I know there has already been some considerable discussion around some of the cards I'm considering in other threads but the more I read on here and the more reviews I look at the more confused I get.
I'd like to set some context specifically for what I'm looking for.
I currently have an ATI 5770, I game at 1920 x 1080 and given the price of higher resolution monitors I don't see that changing soon. My other specs are an i7 920 which I occassionaly have at 4Ghz but currently running stock and 6Gig of Corsair XMS3 and a Corsair 650TX PSU. I'm not a die hard gamer but am disappointed with the frame rates Im getting from my 5770 which is a definite bottleneck in my system.
Im looking to spend somewhere between £150 and £250 and have been looking at the GTX560 and the HD6950 both in the MSI frozr versions. Performance is important but of almost equal importance is noise and to a slightly lesser extent heat. I use my PC aswell as for gaming as a HTPC and also leave the PC on over night in my bedroom so noise is a big factor for me, I have a Scythe Setsugen 2 bolted on to my 5770 which is completely inaudible over other components (unfortunatley this wont fit the cards Im looking at)
Other threads discussing the 6950 seem to have descened in to arguments around unlocking them to 6970, so to take that out of the equation straight away I am not going to do this I dont care how unlikely Im not about to risk bricking a £250 graphics card. I will however probably have a go at overclocking at some point.
Of the reviews I've read some seem to give the 6950 the edge others the 560 and there seems to be good O/C potential in the 560, given that the 560 is £50 cheaper I'd say Im leaning towards this, but I'd be interested in others opions and any other options I might not have yet considered in the price bracket.
I'd like to set some context specifically for what I'm looking for.
I currently have an ATI 5770, I game at 1920 x 1080 and given the price of higher resolution monitors I don't see that changing soon. My other specs are an i7 920 which I occassionaly have at 4Ghz but currently running stock and 6Gig of Corsair XMS3 and a Corsair 650TX PSU. I'm not a die hard gamer but am disappointed with the frame rates Im getting from my 5770 which is a definite bottleneck in my system.
Im looking to spend somewhere between £150 and £250 and have been looking at the GTX560 and the HD6950 both in the MSI frozr versions. Performance is important but of almost equal importance is noise and to a slightly lesser extent heat. I use my PC aswell as for gaming as a HTPC and also leave the PC on over night in my bedroom so noise is a big factor for me, I have a Scythe Setsugen 2 bolted on to my 5770 which is completely inaudible over other components (unfortunatley this wont fit the cards Im looking at)
Other threads discussing the 6950 seem to have descened in to arguments around unlocking them to 6970, so to take that out of the equation straight away I am not going to do this I dont care how unlikely Im not about to risk bricking a £250 graphics card. I will however probably have a go at overclocking at some point.
Of the reviews I've read some seem to give the 6950 the edge others the 560 and there seems to be good O/C potential in the 560, given that the 560 is £50 cheaper I'd say Im leaning towards this, but I'd be interested in others opions and any other options I might not have yet considered in the price bracket.
also upgraded form a 5770 and the difference is massive
