video card suggestions?

[stuartl89]

System Specifications:
I. Processor/CPU:

3570k
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II. Current Graphics Card:

xfx 8800 gtx (I know, I know)
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III. Display Resolution:

1680x1050 but am moving soon to 2560x1440(catleap)
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IV. Power Supply Unit Specification (Brand, Wattage, Ampage, Age). If possible, please provide a link to a website containing the power supply specifications:

Corsair HX750
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V. Case Specifications(N/A, Model, Length, Low Profile, Cooling, HTPC, Water, Silent):

Silverstone FT02
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Purchase Details:
I. Budget? Please be sure to include currency (If not USD), retailer preferences & specify whether rebates are a viable option.

I'm willing to spend up to $650 but I prefer the best bang for the buck. Example: If you get x performance from a gtx670 for $400, is getting y performance from a gtx680 for $100-$150 more worth it?
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II. Any particular preferences (Manufacturer[nV or AMD], Brand[XFX, Sapphire, EVGA, etc], Cooling Solutions)?

I like nvidia. Air cooled. I prefer a rear exhaust setup.
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III. Do you plan to have any Multi-GPU solutions such as Crossfire or SLI?

Currently I do not have plans to run SLI.
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IV. Have you previously looked at a product(s) which you feel would fit your needs?

I currently have the evga gtx670 ftw in my sites, but before I pull the trigger I figured I should get some advice.
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V. What are your needs for this GPU? Which games(If any)do you intend to play? If you have this information at hand, what are the desired detail levels?

I play games of all sorts, but have been limited as of late by my graphics card. I would like to check out diablo 3, skyrim, etc.
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VI. Do you plan on overclocking the card you intend to purchase?

Without a doubt. I have oc'd both my cpu and memory already.
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Additional Notes

My main goal is to get the best performance for my money. My rig runs stable and cool and I would like to keep it that way.
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Thanks for taking the time to read this. All comments/suggestions are welcome.

-S

 

[Durvelle27]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130782
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125423

don't do a GTX 680 as its only about 5-10% fast and you can overclock a GTX 670 to even the score lol

 

[RussianSensation]

I know you said you prefer NV but for your resolution, it's not the way to go. I wouldn't get an GTX670/680 for 2560x1440/1600 resolutions. Check any review and you'll see.

At those resolutions, HD7900 series clearly has the edge. Even a factory preoverclocked MSI GTX670 Power Edition is just 2% faster than a stock 925mhz HD7970.

Once HD7970 is overclocked to 1150+, it's all over for GTX670/680 series at high resolutions.

HD7970 @ 1050mhz leads a GTX670 by 20% with 4AA and by 30% with 8AA. Of course HD7970 can overclock past 1050mhz. Here is another review where HD7970 1050mhz has no problem taking out factory preoverclocked 670 and 680 cards by Zotac.

If your goal is to get the best performance for the $ at around $650, at your resolution, NOTHING even comes close to 2x HD7950 Oced in Cross-fire. MSI TwinFrozr 7950 ($320 + $340 = $660). Don't believe me? HD7950 @ 1000mhz = HD7970 --> 60% faster than a GTX680 at 2560x1600 4AA.

I should let you know that AMD is going to launch HD7970 Ghz and HD7950 Ghz editions soon so there should be more price drops on current HD7950/7970 cards. This setup right here at just 1000mhz overclocks will be 60% faster than a single GTX680/overclocked 670.

If you just want to stick with a single card at high resolution, HD7970 by Sapphire for $464 or MSI Lighting 7970 if you want cream of the crop 7970.

Plus you get 3GB of VRAM which at your resolution is great for SKYRIM Mods.

 

[stuartl89]

I know you said you prefer NV but for your resolution, it's not the way to go. I wouldn't get an GTX670/680 for 2560x1440/1600 resolutions. Check any review and you'll see.

At those resolutions, HD7900 series clearly has the edge. Even a factory preoverclocked MSI GTX670 Power Edition is just 2% faster than a stock 925mhz HD7970.



Once HD7970 is overclocked to 1150+, it's all over for GTX670/680 series at high resolutions.

HD7970 @ 1050mhz leads a GTX670 by 20% with 4AA and by 30% with 8AA. Of course HD7970 can overclock past 1050mhz. Here is another review where HD7970 1050mhz has no problem taking out factory preoverclocked 670 and 680 cards by Zotac.

If your goal is to get the best performance for the $ at around $650, at your resolution, NOTHING even comes close to 2x HD7950 Oced in Cross-fire. MSI TwinFrozr 7950 ($320 + $340 = $660). Don't believe me? HD7950 @ 1000mhz = HD7970 --> 60% faster than a GTX680 at 2560x1600 4AA.

I should let you know that AMD is going to launch HD7970 Ghz and HD7950 Ghz editions soon so there should be more price drops on current HD7950/7970 cards. This setup right here at just 1000mhz overclocks will be 60% faster than a single GTX680/overclocked 670.

If you just want to stick with a single card at high resolution, HD7970 by Sapphire for $464 or MSI Lighting 7970 if you want cream of the crop 7970.

Plus you get 3GB of VRAM which at your resolution is great for SKYRIM Mods.

Thanks for the tips. I really hadn't considered amd. This gives me something else to think about.

-S

 

[Destiny]

If you looking for exhaust to be blowing out form the rear = EVGA GTX 670 FTW


I'm currently gaming on my friend's 2560x1440 monitor with a Gigabyte Windforce GTX 670 - LOVING IT! :thumbsup:

 

[stuartl89]

Thanks for the input gang. After taking into account the replies and doing some more research, I just pulled the trigger on an EVGA GTX 670 FTW 2GB.

-S