5 year old high performace system NEEDs perfect match GPU upgrade for COD Ghost etc.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995
Hey guys, here are my specs to start with.

Quad Core Q9550 3.0 GHz overclock
XFX GTX 260 core 216 Black Edition (675 core / 1160 mem) (Mem Badwidth 130.4 GB/sec)
8GB Corssair XMS2 DDR2 800 (4-4-4-12) 2.1 volts
EVGA 780i Mobo
700w OCZ GamerXStream PSU
1TB Hard drive 16MB cache 7200RPM
Sound Blaster Audigy SE
Windows 7 64Bit

So I bought my GPU about 5 years ago and it has lasted me all the way up to today with great performance for BF3 and 4, GTAIV with a lot of mods, all the Crysis games, and pretty much everything on Very High to High settings. But now looking into getting COD Ghost it says that I cannot run it by the minimum specs. Is this true?

If so, what would be a good GPU upgrade within the $100 range that would last me for the next 5 years with compatibility allowing settings for High to Very High? Keep in mind with my current specs I am playing BF4 on all High with consistent 30-24FPS which I am just fine with. I am not looking for the best $900 card, but something that will keep my settings on high to Very High and will not bottle neck anything. I have really enjoyed my current setup, but that darn COD Ghost is forcing me to upgrade.

I have been checking GPUreview.com and it appears my GPU still seems to out perform many of the GTX 400 and some 500 series cards. Really? I knew I got a good card when I purchased it 5 years back. It would seem the thing that I am lacking is possibly (new to me) the CUDA memory thing and some other new added GPU features that some new games need right? So what are the new things I need to be focused on since I have been out of the GPU loop for the last 5 years. It used to be the memory bandwidth was the thing to look for and would give me the performance I was looking for and has done me quite well for a long time. Is it not the memory bandwidth that is the high point in game performance anymore or is it a mix of things now?

So what would go great with my current system to get me up to date and last me the next 5 years happily with Very High settings? I am also comfortable with overclocking.

I will also need help with compatibility with my mobo. For example will my mobo be able to utilize PCI Express 3.0 etc. and all the new GPU's features? I did just see this quote and that is good to know, but will there be any other features that my mobo will not utilize with my new GPU?

"PCI-E 3.0 is backwards compatible with PCI-E 2.0 So that 3.0 card will work fine in a 2.0 slot. So 3.0 cards will work in 2.0 slots and 2.0 cards will work in 3.0 slots. The same holds true with usb. 3.0 devices will work in 2.0 slots and 2.0 devices will work in 3.0 slots. So keep that in mind when you do things."

What is the main thing my GPU is missing to run COD Ghost? Maybe we can start there. Thank you guys.
 
Solution
JUICEhunter
Cuda Cores = Shadder Cores so yes more is faster. Higher clock speeds are also important but their main purpose is to achieve faster performance compared to a reference clocked model. 660 is faster than 750ti because of greater amount of cuda cores.

Let's not forget about a 650ti boost which is also faster (slightly) than a 750ti and offers SLI down the road. Look up some 650ti boost (dont forget about the "boost") SLI benchmarks, very impressive! 650 ti boost should also cost as much as 750ti.
Sort by date Sort by votes
spliceberry101

spliceberry101

Reputable
Jun 27, 2014
55
0
4,660
You could get a decent lower end GPU like the AMD R7 260X for around $100, but it won't last 5 years at high settings. You'd have to buy the equivalent high end gpu like you did last time that has lasted you this long and played well.

There are several lightly used R9 270's on ebay these days for just over $100, killer bang for the buck -- pretty much unbeatable for the dollar.
To stick with Nvidia, look at the new Maxwell series GTX 750ti ($130ish) or maybe wait for the other new Maxwell cards that are going to release maybe this fall/winter. If they perform like the 750ti, they will be a huge success....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995


Thanks for your response. I do want to stick with Nvidia so I will look into the 750ti. Wow, that is quite the jump from a 260, love it and its time. I am okay to go over the $100 range and like you said, I might need to look at a higher end card for the longevity. How is Maxwell brand? I went with XFX and obviously flawless performance overclocked for 5 years with a warm case. So, how does Maxwell stand up and would I be better off going with a 750ti from another brand?

What doesn't make sense to me is why is the 750ti Maxwell card so cheap compared to some very similar cards going for $500-900?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995


Yeah I think that MSI 660 GTX would do the trick. This card looks seriously good, but creeping right up there to what my budget limit is set at. Now I am checking out other brands to see who has the best overclock speed with the best price.

I just saw this 750ti for cheaper than the 660, but it was drastically lower in CUDA cores. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487024

Please explain which of these two cards would be better. Obviously the Core and Mem are higher, but this card has lower CUDA cores. Whats the deal?

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
spliceberry101

spliceberry101

Reputable
Jun 27, 2014
55
0
4,660
The Maxwell name is actually the new Nvidia architecture. For brand, I'd look at the Evga superclocked or Evga FTW versions of the 750ti. The maxwell architecture is the most power effecient tech out there and has very high clock speed. The new bigger brothers to the 750ti I'm sure will be impressive.

For a little more power, the gtx 660, 660ti, and 760 are all great cards, with the 760 being one of the most common cards being used now for 1080p 60fps gaming. 760 runs just over $200 usually on sale.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995


So is it the CUDA Cores that makes the 660 a better card for higher performance and longevity? I think that might be the new thing to look for in GPU's right? It is kind of like the core 216 version of my card back in the day right? My card didn't even have Cuda cores right?

Let me ask it like this. Will any card with 640 Cuda cores be better than a lower end card with 960 Cuda cores?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
spliceberry101

spliceberry101

Reputable
Jun 27, 2014
55
0
4,660
The 660 has a little more performance than the 750ti, but is 1 generation older and uses more power, which isn't an issue for your PSU. The 660 is a great overall card in the $150ish price range, but is trounced by the amd r9 270 at around $160. You get physX and adaptive vsync with Nvidia though, and mantle with amd.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
spliceberry101

spliceberry101

Reputable
Jun 27, 2014
55
0
4,660
That's a great card, would play most modern games on high at around 60fps. The main competitor is the r9 270 for around $20 cheaper and actually has better performance, but in with sticking with Nvidia, the 660 is your best bet at your budget, IMO. Evga makes great nvidia cards.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995


Yeah I have always been an Nvidia guy and everything in my computer is Nvidia so I want to keep it in the family. Okay, so now its a search for the best price of the GTX660. Any unbelievable deal out there right now?

I am also wondering if I would be regretting going with a 750ti over the GTX660 or visa versa.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995


Is the Twin Frozer III way better than the Gaming version? It appears its the later model and run much quieter and way cooler. There's also the TI version. Whats the difference with the TI? That seems to blow the other 660's away.

Just saw this one too, this one has 3GD of Ram for pretty similar price. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125507&cm_re=GTX_660-_-14-125-507-_-Product
Is the 3GB Ram a major thing to look for or doesn't affect much?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995
Hey guys, back again. This question didn't really get fully addressed. Its between the GTX 750ti or the GTX 660. It would seem the 750ti has a faster core and memory, but a lower CUDA core at 640. The GTX 660 has a little lower core and mem, but a 960 CUDA cores. So does the faster core and mem with the 750ti out perform the lower core and mem 660 with the higher CUDA cores?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Mousemonkey

Mousemonkey

Titan
Sep 3, 2006
59,466
17
92,965


Have you purchased a card yet? Can you bear to wait just a little longer?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spitfire7

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2007
770
10
18,995



No I haven't purchased a card yet, but why, what did you have in mind?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
JUICEhunter

JUICEhunter

Honorable
Oct 23, 2013
1,391
0
11,960
Cuda Cores = Shadder Cores so yes more is faster. Higher clock speeds are also important but their main purpose is to achieve faster performance compared to a reference clocked model. 660 is faster than 750ti because of greater amount of cuda cores.

Let's not forget about a 650ti boost which is also faster (slightly) than a 750ti and offers SLI down the road. Look up some 650ti boost (dont forget about the "boost") SLI benchmarks, very impressive! 650 ti boost should also cost as much as 750ti.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom