Help me choose a used card

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Moussa_18

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Feb 5, 2017
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Hello every, I know this is not common to hear someone demanding help on which used graphic card choose.
I am a user of architecture and 3D softwares, such as autocad, archicad, revit and blender (this one uses CUDA for rendering).
My PC configuration:
- GA-970a-DS3
- FX 8350
- 8gb ram
- Thermaltake Smart SE 530w Bronze.

I need to change my existing card by another one but I can't afford a new one, so I'll go for a used one but I can't choose between the :
770 and 780 which I fear my PSU will not handle,
a 660ti with 3gb vram or 760 or 960 with 4Gb vram,
or the 970.
So between these cards which one do you prefer?
Thank you.
 
Solution
V
Your motherboard does not support SLI, and your power supply would not cope with a second card.
I'm not even sure rendering software can take advantage of a second card anyway.
Adding a second card also does not increase available video memory. Each card needs to load everything required to render, and they render alternate frames (at least in games that support SLI).

Newer generations of card support newer versions of DirectX, OpenGL, etc. You may want to use these features.
Newer cards also use less power for the same performance, or have more performance for the same power depending on how you look at it.

If you want a reasonable upgrade from the GTX 660 Ti, I would skip the GTX 960 / GTX 1050 Ti and buy a GTX 970 or GTX 1060.

You...
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Moussa_18

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Feb 5, 2017
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Thank you. I'll definetly omit the 770, 780.
A friend of mine has already baught the 660ti 3gb for me, but I have to sell it and go for the 970 if I find one. The 1060 is out of my budget. (is there a big difference between the 970 and the 960 with 4gb?)
 
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VincentP

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Oct 18, 2013
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Don't get too caught up about eh amount of video RAM. If you exceed what is there than performance drops dramatically, but having more than you need doesn't help at all.
All these cards have at least 3 GB, which is plenty for most things. If you really needed more, then again look at the GTX 1060 which has 6 GB.

The performance difference between the GTX 960 and 970 is significant.
Passmark scores for these cards:
GTX 660 Ti - 4696
GTX 760 - 4953

GTX 960 - 5847
GTX 770 - 6116

GTX 780 - 7995
GTX 970 - 8593
GTX 1060 - 8775

That puts the GTX 970 at 47% faster than the GTX 960, and you get similar increases in real world benchmarks.
 
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maxalge

maxalge

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May 31, 2012
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yes the 970 is quite a bit faster

and is about max for that power supply, its pretty bad
 
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Moussa_18

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Feb 5, 2017
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Thank you your answers. VincentP your answer was very clear. I'll definetly go for a 970. Guy, The PNY cards are cheaper, is this brand a good one or I have to go for a much renowned one ?
Have a good time
 
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VincentP

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Oct 18, 2013
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I've never had a PNY card or used them in a PC I built, so I don't know about quality.
The ones I can see on the web from PNY look like a pretty basic cooler based on the Nvidia reference card with a radial fan.
The cards with upgraded coolers will typically have two larger axial fans.
 
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Moussa_18

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Feb 5, 2017
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I asked about PNY because I've found one but it was sold little time before I could get it.
The really available models are the 960 and some 680. Remember that what I'll do is 3d modeling and rendering.
I thaught about going for a 960 and adding 8gb of memory or adding a ssd disc, wouldn't this improve my pc's performances ?
Thank you
 
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Moussa_18

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Feb 5, 2017
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Sorry for asking so much questions.
What if I can't sell the 660ti ? Can I add Another one and make a sli ? Will it work on my mobo and with my psu ?
And are all these steps worth it from a performance point of view ?
Thank you very much for your help
 
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maxalge

maxalge

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May 31, 2012
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bad idea


your psu is borderline for a single 660 ti, your cpu is not good enough
 
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V

VincentP

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Oct 18, 2013
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Your motherboard does not support SLI, and your power supply would not cope with a second card.
I'm not even sure rendering software can take advantage of a second card anyway.
Adding a second card also does not increase available video memory. Each card needs to load everything required to render, and they render alternate frames (at least in games that support SLI).

Newer generations of card support newer versions of DirectX, OpenGL, etc. You may want to use these features.
Newer cards also use less power for the same performance, or have more performance for the same power depending on how you look at it.

If you want a reasonable upgrade from the GTX 660 Ti, I would skip the GTX 960 / GTX 1050 Ti and buy a GTX 970 or GTX 1060.

You might find this list useful too:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

Typically three levels is a reasonable upgrade. Jumping one level isn't a worthwhile difference.
They list the GTX 1060 above the GTX 970, but this would be the 6 GB version. The 3 GB version has some disabled processing components as well as less video memory.
I think for what you are looking for:
Reasonable upgrade - GTX 1060 3 GB / GTX 970 / RX 470
Better if you can afford it - GTX 1060 6GB / GTX 980 / RX 480

 
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Solution
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imrazor

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Dec 28, 2009
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I think VincentP and maxalge have you covered, but I'm going to drop a negative comment against PNY. I've had a couple of their cards, and both have been bad experiences with quality control and customer service. Personally, I intend to avoid them at all costs.
 
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Moussa_18

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Feb 5, 2017
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The gpu-hierarchy helped have a clear view now VincentP. All I need now, is selling the 660ti and finding a 970 (the amd cards aren't well supproted by the software I use).
Thank you maxalge and imrazor for your answers.
 
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