Gtx 580 vs?

[happy medium]

Longevity sounds great

Not really sure where to find those specs unless these come true

+3.3V: 25A
+5V: 25A,
+12V1: 25A, +12V2: 25A
-12V: 0,8A
+5VSB: 4A (peak 5A)

Yea just don't overclock anything you'll be fine.

 

[MegaWorks]

Yes get the 6950, I think it's the best card to buy for 1080p.

 

[MentalIlness]

Yes it will be, and you know that. He could save some money and crossfire later. He will not even notice the second card unless he's benchmarking.

I'd but the second card for Crysis 2 in March mabe.
Might save him 100$.

So your both wasting his money and agreeing on it. Jeeez.

Which is why I said yes it probably would be. And I didn't "recommend" Crossfire. I said it would totally own the 580.

Your second point I do agree with. One now, one in a few months. Or better yet, One now. In a few months, a new PSU....then the 2nd card after that should even be cheaper.

OP.....Do you want dual cards ? Or do you prefer single ? You will get more performance at 1080P with dual cards over a single card. But the performance gap will widen with more intense games, and higher resolutions should you upgrade the monitor.

Like this game. Very hard on GPU's.

And higher resolution....

 

[Labze]

Unless he wants to play Crysis/Warhead or Metro 2033, two would be overkill for the time being. However, I personally like the prospect of having 60fps minimums in pretty much everything.

Well im aiming for minimum of 50 in games, and im going to play metro when i get the upgrade

 

[happy medium]

Boy...you people really do get fired up when you a see an nVidia vs AMD thread...i wish some of my threads would get 24 responses in less than an hour.

Its more like a wasting money vs a saving money thread.

You want longevity buy a 6950 and a new psu, overclock your cpu and card.
Buy a second card when you need it and overclock your cpu and both cards.

 

[Smartazz]

Well im aiming for minimum of 50 in games, and im going to play metro when i get the upgrade

To meet this criteria, I would recommend getting two of them then. Metro is a phenomenal looking game, but even a GTX 480 chokes at times running the game.

 

[happy medium]

Well im aiming for minimum of 50 in games, and im going to play metro when i get the upgrade

Oh, ok then your gonna need 2 overclocked 6970's and a overclock on you cpu.
To do that you need a new psu.

Especially with a new 30 inch someday.

 

[Labze]

Oh, ok then your gonna need 2 6970's and a overclock on you cpu.
To do that you need a new psu.

Well double 6970 isnt in my budget.

According to anandtech 2 6950 takes 500watts, does overclocking really take another 100?

 

[RavenSEAL]

Yea, that PSU is in no shape to CrossX. To CrossX OC even less...

 

[Smartazz]

Well double 6970 isnt in my budget.

According to anandtech 2 6950 takes 500watts, does overclocking really take another 100?

The 6950 typically uses 140watts while gaming and can consume up to 200 watts as limited by a new power feature. Figure 400 watts for the GPUs tops, plus 150 watts for an overclocked CPU and you'll be running close to the limit of that power supply. I don't think those cards would draw that much unless you were running some serious overclocks. Hopefully someone who understands the new power features on the HD69xx cards will chime in.

 

[Smartazz]

Honestly, 50fps minimums in Metro 2033 maxed is unrealistic. I'd be happy with 60fps average in Metro to be honest.

 

[MentalIlness]

Oh, ok then your gonna need 2 overclocked 6970's and a overclock on you cpu.
To do that you need a new psu.

Especially with a new 30 inch someday.

Please explain why he would need dual 6970's ? For minimums ? Does "any" setup even give minimums that high in Metro ? When clearly dual 6950's run Metro just fine at his resolution on average.

 

[happy medium]

Well double 6970 isnt in my budget.

According to anandtech 2 6950 takes 500watts, does overclocking really take another 100?

Your psu specs.

500 watts on the 12v rail. Your looking at 400+ with all stock components.
If you over clock your cpu add 90+ watts. Overclocking your cards add another 80 watts easy.

Like I said with all components stock you will be ok, just ok though.

 

[MentalIlness]

Well double 6970 isnt in my budget.

According to anandtech 2 6950 takes 500watts, does overclocking really take another 100?

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about overclocking. You will be fine and happy with them not being overclocked.

* Get two cards now. Be happy
* Down the road, upgrade PSU.....Be happy
* After you upgrade PSU...overclock.....Be happy
* All the while extending your "longevity" that you seem to like.....Be happy
* "IF" you decide to upgrade monitor, you will "not" have to upgrade PSU nor GPU.....Be happy
* Be happy

 

[Smartazz]

By and large, Metro 2033 and Crysis are the two games you can't expect 60fps minimums. Both games render so much to the screen that it's understandable. I still think that dual 6950s with possible mild overclocks is the way to go. Great performance for Metro 2033 and Crysis and delivers 60fps minimums on pretty much everything else.

 

[Labze]

Honestly, 50fps minimums in Metro 2033 maxed is unrealistic. I'd be happy with 60fps average in Metro to be honest.

I didnt mean the minumum framerate should be 50, its more of an average, i know asking for 50 fps all the time is unreasonable

Man im really torn about the choice, i can understand why some would say its far off to blow 550$ on graphics when gaming 1080p

I think i would be satisfied with a single GTX570 to be honest, but i think ill be in regret sometime in near future that i didnt go out a little higher than that.
This is my "christmast gift", meaning with some agreeing with my parents, if i only get a single 6950 card that will be it, probrably wont see the money to upgrade again in near future either.

 

[Labze]

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about overclocking. You will be fine and happy with them not being overclocked.

* Get two cards now. Be happy
* Down the road, upgrade PSU.....
* After you upgrade PSU...overclock
* All the while extending your "longevity" that you seem to like
* "IF" you decide to upgrade monitor, you will "not" have to upgrade PSU nor GPU.
* Be happy

Sounds like a reasonable good plan to me

Anybody knows if any manufacturer include power cable converters?

 

[Smartazz]

I didnt mean the minumum framerate should be 50, its more of an average, i know asking for 50 fps all the time is unreasonable

Man im really torn about the choice, i can understand why some would say its far off to blow 550$ on graphics when gaming 1080p

I think i would be satisfied with a single GTX570 to be honest, but i think ill be in regret sometime in near future that i didnt go out a little higher than that.
This is my "christmast gift", meaning with some agreeing with my parents, if i only get a single 6950 card that will be it, probrably wont see the money to upgrade again in near future either.

Well this complicates things quite a bit. Remember that the 570 consumes considerably more power than the 6950 so SLI 570s on that power supply is out of the question.

 

[MentalIlness]

I didnt mean the minumum framerate should be 50, its more of an average, i know asking for 50 fps all the time is unreasonable

Man im really torn about the choice, i can understand why some would say its far off to blow 550$ on graphics when gaming 1080p

I think i would be satisfied with a single GTX570 to be honest, but i think ill be in regret sometime in near future that i didnt go out a little higher than that.
This is my "christmast gift", meaning with some agreeing with my parents, if i only get a single 6950 card that will be it, probrably wont see the money to upgrade again in near future either.

This is where you may want the 2 gig of ram.

 

[Smartazz]

Sounds like a reasonable good plan to me

Anybody knows if any manufacturer include power cable converters?

Most video card manufacturers include molex to pci-e connectors with the cards.

 

[happy medium]

Sounds like a reasonable good plan to me

Anybody knows if any manufacturer include power cable converters?

Yea I notice you psu only has 2 cables too.............
Good luck, post back if you have any problems or benchmarks you wanna share..

 

[Labze]

Most video card manufacturers include molex to pci-e connectors with the cards.

Yeah but unboxing videos on youtube of both powercolors and sapphires shows that neither does. Cant really find any other. Might be someone know if any included them for sure. Would be nice not having to spend extra money on those

 

[Smartazz]

Yeah but unboxing videos on youtube of both powercolors and sapphires shows that neither does. Cant really find any other. Might be someone know if any included them for sure. Would be nice not having to spend extra money on those

Weird. Every video card I've ever bought included them, but you might be right about manufacturers not including it.

 

[Smartazz]

The GTX 570 is also an amazing card, but it has significantly less video memory. Keep in mind that 1440p and 1600p monitors are really expensive.

 

[Labze]

The GTX 570 is also an amazing card, but it has significantly less video memory. Keep in mind that 1440p and 1600p monitors are really expensive.

Yeah i know, GTX 570 does look sweet however it does struggle at heavier games.