Season greetings, friends. The other night in b4nny's stream chat I mentioned I was in the market for a new gfx card, and with that, how out of the loop I am when it comes to such things. I had some great suggestions from the chat that have given me direction, but it was also mentioned that I might pick the brains of the great brainiacs here. So here I am.
Some necessary info:
- looking to spend $250-300
- 750W PSU
- i5 processor, 3000k
I heard some great numbers like, 290, 770, 970, 780??, 280? I'm somewhat capable of making a decision off these wonderful suggestions, but any insight you all here might wish to provide would go a long way.
I need to be ready with 800fps for when VALVE buffs the Classic. Please help.
Season greetings, friends. The other night in b4nny's stream chat I mentioned I was in the market for a new gfx card, and with that, how out of the loop I am when it comes to such things. I had some great suggestions from the chat that have given me direction, but it was also mentioned that I might pick the brains of the great brainiacs here. So here I am.
Some necessary info:
- looking to spend $250-300
- 750W PSU
- i5 processor, 3000k
I heard some great numbers like, 290, 770, 970, 780??, 280? I'm somewhat capable of making a decision off these wonderful suggestions, but any insight you all here might wish to provide would go a long way.
I need to be ready with 800fps for when VALVE buffs the Classic. Please help.
I bought a GTX 760 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130932 specifically) because I needed a new tower in a rush but the GTX 970 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487076 - just a random one I grabbed) is supposed to have more bang for its buck. I have a 650w sitting in here with that 760, dunno if anyone I know has a 970 yet so I couldn't tell you power requirements outside of reading the specs page on newegg. Either card will most likely do you just fine for Source games (although I dunno what exactly your i5 is, I've got a 4690k) and I haven't been let down so far. Pretty much every game I've thrown at the combo + 8gb DDR3 1600 RAM has run just fine (triple-digit framerates) at high settings.
I bought a GTX 760 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130932 specifically) because I needed a new tower in a rush but the GTX 970 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487076 - just a random one I grabbed) is supposed to have more bang for its buck. I have a 650w sitting in here with that 760, dunno if anyone I know has a 970 yet so I couldn't tell you power requirements outside of reading the specs page on newegg. Either card will most likely do you just fine for Source games (although I dunno what exactly your i5 is, I've got a 4690k) and I haven't been let down so far. Pretty much every game I've thrown at the combo + 8gb DDR3 1600 RAM has run just fine (triple-digit framerates) at high settings.
also, soon the 960 will come out, so if ur budget isn't enough for a 970, then get that.
PSU wattage isn't that important, 500W is more than enough for any single-gpu card now existent, more important is low ripple, right amount and stable current mainly on 12v rails (in this case), and on all rails (5/3.3v).
also, soon the 960 will come out, so if ur budget isn't enough for a 970, then get that.
PSU wattage isn't that important, 500W is more than enough for any single-gpu card now existent, more important is low ripple, right amount and stable current mainly on 12v rails (in this case), and on all rails (5/3.3v).
Agreed with rock-, wait for the GTX960 to come out, or save another 50-100 dollars and get a GTX970, best video card buy at the moment.
Agreed with rock-, wait for the GTX960 to come out, or save another 50-100 dollars and get a GTX970, best video card buy at the moment.
Again people spreading info about PSUs that is just so incorrect and a waste of money, THX TWITCH CHAT
Again people spreading info about PSUs that is just so incorrect and a waste of money, THX TWITCH CHAT
Thanks, I updated the i5 info. Sorry to say, rock, but I have no idea how to figure the rails info. Hardware is something I've always been oblivious about, for the most part.
The 970 looks enticing.
Thanks, I updated the i5 info. Sorry to say, rock, but I have no idea how to figure the rails info. Hardware is something I've always been oblivious about, for the most part.
The 970 looks enticing.
BLoodSireThanks, I updated the i5 info. Sorry to say, rock, but I have no idea how to figure the rails info. Hardware is something I've always been oblivious about, for the most part.
The 970 looks enticing.
there should be written in specs, just tell us your model, even if i think that'll do it, you don't need 100% perfect stable current and perfect clean voltage to make your vga work properly
[quote=BLoodSire]Thanks, I updated the i5 info. Sorry to say, rock, but I have no idea how to figure the rails info. Hardware is something I've always been oblivious about, for the most part.
The 970 looks enticing.[/quote]
there should be written in specs, just tell us your model, even if i think that'll do it, you don't need 100% perfect stable current and perfect clean voltage to make your vga work properly
970 is a great sweetspot, will be excellent for 1080p gaming for several years
970 is a great sweetspot, will be excellent for 1080p gaming for several years
if you have the money the 970 is great. high performance to cost ratio and it is very power efficient.
if you have the money the 970 is great. high performance to cost ratio and it is very power efficient.
If you can go higher, get a 970
my friend just got one and holy fuck that card is fast and OC'd it barely got over 60C
If you can go higher, get a 970
my friend just got one and holy fuck that card is fast and OC'd it barely got over 60C
As I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.
As I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.
KhakiAs I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.
Yup, source engine is mostly CPU-bound.
[quote=Khaki]As I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.[/quote]
Yup, source engine is mostly CPU-bound.
KhakiAs I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.
Thats true for Source based games such as TF2 and CSGO, but in most other games a better gfx card will definitely make a difference
[quote=Khaki]As I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.[/quote]
Thats true for Source based games such as TF2 and CSGO, but in most other games a better gfx card will definitely make a difference
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-4.html
sidestepKhakiAs I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.
Thats true for Source based games such as TF2 and CSGO, but in most other games a better gfx card will definitely make a difference
yeah sorry I meant to put that in my post, forgot and left it out
[quote=sidestep][quote=Khaki]As I've heard from research, gfx card won't make much of a difference as far as fps goes compared to upgrading your cpu will, however I just built a new rig myself and am using the gtx 970, OC'd about 15% with MSI Afterburner, and it performs very well and very quietly.[/quote]
Thats true for Source based games such as TF2 and CSGO, but in most other games a better gfx card will definitely make a difference[/quote]
yeah sorry I meant to put that in my post, forgot and left it out
Thanks for all the tips. 970 is looking strong.
Thanks for all the tips. 970 is looking strong.