PC Custom build help.

xStrobed

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Apr 22, 2015
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Hi, currently using:
Z97X-Gaming 3 GTX 760 i5-4590

Thinking of upgrading PC to be able to run games like GTA 5 and all the games coming out soon on Very High/Ultra settings. Would getting a GTX 970 suffice or would I have to upgrade my motherboard too?

Thanks

 
Solution
For that game GPU is key. Your CPU/mobo are great. Do you have 8GB RAM? If so, then spend as much as you can on the GPU. A 970 is a good choice.

Alphawhisky

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your motherboard is just fine and processor too. Getting Gtx 970 will be more than enough or would say very good for runnig games like GTA V on high to ultra. Depends on the resolution you play on.
 

Kohwali

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Recommended specs
OS: Windows 8.1 64 Bit, Windows 8 64 Bit, Windows 7 64 Bit Service Pack 1
Processor: Intel Core i5 3470 @ 3.2GHZ (4 CPUs) / AMD X8 FX-8350 @ 4GHZ (8 CPUs)
Memory: 8GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB / AMD HD7870 2GB

Yup a GTX 970 will definitely be enough, assuming you're playing on 1080p.

How does your RAM situation look?^
 

xStrobed

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Apr 22, 2015
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thanks all for the replies,
yes I forgot to mention I do play in 1080p and have 8gb ram.
Would you recommend any GPU other than the 970, well apart from the Titan because that's a bit too pricey? anything around $400 or under is my range.
 


At 1080p, get a 970. It will be great for GTA 5. Plenty of VRAM and overkill for most games at 1080p. You could consider the 290x, but that is really power hungry.
 

Kohwali

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Not really. The GTX 970 is a very good card and its pricing is even better, following the 3.5GB of VRAM "scandal". It's far superior in power efficiency compared to its AMD counterparts (R9 290/290X). As envy said, it'll be more than enough for most of the new games in 1080p.

And to answer one of your original questions, your CPU is good enough that most games releasing today will be bottlenecked by the GPU instead.
 

xStrobed

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Apr 22, 2015
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sorry guys one more thing, what difference would the version of the GTX 970 make (MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte etc) when it comes to gaming? Im not quite sure how they compare, should i just go for the cheapest one i can find?
 

Kohwali

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This thread can help: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2311513/evga-msi-gigabyte-asus-gtx-970.html

My personal recommendation is the ASUS Strix because of customizable fan curves and it comes with a backplate. But I doubt you can go wrong with any of them.
 

xStrobed

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Apr 22, 2015
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hi, it's been a while but i have one more question,
upon looking into the price of my GTX 760, as i am thinking of selling it on after i get my gtx 960, i was surprised to see that it sold for more than the 960 did (new) on amazon.
I am rather confused by this as the 760 only has 2gb of GDDR5, and the 960 is supposed to have 4gb (I am aware of the 3.5gb scandal).

Is this price purely due to the scandal or is there something i am missing? thanks
 


The 960 is all around better than the 760. I'm guessing the 760 is selling higher cuz it is limited and people want to SLI with their old one. Or it is just a high price cuz no one cares about it anymore. Sell the 760 and get a 960. Great jump up.
 

Kohwali

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^^^

The GTX 960 is definitely better than the GTX 760.
 


The 970 is an even bigger jump up in performance compared to the 670. The 670 is under the 960. And no you CAN'T SLI the 970 and 760. You must SLI identical GPUs. At 1080p, getting a single 970 is more than enough. You'll max out at 60fps in all games.
 

Kohwali

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For NVIDIA's SLI and AMD's CrossFire, you must be using the same model card (e.g. two 760s or two R9 270s)

A GTX 970 should be more than enough for most games on 1080p at 60 FPS (on max settings), including the newer ones. Only issues it would have are for games that are not properly optimized (aka the developer's fault). A poorly optimized game would be something like Watch_Dogs or Assassin's Creed: Unity.
 

xStrobed

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Apr 22, 2015
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so great news! the gtx 970 arrived today.

well, I am now currently facing a problem.. my gtx 970 requires a 6 pin and a 6 pin pci-e power input, where as my gtx 760 had a 6 pin and a 8 pin :/ what do I do now??

thanks
 


The 8 pin typically is a 6pin +2. If that is the case then let the 2pin hang free. What is your PSU?