EVGA GTX 960 supersc vs. Gigabyte GTX 980 v. MSI gtx 960 2g?

Ethanh100 · Mar 28, 2015

Hi,
I am thinking of upgrading my gpu, i currently have a gtx 750 ti sc, and i am between these 3 cards. First off, how much performance would i be gaining by upgrading from the 750ti (i would be selling it then paying about $50 to but the 960) and is it worth paying the $50? Also, is the only difference between the cards the coolers and how much it comes overclocked (i would be overclocking myself so this doesnt matter if it is just that). Which cooler is better? So just overall what do you guys recommend, and is it worth it?Thanks!

evga card: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Dual-Link-Graphics-02G-P4-2966-KR/dp/B00SC6HAS4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427554820&sr=1-1&keywords=gtx+960

gigabyte: http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Overclocked-GDDR5-Graphics-GV-N960WF2OC-2GD/dp/B00SD9KZA0/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427554820&sr=1-3&keywords=gtx+960

MSI: http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GTX-960-GAMING-2G/dp/B00SAYDRP8/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427554820&sr=1-7&keywords=gtx+960

geofelt · Mar 28, 2015

You would get a suitably large graphics improvement.
Probably to the point where your cpu would become the limiting factor.

Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

All GTX960 cards will perform so similarly that it takes a synthetic benchmark to differentiate.
I think a price premium is probably worth it to buy a factory overclocked card.
You know what you can get minimum, and you will get a better binned chip.
Fancy coolers sell, but the Maxwell cards do not really need high cooling.

My pick would be the EVGA card.

I presume you have a suitably strong psu with a 6 pin connector.

Ethanh100 · Mar 28, 2015

geofelt :

You would get a suitably large graphics improvement.
Probably to the point where your cpu would become the limiting factor.

Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

All GTX960 cards will perform so similarly that it takes a synthetic benchmark to differentiate.
I think a price premium is probably worth it to buy a factory overclocked card.
You know what you can get minimum, and you will get a better binned chip.
Fancy coolers sell, but the Maxwell cards do not really need high cooling.

My pick would be the EVGA card.

I presume you have a suitably strong psu with a 6 pin connector.

yes my current cpu is bad, i will buy a card after upgrading to an fx 8320, should that be alright?

geofelt · Mar 28, 2015

No, your motherboard is of poor quality and not advisable for a FX 6 or 8:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2384030/motherboard-tier-list-am3-chipsets.html

Moreover, fx cores are slow and adding more of them is not likely to help.

If you must upgrade your cpu, and motherboard, it is time to switch to Intel of some sort.
Their cores are some 30% more effective per clock.

To test your cpu needs, perform some other tests.
Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You could also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option. set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

Ethanh100 · Mar 28, 2015

geofelt :

No, your motherboard is of poor quality and not advisable for a FX 6 or 8:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2384030/motherboard-tier-list-am3-chipsets.html

Moreover, fx cores are slow and adding more of them is not likely to help.

If you must upgrade your cpu, and motherboard, it is time to switch to Intel of some sort.
Their cores are some 30% more effective per clock.

To test your cpu needs, perform some other tests.
Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You could also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option. set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

I would also be upgrading to a msi 970 mobo or a asrock 970 performance which i forgot to mention, so you think the fx 8320 wont work out great, i dont want to pay more than 150 on a cpu, is that too low of a budget?

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