Need advice between two cards

[emidas]

The cards up for debate:

560 Ti, Twin Frozr ii, 2gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127608

560 Ti, 448 core, Twin Frozr iii, 1.28gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127615

The rest of my system (relevant parts only):

i5-2500k @ 4.5ghz
8GB DDR3 @ 1600
Corsair TX650 PSU
Two monitors, one at 1920x1080, the other maxes at 1680x1050
M4 Crucial 128GB SSD
1TB Seagate 7200RPM HDD


I'm going to try to be as informative as possible as to what I want and am aiming for. I'd like to be able to max all games (save BF3, I know how intensive that game can be) at 1920x1080. However, in the next month or so I'm going to pick up another 1920x1080 monitor and would like to span my display across both (so I guess 3840x1080?) if possible, while still getting great results from my gpu. I'd also like to be able to FRAPS the majority of my games, but I am unsure as to the gpu's role in fraps (someone told me it was only based on my cpu+hard drive).

If the 448 core version had 2gb, this wouldn't even be a debate. But I digress. I'd really like 2gb vram (I know multi-monitor setups are typically vram heavy), but the 448 core's performance is great.

[Ghâzh]

Well there's no point in running games with 2 screens (can't even?) as you are describing (3840x1080) so the extra video memory won't matter. You would need 3 screens for surround setup and that's impossible with only one card. Out of those two the 448 core version is better and should be enough to run 1920x1080 smoothly. Even though I'd consider gtx 570 as it's so closely prised anyway.

[emidas]

The 570 is $75 more (the TF3 version) than the 460 Ti 448. Is the performance increase worth that much?

[Ghâzh]

Yeah, probably not if it's that much more. On the other hand, that 448 core version is already past that ideal price / performance point really. When you go above gtx 560 ti / hd 6950 you start to pay more for less and the gains diminish exponently.

So, essentially, all the three cards (560 ti, 560 ti 448 core, 570) are pretty difficulty priced. You would be fine with regular 560 ti but the 448 core version bumps the performance up nicely. And when you are paying that much already, the 570 seems awfully tempting.

[Demoness]

You can get a GTX 570 for about $20 more, and the performance difference is more than $20 imo. I have been doing some research on this, and the 570 seems a tad better for the money, but the 560ti seems to be better for your money either way. I personally think that you are better off choosing between the 560ti non-448, and the 570.

[Nephilus]

You can get a GTX 570 for about $20 more, and the performance difference is more than $20 imo. I have been doing some research on this, and the 570 seems a tad better for the money, but the 560ti seems to be better for your money either way. I personally think that you are better off choosing between the 560ti non-448, and the 570.

Why would you recommend the non-448? i am looking to buy a 560ti and i am in the same rut as OP.

[emidas]

I don't want just any model though. I want a twin frozr and there is not a 20 dollar difference between them. The regular 560 Ti is not enough for my needs.