Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Reply to this thread

Solved Forum question

Started by beekermartin | | 16 answers
Pickup another EVGA GTX 780 Classified for SLI or sell my current card and grab a 970/980?
I typically always buy the best performing and value card available. Years ago it was the GTX 460. I then wait until the new model comes out and buy a second card for SLI. I did the same with the GTX 670.

Now that the 970/980s are out I am not sure what to do. The price of the 970 is amazingly low for the performance it offers! The value of my 780 has dropped @$100-125 since the 970/980s have been released.

So, do I sell my current 780 and buy a 970 or wait a bit longer for the price on the 780s to hit rock bottom and grab a second EVGA 780 Classified? My case and power supply can handle two 780s. I am currently still gaming on a single 1920x1200 monitor and I am aware the single 780 I have now is more than enough for that. I just like to stay as most current as I can when it comes to video cards. I plan upgrading the rest of my system in about a year or so. For now my X58 is still running strong and is dead reliable. I know I will see a decent performance increase with the newer i7's and Z97 motherboards but usually not as much as of an increase as staying current with the video cards.

The 970 is really gonna shake up the entire video card market. What an amazing card for $330!
  • By posting on this site, I confirm I am over 13 years of age and agree to abide by the site’s rules.

October 7, 2014 6:01:42 PM

I plan to use my GTX 780 for PhysX. I know its overkill for now; but in five years?
QED
Dont ever sell your 780.

I just wonder whether to go Strix 4Gb or 6Gb VRAM.
As SLi 4Gb is 4Gb.... and you just know in four years...... 6Gb will be at the edge for Ultra in more uber-realistic games.

P.S.
Watchdogs and similar high end games do like the best of everything. And nobody mentions Stereoscopic 3D requirements in regards to VRAM. Its practically an information vacuum.
October 5, 2014 9:30:53 PM

That's not entirely true as of yet. however I agree it is better for the price, hence the reason I tend to recommend it.
October 5, 2014 11:48:44 AM

beekermartin said:
Thanks guys. I know I am fine with what I have with my current resolution. I like to stay as current with a video card so I am ready if I decide to upgrade to a higher resolution. If I don't grab a second Classified 780 soon they will then become very hard to find. Also, if I do decide to sell my current card I probably won't get anymore than I would right now.

I know my cpu and mobo need to be updated next. I wasn't planning on having to grab another 780 or upgrade to the newest video card this soon. The price that Nvidia has released the 970 at has really shocked me and the rest of us I imagine.


beekermartin said:
unknownofprob said:
comparing those two CPU's overclocking would be the least of factors.

1) 15MB cache, 7 more threads then the i7 4790k's 8MB.

2) 6 cores vs 4 cores

3) Ability to future proof is far beyond that of the i7 4790k.


I guess I will have to do more research. I agree it is better for future proofing but I am not sure it is better for gaming.


Actually the 5820K is the best for its price for gaming, its better than the 4790K
October 5, 2014 11:36:29 AM

Gaming the i7 4790k will be in front, but it won't stay that way forever.
October 5, 2014 11:34:05 AM

unknownofprob said:
comparing those two CPU's overclocking would be the least of factors.

1) 15MB cache, 7 more threads then the i7 4790k's 8MB.

2) 6 cores vs 4 cores

3) Ability to future proof is far beyond that of the i7 4790k.


I guess I will have to do more research. I agree it is better for future proofing but I am not sure it is better for gaming.
October 5, 2014 11:02:56 AM

comparing those two CPU's overclocking would be the least of factors.

1) 15MB cache, 7 more threads then the i7 4790k's 8MB.

2) 6 cores vs 4 cores

3) Ability to future proof is far beyond that of the i7 4790k.
October 5, 2014 10:52:52 AM

unknownofprob said:
I would upgrade to a 5820k hex core+X99+DDR4 Ram, that'll keep you in the future for a lot longer. The price of all that is actually quite decent.


From everything I've read the 4790k is a better option if gaming is the primary concern. I don't believe the hexacores can be overclocked as high as the 4790k can. 4.6ghz is all but guaranteed with a 4790k. Pushing past that requires a lot of voltage and luck of course.
October 5, 2014 10:50:47 AM

I forgot to mention that my current 780 runs at 1202 mhz max boost and the ram is at 7 ghz. I can push it over 1250 mhz max boost but it wasn't completely stable. I know I could try a different bios that will allow more voltage but I am not interested in doing that. I know the 970 appears to overclock well too. I don't know how they compare if they are both overclocked by approximately the same percentage
October 4, 2014 11:30:14 PM

I would upgrade to a 5820k hex core+X99+DDR4 Ram, that'll keep you in the future for a lot longer. The price of all that is actually quite decent.
October 4, 2014 11:26:17 PM

unknownofprob said:
The GTX 970 is not worth scrapping the 780 for, there isn't a huge room of improvement. I know you want the most up to date, but that isn't worth it. If you desperately want a new card your better off just buying one, I won't be recommending it because I don't see a point. I do not promote wasting money, I recommend what is the most logical and beneficial upgrade.

If you really want the GTX 970, get one. If you'd prefer SLI 780, get that. I would rather you get dual 780's and blow the 970 out of the water then scrap the 780 and get a small improvement.


That has been my course of action the last few generations and if I can grab another 780 Classified for a steal that is what I will do?

I have been eyeing the z97 and I7 4790k for a few months now. I know that is a good upgrade path to take. I can probably sell my current mobo for the same price as the most popular z97 boards. The cpu, not so much. lol So is it worth it for me to upgrade the cpu, mobo and ram right now? Probably but I am still going to wait a few more months. I had no intentions of upgrading anything until Nvidia release the 970 for so cheap!

See all answers