@Searz and any other computer buffs: HELP ME BUILD

[quote=Searz][h2]The 6950 performs better than the GTX560 Ti (very little, but still) [b]and it costs ~20-25 bucks less.[/b][/h2] [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162089]GTX560 Ti[/url] with a good cooler. [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102987]HD6950[/url] with a good cooler. AND you might be able to BIOS-flash it for over 10% performance boost. Here's a picture of the overall performance of the GTX500series and HD6000 series: http://www.sweclockers.com/image/diagram/2068?k=9e6570e337b7e769da561ea027d891a6[/quote]

[quote=wRAthoFVuLK]How can I tell which cooler is good and which isn't? Also what's the difference between SLI and CF? And how can I tell the difference? And if you could choose any card that is $400 or under, and will have the best OC capabilities and be able to perform well even in like 3 years, which one would you choose? Also, what kind of surface should I work on? Especially if I want to put the CPU and heatsink on outside of the case...I heard cardboard was a good option?[/quote]

[quote=Searz]SLI and CF are techniques for connecting several graphic cards together, just that CF is for AMD cards and SLI is for Nvidia cards. It doesn't work well in all games though, so I think it's kind of a useless feature personally. Reviews and size of fans. The bigger the fans, the more air they move for the noise they make. People usually state their temperatures in the description and if you know a lil' about GPU temps then you might be able to draw a conclusion from it. If I were to choose a GPU right now I'd go with the HD6950 or the HD6870. I think those have the best price/performance atm. OBVIOUSLY the 6950 if you want the GPU to last a bit longer. If I had a bit more cash I'd go with GTX670.[/quote]

[quote=wRAthoFVuLK]If I were to get the 670: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787 The more expensive one seems to have some better clocks and stuff...would I get better performance getting the latter and then OCing that one? Or is it a waste of $40? And are those fans good?[/quote]

[quote=Searz]Those fans are both bad. And yes, it's a waste of 40$. These fans are good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162109 - overclocked, but 40$ more tho But none are in stock. If you're in that big a hurry you should just get the HD6950 instead. You really don't want a bad cooler.[/quote]

[quote=wRAthoFVuLK]And GIGABYTE is as reliable as EVGA? And if I got the overclocked one, would I not have to OC myself?[/quote]

[quote=wRAthoFVuLK]also, why would this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162108 (with I assume reference coolers) be $10 MORE than the non-reference GIGABYTE one with faster clocks...lol. And why does the first non-OCed one have 3 fans, but the OCed only has 2 o-o[/quote]

[quote=Searz]Gigabyte is reliable. If you get a card that is overclocked as heavily as the one I mentioned you wouldn't have to OC much yourself. You don't HAVE to OC anyway. It's just a small bonus. Do choose what you're gonna do. Either wait, get another card or use another site.[/quote]