Thinking of upgrading my system

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millerj2740

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Apr 23, 2014
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Hello!

So, I guess the best place to start would be with my current setup:

CPU: Core i7 960 @ 3.2
MB: Sabertooth X58
Ram: 12 gb ddr3 (3 x 4GB)
VC: EVGA GTX 560Ti 1GB
OS: Windows Home Premium 64

If I remember correctly, I built this system roughly 4-5 years ago. (The video card was updated from the 8800 GT months after everything else).

I'd like to build a completely new machine but my hope is that I could just get away with a new video card for 1 or 2 more years... I was thinking either a gtx 770 4GB or 780 3GB, but these cards are PCI-E 3.0 whereas i think my Mobo is 2.0. Would they still be compatible?

I've also read a lot of other forums on what is a necessary amount of VRAM. Some people say 2GB is plenty, some people say that a heavily modded Skyrim chews up almost 4GB. With so many different opinions and pc setups, I don't know what the real deal is there.

I guess it all comes down to:
1. Upgrade gfx card and be set a few more years?

or

2. If I need a complete system overhaul, I'll just wait till the 800 series desktop GPU's come out and build all at at once (hopefully around the holidays with some sweet deals).

What would some of you aficionados do?
 
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Are you planning on playing Skyrim heavily modded? If so, then the 4GB would be your choice. Or if you plan on playing with a tri-monitor setup. Otherwise 2GB is more than sufficient for pretty much all single monitor resolutions. PCI 3.0 is completely backwards compatible with 2.0. You'll lose a very minimial amount of performance, so you don't have to worry about that.

If you're planning on building a completely new rig, I'd say just get the GPU now. No point in waiting in the tech world.
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enemy1g

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Oct 3, 2013
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Are you planning on playing Skyrim heavily modded? If so, then the 4GB would be your choice. Or if you plan on playing with a tri-monitor setup. Otherwise 2GB is more than sufficient for pretty much all single monitor resolutions. PCI 3.0 is completely backwards compatible with 2.0. You'll lose a very minimial amount of performance, so you don't have to worry about that.

If you're planning on building a completely new rig, I'd say just get the GPU now. No point in waiting in the tech world.
 
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ImPrettyIrish

ImPrettyIrish

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Oct 17, 2013
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Yes, you can use PCI-e 2.0 with a 3.0 card. It won't be as fast though but you shouldn't notice a difference. I would upgrade your graphics card to at least a 660. If you get a 770, you should be set for a few more years but save up for a new PC after about 2-3 years.
 
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Danbuscus25

Danbuscus25

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Feb 15, 2014
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well, your current setup is just fine for another year or 2, and if you can wait a while, then i would just wait for maxwell gpu's and build a whole new system. if you want more fps now, a second 560 ti will give you the most performance per dollar :p
 
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millerj2740

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Apr 23, 2014
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Thanks for the help! It really doesn't make sense to wait for the newest video card just around the corner, otherwise you'll always be waiting. I found an EVGA 4GB 770 classified for $450, and looked like the best deal at the moment so I went with it.
 
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