GTX480 or GTX560Ti

[TW]Sponge · 25 Feb 2011 at 20:03

As the title suggests really. I have an Antec902 case so cooling really isn't a problem, and I want to be able to play most games out at high settings. Currently only gaming at 1440x900 and will be until I can save for a decent monitor. I understand the 480 is very loud and hot? Anybody have any experience with this?

Also I only have an Antec 550w psu, enough for a 480?

neblemak · 25 Feb 2011 at 21:25

I've got a 480. Performance wise, it's similar to a 570 which is obviously quite a bit higher than the 560. More cores and more memory.

It is quite loud but when you play games, you've got the sound up anyway so it's never been an issue for me.

Also run on a 550w PSU, no issues at all. NVidia tend to overrate how much power you need and if you've got a decent, branded, PSU, you'll be fine.

Andrei23 · 25 Feb 2011 at 22:25

being cheecky as I am, I say that between the two, the msi 6950 (on offer atm) is the best

Tute · 25 Feb 2011 at 22:33

The GTX560 needs an overclock to become competitive with the GTX480, any of the Ones with 930+ on the core should give it a good run for it's money.

arc@css · 25 Feb 2011 at 23:25

560, providing it is a good clocker and non reference design, otherwise 480 every time.

Zefan · 25 Feb 2011 at 23:30

sponge999 said:
I understand the 480 is very loud and hot? Anybody have any experience with this?

The design itself means that it does use quite a lot of power and as a result gets pretty warm, however not all cards are the same, even ones that use the reference cooler can have different characteristics to each other! The Asus GTX 480 that's been on offer here for a while on and off is such a card, it takes advantage of a later BIOS revision that means it's a little more manageable in the heat/sound department, right out of the box. Have a google around.

Are you using multiple screens?

Mojo · 26 Feb 2011 at 11:12

as was said above, have you not considered a 6950? Fast as it is, it will unlock to a 6970, giving it better than 480 speeds, as well as overclocking by a large degree. It runs much cooler and uses less power than the 480, as well as having 2gb of RAM. You can get one for £2 cheaper than the cheapest 560 atm on ocUK!

[TW]Sponge · 26 Feb 2011 at 11:27

Zefan said:
The design itself means that it does use quite a lot of power and as a result gets pretty warm, however not all cards are the same, even ones that use the reference cooler can have different characteristics to each other! The Asus GTX 480 that's been on offer here for a while on and off is such a card, it takes advantage of a later BIOS revision that means it's a little more manageable in the heat/sound department, right out of the box. Have a google around.

Are you using multiple screens?

No just the one screen mate

[TW]Sponge · 26 Feb 2011 at 11:27

Mojo said:
as was said above, have you not considered a 6950? Fast as it is, it will unlock to a 6970, giving it better than 480 speeds, as well as overclocking by a large degree. It runs much cooler and uses less power than the 480, as well as having 2gb of RAM. You can get one for £2 cheaper than the cheapest 560 atm on ocUK!

Want to stay away from AMD if I can!

Mojo · 26 Feb 2011 at 11:37

sponge999 said:
Want to stay away from AMD if I can!

ah ok. Just want to ask... how come?

[TW]Sponge · 26 Feb 2011 at 11:39

Mojo said:
ah ok. Just want to ask... how come?

Most of my mates have got one and they have had nothing but trouble with the drivers etc.. and the ones with a Nvidia are fine. I think Nvidia are leading the market by quite a bit at the moment and want to take advantage of it.

Kanpai · 26 Feb 2011 at 11:43

if noise and heat isn't an issue for you go for the GTX480. Having said that, the GTX560 can be overclocked to match GTX570 levels even on stock voltages (got mine running at 1000mhz stock voltage and idles at 31 max 68)

[TW]Sponge · 26 Feb 2011 at 11:49

nayan89 said:
if noise and heat isn't an issue for you go for the GTX480. Having said that, the GTX560 can be overclocked to match GTX570 levels even on stock voltages (got mine running at 1000mhz stock voltage and idles at 31 max 68)

I take it you are more than happy with your 560 then?

Kanpai · 26 Feb 2011 at 13:34

sponge999 said:
I take it you are more than happy with your 560 then?

Very happy!

Tom|Nbk · 26 Feb 2011 at 13:44

And on that note a GTX 480 @ 820 mhz will near enough match a GTX 580.

Kanpai · 26 Feb 2011 at 13:46

Tom|Nbk said:
And on that note a GTX 480 @ 820 mhz will near enough match a GTX 580.

Which is why I'd have gone with the GTX480 if it was at this price when I bought my GTX560Ti

, however I'm more than happy with my GTX560Ti

djkav · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:14

Is the GTX480 any quicker than the ATI 5870?

I'm thinking of replacing my 5870 with this as I fancy 3D vision. ATI don't seem too bothered about it.

I'm assuming that the £199 480 is better than the 560ti?

Thanks.

Tute · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:39

djkav said:
Is the GTX480 any quicker than the ATI 5870?

I'm thinking of replacing my 5870 with this as I fancy 3D vision. ATI don't seem too bothered about it.

I'm assuming that the £199 480 is better than the 560ti?

Thanks.

It *really* depends what you can get for the HD5870. It's quicker but hardly massively so, so it depends how much the upgrade is costing you.

I think i'd struggle to justify more than about £30-£40 for the upgrade.

[TW]Fox · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:41

The 480 is the better card. If you are not sensitive to noise, it is a no brainer. Buy the 480.

If you are, buy the 560. Or better still, buy a 570

Andrei23 · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:22

sponge999 said:
Most of my mates have got one and they have had nothing but trouble with the drivers etc.. and the ones with a Nvidia are fine. I think Nvidia are leading the market by quite a bit at the moment and want to take advantage of it.

I think the problem is with your friends' pc 'skillz', mate, not the drivers. Never once had a problem with drivers and have been using ATI since the X800 times. Also, why don't reviewers have problems with the ATI drivers? A: because they know what they are doing