PNY GeForce GTX 560 Ti Graphic Card Review
My opinion on graphics card choices for a new build is very simple. Always buy one generation behind. The way I see it is this: a graphics card which has been on the market for over 6 months has had the most software updates addressing performance with more games. Given that viewpoint, you can see why I absolutely appreciate what PNY has done with the GTX 560Ti. From its packaging to the look of the actual device to the performance, PNY has created a GPU that plays nice with DX11 games and holds its own against two 400series GPUs in SLI configuration.
Packaging
I can’t say enough about how I appreciate thoughtful packaging from a device manufacturer. The packaging for this device is sturdy, but it does not require the use of a sharp edge to open the plastic packaging of the graphics card itself, eliminating the possibility of damage to the device during unboxing.
From the onset, this card looks like a top-of-the-line contender. The gold XLR8 signature on the black body lends it an artistic look. However, measuring 8.25″ x 4.25″ x 1.5”, you would need a sizeable case for this device. Most of its size can be attributed to the sizeable cooling fan. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has bought a mid to high level GPU within the last 2 years.
Performance
PNY’s GTX 560Ti enthusiast edition packs a punch for a sub 300USD graphics card, holding its own against two GTX 470 in SLI mode. Although the two cards in SLI configuration scored higher than the GTX 560Ti, the difference in 3DMark scores was immaterial. During in-game testing with Batman Arkham City, the card delivers on its direct 11 promises. There was no noticeable slowdown at max system settings, during game play or cut scenes.
Overall
The GTX 560Ti delivers the performance which it promises. If you are looking for an affordable card as an upgrade or for a new gaming rig, you can’t go wrong with this card.
Specs
Product Specifications
Core Clock
822 MHz
Processor Cores
384
Processor Clock
1645 MHz
Texture Fill Rate
52.5 Billion/sec.
Memory Amount
1024MB GDDR5
Memory Data Rate, effective
4000 MHz
Memory Interface
256-bit
Memory Bandwidth
128 GB/sec.
Power & Thermal
170W – Active
On-board Outputs
DVI, DVI, and HDMI mini
Bus Type
PCI Express® 2.0
Key Features
- Full Microsoft DirectX 11 support
- NVIDIA CUDA™ technology support
- DirectCompute 5.0 Support
- OpenCL Support
- NVIDIA PhysX™ technology
- NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Ready1
- NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology2
- Dual-Link HDCP-Capable3
- OpenGL 4.1 support
Minimum System Requirements
- PCI Express or PCI Express 2.0-compliant motherboard with one dual-width x16 graphics slot
- Two 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors
- A minimum 500W or greater system power supply (with a minimum 12V current rating of 30A)4
- Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon XP class processor or higher
- 200MB of available hard disk space
- 2GB system memory (4GB recommended)
- Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 Operating System (32 or 64-bit)
- DVD-ROM drive for installation
- DVI or HDMI or VGA compatible monitor
Package Contents
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti Graphics Card
- Quick Installation Guide
- Installation CD, which includes:
– Detailed Installation Guide
– NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
– PhysX System Software
– 3DVision Software - One DVI-to-VGA adapter
- One Mini HDMI-to-HDMI adapter
- One 6-pin PCIe to Molex power adapter
