GPU for Tomb Raider

[lemming9]

I'm thinking of getting a new GPU and have found a few options. But I'm wondering how well each will play current games. My options so far are as follows. (Prices in $ for comparison)

HD 7850 OC @ 1100/1300MHz 2GB 256bit Cores: 1024 TMU: 64 ROP: 32 ($160)
HD 7870 Tahiti LE @ 925/1200MHz 2GB 256bit Cores: 1536 TMU: 80 ROP: 32 ($240)
GTX 660 TI @ 1000/1500MHz 2GB 192bit Cores: 1344 TMU: 112 ROP: 24 ($250)

The most demanding of the games is Tomb Raider so I'd like to consider that as the basis for comparison. I'd like to be playing at 1080p with all options set to max including TressFX.

The NVIDIA is only 192bit compared to AMDs 256bit, but it has a much higher TMU. Is this better to have than higher streams and ROPs? Also NVIDIA have PhysX and CUDA. Given it has the highest price is this better even though it has a lower bandwidth and ROPs?

If none of these cards will run Tomb Raider at 1080p with TressFX then would 2 HD 7850s in Cross Fire outperform both the HD 7870 Tahiti LE & GTX 660 TI?

Any other choices that may be better at a similar price point?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DeafHeavn]

According to Steam, the recommended GPU's are ATI Radeon HD 5870/GTX 480. You should be fine with any of those cards.

That doesn't necessarily mean they will run on maxed out settings. Then again, they are higher end cards. IF you are that concerned (and have the money to blow), then grab two 7870's and Crossfire them. That'll definitely do the trick.

 

[ATMINSIDE]

How about a GTX760? They're $250 also and faster than any of those 3.

 

[trueblack]

I will recommend you to look at the FPS comparison.

dont worry too much about the other specs, at the end of the day, the FPS dictates your gaming experience:

you can follow this link to see a comparison by techpowerup.com, done recently.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_780_TF_Gaming/26.html

 

[DeafHeavn]

Here is something else to check out for your research on the 760.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-760-review-gk104,3542-16.html

 

[Ivy]

As long as you dont use TressFX you are pretty much fine with any upper mid range card, so i would recommend either Radeon 7870/7950 or a GTX 760. All of them will handle pretty much 60 FPS in most situations. However, if you enable TressFX even a high end card (such as 7970) may go down to 40-45 FPS, a mid range card (7870(LE/OC)/760) may not exceed around 30 FPS, but its still playable without troubles. Below 25 FPS is usualy troubesome (some genres such as Shooters/Racing may start to become troublesome at lower than 40 FPS already, so its genre related too). Tomb Raider isnt that much FPS demanding because its not a reaction based game, its a adventure with action related elements and some RPG elements too, so around 30 FPS could be sufficient. Of course 60 FPS is perfect but perfection isnt always required for a good game experience.

Although be warned, Tomb Raider at max settings + TressFX is hitting the GPU very hard, so you need some good cooling.

If you use a (upper) midrange card, you certainly will need some good OC to get above 30 FPS, when TreesFX enabled. Using a 7970 you may not need to OC a lot but just as i said, even on that card you may not exceed 40-45 average FPS, but thats fine in order to play it. It have to be said that Radeon cards generally may handle high AA settings with lesser performance loss because they got higher GPIX performance, but full AA may not be required for a nice graphic experience on 1080P.

In short:
Sufficient: 7870 (LE/OC)/7950 or 760: When OC, the 7870(LE/OC)/760 may reach around 30 average FPS, the 7950 may run at around 35 average FPS.
Good: 7970: May run at around 40-45 average FPS Thats "good", no need for more than that (if you are willing to spend 350-400 $ its pretty much the best bet).

In term you dont want to spend more than around 250 $ the 7870 LE or 760 is your best choice (both may be able to peform comparable, dependable on clock). Prehaps you can get a 7950 for less than 300 $, that would be a small upgrade and definitely worth it. Prehaps some trusted user may want to sell theyr 7970 for a GTX 780 upgrade, and you may get the 7970 at a discount price for less than 350 $, that would surely be the very best option. In term you even get out some good clocks... more than fine for your needs.

Any card with weaker specs than that is not recommended (7850 is inferior, and a 660 TI is usualy lesser price/performance ratio than a 760 but not any stronger).

 

[lemming9]

According to Steam, the recommended GPU's are ATI Radeon HD 5870/GTX 480. You should be fine with any of those cards.

That doesn't necessarily mean they will run on maxed out settings. Then again, they are higher end cards. IF you are that concerned (and have the money to blow), then grab two 7870's and Crossfire them. That'll definitely do the trick.

For some reason I felt like trying to run maxed out at 1080p on a new card but I guess since none of my initial choices would do that I would have simply ordered the cheapest HD 7850 as it was a third off. But that offer has been taken now and I may have to spend more anyway so thanks for the link to the GTX 760

How about a GTX760? They're $250 also and faster than any of those 3.

Here is something else to check out for your research on the 760.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-760-review-gk104,3542-16.html

From what I can tell, the GTX 760 is very similar to the GTX 660 TI. As the HD 7850 OC was also similar or slightly better to the GTX 660 TI I almost wish I had grabbed the HD 7850 OC at a third off when I had the chance.

 

[Knufire]

AFAIK the 7870 is more comparable the 660Ti than the 7850. The 760 also falls between the 660Ti and 670, it's definitely a step up.

 

[lemming9]

I will recommend you to look at the FPS comparison.

dont worry too much about the other specs, at the end of the day, the FPS dictates your gaming experience:

you can follow this link to see a comparison by techpowerup.com, done recently.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_780_TF_Gaming/26.html

Thanks. I think That's what I'll do. Looking at that link the cards on the Tomb Raider FPS comparison are all the current top of the range and well over $300 here which I'm trying to avoid.

One think I did notice though is that compared to
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_780_TF_Gaming/22.html
and
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-760-review-gk104,3542-16.html
which both quote the GTX 770, techpower quotes 46 FPS with TressFX off but tomshardware quotes 81 FPS with TressFX on. Both are at 1080P too which is what I'm looking for. Am I missing something?

 

[lemming9]

AFAIK the 7870 is more comparable the 660Ti than the 7850. The 760 also falls between the 660Ti and 670, it's definitely a step up.

Thanks mate. The HD 7850 I was looking at was a slightly OC version so that may account for the similarity to the 660Ti. But the stock HD7850 is definitely weaker than 660Ti and 760.

Would you say the 7870 Tahiti LE is better than them all? The best price for the Tahiti LE is 223 here but the 760 is going for over 357. is the 760 better than the Tahiti LE by a lot?

Edit: that should be 267 for the GTX 760

 

[Knufire]

Woah, that's ridiculous. The 7870 Tahiti LE and 760 are really close....they're almost the same price in the US though. At that much of a price difference, definitely go with the 7870 Le.

 

[lemming9]

Woah, that's ridiculous. The 7870 Tahiti LE and 760 are really close....they're almost the same price in the US though. At that much of a price difference, definitely go with the 7870 Le.

Slight mistake in the last post:

GTX 760 = 267
GTX 670 = 357
(They really should make their numbering system clearer)

The HD 7870 Tahiti LE = 223 which is is still cheaper.
(Least I got that right)

Still a bit of a difference in price but would you say the Tahiti LE is better than both the GTX 760 and GTX 670 so if the choice was just them then it has to be the Tahiti LE?

 

[ATMINSIDE]

The numbering system is clear, its two different generations (6xx and 7xx) and two different levels in each generation (x6x and x7x).

 

[Knufire]

It's not better...the 760 is slightly better than the Tahiti LE and the 670 is slightly better than the 760.

If you're looking at price/performance, 760 and 7870 Tahiti LE are pretty similar. Both are good options. I'd go for the 760 personally.

 

[lemming9]

The numbering system is clear, its two different generations (6xx and 7xx) and two different levels in each generation (x6x and x7x).

Well I was thinking if they just go 1,2,3,4,5.... then no 6gen would be better than a 7gen and would make things much simpler for comparisons. lol, just a joke. It was a typo last time.

Thanks for the tips about posting on the NVIDIA page and NVIDIA card recommendation. Much appreciated. Just need to do some comparison and see which would be worth it.

 

[lemming9]

It's not better...the 760 is slightly better than the Tahiti LE and the 670 is slightly better than the 760.

If you're looking at price/performance, 760 and 7870 Tahiti LE are pretty similar. Both are good options. I'd go for the 760 personally.

The reason I was thinking Tahiti LE was better at a better price was because I saw a min/avg FPS comparison on Tomb Raider at 1080p which was as follows:

HD7870 = 20/36
GTX 670 = 15/34
GTX760 = ??/??
HD7850 = 17/28
GTX660ti = 13/28

And that was the stock HD7870 so I expected the Tahiti LE to be even better. Strange.

 

[Knufire]

They're so close, I'd expect the LE to basically perform the same as the 760.

 

[ATMINSIDE]

Good comparison of the cards you're looking at. Check the blue bar, as it is for 1080p.

 

[lemming9]

They're so close, I'd expect the LE to basically perform the same as the 760.

As the HD7870TLE, GTX 760 & GTX 670 are all roughly the same, if those were the choices I'd go for whichever is cheapest at the time. But at least I know they are very similar so I can compare to others. Thanks.

 

[lemming9]

Good comparison of the cards you're looking at. Check the blue bar, as it is for 1080p.

Thanks. I had skimmed over that before but lost the link. Aside from the GTX 670 which I guess is similar to the HD7870TLE and GTX 760, this comparison nicely shows all the cards I've been looking at so that's really helpful.