GeForce GTX 480 or GeForce GTX 570?

If the choice is between the GTX 480 and the GTX 570 I'd opt for the GTX570. The cards are very similar in performance but the GTX 570 uses considerably less power.
 
If you're gaming at 1920x1200 or below and not interested in overclocking then the GTX570 is definitely the way to go.
The 480 comes into it's own at 2560x1600/1440 and higher levels of IQ (8xMSAA, advanced tesselation, ambient occlusion etc.) due to a wider memory bus and frame buffer more than offsetting the lower clocks. The 480 is in general a better overclocker, but at the expense (both in stock and OC'ed form)- as Mizzou pointed out- of greater power usage and attendant heat and noise output.
 
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