Graphics GTX 570 vs GTX 460 SLI - Which is Better Value

Hi There,

I am new to this forum and am currently doing my first PC build.
CPU and Processor will be:
i5 2500k
Asus p8p67 pro

I've decided on most of the other core parts, however i am stuck on what graphic card solution is the best value for money.
Main two options:
GTX 570 price £265-275
GTX 460 1GB SLI MSI 'HAWK' editons Price £315

The two GTX 460 1GB will be running at dual x8 speed.

The uses for this build is a gaming build, to run most modern games for the next couple of years at least, movie streaming, and general use, at a resolution of 1920x1080

Considering all this which is the better buy.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

bit-tech always recommends going for a single card.

The SLI'd GTX460 will probably out perform a single GTX570, but I would definetly go with the GTX570. At 1920x1080 it will chew through anything for a few years easily, and you always thhen have the option of picking up another one second hand and cheap down the line to SLI it.

 

Even though I have two 460s in SLi, I'd recommend the 570 as the better option. When I update my rig this spring I'll be going for a single 580 as overall it just makes more sense.

The only reason I have my current setup are firstly I wanted to experience Sli. The performance is great, but the power draw is high. My PSU occasionally has to spin up after a period of heavy gaming.

 

I'd go for the 570, or if you HAVE to run SLI, I would wait for the 560 and buy two of those. Better performance at lower watts.

 

Yea sli really comes into its own on high res monitors, I would go for a single GPU in your case.

 

Single GPU! Much quieter and your not going to notice the difference between 65 and 75 fps anyway......

 

As everyone else has said in this post I'd say a gtx 570, unless your doing a multi monitor setup (which nvidia cards can't do on one card at the moment) theres not really much point in sli.

 

bodkin here tried 460 SLI but had problems and then days later sold the 460's, I know as I purchased 1 of them

 

Really? I have 2 monitors hooked up to 1 260GTX and it works fine, so i don't know where your getting your information from but it works for me.

 

he said MULTI monitor, not dual-monitor.

single card, always.

 

Sorry i consider 2 monitors multiple.

 

A single GTX 570 will use less power and you get away from any SLI issues, it will also be quieter.

 

I've got 2 570's but running only one at the moment (awaiting sli bridge)

the one 570 runs most stuff with good frame rates on its own... but not everything

perhaps cpu constrained... will update when I get the 2nd up and running..

2x460's will walk over the 1x570 for performance....

 

Actually he had problems with sli because the mobo was CF board

 

Does this give some indication of the GTX460 SLI scaling? I know the GTX570 isn't included but it might be useful for reference given that the GTX570 is very close in performance to a GTX480 (but cooler and quieter).

Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-460-sli-geforce-gtx-480,2694.html

 

I'm not going to be any different from the rest of them - single card. As many have found, SLI drivers are a pain, so even if 2 cards seem better by adding the numbers, a single more powerful card will have the actual better performance.

 

I have never had a problem with SLI and I've had a few SLI setups over the years the drivers are top notch.

 

I've tested SLI on two different boards with two different CPUs and, although my framerates are acceptable now, it still runs like crap. There is some micro stuttering that drives me insane but I understand there is a chance it is caused by the fact that my two cards are not quite identical.

I would recommend going for a single card for the reasons said above.

 

Better value=SLI

less troubles and lower power draw is a single 570

 

Single powerful card is always a better option in my opinion. SLI is good if you can get a second card later for cheap, but otherwise stick with one - it leaves you with an upgrade path, there is no chance of micro stutter and there will be no issue with games not working well with SLI