New GPU for my build

kevin07 · May 7, 2014

Hey,

Looking to purchase a new GPU for my build below, want to get higher frames on games like Skyrim and Fallout with ENBs enabled:

i5 3570K @ 3.40ghz
xfx 650w PSU
Sapphire Radeon 7850 2gb
ASRock Z77 Extreme 4 Motherboard
2x 4gb Corsair Vengence black RAM
1TB WD Caviar black
Corsair 400R Case

Resolution currently: 1680x1050

Any help appreciated, looking for something under the £300 mark.

VanillaSprinkles · May 7, 2014

Maybe a 760 or 770? A 770 is overkill on 1080P.

Danbuscus25 · May 7, 2014

gtx 770.

enemy1g · May 7, 2014

Another vote for the 770. 770 isn't overkill @ 1080p either. It's pretty close to maxing out games at 1080p, but not quite there. A 780 would max out 1080p, and the 780 Ti would definitely be overkill.

Plusthinking Iq · May 7, 2014

770 is almost twice the gpu power, should net you a great improvement. must have power to spare, keeping above 60fps is not easy in many games.

VanillaSprinkles · May 7, 2014

enemy1g :

A 780 and a 780 Ti are both overkill for 1080P. I have a 780 and i'm maxing out anything and everything that I throw at it

DonQuixoteMC · May 7, 2014

You're currently not playing at 1080p, so a GTX 770 will handle anything you throw at it. It's also one of the best cards in its price range.

However, you do still have some room in your budget, as the GTX 770 is only around £250.

For a bit more (£300) you could get the R9 290. (http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr92904gbd5ppdhe)

They'll both perform the same at your resolution, but the R9 290 will pull ahead of the 770 after you reach 1080p on certain games (like Crysis 3 or Metro Last Light). This performance difference is only by a few (~5-9) FPS.

As for features, the GTX 770 supports Shadowplay and GeForce experience (sounds like a gimmick, it's actually pretty nice). Runs cooler, uses less power. Generally better drivers.

While the R9 290 supports Mantle (may be helpful in certain games). Runs hotter, uses more power.

For a 5-10 FPS difference, you could get the R9 290 for £50 more than a 770. However, the 770 has some nicer features.

It's up to you!

illuminatuz · May 7, 2014

go for AMD.. R9 280 or something like that.. or Nvidia GTX 770 and above..

The Tires:

Nvidia: GTX 590, 680, 770
AMD: HD 7970 GHz Ed, R9 280X

Nvidia GTX 670, 760
AMD: HD 7950, 280

These are similar in performance.. (you won't maybe get the HD 79xx series from AMD)

you pick something that costs least to you..

I suggest you go with AMD because AMD offers better bandwidth (384bit) at the same price than Nvidia (256 bit).. if you are going for 4k gaming or something, the AMD will not fail you because you will need the higher bandwidth, hence future proof..

Danbuscus25 · May 7, 2014

DonQuixoteMC :

You're currently not playing at 1080p, so a GTX 770 will handle anything you throw at it. It's also one of the best cards in its price range.

However, you do still have some room in your budget, as the GTX 770 is only around £250.

For a bit more (£300) you could get the R9 290. (http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr92904gbd5ppdhe)

They'll both perform the same at your resolution, but the R9 290 will pull ahead of the 770 after you reach 1080p on certain games (like Crysis 3 or Metro Last Light). This performance difference is only by a few (~5-9) FPS.

As for features, the GTX 770 supports Shadowplay and GeForce experience (sounds like a gimmick, it's actually pretty nice). Runs cooler, uses less power. Generally better drivers.

While the R9 290 supports Mantle (may be helpful in certain games). Runs hotter, uses more power.

For a 5-10 FPS difference, you could get the R9 290 for £50 more than a 770. However, the 770 has some nicer features.

It's up to you!

+1^ i still vote for the 770

enemy1g · May 7, 2014

The 780 will max out pretty much every game (with the exception of Metro:LL and Crysis 3) with over 60 FPS (average closer to 90 in most games). Just my opinion, but that's pretty much just the definition of being adequate. But, again, that's just me, and I like to play with everything on, and have 100-200 FPS. Preferences will vary from user to user, but I see the 780 as a perfect fit for 1080p if you want to max the majority of games out and still average 60+ FPS.

RCguitarist · May 7, 2014

enemy1g :

But if he has a monitor that is a 60hz monitor, then getting a constant 60+fps just introduces a ton of screen tearing. Not to mention that the human eye sees 60fps as perfectly smooth so getting 100-200fps is pointless for anything other than bragging to friends.

OP, I would recommend a 770 if you want to use all of the ENBs for skyrim all at once and get around 60fps. If you are fine with 35-40fps with the ENBs on and want to save some money, then a 760 would serve you well. Remember that 35-40 fps isn't bad as some may tell you, most games for the PS4 and Xbox one are locked at 30fps, and you don't hear anyone complaining about that.

enemy1g · May 7, 2014

I've been using 60Hz monitors for pretty much ever, and have never encountered screen tearing. Not once. Not with my GTX 260, 460, 560, 660 Ti, or 780s. I've used 4 different monitors in that span of time and again, never encountered screen tearing. And I do notice when my games do dip to ~ 50-60 fps (in WoW, doesn't dip that low in any other game) the game is a whole lot choppier than when I was getting 100+ FPS. More FPS is never a bad thing, in fact, I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere that people with 120-144Hz monitors are getting a whole lot less eye strain because of the higher refresh rate.

RCguitarist · May 8, 2014

enemy1g :

If you are getting a constant framerate of above 60 on a 60hz monitor, you are getting screen tearing. Unless you are not very observant, you will see it, unless you are using an old tube style monitor, then you will never have screen tearing.

RobCrezz · May 8, 2014

VanillaSprinkles :

A 770 isnt "overkill" for 1080p. It just means you can turn on lots of detail and anti aliasing.

enemy1g · May 8, 2014

RCguitarist :

Have been using LCD/LED monitors aside from an old CRT back when SC was still the big thing. Still no screen tearing and completely aware of everything that happens on/with my monitor. 0 screen tearing.

kevin07 · Dec 28, 2014

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will probably go for the GTX 780.

Can anyone suggest a monitor to go with?

RobCrezz · Jan 9, 2015

kevin07 :

Things have changed since you posted this thread. Look at the GTX 970 now.

New GPU for my build

Distinguished

Honorable

Dignified

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Dignified

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Expert

Honorable

Distinguished

Expert

Share this page