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GTX 480 or HD5870 for gaming?

Hi mate and thanks for the welcome :)

I don't have a current desktop rig - just two gaming laptops (hence the upgrade). I am in negotiations with another company, and the system I have asked them to beat for price is this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-132-OE&groupid=43&catid=1270&subcat=

If they offer a similar spec for a few less £, they will have my business. I know the GTX 460 is regarded as a great 'bang for buck' card, but that it is a lesser card than the two I mentioned if price is taken out of the equation.

I believe (may be wrong), that these two cards are the best I will get for (hopefully) sub-£1400! Just wondered which is the faster card.
 
480 is the faster card and will give smoother performance with higher IQ settings, I had a 5870 then went to a 480.

You should consider that AMD will have their new cards out next month, the 6970 should be a fair bit faster than a 480.
 
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As simple as that - cheers mate!

Incidentally, what's your opinions on the rig in the link I posted?

Good for the price? Good performance?
 
Is the 480 hot and noisey? I know the 465 was regarded as a big no-no, and the 460 was regarded as the better card?
 
Hi mate and thanks for the welcome :)

I don't have a current desktop rig - just two gaming laptops (hence the upgrade). I am in negotiations with another company, and the system I have asked them to beat for price is this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-132-OE&groupid=43&catid=1270&subcat=

If they offer a similar spec for a few less £, they will have my business. I know the GTX 460 is regarded as a great 'bang for buck' card, but that it is a lesser card than the two I mentioned if price is taken out of the equation.

I believe (may be wrong), that these two cards are the best I will get for (hopefully) sub-£1400! Just wondered which is the faster card.

The wrong thing to focus on here I know, but It was interesting looking at the spec of the PC (which looks nice) and noticed it specified this PSU:
Corsair TX 750W ATX Modular SLI Compliant Power Supply

Isn't the TX the non-Modular Corsair range?

Back to your original question:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/162?vs=158
...might help.
 
Only reason to buy the 5870 over the 480 really;

You actually like your ear drums (this is over exagerated)
Your conscious of ever penny spent on electricity or limited by PSU (not sure why you'd buy either card)
You intend to use audio over HDMI (ATI still have the upper hand here)
Your used to or like ATI (no comment)
 
Thats like asking shal i get a porsche or a ferrari for racing ? yer they will both be good, but lets say the 480 gtx is the ferrari amazing round the track faster, biggest braging rights but cost an arm and a leg to fuel it and hard to use on a daliy basis, but lets say the 5870 is the porsche which is just as much fun as the ferrari but never quite as fast but you would never tell the diffrence apart from its cheper to fuel and is easier to live with.

does that explain things in a jezza fasion ?
 
Only reason to buy the 5870 over the 480 really;

You actually like your ear drums (this is over exagerated)
Your conscious of ever penny spent on electricity or limited by PSU (not sure why you'd buy either card)

You intend to use audio over HDMI (ATI still have the upper hand here)
Your used to or like ATI (no comment)

You actually like your ear drums (this is over exagerated) - I don't know them personally so have nothing to lose :)

Your conscious of ever penny spent on electricity or limited by PSU (not sure why you'd buy either card) - I care not for the leccy bill! Also, as I'm buying all components in a oner...which PSU would be a good choice?

You intend to use audio over HDMI (ATI still have the upper hand here) - I intend to thrash COD4/WAW/Black Ops 2/Football Manager to death...that is all....

Your used to or like ATI (no comment)[/] No preference...just want a kickass graphics card ;)
 
PSU wise I'd prolly be looking at something in the Corsair HX range, probably atleast 750watt - more if your thinking multi GPU, etc.
 
Thats like asking shal i get a porsche or a ferrari for racing ? yer they will both be good, but lets say the 480 gtx is the ferrari amazing round the track faster, biggest braging rights but cost an arm and a leg to fuel it and hard to use on a daliy basis, but lets say the 5870 is the porsche which is just as much fun as the ferrari but never quite as fast but you would never tell the diffrence apart from its cheper to fuel and is easier to live with.

does that explain things in a jezza fasion ?

Kind of mate :)

The cost doesn't seem a helluva lot different in the builds I looked at, plus the fella I chatted to is trying to sort a deal for me. So I'll wait and see what he comes back with.

Electricity cost is of no concern to me, and I can't understand how it would be hard to use? I do not plan to get hands-on inside the case....merely turn on the PC and game :)
 
PSU wise I'd prolly be looking at something in the Corsair HX range, probably atleast 750watt - more if your thinking multi GPU, etc.

No - I don't belive in the economics of multi graphics cards for a single screen. I'd rather have a better single card.

750watt Corsair HX...cheers for the rec mate - I will add it to my list.
 
I tend to look at three main points when I upgrade the graphics:

-can it handle the resolution in a variety of games?

-will I be able to turn up all the eye candy on titles?

-what is the performance hit like if and when I apply anti-aliasing? - In my case this point is the only thing I am willing to compromise to some degree on.


Although the 5870 is a truly excellent card, the 480 is faster and would be my choice. As mentioned the ATI 6000 series are out soon so worth hanging on. :)
 
I tend to look at three main points when I upgrade the graphics:

-can it handle the resolution in a variety of games?

-will I be able to turn up all the eye candy on titles?

-what is the performance hit like if and when I apply anti-aliasing? - In my case this point is the only thing I am willing to compromise to some degree on.


Although the 5870 is a truly excellent card, the 480 is faster and would be my choice. As mentioned the ATI 6000 series are out soon so worth hanging on. :)

What exactly is AA?

When's the 6000 series out, as I need a desktop powerhouse to replace my laptop for thenew COD?!
 
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