[179232]

I have never bought a Nvidia GPU. I have always stuck with ATI. However, I am considering buying one.

I will mainly be using the GPU for gaming. I would prefer it if it had DX11 support, but it is alright if it doesn't. I should be under $250, and no SLI cards, because my MB only supports 1 GPU.

I'm thinking about either the HD 6870 from ATI or an Nvidia card, but I don't know which one. What are the benefits of buying an Nvidia card over ATI right now?

Also, 6870 is the best ATI card under $250, so I am looking for the best Nvidia card under $250

And also, how does the best Nvidia card under $250 compare to the 6870?

Thanks for the help. I am really unfamiliar with Nvidia cards so I am looking forward to looking at your responses when I come back from the shower.

 

[Ipwnnubletz]

Under $250? The GeForce 560 Ti is right at $250. It's a great card for its price.

 

[juano]

Here is a Gigabyte 560 for $215 shipped after rebate which is a great deal right now and is the best Nvidia card under $250. The best AMD card available right now under $250 is actually the 6950 which is a much better value than the 6870 and even has about a 97% chance of unlocking into a 6970.

As for Nvidia benefits there are things like PhysX, Cuda, and I believe being better at tasks like [email protected] As well as the better tessellation on the Nvidia 400 and 500 series cards when compared to anything from AMD. Some people will also consider Nvidia's drivers to be better than AMD's and while I won't comment on "better" or not I can certainly say that I prefer them to AMd's. Also this generation AMD seems to have the worse reference design coolers really across the board, but that can be mitigated by buying a card with a custom cooler.

I should mention after all these things though that the AMD 6950 I linked you to will be faster than the 560 even without unlocking to a 6970 so if outright performance is what you are looking for the 6950 is the one to get. Even considering price/performance the 6950 is hard to beat right now. The 560 will be cooler and quieter though because as I mentioned the AMD reference coolers aren't that great currently.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/290?vs=330

 

[Bradford1040]

well with shopping buy price, I would have to agree with juano but from all I read about nvidia (as I love there cards) the 560 is not really the best choice here, I dare say this (oh my god) the ati beats the nvidia lower end cards, I would stick with ati if that is your price range! I would like to add that you can buy a referb. gtx480 for 299.00 which is almost the same as the new 580 just a few differences like the shadders/cuda cores and the better gpu cooler! I would think about buying what ever you can upgrade in the future and the 560 well you have to sli which you can't do on your board now but if you where to upgrade you are still stuck with just one more card (only 2 way sli capable) and the 570 is having vrm problems from what I read as well as the 590 is to.

these are just opinions of mine trust me I don't want any fights over trying to give you advise, as for Nvidia I love the driver updates compared to Ati's and just all around more stable from my experience, but I am no expert just a guy that likes to game!

 

[juano]

LOL gotta love Ackbar, but I fail to see the trap. Regardless even at $187 after rebate I still don't think the 6870 is a good value compared to the 6950 at $243 so I would really recommend either the 560 (if you want Nvidia, quiet or tessellation) or the 6950 (if you want AMD, performance or gobs of VRAM)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bradford1040;12986954
... from all I read about nvidia (as I love there cards) the 560 is not really the best choice here, I dare say this (oh my god) the ati beats the nvidia lower end cards, I would stick with ati if that is your price range! ...

I agree that the 6950 is the way to go if you can stand it's relatively noisy cooler (compared to the 560) It's just a very good card at it's current price point.

 

[Razi3l]

I'd get the HIS 6950 that's on newegg for $215 or $220 after MIR. It's faster than a 560 but the 560 would be the next best thing.

 

[TickleMeElmo]

I would have to agree the 6950 is a better value proposition.

 

[robwadeson]

If you only game and do nothing else with your gfx card then stick with ATI because their value is hard to beat. If you fold and photoshop and 3D rendering use Nvidia, and of course game. The extra price is worth it if you do those tasks along with gaming.

 

[Anth0789]

Performance per Dollar:

Maybe that shall help you decide.

 

[Razi3l]

But the 6950 is about $5 more so it would be about equal. xD

 

[kcuestag]

I'd agree, for that price I would go for a 6950Gb 2Gb over a GTX560 (You can unlock the HD6950 2Gb and have a "free" HD6970

).

 

[Razi3l]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcuestag;12988551
I'd agree, for that price I would go for a 6950Gb 2Gb over a GTX560 (You can unlock the HD6950 2Gb and have a "free" HD6970

).

Actually it's a 1GB but they also unlock with the shader unlock (not using a 6970 bios).

 

[Blueduck3285]

I love my Nvidia but I would agree with the others. If your only looking at gaming and no other tasks, 6950 is your best value.