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Graphics upgrade?

I'm currently running a GTX275 on the same SB setup as you, which is very similar performance to the GTX280 (darn site quieter tho!).

It's not worth upgrading to anything less than a GTX560 or 6950 IMO. The 460 barely offers any improvement at all, although it would give you lower temps, noise & power consumption plus DX11.

I was looking at the 570 but was waiting until the 560 arrived to see how it compares. I've now pre-ordered a Gigabyte GTX560 Super OC which will hopefully arrive sometime next week. Reckon I'm looking at about double the frames over my current 275.
 
95thrifles said:
a 560 will prob be similar performance to a 280, each generation of cards tends to catch up on last model so roughly speaking 280=470=560 in raw performance, obv theres other things like DX11, more memory, lower power draw, cooler running, quieter etc (well from the 4 to 5 series anyway)
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Actually GTX560 at stock is more on par with 5870 speed, so it's faster than GTX470:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/25/nvidia-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/6
But for speed at max overclock, the GTX560 and GTX470 is pretty much on par, both being slightly faster than stock speed GTX570/GTX480:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/8

To choose between a GTX560 and 6950 2GB (unlock) now, it would be cooler running vs hotter but with more memory.

If I already got a GTX280, NOW wouldn't be a good time to upgrade as it can still handle majorty of the games easily at 1680 res, and the money would be better spend toward the 28nm card coming by the end of the year.
 
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So a card can handle games at 1680 res put falls on its ass at 1080p, get real, when I go to 1080p from 1680 there is like a few fps in it, a game that kills performance at 1080 will do so at 1680, fact.
 
RavenXXX2 said:
So a card can handle games at 1680 res put falls on its ass at 1080p, get real, when I go to 1080p from 1680 there is like a few fps in it, a game that kills performance at 1080 will do so at 1680, fact.
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Depends entirely on the game and how GPU limited it is to start with. Just had a quick look at the 1920/1680 figures from the Anandtech GTX460 review:

Game: 1920fps/1680fps (% improvement at 1680)
Crysis Warhead: 30.7/37.4 (22%)
Battleforge: 40.8/47.4 (16%)
HAWK: 84/97 (15%)
L4D2: 101.7/106.6 (5%)
Battlefield BC2: 41.6/79.3 (91%)
STALKER Call of Pripyat: 26.5/33.7 (27%)
DiRT 2: 57.3/67.1 (17%)
Mass Effect 2: 51/63.3 (24%)
Wolfenstein: 68.2/83.5 (22%)

At one extreme you have games like L4D2 which show minimal improvement because they're more CPU than GPU limited. OTOH, you have games like BC2 where the speed nearly doubles.

Even where the difference is 20-30%, this could make the difference. Crysis only shows a 22% improvement but 37 vs 30 fps could make a significant difference to playability.
 
It would seem we are on a similar upgrade path. My 4890, which appears to be around the same level as your current 280, is starting to struggle on newer stuff at 1920x1200.

I considered going CF with my 4890, but by the time you upgrade your PSU, it becomes an expensive affair.

The more I read, the more the GTX480 seems like the right choice - OcUK even have one coming in at £200.
 
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Marine-RX179 said:
Actually GTX560 at stock is more on par with 5870 speed, so it's faster than GTX470:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/25/nvidia-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/6
But for speed at max overclock, the GTX560 and GTX470 is pretty much on par, both being slightly faster than stock speed GTX570/GTX480:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/8

To choose between a GTX560 and 6950 2GB (unlock) now, it would be cooler running vs hotter but with more memory.

If I already got a GTX280, NOW wouldn't be a good time to upgrade as it can still handle majorty of the games easily at 1680 res, and the money would be better spend toward the 28nm card coming by the end of the year.
Click to expand...

Yeah it was an approximation not an exact science, I was just explaining in my opinion its not worth a large outlay for similar performance, if he's going to change then I agree a 570 would be better option
 
If I went for a 480 I'd just be disappointed that I hadn't gone for a 580.

That said I'd rather have 2-3GB of RAM on board anyway.
 
A 480 at same clocks a 580 is 6% slower, you think the price difference is worth that performance, of course the 580 has a better cooler but then again you can buy great coolers for the 480.

Only reason to have 2Gb ram is for eyefinity or surround vision, single monitor gaming 1.5GB is more than enough.
 
How bad is the 480 for noise? Anyone have a video?

The last Nvidia card I had sounded like a jet engine, actually (6800GT). I've been ATI ever since.
 
I have a 480 and good case cooling, I have set a custom fan profile that keeps the temps in check, the default profile kicks in when the GPU hits 80c, by that time it's fighting a losing battle to keep temps in check and noise down. The 480 is now no louder than my 5870 was, so not loud at all. If you have poor case cooling there are two very good coolers on the market for the 480 costing less than £40.
 
According to tech powerup pretty bad on noise at 50db, a 5870 is 43db. Each 10db is a perceived doubling of volume. 580 is 41db

Bear in mind though that is ~ the same volume as 280, 295, 5970 and 4870x2
 
RavenXXX2 said:
A 480 at same clocks a 580 is 6% slower, you think the price difference is worth that performance, of course the 580 has a better cooler but then again you can buy great coolers for the 480.

Only reason to have 2Gb ram is for eyefinity or surround vision, single monitor gaming 1.5GB is more than enough.
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You've covered every point why I would want a 580.

Far better cooler, faster at stock (I'd rather not OC a dustbuster).

And yes I'm thinking of going for a mutlimonitor setup.
 
4T5 said:
Asus GTX 480 for less than 200 quid.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18235216
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Oh wow.

Now this might be the answer. Is this a discontinued card? Whats the noise like compared with my 280?

Is the 'tech' older than the 500 Series, ie am I missing anything choosing this over a 560?

Hmmm, benchmarks I'm reading so far put it slower than the GTX570. Does it clock well or something?
 
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[TW]Fox;18333704 said:
Oh wow.

Now this might be the answer. Is this a discontinued card? Whats the noise like compared with my 280?
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Noisewise probably similar mate.

Will it will be since the GTX 570 is the "replacement" of course the 4 series will quickly become EOL :)

Seems to sit inbetween the 570 and 580
 
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