Upgrading from a 480 gtx to.....help me decide.

[ghostface147]

Hello all,

I just picked up Crysis 3 and my 480 is struggling at 1680x1050 on high settings. I am trying to decide which 600 series to pick. Not interested in a 680 or above. Should I get the 660, 660 Ti or the 670? Sorry, not interested in Radeon 7000 series based cards. I also know the spring refresh is around the corner with the usual 780 due first and then maybe the 770, 760, and Ti models a few months later. I don't want to wait that long.

Another thing I am curious on is whether my CPU is still going to be an issue. It is an Intel Core 2 Quad core Q9400. I think it'll be fine. Thoughts?

I appreciate your input.

 

[mclovits]

May I ask why you wouldn't go with an AMD card?

Of the options you listed, I'd highly recommend the 670 (something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125438)

I don't blame you for not wanting to wait, they are saying it could be another 6-8 months.

Your CPU will bottleneck a new card like a 670, though I'd recommend upgrading your CPU, you can overclock (not sure if you have yet) and it would be the cheapest option. Here's a Crysis Warhead comparison based on the type of CPU used, as you can see, the Core 2 Quad you have ranks with previous generation i3's and Phenom II's, just something to think about: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/50

 

[ghostface147]

I've had bad luck with AMD cards in the past and am just comfortable with nvidia. I can't afford a new mobo, CPU and memory on top of a GPU to be honest.

I see my CPU isn't way behind a first gen i5 on that chart, but finances restrict my options at this time. Thanks for your reply.

 

[iam2thecrowe]

the 660 wouldnt be that much of a performance increase really. better go for the 660ti or the 670. Do games run better with lower resolution? if so, then you are gpu limited, no cpu.

 

[mclovits]

I understand, I've had an issue or too myself. Maybe purchse a good CPU cooler (Hyper 212) and a 660ti so you can even out the bottleneck? That's what I would do, but again, that's just personal opinion.

 

[ghostface147]

I appreciate your response. I am going to pickup a 660 Ti and see if it helps. If so, maybe over the next two months buy a mobo, CPU and memory. I don't feel I need a $300 mobo, $300 CPU and expensive ram. Maybe an i5 (ivy bridge), $180 z77 based mobo (asus/gigabyte) and $80 buck corsair ram.

My days of overclocking and all that jazz are past me.

 

[mclovits]

That's a good call, much like what I did. You don't even need to spend that much, Asrock z77 Pro4 or Extreme4 (Like $110 & $135), then yes Ivy/Sandy Bridge CPU, and RAM could be as little as ~$53 ish dollars for something like an 8GB dominator kit, should you so choose. Best of luck.

 

[mclovits]

Here, this was literally uploaded yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TwnekGgpdQ

Quite convenient...

 

[ghostface147]

Indeed. I will buy the 660 Ti and follow my plan to buy components over a few months and build it then. I am hoping my quad core Core 2 will do a little better than the dual core Core 2.

 

[cookybiscuit]

Why not do it the other way around? By that time the next series of GPU's might be out.

 

[ghostface147]

Well based upon nvidia's spring refresh history, they always put out the x80 model first with the subsequent models in the coming months. I am not patient enough to wait that long. Plus they always tend to have supply issues for a little bit, then it stabilizes.

Anyways, I found some good deals on parts and am buying everything today. I am impulsive that way at times.

 

[cookybiscuit]

Yea but going from a platform like you have to an Ivy Bridge will likely provide just as great a performance increase.

 

[iam2thecrowe]

i have to agree your gpu is not that bad, and upgrading to an i5 and a cheap $60-70 motherboard since your not overclocking and you will notice a big difference.

 

[ghostface147]

Best answer selected by ghostface147.