Tom's Hardware > All Reviews > Components > Graphics Cards > Five Overclocked GeForce GTX 560 Ti Cards, Compared

Five Overclocked GeForce GTX 560 Ti Cards, Compared

06:10 - Tuesday 22 February 2011 by Thomas Soderstrom

1. Not Quite Extreme, Way Beyond Mainstream
2. Asus GTX560 Ti DirectCU II TOP
3. Asus SmartDoctor
4. Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti SOC
5. Gigabyte OC Guru
6. Jetway N560-E8-1GV
7. MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC
8. MSI Afterburner
9. Palit GTX560Ti Sonic
10. Palit VTune

11. Sparkle Calibre X560
12. Sparkle SX560T1024D5MH
13. Test Settings
14. Benchmark Results: 3DMark11
15. Benchmark Results: Aliens Vs. Predator
16. Benchmark Results: Crysis
17. Benchmark Results: F1 2010
18. Benchmark Results: Just Cause 2
19. Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat
20. Power, Heat, and Noise
21. Conclusion

We gave the GeForce GTX 560 Ti a thorough evaluation at launch. But Nvidia was perhaps most excited about some of its partners were doing with GF114. And so, we set out to find customized boards. Our search lead to five factory-overclocked alternatives.

What do you call a hardcore gamer who can’t afford the fastest parts, yet won’t settle for much less? We like to call them enthusiasts. But then again, we think the weekend warrior who spends six weeks in his garage turning a $3000 sedan into a race car is a bit more enthusiastic than the guy who buys a $150 000 status symbol. In the computer world, that’s what overclocking is often about.

The GeForce GTX 560 Ti was designed for just such a market. Unfortunately, not all graphics cards are created equal. Factory overclocked parts satisfy a third market, giving potential overclockers a chance to taste the performance of high-end parts when he may otherwise have been unable to “catch a break” in his own overclocking attempts. This is guaranteed speed without the prestigious model name that goes with it.

Only five of the many brands vying for this market were able to supply cards in time for today’s comparison. Before we set out to establish performance and value leadership, let’s take a look at the specifications of each competitor.

GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1 GB Comparison Specifications
	_{Asus ENGTX560 TI DCII TOP/2DI/1GD5}	_{Gigabyte GV-N560SO-1GI}	_{MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC}	_{Palit GTX560Ti Sonic}	_{Sparkle Calibre X560}	_{Sparkle SX560T1024D5MH}
GPU Clock	_{900 MHz}	_{1000 MHz}	_{880 MHz}	_{900 MHz}	_{1000 MHz}	_{820 MHz}
DRAM Data Rate	_GDDR5-4200	_GDDR5-4580	_GDDR5-4200	_GDDR5-4200	_GDDR5-4800	_GDDR5-4008
DVI	_{Two Dual-Link}	_{Two Dual-Link}	_{Two Dual-Link}	_{Two Dual-Link}	_{Two Dual-Link}	_{Two Dual-Link}
HDMI	_Mini	_Mini	_Mini	_Full-Size	_Mini	_Full-Size
DisplayPort	_None	_None	_None	_None	_None	_None
VGA	_{By Adapter}	_{By Adapter}	_{By Adapter}	_Onboard	_{By Adapter}	_{By Adapte}
Output Adapters	_{DVI to VGA Full HDMI}	_{DVI to VGA HDMI Cable}	_{DVI to VGA Full HDMI}	_None	_{DVI to VGA HDMI Cable}	_{DVI to VGA Full HDMI}
Length	_9.7"	_9.5"	_9.5"	_8.1"	_9.1"	_9.1"
Height	_4.5"	_5.8"	_4.4"	_4.4"	_5.2"	_4.4"
Total Thickness	_1.5"	_1.5"	_1.5"	_1.6"	_2.4"	_1.5"
Cooler Thickness	_1.4"	_1.4"	_1.4"	_1.4"	_2.2"	_1.4"
Weight	_{24 Ounces}	_{22 Ounces}	_{24 Ounces}	_{19 Ounces}	_{24 Ounces}	_{22 Ounces}
PCB Version	_{C1040P R1.00}	_Custom	_Custom	_Custom	_P1040	_P1040
VRM	_{Seven Phases}	_{Seven Phases}	_{Six Phases}	_{Five Phases}	_{Four Phases}	_{Four Phases}
Warranty	_{Three Years}	_{Three Years}	_{Three Years}	_{Two Years}	_Lifetime	_Lifetime

One company sent a second, standard-speed part to set the reference by which we could judge the level of improvement for other products. While it would be easy to simply hand a top-speed award to the fastest card, differences in warranty, price, and functionality make today’s comparison a true competition.