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Would I be able to run a GTX 970 with no additional hardware changes?

Tags:
  • Windows 7
  • Graphics Cards
  • Compatibility
  • Devices
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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October 13, 2014 7:32:32 PM

Specs right now:

Operating System
Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i3 2120 @ 3.30GHz 46 °C
Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology
RAM
4.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 665MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
Intel Corporation DH61HO (CPU 1) 39 °C
Graphics
1950W (1366x768@60Hz)
1024MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 (Undefined) 52 °C
PSU
says 600 Watts, 26A V or something

I am also looking into upgrading to 64-bit of Windows 7. How much of a jump would it be from my current graphics card to the new one? Would I see some improvements? Would I be able to make it at least 3 years without needing to upgrade? How about Oculus Rift?

More about : run gtx 970 additional hardware

October 13, 2014 8:10:31 PM

just a quick glance I'm going to say no. What PSU brand?
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a b U Graphics card
October 13, 2014 9:34:18 PM

If you insist on getting a GTX970 video card, the PSU you list WILL NOT do the job. I would suggest something like this which has the proper connectors for your video card, Super Flower Golden Green 550W PSU, 80 €. I would also suggest another stick of RAM exactly like the one you currently are using.
Also, a GTX970 appears to cost about 350 € in your country. That's a lot of video card for a 2 core processor and a 1366x768 monitor.
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a b U Graphics card
October 13, 2014 9:41:18 PM

I believe that your current CPU that you have will probably bottleneck the GTX 970, I consider upgrading. But that's just me.
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October 13, 2014 10:06:48 PM

So what stuff do I need to upgrade? A PSU, a processor and RAM?

@DelroyMonjo I'm willing to get that card, that or the PS4.
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October 14, 2014 8:53:01 AM

PSU,CPU,RAM and Motherboard
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 9:32:04 AM

Lazerbeam, the GTX970 video should work fine in your setup IF you upgrade the power supply. It just won't operate at its maximum potential with a 2 core CPU.
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October 14, 2014 6:39:54 PM

So it would still work? The problem with the PSU would be the ports and the wattage then? Could you suggest a cheap power supply that'll do the job? If it's not too much to ask, it'll be great if you'll be able to pick one from here because it'll be the shop where I'll likely get the graphics card: http://dynaquestpc.com/product-category/components/powe...
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October 14, 2014 6:46:01 PM

also if you are planning to upgrade your ram try not to get more than 4gb. your OS is 32bit so it will not use more than 4gb.... unless you want to upgrade your windows OS too... :bounce: 
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October 14, 2014 6:55:18 PM

I will upgrade to 64 bit don't worry, I don't think The Witcher 3 and GTA V would run on 32 bit, it seems 64 bit is the norm now.
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 8:47:56 PM

The amount of money you want to spend on a gpu that is considerably over powered for your pc, and you want to pair it with a cheap psu? Mental. The psu is the most important component in a pc. You never go cheap there. Quality, quality, quality and above all, quality is the only recommended upgrade path when it comes to the psu. Ever.

Wanna see how fast you can literally set your pc on fire? Go get you a nice $20 500w Huntkey psu. I'll send you a bag of marshmallows.

With the 9 series out, the 7 series has huge price drops, pair up a gtx 760 or 770 with a quality psu like Seasonic 520w or 620w and you'll easily make the next 5 years. Go cheap, and you'll be shopping again before the year is out
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 9:03:29 PM

Given the price differential and the uncertainty of even finding a GTX770 or 780, I'd take the 970. Maybe prices will come down on the 700 series cards but they're kind of hard to locate, at least in the USA.

Gigabyte GTX 970 4GB 256bit DDR5 (GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD) ₱19,950.00 http://dynaquestpc.com/product/gigabyte-gtx-970-4gb-256...

ASUS GTX 770 DirectCU II OC 2GB DDR5 ₱18,200.00 http://dynaquestpc.com/product/asus-gtx-770-directcu-ii...

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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 9:09:45 PM

Prices in the Philippines and prices here in America are very different.

Why are you showing PHP prices?
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 9:27:25 PM

ZeusGamer, those are prices from the last link Lazer posted and the P with the double lines thru it is a Phillipine peso, as stated in the links I posted.
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 9:28:51 PM

ahh i see. alright then.
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 9:30:29 PM

Which is odd because Lazer's first link to a supplier was Serbian.

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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 9:36:06 PM

Hmm.

OP, which country do you currently live in?
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October 14, 2014 10:22:39 PM

@Delroy thank you for the requirements, don't worry I also check out the reviews on Amazon too.

@Karadjgne I was originally planning on getting the 750 Ti, I asked here before in this thread http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2261087/machine-.... I was gonna get it this Christmas but then the 970 came out. Would a 760 really take me 5 years? The reason I aimed for the 750 Ti first is because it seems I wouldn't need to upgrade anything. I don't know if that's the case with the 760 and 770. The 770 is actually pricier here than the 970, I just checked the website's link I gave up above. If there's really no choice I'll:

a.) get the most important components first to get a Strix/MSI/Gigabyte 970 running
b.) get the Palit 970 which I've read no good reviews of but will make me able to purchase at least a good PSU
b.) get a PS4
c.) or just get a 750 Ti and call it a day

Looking at Delroy's post just after your post though, it seems that the 770 is a bit cheaper than the Gigabyte 970. I'm worried with the GeForce 970 because I don't seem to see a lot of reviews for it. For reference, I have a GeForce GT 220 right now.

@Zeus I bought this rig secondhand, I'm from the Philippines. I don't know where the shop got their PSU supply from, if you see it in person it looks really shady.
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October 14, 2014 10:23:27 PM

@Delroy I meant recommendations, not requirements. I tried editing it but it seems Tom's Hardware likes to give 404 pages a lot
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 10:29:13 PM

Lazerbeam said:
@Delroy thank you for the requirements, don't worry I also check out the reviews on Amazon too.

@Karadjgne I was originally planning on getting the 750 Ti, I asked here before in this thread http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2261087/machine-.... I was gonna get it this Christmas but then the 970 came out. Would a 760 really take me 5 years? The reason I aimed for the 750 Ti first is because it seems I wouldn't need to upgrade anything. I don't know if that's the case with the 760 and 770. The 770 is actually pricier here than the 970, I just checked the website's link I gave up above. If there's really no choice I'll:

a.) get the most important components first to get a Strix/MSI/Gigabyte 970 running
b.) get the Palit 970 which I've read no good reviews of but will make me able to purchase at least a good PSU
b.) get a PS4
c.) or just get a 750 Ti and call it a day

Looking at Delroy's post just after your post though, it seems that the 770 is a bit cheaper than the Gigabyte 970. I'm worried with the GeForce 970 because I don't seem to see a lot of reviews for it. For reference, I have a GeForce GT 220 right now.

@Zeus I bought this rig secondhand, I'm from the Philippines. I don't know where the shop got their PSU supply from, if you see it in person it looks really shady.


Kaya naman pala eh.

Like one of the posters above. It's ok to have a 970.

It just won't be at it's full potential kasi your CPU would bottleneck the GPU.
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October 14, 2014 10:32:10 PM

Hey, you're Pinoy too :D 

Well, would the bottleneck be bad? Like would it cause crashes? If a bottlenecked 970 would still outperform the 750 Ti, then I'd still go for it. I want to go for the best that I can get. I can just buy the other stuff that's required like the new processor and motherboard once I'm able to save for them. This is the first time I'm saving some money so I want to go for something big like a 970 or a PS4 :) 
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a b U Graphics card
October 14, 2014 10:48:47 PM

U r thinking right, u just need to upgrade the psu (seasonic 620watt as mentioned above) and get the 970, then upgrade the cpu & ram when u have money.
970 will outperform 750ti by a big margin, there is no comparison.
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a b U Graphics card
October 15, 2014 12:40:55 AM

Lazerbeam said:
Hey, you're Pinoy too :D 

Well, would the bottleneck be bad? Like would it cause crashes? If a bottlenecked 970 would still outperform the 750 Ti, then I'd still go for it. I want to go for the best that I can get. I can just buy the other stuff that's required like the new processor and motherboard once I'm able to save for them. This is the first time I'm saving some money so I want to go for something big like a 970 or a PS4 :) 


Oo pare. Pinoy din haha.

Anyway, it's not a bad thing. But it's just your GPU will not reach it's full potential when playing games. For example, your CPU would have a hard time keeping up with the GPU specially when playing games. Kaya yung GPU, it's not going to perform as well because of the CPU nga.

All in all getting the 970 would be awesome. Much better than 750 ti by a big margin, pero nga lang, it's not going to perform very well.

PSU you can get like 500 or 600 from corsair, as long as it's a reliable PSU, you should be good.
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October 15, 2014 1:21:04 AM

@Raheel, yeah that's the plan :) 

@ZeusGamer, when you said it's much better by a big margin with the 750 Ti, are you referring to the performance if I only upgrade the PSU or the max potential of the 970 which means upgrading my processor, motherboard, RAM and PSU?
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a b U Graphics card
October 15, 2014 1:56:41 AM

Lazerbeam said:
@Raheel, yeah that's the plan :) 

@ZeusGamer, when you said it's much better by a big margin with the 750 Ti, are you referring to the performance if I only upgrade the PSU or the max potential of the 970 which means upgrading my processor, motherboard, RAM and PSU?


Yes, I was referring to the performance of the card.

Tama, you're going to need to update all of those.
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