Power: 59	Re: New Gfx Card EVGA also has those "step-up" programs in the Euro and American regions.

Jan 10, 2011, 09:03 PM	Thread Starter #5
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Unfortunately, the EVGA 460 was out of stock when I got mine -- it's a Sparkle.

Jan 11, 2011, 03:42 AM	#7
isaak HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,286 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card I agree with Blibbax about the elegance of having a single card, but the SLI GTX460 is a very tempting offer. I see you're not keen on AMD? I'd go the GTX570 or SLI GTX460 __________________ The first step... shall be to lose the way. - Galway Kinnell

Jan 11, 2011, 04:40 AM	Thread Starter #8
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card The GTX 460 SLI and 570 are within similar costs of each other. I'm assuming the 570 would be the smarter route, although two 460s is more powerful and cheaper. And as for ATI -- never been a fan. Never had any issues, but in terms of this gen, nVidia clearly has the upperhand. Edit: Actually, I was planning on getting a 2GB Sapphire 5870 Vapor-X, but they discontinued the model right as I was about to get one. Alas.

Jan 11, 2011, 07:10 AM	#9
RobertBruce HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 259 Rep Power: 46 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card 460's on ebay are selling at and a few even ABOVE what retail prices are at!

Jan 11, 2011, 07:55 AM	#10
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,847 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Given the choices I'd say either a 580 or two 460s as there are hardly any games that utilise PhysX. Out of the games that you listed, none are on the Nvidia site under PhysX. Maybe you could stretch your budget to two 570s? We could start a club, sell t-shirts and everything. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Jan 11, 2011, 11:16 AM	#11
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card The t-shirts would be too expensive. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 11, 2011, 10:29 PM	Thread Starter #12
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Just Cause 2 and DA:O both use PhysX. Just saying. And yeah. We'll see how that goes I think if I upgrade I'll be ditching the 460 (unless I go 460 SLI).

Jan 16, 2011, 09:52 PM	Thread Starter #13
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Hmm...well, it's definitely the 570 or 580. Basically, if I can find a buyer for the 460, I'll be getting the 580. Otherwise, 570. Any other input on them? I could also consider an HD6970, but from the reviews, it seems a tad too loud and too warm. Or should I hold out and see how the dual-gpu GTX590 goes? It's rumoured to be cheaper than the 580 and have either two 104 or 110 cores...though I still like the idea of a single strong chip over two weaker ones working in tandem.

Jan 16, 2011, 10:38 PM	#14
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,028 Rep Power: 181	Re: New Gfx Card Sounds like the 570 is the card you should go for...

Jan 16, 2011, 11:23 PM	#15
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card I dislike the inelegance of a partially disabled high end card, but other than that, the 570 has everything going for it. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 23, 2011, 08:41 PM	Thread Starter #16
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card I am probably going to end up going for the 580 (and have the 460 for PhysX until I find a buyer, if I can manage ~_~). Now, the questions I need answered: What subvendors (EVGA, MSI, PNY, etc.)? What model (FTW, SSC, Calibre, etc.)? Should I wait for release of GTX560? Should I wait for release of GTX590? The latter two are mostly due to any possible price impacts. I'm not going to get a 590 -- I've never liked dual chips on one pcb. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure alzheimers, ALS, huntington's, parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 23, 2011, 11:22 PM	#17
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,847 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card EVGA. As people say, it's the Sapphire of the Nvidia world Stock - you would consider an overclocked 580? No. Power, man, power! No. You said no so I'm saying no. Oh, bonus tip: buy a lesser card (570, for example) then 3 months later (up to 90 days) you can send the card back to EVGA, pay the difference and get a 580 or whatever's out that you fancy in April. I did with my 460s as the 500 series wasn't due out. That way you won't have to sit um'ing and er'ing about it. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Jan 24, 2011, 12:27 AM	Thread Starter #18
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Tak, the point in waiting isn't to purchase a 560 or 590, but rather, to see if the releases of the 560 and 590 bring prices down more (i'd be willing to wait a week or two to see a $20+ pricedrop). And I may end up doing that, but I think I'll wait till the 25th (560 release date?) to see if prices fluctuate (hopefully down!). Thanks __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure alzheimers, ALS, huntington's, parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 24, 2011, 12:52 AM	#19
isaak HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,286 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Would you be willing to post that 460 to Australia ? __________________ The first step... shall be to lose the way. - Galway Kinnell

Jan 24, 2011, 12:54 AM	Thread Starter #20
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Depending on whether you'd be willing to pay for it ($120USD+shipping). Edit: Shipping looks to be around $50USD, so total price would be ~$170 USD. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure alzheimers, ALS, huntington's, parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH! Last edited by synthesis204; Jan 24, 2011 at 01:00 AM.

Jan 24, 2011, 02:13 AM	#21
isaak HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,286 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Damn shipping...... makes it as much as it is here.. Thanks anyway mate __________________ The first step... shall be to lose the way. - Galway Kinnell

Jan 24, 2011, 02:30 AM	Thread Starter #22
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card I could fudge it to $150 with shipping, if you'd settle on that. (I need the cash more than the value of the card...oh well.) __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure alzheimers, ALS, huntington's, parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 25, 2011, 03:02 AM	Thread Starter #23
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card Looks like I have a buyer for the 460 -- running off my 9500GT right now atm, and am waiting to post it out to good ol Oklahoma (assuming the money comes in). I should order the 580 by the end of the week, assuming the 560s DO come out this week. Edit: I also need peoples votes. Do I go for the EVGA GTX 580 reference with lifetime warranty ($499): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-587-_-Product Or the Galaxy GTX 580, which is OC'd and comes with an ArcticCooling $80 aftermarket cooler for the same price, but with only 2 years warranty? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-073-_-Product I can't decide. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure alzheimers, ALS, huntington's, parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH! Last edited by synthesis204; Jan 25, 2011 at 03:11 AM.

Jan 25, 2011, 12:52 PM	#24
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card I don't think that there's a lot of practical use in the difference between a two year anf lifetime warranty. Furthermore, if your PC is a quiet one, a triple slot cooler might be a pretty good idea. I'd have thought that EVGA's stepup program would be the clincher though. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 26, 2011, 12:43 AM	Thread Starter #25
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card This is still up in the air. I'm running off my 9500GT right now. Still wanting to hear more feedback. I don't think I'd be SLIing 580s, so the Galaxy could well be a possibility. Throw a 560 SLI into the mix, too -- so EVGA GTX 580, Galaxy 3slot-cooler GTX 580, or GTX 560Ti SLI (Probably EVGA or ASUS at this moment). __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure alzheimers, ALS, huntington's, parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH! Last edited by synthesis204; Jan 26, 2011 at 03:01 AM.

Jan 26, 2011, 12:34 PM	#26
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: New Gfx Card My preference would be for the Galaxy 580, if you can afford it. It's not the fastest solution there, but I think it'd be the quietest, coolest, most reliable, best supported, most elegant, and plenty fast enough. Also, if you do want to SLI it later, you can always put a 2 slot card in the top slot and the 3 slot card beneath it, no? __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!