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I have a fever... and the only cure is more vram!

MoonDoggy-X

I am looking to upgrade my current GPU set-up. I went with 960 sli because at 1080p it benchmarked close to a single 980, but for about $150 less, at the time anyway. I like my dual 960 2gb, but I see Vram becoming a problem going forward If I want to run maxed out settings at 1080p. Especially since I love my AA and filters maxed as well. So far, the only game that have me trouble is Skyrim when decently modded. But looking at the benchmarks for newer games like Witcher 3, Inquisition, etc, I see that I will need to upgrade If I want to stay 60fps or above, max details. Of course, I am looking for suggestions for a proper upgrade and any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I have a 1080p, 120hz display. I think it will be a while still before I worry about higher resolutions. At least until the next generation of cards come out, so I'm not too concerned about future-proofing.

I am well aware of the pros/cons of running a single gpu vs sli, so no need to go there. However, if you think a particular set-up will exceed my 750 watt PSU, please let me know.

I have been trying to research and have narrowed down my choices. I know that I will probably be able to sell my current cards for about $300, so I am just trying to compare the net cost of the upgrade vs the net gains. The contenders I have come up with are...

gtx 960 sli 4gb $220 net cost

gtx 980 Single $250 net cost

gtx 980 ti Single $400 net cost

gtx 970 sli $450 net cost

Please let me know what you guys think will give the best $/performance gains over my current gtx 960 2gb sli set-up. Thanks in advance.

CPU: Intel Core i7 4790k @ 4.6ghz, Cooling: NZXT Kraken x61(Push/Pull), MOBO: EVGA Z97 FTW, OS: Windows 10, RAM: 16gb EVGA SuperSC DDR3 2400, Storage: Samsung 850 Evo 250gb + 500gb SSD, WD Black 1tb HDD, PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G1, Case: NZXT Phantom 530, GPU: 2x EVGA GTX 980 CLASSIFIED, Monitor: Seiki 39 inch, 1080p @ 120hz, 4k @ 30hz

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980ti.

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980Ti. Single over dual GPU.

CPU i7 6700k MB  MSI Z170A Pro Carbon GPU Zotac GTX980Ti amp!extreme RAM 16GB DDR4 Corsair Vengeance 3k CASE Corsair 760T PSU Corsair RM750i MOUSE Logitech G9x KB Logitech G910 HS Sennheiser GSP 500 SC Asus Xonar 7.1 MONITOR Acer Predator xb270hu Storage 1x1TB + 2x500GB Samsung 7200U/m - 2x500GB SSD Samsung 850EVO

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In my opinion the dual GTX 970's are the best dollar to performace choice. Even with the 3,5 GB + 512 MB "problem".
Whats even better, if you are plannig to upgrade to windows 10, with the new DirectX 12 the VRAM will stack up instead of just being the normal 3,5 GB + 512 MB.

I know most of the games nowadays doesn't support DX 12 but in the Future there will be!

Cheers

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Quad SLI Titan Z :D

*cough* should have gone 380 ^_^ *cough*

Archangel (Desktop) CPU: i5 4590 GPU:Asus R9 280  3GB RAM:HyperX Beast 2x4GBPSU:SeaSonic S12G 750W Mobo:GA-H97m-HD3 Case:CM Silencio 650 Storage:1 TB WD Red
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Windows 10 is now MSX! - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/440190-can-we-start-calling-windows-10/page-6

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I have a 1080p, 120hz display. I think it will be a while still before I worry about higher resolutions.

 

So you put an arse-tonne of highly intensive effects over a 1080p image so that you can try and make it look as good as a higher resolution image and matches or even exceeds the processing power to run it, but you won't just get a high resolution panel to begin with?

 

Dual 2GB 960s was a poor choice to begin with but my advice to you is to either:

 

  • Get a 980 for now, save up for a 4K display. Play without your precious filters because they do little at this resolution anyway. Play at medium presets while you save up for a second 980.
  • Get a 980 Ti and save up for a 4K display. Still play without "filters" because they still don't do much, but now you'll be playing at very high to ultra. You can still save up for a second 980 Ti if you want but it's not necessary.

For the first point, you can get 970s or 290s if you're willing to overclock them, or 980s or 290Xs if you're not.

 

*cough* should have gone 380  ^_^ *cough*

 
Ew fanboy. 960 and 380 perform about the same. It's the 280X that's marginally better than either of them.
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So you put an arse-tonne of highly intensive effects over a 1080p image so that you can try and make it look as good as a higher resolution image and matches or even exceeds the processing power to run it, but you won't just get a high resolution panel to begin with?

 

Dual 2GB 960s was a poor choice to begin with but my advice to you is to either:

 

  • Get a 980 for now, save up for a 4K display. Play without your precious filters because they do little at this resolution anyway. Play at medium presets while you save up for a second 980.
  • Get a 980 Ti and save up for a 4K display. Still play without "filters" because they still don't do much, but now you'll be playing at very high to ultra. You can still save up for a second 980 Ti if you want but it's not necessary.
 
 
Ew fanboy. 960 and 380 perform about the same. It's the 280X that's marginally better than either of them.

 

Mate, the OP already said 2 GB is not enough - 380 has 4GB :P

It performs anywhere from 10-20% better - same like the 760 and 280.

Archangel (Desktop) CPU: i5 4590 GPU:Asus R9 280  3GB RAM:HyperX Beast 2x4GBPSU:SeaSonic S12G 750W Mobo:GA-H97m-HD3 Case:CM Silencio 650 Storage:1 TB WD Red
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Seraph (Laptop 2) CPU:i7 6700HQ GPU:GTX 970M 3GB RAM:2x8GB DDR4Storage: 256GB Samsung 951 + 1TB Toshiba HDD Model:Asus GL502VT

Windows 10 is now MSX! - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/440190-can-we-start-calling-windows-10/page-6

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Mate, the OP already said 2 GB is not enough - 380 has 4GB :P

It performs anywhere from 10-20% better - same like the 760 and 280.

 

No it doesn't, the stock 380 has 2GB. There are versions that have 4GB, as there are versions of the 960 with 4GB.

 

They are interchangeable. The 380 is a rebadged 285 and performs exactly as you'd expect it to.

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No it doesn't, the stock 380 has 2GB. There are versions that have 4GB, as there are versions of the 960 with 4GB.

 

They are interchangeable.

Not exactly - the 960 lacks the memory bandwidth to be able to utilize 4GB whereas the reference 380 already had 4GB to begin with. the 2GB version is a cheaper version from board partners.

Archangel (Desktop) CPU: i5 4590 GPU:Asus R9 280  3GB RAM:HyperX Beast 2x4GBPSU:SeaSonic S12G 750W Mobo:GA-H97m-HD3 Case:CM Silencio 650 Storage:1 TB WD Red
Celestial (Laptop 1) CPU:i7 4720HQ GPU:GTX 860M 4GB RAM:2x4GB SK Hynix DDR3Storage: 250GB 850 EVO Model:Lenovo Y50-70
Seraph (Laptop 2) CPU:i7 6700HQ GPU:GTX 970M 3GB RAM:2x8GB DDR4Storage: 256GB Samsung 951 + 1TB Toshiba HDD Model:Asus GL502VT

Windows 10 is now MSX! - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/440190-can-we-start-calling-windows-10/page-6

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Not exactly - the 960 lacks the memory bandwidth to be able to utilize 4GB whereas the reference 380 already had 4GB to begin with. the 2GB version is a cheaper version from board partners.

 

Like I said it's a 285 with a new name on it and a 75MHz OC. The 2GB version is the original version of the card. You have it backwards.

 

Are you finished or are you going to further derail this thread by recommending something that's almost identical to one of the cards OP already has, but by your Favourite GPU company instead?

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Like I said it's a 285 with a new name on it and a 75MHz OC. The 2GB version is the original version of the card. You have it backwards.

 

Are you finished or are you going to further derail this thread by recommending something that's almost identical to one of the cards OP already has, but by your Favourite GPU company instead?

380 and 285 are NOT identical - 380 is a refreshed 285 aka fully featured Tonga and thus the recent tool that can unlock a 285 to be a 380.

Archangel (Desktop) CPU: i5 4590 GPU:Asus R9 280  3GB RAM:HyperX Beast 2x4GBPSU:SeaSonic S12G 750W Mobo:GA-H97m-HD3 Case:CM Silencio 650 Storage:1 TB WD Red
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Seraph (Laptop 2) CPU:i7 6700HQ GPU:GTX 970M 3GB RAM:2x8GB DDR4Storage: 256GB Samsung 951 + 1TB Toshiba HDD Model:Asus GL502VT

Windows 10 is now MSX! - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/440190-can-we-start-calling-windows-10/page-6

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380 and 285 are NOT identical - 380 is a refreshed 285 aka fully featured Tonga and thus the recent tool that can unlock a 285 to be a 380.

 

The 380 is not full Tonga. I don't know where you heard that but it's wrong. Expect a 380X to be released at some point and that will be full Tonga.

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The 380 is not full Tonga. I don't know where you heard that but it's wrong. Expect a 380X to be released at some point and that will be full Tonga.

IIRC that was what everyone was saying around release day.

Archangel (Desktop) CPU: i5 4590 GPU:Asus R9 280  3GB RAM:HyperX Beast 2x4GBPSU:SeaSonic S12G 750W Mobo:GA-H97m-HD3 Case:CM Silencio 650 Storage:1 TB WD Red
Celestial (Laptop 1) CPU:i7 4720HQ GPU:GTX 860M 4GB RAM:2x4GB SK Hynix DDR3Storage: 250GB 850 EVO Model:Lenovo Y50-70
Seraph (Laptop 2) CPU:i7 6700HQ GPU:GTX 970M 3GB RAM:2x8GB DDR4Storage: 256GB Samsung 951 + 1TB Toshiba HDD Model:Asus GL502VT

Windows 10 is now MSX! - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/440190-can-we-start-calling-windows-10/page-6

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R9 390X crossfire.

 

Enjoy near 980 levels of performance per GPU, with 8GB of glorious VRAM.

 

8GB offers literally no benefit at resolutions below 5K, just so you know...

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8GB offers literally no benefit at resolutions below 5K, just so you know...

Mate, 6GB is REQUIRED for 4k and is still barely enough with 4GB being ESSENTIAL for 1440p - 8GB is not that strange.

Archangel (Desktop) CPU: i5 4590 GPU:Asus R9 280  3GB RAM:HyperX Beast 2x4GBPSU:SeaSonic S12G 750W Mobo:GA-H97m-HD3 Case:CM Silencio 650 Storage:1 TB WD Red
Celestial (Laptop 1) CPU:i7 4720HQ GPU:GTX 860M 4GB RAM:2x4GB SK Hynix DDR3Storage: 250GB 850 EVO Model:Lenovo Y50-70
Seraph (Laptop 2) CPU:i7 6700HQ GPU:GTX 970M 3GB RAM:2x8GB DDR4Storage: 256GB Samsung 951 + 1TB Toshiba HDD Model:Asus GL502VT

Windows 10 is now MSX! - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/440190-can-we-start-calling-windows-10/page-6

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Mate, 6GB is REQUIRED for 4k and is still barely enough with 4GB being ESSENTIAL for 1440p - 8GB is not that strange.

 

lmao no it isn't. 4K needs around 3.4GB. Extreme cases like Shadow of Mordor occasionally want as much as 3.7.

 

Stop saying "mate" before talking out of your arse.

 

 

it does with heavily modded skyrim.

 

CF works with skyrim, atleast my dual HD 7950 and R9 295x2 can use CF just fine with it

 
Heavily modded Skyrim is fair enough. It says it all that it makes a game from 2011 stretch top end hardware today.
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lmao no it isn't. 4K needs around 3.4GB. Extreme cases like Shadow of Mordor occasionally want as much as 3.7.

 

Stop saying "mate" before talking out of your arse.

 

 
 
Heavily modded Skyrim is fair enough. It says it all that it makes a game from 2011 stretch top end hardware today.

 

Show me how a 970 runs GTA V @ 4K with decent settings

or Witcher 3.

Archangel (Desktop) CPU: i5 4590 GPU:Asus R9 280  3GB RAM:HyperX Beast 2x4GBPSU:SeaSonic S12G 750W Mobo:GA-H97m-HD3 Case:CM Silencio 650 Storage:1 TB WD Red
Celestial (Laptop 1) CPU:i7 4720HQ GPU:GTX 860M 4GB RAM:2x4GB SK Hynix DDR3Storage: 250GB 850 EVO Model:Lenovo Y50-70
Seraph (Laptop 2) CPU:i7 6700HQ GPU:GTX 970M 3GB RAM:2x8GB DDR4Storage: 256GB Samsung 951 + 1TB Toshiba HDD Model:Asus GL502VT

Windows 10 is now MSX! - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/440190-can-we-start-calling-windows-10/page-6

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So you put an arse-tonne of highly intensive effects over a 1080p image so that you can try and make it look as good as a higher resolution image and matches or even exceeds the processing power to run it, but you won't just get a high resolution panel to begin with?

 

Dual 2GB 960s was a poor choice to begin with but my advice to you is to either:

 

  • Get a 980 for now, save up for a 4K display. Play without your precious filters because they do little at this resolution anyway. Play at medium presets while you save up for a second 980/970.
  • Get a 980 Ti and save up for a 4K display. Still play without "filters" because they still don't do much, but now you'll be playing at very high to ultra. You can still save up for a second 980 Ti if you want but it's not necessary.

 

 

Um, yeah... 4k isn't quite there yet for me. Right now, I'm on a 39 inch 120hz display I picked up for less than $300. For way less than $1,000 I can get gpu set-up that will run any game at maxed 1080p/100+hz, and looks damn good as well. Does it look as good as 4k? Hell no! But good luck finding a 32in+ 4k display that isn't ultrawide. Or does more than 60hz. And what does it take to run 4k maxed even closed to 60hz??? 2x 980ti or titans. Honestly, I'm waiting until there is a 4k display I like, 32+ inches 16:9, 100hz+, before I even upgrade. And I seriously doubt that will be available before the next generation of gpu, that will hopefully also handle 4k a little bit better.

 

Reviews like this is why I bought dual 960s. Still, besides modded skyrim and a handful of other recent tiles, this set up kicks arse. But I'm looking to get the new NFS when it comes out and will probably tackle Witcher 3 before that.

https://youtu.be/4_l17fg-sFg

CPU: Intel Core i7 4790k @ 4.6ghz, Cooling: NZXT Kraken x61(Push/Pull), MOBO: EVGA Z97 FTW, OS: Windows 10, RAM: 16gb EVGA SuperSC DDR3 2400, Storage: Samsung 850 Evo 250gb + 500gb SSD, WD Black 1tb HDD, PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G1, Case: NZXT Phantom 530, GPU: 2x EVGA GTX 980 CLASSIFIED, Monitor: Seiki 39 inch, 1080p @ 120hz, 4k @ 30hz

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I am looking to upgrade my current GPU set-up. I went with 960 sli because at 1080p it benchmarked close to a single 980, but for about $150 less, at the time anyway. I like my dual 960 2gb, but I see Vram becoming a problem going forward If I want to run maxed out settings at 1080p. Especially since I love my AA and filters maxed as well. So far, the only game that have me trouble is Skyrim when decently modded. But looking at the benchmarks for newer games like Witcher 3, Inquisition, etc, I see that I will need to upgrade If I want to stay 60fps or above, max details. Of course, I am looking for suggestions for a proper upgrade and any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I have a 1080p, 120hz display. I think it will be a while still before I worry about higher resolutions. At least until the next generation of cards come out, so I'm not too concerned about future-proofing.

I am well aware of the pros/cons of running a single gpu vs sli, so no need to go there. However, if you think a particular set-up will exceed my 750 watt PSU, please let me know.

I have been trying to research and have narrowed down my choices. I know that I will probably be able to sell my current cards for about $300, so I am just trying to compare the net cost of the upgrade vs the net gains. The contenders I have come up with are...

gtx 960 sli 4gb $220 net cost

gtx 980 Single $250 net cost

gtx 980 ti Single $400 net cost

gtx 970 sli $450 net cost

Please let me know what you guys think will give the best $/performance gains over my current gtx 960 2gb sli set-up. Thanks in advance.

ok, 960 sli is out for lack or performance, 970 sli lacks vram and it's probably overkill for 1080p, so is a 980 ti, so i would go for a single 980 with the possibility of adding a second card, seems the most apropiate for your set up.

System

  • CPU
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  • Motherboard
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  • RAM
    Kingston HyperX FURY 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 1866MHz
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    MSI GTX 1070 Gaming X
  • Case
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  • Storage
    Samsung 840 EVO 500GB+WD Green 3TB
  • PSU
    EVGA SuperNOVA 850G2 80PLUS Gold Certified
  • Display(s)
    ASUS PB277Q 27" WQHD 2560x1440 75Hz 1ms
  • Cooling
    Corsair H105 with AP121s and Phanteks fans
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    Logitech G610 Orion
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