GPU advice sought

[marlinman]

Friends -

I'm having trouble deciding on a gaming GPU with which to replace my ancient 9600GT. Tom's latest 'Best Graphics Cards For The Money' article has been my main guide, but as I live in New Zealand, I'm not sure how well it 'translates' to local conditions. My only real concern is price vs performance, and to this end I've determined the lowest local prices at which select GPUs on each level of Tom's 'Graphics Cards Hierarchy Chart' can be found. My results (in order of chart level):

GTX590/HD6990: unavailable
GTX580: $741
GTX570: $510
GTX560Ti [1Gb]/HD6950 [2Gb]: $381/$438
HD6870: $312
HD6850: $241

Does anything stand out on this list as a more- or less-attractive option? I'm quite prepared to SLI/CF if need be as I'm in need of a new platform as well, and am also in the market for a TFT, so gruntiness @2560x1600 may be required.

Whatever I choose must be able to display Witcher 2, Rage, and Skyrim in all their glory!

Appreciate any thoughts...

Edit: Please ignore current system specs; I'm building a new rig!

 

[happymedium]

buy 1 6950 2gb and when you get the 2500x1600 monitor add another one.

 

[CMadki4]

That's a heck of a range of a cards! I'm sure they'll all play W2, Rage and Skyrim in all their glory (and Crysis, ha!). Personally, I'd go ahead a knock off the 6850 and 6870 off the list. The 6950 1GB or 2GB would be great. You can always add one later if you need it. Just pick a good motherboard to seat them in.

 

[marlinman]

Thanks to you both - I've plumped for a single 2Gb HD6950 (Sapphire) and will throw in another if I need to once other parts upgraded. Nice to be told what you secretly want to hear anyway ;-) .

 

[kingdom9214]

Get the 6950 2gb, If your going to run at 2560x1600 your really going to need that extra ram