Graphics POLL - Which GPU for Gaming at higher 2560 x 1440

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by earlydoors, 15 Dec 2010.

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Which GPU to game at 2560 x 1440 ?

  1. GTX 580

    38 vote(s)
    64.4%
  2. HD 5970

    2 vote(s)
    3.4%
  3. HD 6970

    11 vote(s)
    18.6%
  4. GTX 570

    8 vote(s)
    13.6%
  1. earlydoors

    earlydoors Minimodder

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    In light of what appears to be a slightly muted response to the release of the 6970, which would you choose, if you were planning to buy in the next month?

    Consider price / performance - if it was your cash, what would you go for?
     
  2. Rofl_Waffle

    Rofl_Waffle What's a Dremel?

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    Personally I think 6950 in crossfire would offer the best performance for you money.

    If you don't have the cash for that go for the GTX 580.
     
  3. Marine-RX179

    Marine-RX179 What's a Dremel?

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    While the GTX580 is the fastest single GPU card, and would be the fastest single GPU card at that res, it does charge a very high price premium for it.

    While the 6970 is only on par with the GTX570/GTX480 at 1920res and below, it is actually ahead of them at 2560 res. While the 6970 is behind the GTX580 quite a bit in terms of performance at 2560, it is however £100 cheaper, so that makes it more bang for bucks than the GTX580.

    So basically I would say it depends on how much money to plan to spend. If you can afford more, then get the 6970 now, and add another one in the future; if you don't want to spend too much, then go for 6950, and add another one in the future.

    But do bare in mind that for a system crossfiring 6950 would ideally need a decent 750W PSU, and a system crossfiring 6970 would ideally need a decent 900W PSU.
     
    Last edited: 16 Dec 2010
  4. Deders

    Deders Modder

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    these benchmarks were taken at 2560x1600 with 4xAA on a stock i7-930
     
  5. rob the bank

    rob the bank What's a Dremel?

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    Anybody seen 2 x GTX460 v a GTX 570, 580 etc..
    or 2 x 6950?

    Price V Performance is always a little tricky as it depends on what you starting point is.
    I.e you may need a new PSU, Motherboard and Case to fit Xfire or SLI, where as a new 570 or 6950 may just slot straight in your current system.
     
  6. Ph4ZeD

    Ph4ZeD What's a Dremel?

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    Unquestionably at that resolution the best card is the 580 GTX. I don't even see the point of the poll because if your spending £750 on a monitor, its a fair bet you won't skimp on the GPU.
     
  7. wyx087

    wyx087 Homeworld 3 is happening!!

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    the 1.5GB in gtx 580 is more than enough for this resolution, except Crysis which is only enough for 4xAA. so, if you want to play Crysis, buy 6970, although no single card's FPS is enough to play on all very high with AA.

    if you want to play any other game, gtx580 will be brilliant with enough power to drive everything at max. i've yet to find a game that it is having trouble. BFBC2 at 8xMSAA + FRAPs recording at smooth 60 FPS, dips down to 30 in heaviest fire fights with exploding tanks and C4 dusts.

    as said, you bought one of the best monitors out there, so now buy the best GPU out there :)
     
  8. earlydoors

    earlydoors Minimodder

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    Think I might just do that, wuyanxu. Certainly leaning more towards the 580 than I was before. Was hoping AMD would bring out a killer product, but that apparently isn't the case...
     
  9. Baz

    Baz I work for Corsair

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    Bah, I didnt see the 2,560 x 1,440 res

    GTX 580, no question.
     
  10. Teelzebub

    Teelzebub Up yours GOD,Whats best served cold

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    +1 on the GTX580
     
  11. Marine-RX179

    Marine-RX179 What's a Dremel?

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    Just thought I have to point out that:

    2x580SLI=£420x2=£840
    3x6970Crossfire=£280x3=£840

    But if you really just gonna get a single card and be done with, then by all mean go GTX580.
     
  12. ak_2020

    ak_2020 Minimodder

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    I know its not an option in the poll, but why not wait a month or two for the new double-up GPUs in Q1 2011. If your willing to spend that much money on a monitor, why not spend £500 on a graphics card?
     
  13. Marine-RX179

    Marine-RX179 What's a Dremel?

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  14. Baz

    Baz I work for Corsair

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    Once again, While super high res can benefit from multi-GPU, we really don't recommend it. Too many scaling issues, driver issues, eats loads of power, hot, noisy. Just sooo many down sides.

    Without boasting, we bit-tech and CPC staff can run pretty much any hardware we want, regardless of cost. And none of us use SLI or CrossFire, or a Multi-GPU card.
     
  15. r3loaded

    r3loaded Minimodder

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    There is one upside to multi-GPU - it lets you buy a cheaper card, then another card when you have more money rather then spending hundreds on a top-end card up front. It certainly makes it easier to budget for upgrades.
     
  16. Deders

    Deders Modder

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    +1 r3loaded, I have to say that my 2nd 9800gtx+ has enabled me to continue playing the latest games with the highest detail.

    I've only ever had to wait a couple of days maximum for nvidia to sort out an SLI profile that nearly doubles my framerates where it counts. Crysis on Very High from ~22fps single card to ~40fps SLI average with Vsync enabled with an average 330w (load) power draw from the wall, and that's with my 4 core cpu overclocked by a GHz. (put in perspective, at 85% that is less than half the total 650w that most psu calculators recommend for my rig) Just Cause 2 with the nvidia only features switched on ~30fps, plus it gives me the flexibility to switch SLI off and have my 2nd card power those amazing Scarecrow Physx sequences in Arkham Asylum.

    It almost makes me feel sad to upgrade to a shiny new 460/560 when I know i'll get around the same performance in most current games, but at least I can reassure myself that when the time comes I can nearly double that once again.
     
    Last edited: 17 Dec 2010
  17. Uxon

    Uxon Minimodder

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    This, unless you don't mind waiting for the 6990.
     
  18. earlydoors

    earlydoors Minimodder

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    This is pretty much my stance on dual GPUs. Although I'll be gaming on my computer, it'll still be used for movies, music, photos, internet and all the usual shizzle.

    Those crossfire 6950 benchies were interesting, though.
     
  19. Siwini

    Siwini What is 4+no.5?

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    I don't like this GTX 580, its too fast.
     
  20. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    Still CrossFire though.
     

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