4K gaming or current system bottleneck

ibjeepr · Feb 22, 2017

HI All,
My goal here is to keep my FPS close to a steady 60. Will my CPU and Ram do 4K gaming at 60 FPS with at least high or close to max settings? Research tells me at my CPU is fine but I haven't found much about 4K gaming with it. If yes, I get a 1080, If no, I start upgrading the rest of my system first and probably wait a generation or 2 for the video card. I was all set to get a 1080 but then got worried about bottle necking else where.

I'm playing Overwatch, WOW, CIV 6 and a few other simple games at at least high settings at 3840 × 2160 currently which is playable but my FPS can drop very low.
60 fps is max on my Samsung UN40JU7100 40" 4K TV (4k @ 60 fps at chroma 4:4:4.) So I am limited to 60 FPS which to me is fine and may work to my benefit for my purposes here anyway.
Rest of System specs in sig.

Thanks All!

Supahos · Feb 22, 2017

Honestly the CPU and memory don't care about the resolution. If they'll do 60 fps at 1080 they'll do 60 at 4 k. It actually takes a lot less of an overall system to play 4k, just takes a monster GPU. 144hz at 1080p is a lot tougher on an entire system.

Jonathan Cave · Feb 22, 2017

Hey,

I have 4770k @ 4.2ghz DDR3 1600 & have gamed at 4k gsync 60hz for ~1 year.

The latest games run 35-45 fps ultra. If you sacrifice settings i.e. screen space reflections and AA you can game 50fps, which is fine with gsync.

Games like overwatch ran at 60fps at all times @ 4k - your CPU can still cut it, not sure for how long though.

There is a video on YT from DF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43g3OTK2AbE&feature=youtu.be&t=299

essentially shows that memory speed is now having a bigger effect on games than before.

Chugalug_ · Feb 22, 2017

1. You haven't listed your specs.
2. Get the 1080ti when it releases/gets announced in a weeks time.

Jonathan Cave · Feb 22, 2017

Chugalug_ :

His specs are in his signature.

Chugalug_ · Feb 22, 2017

Right, my bad.
My comment still stands though, the 1080ti will be a perfect fit for you, and an overclocked i5 should be fine.

Deleted member 217926 · Feb 22, 2017

Certain game engines scale well with faster memory but only a few. Fallout 4 and Arma 3 right off the top of my head. I'm sure there are a few others as well.

Newer games are also making more and more use of extra cores/threads so that i5 may not be up to the task. You're also going to start looking at a CPU bottleneck with an i5 when 1080 Ti level cards start appearing.

Chugalug_ · Feb 22, 2017

Ya, that's the debacle at the moment, upgrading to an i7 takes up heaps of the budget, so maybe its best to leave that for an upgrade down the line? Not sure.

Much better performance will still be had with an i5 + 1080ti vs an i7 + 970, so perhaps that is the best upgrade path.

Deleted member 217926 · Feb 22, 2017

Chugalug_ :

Yep, even with a slight bottleneck the 1080 Ti is a better gaming upgrade than an i7 and keeping the 970.

ibjeepr · Feb 22, 2017

Thanks all, looks like at least another month before the 1080ti is coming. Anything indicating that is firm or will it get pushed out as usual and price? Also, would stepping up to 16 gb of mem help?

Jonathan Cave · Feb 22, 2017

I've owned a 980 TI, 1080 and currently have a 1070. I have 2 monitors acer 4k Gsync (TN) and Rog swift 1440/144hz (TN).

I've really enjoyed 4k 60hz Gsync and it's undeniably better visually than 1440p but I've decided to sell it.The 144hz 4k Gsync HDR recently announced is a marvel of technology, however I find that 4k gaming @ 60fps is a struggle even when I owned the 1080, yes fine tuning such as no AA, screen space reflections and other tweaks help but I've retired 4k gaming for the time being.

I feel it will be 3-4 years until we can drive 4k single card upto 144 fps for the aforementioned monitor, maybe longer as software often demands more grunt.

I'm going off my 18+ month experience of 4k/1440p gaming. I've been waiting ages for the 1080ti but retired that idea. I can honestly say at this point my gpu/monitor buying days are over until 4k/144hz gaming is between mainstream and enthusiast and therefore more affordable - which is a shame because I like buying new technology stuff, but we're at a stalemate it seems.

Sure games like overwatch and WOW can run 4k, but the latest and greatest games simply cannot sustain 60fps even on a Titan XP - and thats a $1200 gpu. The performance is just not there and like i said as time progresses, so does the game engine software. So investing in a 1080 ti now just seems a very poor investment.

My advice : If you play at 4k on a 970 and want a little extra grunt, buy a GTX 1070 if you want good value for money for your existing game library. Or get a 1080 ti/Titan XP and throw your money away as games from a year now will need more GPU power. SLI is a waste of space these days.

Deus Ex Mankind Divided (Ultra) on a Titan X / i7 4790k= 35 - 45 fps, he has to tweak from ultra to lower graphics settings to achieve 60fps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGC0gur519A

Just one example but there are many more.

ibjeepr · Feb 22, 2017

Jonathan Cave :

I've owned a 980 TI, 1080 and currently have a 1070. I have 2 monitors acer 4k Gsync (TN) and Rog swift 1440/144hz (TN).

I've really enjoyed 4k 60hz Gsync and it's undeniably better visually than 1440p but I've decided to sell it.The 144hz 4k Gsync HDR recently announced is a marvel of technology, however I find that 4k gaming @ 60fps is a struggle even when I owned the 1080, yes fine tuning such as no AA, screen space reflections and other tweaks help but I've retired 4k gaming for the time being.

I feel it will be 3-4 years until we can drive 4k single card upto 144 fps for the aforementioned monitor, maybe longer as software often demands more grunt.

I'm going off my 18+ month experience of 4k/1440p gaming. I've been waiting ages for the 1080ti but retired that idea. I can honestly say at this point my gpu/monitor buying days are over until 4k/144hz gaming is between mainstream and enthusiast and therefore more affordable - which is a shame because I like buying new technology stuff, but we're at a stalemate it seems.

Sure games like overwatch and WOW can run 4k, but the latest and greatest games simply cannot sustain 60fps even on a Titan XP - and thats a $1200 gpu. The performance is just not there and like i said as time progresses, so does the game engine software. So investing in a 1080 ti now just seems a very poor investment.

My advice : If you play at 4k on a 970 and want a little extra grunt, buy a GTX 1070 if you want good value for money for your existing game library. Or get a 1080 ti/Titan XP and throw your money away as games from a year now will need more GPU power. SLI is a waste of space these days.

Deus Ex Mankind Divided (Ultra) on a Titan X / i7 4790k= 35 - 45 fps, he has to tweak from ultra to lower graphics settings to achieve 60fps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGC0gur519A

Just one example but there are many more.

is going from a 970 to a 1070 really going to make a worth while difference?

Jonathan Cave · Feb 22, 2017

ibjeepr :

Only for your existing games library. Future games no!

Consider this, the Titan X (Pascal) can barely do 60ps in the latests titles, TODAY... a year on from now the Titan X will struggle to get 60fps and then your upgading again. If you have plenty money that's fine

1080 Ti will perform the same as a titan x (speculation) so whats the point in buying a Titan X/1080 ti NOW if in a year its not meeting your needs? but like i said if money isnt an issue, then go throw it away lol

4k Gaming on a single card at 60fps from a value perspective is a LONG way off. Yes you can get 60fps now for a $1200 card but you'll need another $1200 card in 18 months when the latest games are demanding more gpu power... hope that makes sense

I like good value for money, and i don't see 4k gaming as good value or sustainable for the next 3-4 years until the hardware can power 4k and it's mainstream. e.g. 1080p

1440p @ 144hz (fps) is a struggle for the 1080/titan x in some cases. The future is 144hz gaming & eventually VR. Those who have had the luxury of playing games in @ 144hz will back me up. There's a huge difference, even in windows mouse movement. i can't play fps games at 60 fps anymore it feels to stuttery , its the damn 144hz curse.

ibjeepr · Feb 22, 2017

Jonathan Cave :

ibjeepr :

Only for your existing games library. Future games no!

Consider this, the Titan X (Pascal) can barely do 60ps in the latests titles, TODAY... a year on from now the Titan X will struggle to get 60fps and then your upgading again. If you have plenty money that's fine

1080 Ti will perform the same as a titan x (speculation) so whats the point in buying a Titan X/1080 ti NOW if in a year its not meeting your needs? but like i said if money isnt an issue, then go throw it away lol

4k Gaming on a single card at 60fps from a value perspective is a LONG way off. Yes you can get 60fps now for a $1200 card but you'll need another $1200 card in 18 months when the latest games are demanding more gpu power... hope that makes sense

I like good value for money, and i don't see 4k gaming as good value or sustainable for the next 3-4 years until the hardware can power 4k and it's mainstream. e.g. 1080p

1440p @ 144hz (fps) is a struggle for the 1080/titan x in some cases.

Well it looks like the 1080ti will be well out of my price range if speculation is correct. Looks like I may just troll craigslist for a good price on a used 1070 or maybe a steal on a used 1080 if it comes up. I have the itch to build a system but it looks like current cpu's are a big enough upgrade and the currrent GPU's aren't going to get me where I want to be.

Chugalug_ · Feb 22, 2017

Yep, wait for a used 1080.
Titan XPs can handle 4k maxed just fine though.

Jonathan Cave · Feb 22, 2017

There will be a plethora of 1080/1070's on craiglist/gumtree/ebay over the next month to find a deal with the 1080 ti release looming. Good luck!

Jonathan Cave · Feb 22, 2017

Chugalug_ :

Currently, yes. in 2018 i doubt it.

Deleted member 217926 · Feb 22, 2017

How many truly demanding AAA games get released each year? 1 or 2. I game at 1440p 60hz ( 32" Samsung AMVA+ ) and my 980 Ti gives my playable frame rates with maximum image quality settings in every game except Mankind Divided. The Witcher 3 with max Hairworks, Fallout 4 with ultra godrays, Rise of the Tomb Raider... all run just fine.

I plan on getting a 1080 Ti and keeping it for a couple of years. I have no plans to upgrade my monitor anytime soon.

ibjeepr · Feb 22, 2017

Jonathan Cave :

ibjeepr :

Only for your existing games library. Future games no!

Consider this, the Titan X (Pascal) can barely do 60ps in the latests titles, TODAY... a year on from now the Titan X will struggle to get 60fps and then your upgading again. If you have plenty money that's fine

1080 Ti will perform the same as a titan x (speculation) so whats the point in buying a Titan X/1080 ti NOW if in a year its not meeting your needs? but like i said if money isnt an issue, then go throw it away lol

4k Gaming on a single card at 60fps from a value perspective is a LONG way off. Yes you can get 60fps now for a $1200 card but you'll need another $1200 card in 18 months when the latest games are demanding more gpu power... hope that makes sense

I like good value for money, and i don't see 4k gaming as good value or sustainable for the next 3-4 years until the hardware can power 4k and it's mainstream. e.g. 1080p

1440p @ 144hz (fps) is a struggle for the 1080/titan x in some cases. The future is 144hz gaming & eventually VR. Those who have had the luxury of playing games in @ 144hz will back me up. There's a huge difference, even in windows mouse movement. i can't play fps games at 60 fps anymore it feels to stuttery , its the damn 144hz curse.

I have a 24" 120hz monitor and while it was a slight improvement over 60hz I could never go back to gaming on a monitor even for 120 or 144hz refresh. 40" is where i'm at and could never go back to a smaller screen for the slight refresh benefit.

Deleted member 217926 · Feb 22, 2017

Exactly how I feel about my Samsung.

First week: Wow this is too big, I don't even know where to look. Now? Everything else is tiny and unsatisfying.

Mine is an actual monitor and not a TV though.

4K gaming or current system bottleneck

Distinguished

Expert

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Deleted member 217926

Guest

Titan

Deleted member 217926

Guest

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Deleted member 217926

Guest

Distinguished

Deleted member 217926

Guest

Share this page