PSU / GPU / CPU Work together for update to my build?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
C

cbjfan2009

Distinguished
Nov 15, 2011
5
0
18,510
Hi folks, glad to be back on here because it means I'm looking to upgrade components!!
I currently have:
Seasonic X-Series 660W PSU
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 mobo
Intel i5-2500k CPU
8GB DDR3-1333 (I believe...I know I have 8GB)
Asus GTX 560 variant (factory OC blah blah blah)

I want to update my GPU. I'm looking at a GTX 770 for some serious overkill (my monitor is a 11 year old 19" Dell Ultrasharp I got going to college freshman year that runs at 1280x1024, but still looks great and only has 1 sorta-dead pixel). Rarely, I'll hook it up to my 1080p big screen.

Will my PSU support the upgrade? The box says 12v rail maximum is 54A. I've seen elsewhere that 12v rail is important, but I don't know the exact draw on GTX 770 (are all of them the same, regardless of factory OC-ing?).

Secondly, my understanding is that my CPU, a Sandy Bridge, was not engineered to support the PCI-E 3.0 system used by GTX 770. Is this correct? If it's correct, does that mean a GTX 770 is still usable in my system, but it will operate as if it were a PCI-E 2.0 card (which, as I've also read, would not bottleneck the card's performance more than a few percent)?

Thirdly, a newer CPU of Sandy Bridge architecture, which I've read supports PCI-E 3.0, doesn't work on my MOBO's socket, correct?

I greatly appreciate your input!!
 
Solution
qbsinfo
your PSU is fine. since the 770 will use between 180-191 there is plenty of room (look at he peak graph not max - running furmark stresses much more than anything in RL). the rest of your system won't go above 150 watts no matter how hard you OC.

sure sandy can handle a pci 3.0 like it was 2.0. but where did you get the idea you can upgrade to ivy?
http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3853

upgrade the BIOS to F12 w a sandy chip and you're good to go.

get the 770! since you can find 1080 monitor for ~$100 used, get the higher cost item first.
Sort by date Sort by votes
qbsinfo

qbsinfo

Honorable
Jul 26, 2012
601
0
11,360
your PSU is fine. since the 770 will use between 180-191 there is plenty of room (look at he peak graph not max - running furmark stresses much more than anything in RL). the rest of your system won't go above 150 watts no matter how hard you OC.

sure sandy can handle a pci 3.0 like it was 2.0. but where did you get the idea you can upgrade to ivy?
http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3853

upgrade the BIOS to F12 w a sandy chip and you're good to go.

get the 770! since you can find 1080 monitor for ~$100 used, get the higher cost item first.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
S

sedona

Honorable
Jan 13, 2014
174
0
10,710
Since your GTX 560 graphics card has twin DVI ports, you should spend the money on dual displays. 23" or 24" LED LCD monitors are quite cheap nowadays, or your mates can give you second-hand. I find that dual displays are much more fun than one big expensive 27" or 30" screen, because for example I set up extended desktop mode and put Facebook and email client on left screen, while I browse Youtube or play games on right screen. I am sure that a dual display 23"/24" screens 2x1920x1080 pixels will UPGRADE your experience better than to buy new components to "speed up" computing power on a tiny 19" screen you have.

Your GTX 560 is still quite capable, and it might be a waste of money to buy FPS (frames per second) you won't notice anyway.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

3949026708_93f034b38c_z.jpg

Dual+Monitors+2.jpg


Don't spend money on dual monitor stand, not worth it. Just find a clean desk to put two 23", 24" side by side (or two 27" when you like it), connected to your graphics card's twin DVI ports. And if you have extra money, then find a way to connect to your wall-mounted large screen TV using a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adaptor for a third screen. Your GTX 560 can do all that and more .....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
C

cbjfan2009

Distinguished
Nov 15, 2011
5
0
18,510

Firstly, thanks for the replies. I mistyped: I didn't think I could get an Ivy Bridge CPU without getting a new mobo. I don't know what you're insinuating with mentioning upgrading the BIOS...
As your reply was the only one to address most directly my questions about the CPU compliance for PCI-E backward compatibility and addressing the power supply limits, you get best answer award from me.
To the comments about upgrading monitors: I didn't ask about that because I don't have space for a new monitor on my desk. It's a small desk; I'd have to buy new furniture to support 1 23-24" widescreen, let alone 2 or more screens. My TV is downstairs, so it's only used in gaming when I feel like yanking all the peripherals and moving my tower. As I have the money now to buy a new video card (not two or three monitors and a computer desk and a GPU), that's why I'm asking if the rest of my rig can handle/support it.


 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

sedona

Honorable
Jan 13, 2014
174
0
10,710

GTX 560 is powerful enough, and the money spent on a new GTX 770 can go towards a 23"/24" or two 23"/24" monitors. You have a really powerful rig with 660W power supply and i5-2500K and we just felt sorry you are missing the enjoyment because of a tiny 19" screen. Getting the GTX 770 will mean wasting a good piece of GTX 560 sitting around as dead weight ....... and still on 19" screen.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
qbsinfo

qbsinfo

Honorable
Jul 26, 2012
601
0
11,360


go here:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3853#dl

put in BIOS for download type from the drop down menu. should give you
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3853#bios

read the directions to reflash the BIOS here:
http://www.gigabyte.com/webpage/20/HowToReflashBIOS.html
out of the three option maybe give "Qflash" the most consideration . .just saying)

now let me give an opiion: you really won't get much going with an ivy bridge cpu over what you have now, they is absolutely no difference between pci-e 2.0 and 3.0 performance for a single card and you may get about a ~7% increase in gaming from the cpu itself @ the same clock speed- it really wouldn't be worth it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom