gpu What GPU Should i get?

[SpartanZX7]

Hi, i have been looking at different GPUs and i would love some help on choosing one. I want to be playing on ultra for nearly every game at 60fps :-) Also i have between ?250-350, but would love to have pay less to get the same performance

These are my choices:

EVGA GTX 670 +FTW 4GB (Highest)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-NVIDIA-DDR5-PCI-E-Graphics/dp/B009NN2OTK/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1371119852&sr=1-2&keywords=EVGA+NVIDIA+GTX+670+FTW

EVGA GTX 670 FTW 2GB

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-NVIDIA-Signature-Edition-Graphics/dp/B009GB17SI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

EVGA GTX 660TI SC+3GB (Lowest)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008ZX2OWQ/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0TMSE609XYQZY2XYNTEJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358549767&pf_rd_i=468294

This is what i like the look of but i would love to pay a lower price but still get brilliant power out of it. All help would be much appreciated:-)

Specs:

CPU: AMD FX6300 @3.5ghz (Going to over clock once i get a water cooler)

MOBO: Asrock 970 Extreme4

Ram: Corsair Vengeance 8GB 16000mhz (2x4)

Hard Drives: Not to sure, just savaged them out a old system, but its 500 (2x250)

PSU: Corsair Gaming series GS700 (700W)

[Noir Angel]

Unless you're looking to game at beyond 1080p a 2 gig card should suffice, the 2GB 670 will probably be the best choice if you want a fair compromise between power and cost

[philcruicks]

Completly agree, unless your on multi monitor gaming or above 1080p gaming you don't need to shell out for the 4GB card, and for the $20 price diff the 670 is worth it.

[SpartanZX7]

I have a second monitor but it's just for like youtube, facebook or my itunes nothing to heavy, so the 670 2GB should be good enough for 1920x1080 ultra gaming then :-)

[dangel]

I have a couple of 2GB 670 FTW cards - good cards uses same PCB as the 680. I'm SLI gaming at 1920x1200 for reference.

[SpartanZX7]

So would you recommend using just as a single, can't afford sli :-(

[ashpowell]

I can run all games on ultra on my gtx 670 ftw edition (same as above, 2gb version)

I'm running a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and the card is overclocked

[Muhammad Farrukh]

May I suggest spending a few extra for the new card?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-N770-TF-2GD5-OC/dp/B00D3XW8MO/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1371142050&sr=1-6&keywords=770+gtx

Its an overclocked version and it generally outperforms the former, expensive flagship 680. If you can, this one will be a better investment

[ashpowell]

I agree with the above post.. go for the 770

- although personally would go for this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Palit-GeForce-Graphics-Express-Display/dp/B00D3ZYDKM/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1371142289&sr=1-4&keywords=gtx+770

[SpartanZX7]

I can run all games on ultra on my gtx 670 ftw edition (same as above, 2gb version)

I'm running a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and the card is overclocked

What frame do you get on average? Do you have the stock cooler on or a water-cooled block :-)

[ashpowell]

Stock cooler that sits around 25 degrees and never goes above 70 degrees.

Not too sure the framerates but they're all smooth.

As said previous though, I forgot about the 770 so definitely go for that

[SpartanZX7]

It's on my list so when it comes down to buying one i will defintly take a look, thanks for all the feedback. Been getting such a headache trying to find a card that would do everything i wanted without paying out too much.

[dangel]

I can run all games on ultra on my gtx 670 ftw edition (same as above, 2gb version)

I'm running a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and the card is overclocked

I can't agree - 'all games on ultra' at that res at 60fps with one card isn't doable - but then that's my requirement - 60fps with all the eye candy on and that does (quite often) require SLI to achieve. I have a LCD in front of the monitor showing GPU usage per card and there's plenty of games pushing both hard thesedays. If you can live with lower FPS then it's not so much a problem but then you're driving a lot more pixels than me and so the cost is much (much) higher as a result. I'm specifically avoiding going to 1440p resolution because I can't stand the low FPS it introduces and quite a few games are borderline at 1920x1200. Of course it varies, and there's also the option of dropping a few settings to get the framerates up again. Choices as always. I have a very low tolerance for <60fps :(

Example of game that pushes my system at 1920? Metro Last Light. Just benchmark it (it has a built in benchmark) with everything on 'ultra'.

The big reason for me going SLI was that the 670 wasn't enough of a jump up from the 580 I had beforehand. The same logic is keeping me off the 770/80 for this generation as replacements.

[articuno1au]

Definitely worth looking at the 770. It out performs the 680 quite handily and has a few other upsides to it as well (like being nice and quiet).

Enjoy owning the card I want :(

[SpartanZX7]

Long as I get a card that should do very well either High at 60fps or Ultra at 60fps, I will be very happy. The 770 should do that and if it's unlocked to over-clock easy i will do that too. Thanks for all the help guys

[ashpowell]

I can't agree - 'all games on ultra' at that res at 60fps with one card isn't doable - but then that's my requirement - 60fps with all the eye candy on and that does (quite often) require SLI to achieve. I have a LCD in front of the monitor showing GPU usage per card and there's plenty of games pushing both hard thesedays. If you can live with lower FPS then it's not so much a problem but then you're driving a lot more pixels than me and so the cost is much (much) higher as a result. I'm specifically avoiding going to 1440p resolution because I can't stand the low FPS it introduces and quite a few games are borderline at 1920x1200. Of course it varies, and there's also the option of dropping a few settings to get the framerates up again. Choices as always. I have a very low tolerance for <60fps :(

Example of game that pushes my system at 1920? Metro Last Light. Just benchmark it (it has a built in benchmark) with everything on 'ultra'.

The big reason for me going SLI was that the 670 wasn't enough of a jump up from the 580 I had beforehand. The same logic is keeping me off the 770/80 for this generation as replacements.

Oh definitely not all at 60fps constant, but none ever dip to a fps that is noticeable in terms of laginess or anything like that. Im using the latest beta drivers and overclocked a fair bit

Edit:

Just did a quick test, and although not the most graphic intensive games, theyre 3 popular ones:

Battlefield 3 @ 2560 x 1440 = Average 90fps

Crysis 2 @ 2560 x 1440 = Average 70fps

Skyrim @ 2560 x 1440 = Average 70fps

These were during moment with gunfire/fire/etc

So a 770 will definitely run games at your resolution quite comfortably IMO

[dangel]

Oh definitely not all at 60fps constant, but none ever dip to a fps that is noticeable in terms of laginess or anything like that. Im using the latest beta drivers and overclocked a fair bit

Edit:

Just did a quick test, and although not the most graphic intensive games, theyre 3 popular ones:

Battlefield 3 @ 2560 x 1440 = Average 90fps

Crysis 2 @ 2560 x 1440 = Average 70fps

Skyrim @ 2560 x 1440 = Average 70fps

These were during moment with gunfire/fire/etc

So a 770 will definitely run games at your resolution quite comfortably IMO

I'm amazed with your Crysis 2 results - patched up with the HD textures/DX11 etc that game officially benches like this:

http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/40613-evga-geforce-gtx-670-ftw/?page=6

Your average is actually above a 690 (i.e. SLI) ?

That correlates with my experience - for that game I *need* SLI with everything turned up! A 680 is managing a mere 36FPS by comparison? :s

[SpartanZX7]

So this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-N770-TF-2GD5-OC/dp/B00D3XW8MO/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1371142050&sr=1-6&keywords=770+gtx) Should be a very good card and preform well? Haha Thanks guys. Will it be hard to over-clock btw as i'm new to over-clocking never mind a GPU:P

[ashpowell]

So this (http://www.amazon.co...eywords=770+gtx) Should be a very good card and preform well? Haha Thanks guys. Will it be hard to over-clock btw as i'm new to over-clocking never mind a GPU:P

I'd get this one, has 3 fans lol - http://www.amazon.co...sbs_computers_1

In all seriousness, do a quick search on Google to compare the different models and see which one comes out top for the price

I'm amazed with your Crysis 2 results - patched up with the HD textures/DX11 etc that game officially benches like this:

http://hexus.net/tec...670-ftw/?page=6

Your average is actually above a 690 (i.e. SLI) ?

That correlates with my experience - for that game I *need* SLI with everything turned up! A 680 is managing a mere 36FPS by comparison? :s

Just checked everything, I have dx11 and high res texture pack, only thing I have disabled is motion blur as I don't like it. I've ran benchmarks and it performs better than the 680.. Probably because it's overclocked I'm not sure.

[Andre S. Veteran]

The best 770 is the ASUS Direct CU II, if you can afford the price premium. It runs cooler and more silently than the other models, and it also has a decent factory overclock. This is pretty much my dream video card at the moment, if you can afford it I envy you :p

[Muhammad Farrukh]

Guru3D has almost all the variants of 770 reviewed. Have a look there

[SpartanZX7]

The best 770 is the ASUS Direct CU II, if you can afford the price premium. It runs cooler and more silently than the other models, and it also has a decent factory overclock. This is pretty much my dream video card at the moment, if you can afford it I envy you :p

I have looked at that one as i'm not the biggest fan of MSI. I was thinking of the Asus, but if it can be over-clocked easy enough without blowing up on the stock cooler i think i will go for that rather than the MSI. They should perform just the same, right ;D

[ashpowell]

They have automatic overclocking built in if I remember correctly, but they're very easy to overclock and tend to be cool cards too

[McKay]

Unless you're looking to game at beyond 1080p a 2 gig card should suffice, the 2GB 670 will probably be the best choice if you want a fair compromise between power and cost

Completly agree, unless your on multi monitor gaming or above 1080p gaming you don't need to shell out for the 4GB card, and for the $20 price diff the 670 is worth it.

Would an AMD 7970 cope with gaming at 2560x1440? My current 2GB 7770 can struggle at the higher graphics settings at full-res.

[ashpowell]

Would an AMD 7970 cope with gaming at 2560x1440? My current 2GB 7770 can struggle at the higher graphics settings at full-res.

Yep that should do easily. It beats my 670 in tests, even beats the 680 and the 770 in most aspects

Heres a good site to compare cards - http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-HD-7970-vs-GeForce-GTX-680