Which option would be the best?

[gnuelxela]

Here's my current setup:
- CPU: Intel i5-2500K
- PSU: Corsair TX650
- GPU: XFX Radeon HD 5670 GDDR3

I'm currently looking to upgrade my GPU (probably around X'mas time). I have been a Radeon user since Radeon 7500, have never used any nvidia card. My frd told me that Geforce would be better in terms of gaming and compatibility. So I am considering the following options, hope you guys can give me some comments. Thanks in advance!

1. Geforce 550 Ti x2 (would my PSU be able to handle the SLI? would the performance be better than a Radeon HD 68XX?)
2. Radeon HD 6850/6870
3. Radeon HD 7XXX series (Should I even wait for it?)

 

[96Firebird]

You won't see a difference between Nvidia and AMD in terms of "gaming and compatibility". I'd say get whichever you can afford, but don't go multi-card off the bat. Get the best single card that you can afford, then you can add a second later on if you need to.

Whats your budget, and what resolution do you game at?

 

[gnuelxela]

Whats your budget, and what resolution do you game at?

I plan to game at 1920*1080. My budget is around CAD 150.
If I go SLI, I will definitely buy one card now and get another one later. But the thing is I am not sure whether a 650W PSU can handle 2 GTX 550Ti.

 

[Wizlem]

Since the new stuff should be coming out soon, you might be able to find a good deal on a used card. There have been a few good deals on OEM 5850's lately also. For example:

http://www.bensoutlet.com/products/ati-radeon-hd-5850

 

[Denithor]

That 650W PSU can easily handle most SLI/Crossfire setups with no problem. GTX 570/580 would likely be the only exceptions, see the charts below for details on total system power draw (including an overclocked i7 920 - much hungrier than your i5 2500k).

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5048/evgas-geforce-gtx-560-ti-2win-the-raw-power-of-two-gpus/3

So simply don't worry about power draw, any single card will be fine. A 6850/6870/6950 from AMD or GTX 460 1GB/GTX 560 Ti from nVidia will probably be your best options depending on what kind of deal you can find.

 

[jacktesterson]

At this point I'd wait for 7000 series.

If you want now, Find a used 5850/5870.

I recently bought a 5870 used for somebody for $160 used. That's 6950+ performance

 

[Concillian]

In February-March timeframe, the next gen midrange cards will be out. These will likely be out of your price range. most likely $200+. However this should put significant downward pricing pressure on the current cards.

I Imagine you might end up with a 6870 or GTX560 pushed down into your price range, which are decent enough cards for 1920x1080.

Currently I think you need to be looking at the 6850 / GTX460 1GB cards for your budget, or a good deal on a leftover 5850 someone is clearing out. Also, watch FS/FT as these next gen cards come out. There will end up being a fair number of people selling 5850, 5870, 6870, GTX460, 470, 560Ti, etc... cards and their prices may fall into your price range.

A 550 Ti is a little low spec for a great experience at 1920x1080. It will work if you don't run Anti-aliasing and if you don't run the highest video settings, but something like a 460 1GB or 6850 is a pretty big step up in performance at that resolution.

 

[dust]

In February-March timeframe, the next gen midrange cards will be out. These will likely be out of your price range. most likely $200+. However this should put significant downward pricing pressure on the current cards.

I Imagine you might end up with a 6870 or GTX560 pushed down into your price range, which are decent enough cards for 1920x1080.

Currently I think you need to be looking at the 6850 / GTX460 1GB cards for your budget, or a good deal on a leftover 5850 someone is clearing out. Also, watch FS/FT as these next gen cards come out. There will end up being a fair number of people selling 5850, 5870, 6870, GTX460, 470, 560Ti, etc... cards and their prices may fall into your price range.

A 550 Ti is a little low spec for a great experience at 1920x1080. It will work if you don't run Anti-aliasing and if you don't run the highest video settings, but something like a 460 1GB or 6850 is a pretty big step up in performance at that resolution.

Assuming he would play BF3, I just don't see how a 560TI/6870 could be enough for that resolution, if he wants the maximum graphics. I can only have ultra settings for BF3 in single player, minus motion blur, which is completely off and very high only for mp, and that's with a 6950 overclocked to 6970 speed.

The last I checked, the MW3 also hovers in the 42-45 FPS with everything maxed. I do have an Yorkfield though, only at 3,2 Ghz, it won't go higher without ridiculous voltage.

To the op, it would probably be best if you could tell us which games you're planning to get.

 

[Corporate Thug]

I would wait for the 7000 but cross off 550sli off the list...waste of time with the other options available at the same price.