New GPU is needed I think!

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DavidN147

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Sep 8, 2015
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So I'm wanting to upgrade my current nvidia GTX 550ti to a new, better and faster model but not sure how far I can go, current specs:

Monitor: HP ProDisplay P201
Intel i5 2500K @ 3.3GHz
8gb ram
Asus p8z68-v lx

I haven't mentioned the PSU because I also need another one of these so any recommendation on that front would be great as well.

Thanks!
 
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coozie7
First some good news: The CPU is still a good one, as are the RAM and motherboard, you still have a decent, if older core system, you could upgrade but the performance gains will be relatively small compared with a graphics upgrade.

By current standards the GTX550Ti is quite weak, though: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-graphics-card-review,review-32899-7.html This chart is now getting outdated, Toms haven't updated in a while so it's missing several new developments.

If you're sticking with the current display look around the GTX960/R9280/R9380 class (last one's not on the chart but it's essentially a slightly updated R9 280) they're all streets ahead of the '550Ti and not too expensive.
If you want more eye candy or plan on...
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rcald2000

rcald2000

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Nov 3, 2009
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What resolution and refresh are you currently playing at and are you planning on upgrading to another level?

What is your budget?

Without the information above, I'll just blinding suggest that you get a single 980 Ti GPU and a EVGA P2 850. The 980 Ti is great for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and the EVGA PSU has platinum efficiency and it's 850 watts is enough to upgrade to two 980 Ti's in the future with moderate overclocks and a Haswell-E processor.
 
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rcald2000

rcald2000

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Nov 3, 2009
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I just realized that I overlooked the fact that you listed your monitor as a HP ProDisplay P201. 1600 x 900 @ 76 Hz. An additional question I have is, are you planning on upgrading your display? I'm honestly surprised that your current 550ti doesn't support enough performance to your current display.
 
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DavidN147

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Sep 8, 2015
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Budget isn't too much of an issue since it's either this or a whole new set-up, I just want to see what I can get away with and then if it is really to expensive I can work backwards from there. And well the performance is still workable but starting to struggle a bit with newer games etc. I suppose I could upgrade the display but it wasn't part of the original plan.
 
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coozie7

coozie7

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Jun 2, 2007
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First some good news: The CPU is still a good one, as are the RAM and motherboard, you still have a decent, if older core system, you could upgrade but the performance gains will be relatively small compared with a graphics upgrade.

By current standards the GTX550Ti is quite weak, though: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-graphics-card-review,review-32899-7.html This chart is now getting outdated, Toms haven't updated in a while so it's missing several new developments.

If you're sticking with the current display look around the GTX960/R9280/R9380 class (last one's not on the chart but it's essentially a slightly updated R9 280) they're all streets ahead of the '550Ti and not too expensive.
If you want more eye candy or plan on upping the monitor to 1080 res go higher; the GTX970 or R9 290/R9 290X (or their updates the R9 390/390X) are all massively powerful parts ideally suited to high settings gaming on 1080 or even 1440 displays.

Whatever upgrade you decide on, don't go cheap on the power supply, it's the bedrock the system is built on and cheap ones can, and have, killed systems when they fail.
For a single graphics card, non or lightly overclocked system 650 Watts will be enough, if you're planning on heavy CPU/graphics overclocking go 700Watts.
A Few Good Names: Seasonic, Silverstone, XFX(Pro Series), Antec, Superflower, Corsair (not the value 'CX' and 'VS' series), FSP (Aurium Series), Rosewill ( Capstone Series).
Prices and availability vary obviously while modular or semi modular parts don't fill the case with unwanted or unused cables which can block airflow and be a real pain to tuck away in a great many mid tower cases.

And no, a GTX980Ti/850Watt combo is a huge waste of money unless you do a HUGE upgrade to the core system-CPU,MB,RAM and get at least a 1440 display to go with it.
 
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