Upgrading my PC need to know what is the priority so I'm not wasting $

[Philminator]

Hey guys I know a lot about computers but I clearly don't know everything. Let's try to cut to the chase. I have a P8Z77- V LK mobo, an i5 3570 @ 3.4 GHZ stock. 8 GB of DDR3 @ 1333 mhz G.Skill ripsaw ram and a GTX 560 Asus GPU. Now then I'm upgrading my computer and giving the old parts to my dad who wants to finish building his PC. I want to upgrade my GPU and Ram. What is a bigger performance booster for me between going from a GTX 560 to a GTX 670 standard with upgrading the ram from 8 GB @ 1333 to 16 GB @ 1600? or forget the ram because it's sufficient enough and instead spend that extra 100$ on a GTX 680? input is really appreciated as after several hours of gooling around I haven't come to a conclusion of what's better between option
A) GTX 560 to GTX 670
8 GB @ 1333 (G.Skill Ripsaw) to 16 GB @ 1600 (G.Skill Ripsaw or Corsair)

B) GTX 560 to GTX 680
keep my 8 GB @ 1333 ( G.Skill Ripsaw)

C) GTX 560 to GTX 670
8 GB @ 1333 to 8 GB @ 2400 OC ( Corsair Dominator Platinum)

 

[geofelt]

My vote goes to option B.

The current Intel cpu's have an excellent integrated ram controller. It is able to keep the cpu fed with data from any speed ram.

The difference in real application performance or FPS between the fastest and slowest ram is on the order of 1-3%.

Synthetic benchmark differences will be impressive, but are largely irrelevant in the real world.

Only if you are seeking record level overclocks should you consider faster ram or better latencies.

Read this Anandtech article on memory scaling:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3/1


Faster ram buys you very little.

Also, no game I know of by itself can use more than 23gb of ram. Your 8gb is fine.

---------------bottom line------------
Say with your current ram.

I would normally say a GTX670 would be the sweet spot. A factory overclocked card comes very close to a GTX680.
But your GTX560 is a very good card, and since you have the budget, go spring for a GTX680. Do anything else, and you will always wonder if you made the best choice.

 

[Philminator]

thank you very much actually in the last 20 minutes I am potentially considering a 670 by zotac as it's factory OC and is only 20$ more than the Asus 670 and comes close to the 680 as you said. this helps me a lot now thanks again.

 

[geofelt]

thank you very much actually in the last 20 minutes I am potentially considering a 670 by zotac as it's factory OC and is only 20$ more than the Asus 670 and comes close to the 680 as you said. this helps me a lot now thanks again.

I might suggest the EVGA GTX670 FTW.
It has a factory overclock boost to 1084MHZ, and a direct exhaust cooler that gets the hot air directly out of your case.
USA support too.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787

 

[idroid]

thank you very much actually in the last 20 minutes I am potentially considering a 670 by zotac as it's factory OC and is only 20$ more than the Asus 670 and comes close to the 680 as you said. this helps me a lot now thanks again.

You should also consider the AMD 7970Ghz edition from gigabyte, its the fastest single GPU card and it costs 413$ (13$more than the GTX670) and it has a LOT of overclocking room.

keep the 8GB @ 1333mhz, they are good enough, i also recommend you getting an aftermarket cooler (if you don't have one already) to overclock your CPU or simply keep it cooler and quieter.

 

[Philminator]

sounds good I'll consider those options guys thanks, normally I'd say no to ATI only because my 2 ATI cards in the past burned out within 6 months NO overclocking and the 3D normally with Nvidia is better from what I hear but since im not looking at doing 3D for at least another year I will keep that ATI card in mind as well.

 

[idroid]

sounds good I'll consider those options guys thanks, normally I'd say no to ATI only because my 2 ATI cards in the past burned out within 6 months NO overclocking and the 3D normally with Nvidia is better from what I hear but since im not looking at doing 3D for at least another year I will keep that ATI card in mind as well.

you either had really bad luck or a extremely dirty case (or poor airflow)

here you... a little incentive:

 

[Philminator]

I must admit that is impressive that said even with my bad luck I've never thought ATI / AMD was bad..I knew it was just really bad luck and that both companies are really good.

 

[Smeg45]

Also consider a 7950 and pocket the cash, its more than enough @ 1080 or 1200p.

 

[Smeg45]

Also consider a 7950 and pocket the cash, its more than enough @ 1080 or 1200p.

 

[Philminator]

will do thanks, just browsing for those cards in my neck of the woods to compare prices between them all. This helped a lot as I don't always know what is good to upgrade and not so far there's a Visiontek 7970 3GB for 535$ CND and a Sapphire 7970 3GB for 470$ and a Gigabyte 7970 3GB for 440$ almost 100$ cheaper than the visiontek, I'm willing to spend the extra 100$ if justified but at first glance and a quick google search all I've seen is appearantly visiontek have lifetime warranty but on futureshop's website all I see is a 1 year warranty @idroid is this the exact gigabyte card you were talking about http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/gigabyte-gigabyte-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-gddr5-pci-e-video-card-gv-r797oc-3gd-gv-r797oc-3gd/10214787.aspx?path=bd804be8a3d1b22e8f10820d151e07a0en02 just to make sure I don't get the wrong version.
PS: IF I decided to go 3D monitor say in 7-9 months type thing, would I have to replace my ATI card with an Nvidia? or are both companies neck to neck when it comes to 3D performance in gaming?

 

[Philminator]

Alas the Gigabyte Ghz edition with the 1500 mhz effection 6000 mhz card is not available where I live and I'd be using my future shop card they only have the 1000 mhz 5500 and its 450$ I wish I could get the faster one specially if it's cheaper, now I'm wondering since that one isn't made available to me what the second best choice is between
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/sapphire-sapphire-amd-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-gddr5-pci-e-video-card-21197-00-40g-21197-00-40g/10215782.aspx?path=1166fa92762ea7a2688098ae937584dben02

and the

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/gigabyte-gigabyte-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-gddr5-pci-e-video-card-gv-r797oc-3gd-gv-r797oc-3gd/10214787.aspx?path=bd804be8a3d1b22e8f10820d151e07a0en02

 

[Smeg45]

I'd get the Gigabyte version. I have the 7950 version and they run cool and quiet even when pushed to the limit.

 

[Smeg45]

I'm hearing through several google searches the same thing, for being OC manually or not it runs cooler, it's appearantly a tad louder but I don't care about that. I'm concerned with cooling over noise.

I run at 50 celsius or less in my Storm Enforcer. It will keep it cool.

 

[Philminator]

I'd get the Gigabyte version. I have the 7950 version and they run cool and quiet even when pushed to the limit.

I'm hearing through several google searches the same thing, for being OC manually or not it runs cooler, it's appearantly a tad louder but I don't care about that. I'm concerned with cooling over noise.

 

[Philminator]

I run at 50 celsius or less in my Storm Enforcer. It will keep it cool.

nice I had the Cooler Master storm scout, just bought the Corsair Graphite 600T
gonna start a new thread rather than keep expanding on this one with new questions, if that is what is preferred. I have my answer to my original question but I will be posting a new thread which has likely been discussed but haven't been giving quite a clear cut to the chase answer on 3D gaming with Nvidia vision 2 and a compatible monitor for it vs ATI / Amd 3D gaming. as that is where I am heading next year.