Worth upgrading from an 88GT?

[RabidDeathGnome]

At the moment my rig is:

8800GT /w S1 + turbo module @ Can't remember clocks, but maximum OC
E8400 on water @ 4ghz
2x2GB 1066mhz RAM
640GB F1 HDD
650w Xigmatek Modular
Thermaltake Armour case
X-Fi Fatal1ty sound card
Various fans/Watercooling setup (2x120mm RAD/Pump/CPU Block/Res)

I was thinking of buying a GTX 570 (I play @ 1680x1050) but was wondering it was worth upgrading or putting more down on a higher card? I'm going to be re-building in the summer to a new CPU/RAM/Mobo. Replacing the CPU block so it'll still be on water but re-using the HDD/Case/Rest of the loop/PSU/Soundcard etc.

[Pob255]

you don't get much higher than the gtx570, however for 1680x1050 res I'd say it's overkill, a gtx560 or 6870 max would be my advice.
Although I'd probably look at the cheaper option of a gtx460 1gb or 6850 as better price vs performance.

[Skulltrail]

The higher end 560s, especially when OC'd will match base 570s, so I'd go down that route.

[scaryjim]

Is this an upgrade now, or when you get the new rig?

I certainly wouldn't bother getting the graphics upgrade now if you're going to rebuild soon - prices are far more likely to drop than go up!

If you're planning a new monitor in the next couple of years then go for the GTX570 as you'll be glad of the extra power at higher res and with newer games generally being more graphically intensive - it'll last you longer (and they overclock pretty well too). If you can't see yourself replacing the monitor in the near future then as everyone else says save a bit of money and go with the GTX560 Ti / HD6950 for ~ £200 as they'll overclock nicely and be *more* than sufficient @ 16x10... put the savings towards a decent SSD as an OS drive.

[RabidDeathGnome]

The higher end 560s, especially when OC'd will match base 570s, so I'd go down that route.

I would custom cool and max OC the 570 too so that point is kind of moot. I would overclock whichever card I got

you don't get much higher than the gtx570, however for 1680x1050 res I'd say it's overkill, a gtx560 or 6870 max would be my advice.
Although I'd probably look at the cheaper option of a gtx460 1gb or 6850 as better price vs performance.

I don't upgrade GPUs very often (My 88GT is four years old) so when I do I pay out for it to last 4 or so years while still maintaining good settings. For me, the 6850 isn't worth spending on to upgrade over the 88GT, the performance is too similar. I looked at the 560 and decided for a similar reason I would prefer the 570.

Is this an upgrade now, or when you get the new rig?

I certainly wouldn't bother getting the graphics upgrade now if you're going to rebuild soon - prices are far more likely to drop than go up!

If you're planning a new monitor in the next couple of years then go for the GTX570 as you'll be glad of the extra power at higher res and with newer games generally being more graphically intensive - it'll last you longer (and they overclock pretty well too). If you can't see yourself replacing the monitor in the near future then as everyone else says save a bit of money and go with the GTX560 Ti / HD6950 for ~ £200 as they'll overclock nicely and be *more* than sufficient @ 16x10... put the savings towards a decent SSD as an OS drive.

It would go into my current rig then be transferred over to the new rig in the summer. I agree, it would probably be a good idea to wait though, considering I'd hardly use the new card with my exams so near.

I don't think I'll be getting a new monitor in the next few years but it's always a possibility. I'd say I'm quite happy with 20". I could see myself getting a cheap 15-17" though and running it alongside it to run other apps while gaming (Web/Vent/Messenger/etc). Although, having just looked at how cheap monitors are now I'm kind of tempted to pick up a ~23" and run it alongside my 20"

Not a fan of SSDs, just can't see the price/performance at the moment over HDDs .

The cheaper cards, I've been out of the market a bit lately, would they be strong enough to max any game at the moment? I'm planning on building a heck of a computer over the summer and wouldn't want it to be let down by the GPU, I try to balance my builds as best as possible.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

A GTX560TI or an HD6950 are very similar in speed to an HD5870 but have better tessellation. However,Scan have the HD5870 1GB on Today only quite frequently for around £137.

I would probably get an reference HD6950 2GB for around £200 as many of these can be unlocked to the same number of shaders as an HD6970 2GB safely.

The 11.4 drivers seem to bring decent performance boosts in many games too:

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/40...sis/index.html