780 6GB worth $570

[rodion.zissou]

I've been watching new content for awhile without seeing this as a topic.

I've seen a few take the position that more VRAM is silly to pay for when that money could go to more cores.

I've seen a few state extra VRAM really helps boost performance in games and productivity.

I've seen a few state the necessity of 6GB of VRAM when running SLI.

I feel the new 6GB 780 card is the right choice for performance and upgradablity.

What do you think?

[dragoon20005]

maybe not so worth

 

if you do need the VRAM

 

the R9 290 4GB might fit the budget

[Askew]

Are you buying 1 or 2 cards?

 

Also what resolution do you want to game at?

 

I suggest 3GB 780, or 4GB R9 290.

[Lays]

There is no "necessity" of 6gb of vram when running SLI, I had 780 SLI for 8 months, and not once would I have benefited from having 6gb instead of 3gb. When I was near 3gb of use, games were becoming laggy and slow, from my cards not being fast enough to render out all the images.

 

The cards aren't nearly fast enough to have playable FPS when using over 3gb, unless you decide to buy 3-4 cards.

[SlaughterSmurf]

I wouldn't really say so unless you are running SLI. I mean I guess if it is only like $20 more then hey why not but for the most part you won't cap 3 until you get surround 1440p or 4k which a single 780 isn't strong enough to handle anyways. So basically

Only worth it if you are going to SLI.

[dragoon20005]

I take my 290 back

 

you can get this

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr9290x4gbd5ppdhe

 

R9 290X way faster than the GTX780

[Shaqo_Wyn]

I've been watching new content for awhile without seeing this as a topic.

I've seen a few take the position that more VRAM is silly to pay for when that money could go to more cores.

I've seen a few state extra VRAM really helps boost performance in games and productivity.

I've seen a few state the necessity of 6GB of VRAM when running SLI.

I feel the new 6GB 780 card is the right choice for performance and upgradablity.

What do you think?

6GB 780 is worth it if you're doing SLI. 

[Oshino Shinobu]

The 6GB of VRAM will not increase performance if you're using less than 3GB. A single 780 doesn't really have enough power to fully justify 6GB, but SLI makes more sense. However, the majority of games won't use over 3GB at 1080p, or 1440p (with the exception of a few). The extra VRAM only becomes useful at higher resolutions. If you're considering upgrading to a 6GB 780 over a normal one because you're getting low FPS (like, around 30) then don't do it, that's not VRAM running out, that's the card not being powerful enough. If you're getting crippling FPS (below 10) then you might be running out of VRAM and an upgrade might do you good. Even then, a better upgrade is the 290X. 

[rodion.zissou]

Are you buying 1 or 2 cards?

Also what resolution do you want to game at?

I suggest 3GB 780, or 4GB R9 290.

1 card with 1080p now, but I would like to be able to upgrade to 4k when reasonably priced by going 2x sli

[JAKEBAB]

I payed $715 for my 3gb 780 so that sounds like a good deal lol

[Lays]

6GB 780 is worth it if you're doing SLI. 

 

 

The 6GB of VRAM will not increase performance if you're using less than 3GB. A single 780 doesn't really have enough power to fully justify 6GB, but SLI makes more sense. However, the majority of games won't use over 3GB at 1080p, or 1440p (with the exception of a few). The extra VRAM only becomes useful at higher resolutions. If you're considering upgrading to a 6GB 780 over a normal one because you're getting low FPS (like, around 30) then don't do it, that's not VRAM running out, that's the card not being powerful enough. If you're getting crippling FPS (below 10) then you might be running out of VRAM and an upgrade might do you good. Even then, a better upgrade is the 290X. 

 

How?

 

When you're hitting near 3gb, you're already looking at 20-40 FPS with 780 SLI, adding 3gb won't help that if the card can barely maintain playable framerates at 3gb.

[dragoon20005]

1 card with 1080p now, but I would like to be able to upgrade to 4k when reasonably priced by going 2x sli

I will still suggest getting the 290X instead and later add another 290X

 

GTX780 SLi dual GPU have troubles pushing 4K resolutions

[rodion.zissou]

I payed $715 for my 3gb 780 so that sounds like a good deal lol

Ya, luckily I've been sitting on my parts list for a couple of months so I've been able to upgrade it without upping the budget.

[Oshino Shinobu]

How?

 

When you're hitting that 3gb, you're already looking at 20-40 FPS with 780 SLI, adding 3gb won't help that if the card can barely maintain playable framerates at 3gb.

I haven't used 780SLI, but I have used a 780Ti and Titan Black going over 3GB, both of which are less powerfull than SLI 780s. A single Titan Black can hit 50FPS while going over 3GB, so SLI 780s should be able to as well. 

[Lays]

I haven't used 780SLI, but I have used a 780Ti and Titan Black going over 3GB, both of which are less powerfull than SLI 780s. A single Titan Black can hit 50FPS while going over 3GB, so SLI 780s should be able to as well. 

 

Nowhere am I saying you can't go over 3gb. I am saying if you do, you will have 20-30 fps.

 

In the picture below, 780 TI using 3gb of vram struggle to provide 30 FPS, and 780 SLI is 20-30% slower than that.

Titan's go over 3gb, doesn't mean they're actually using it. In these pictures for instance, the titan is using more vram, because the game is caching some:

 

[DIV1D3]

Erm totally get a 290X, you can get more performance for less moniez, though your looking at a 2GB of VRAM reduction. Though really you'd only benefit from 6GB or VRAM if your trying to push an 8K res. 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202079

[Oshino Shinobu]

Nowhere am I saying you can't go over 3gb. I am saying if you do, you will have 20-30 fps.

 

In the picture below, 780 TI using 3gb of vram struggle to provide 30 FPS, and 780 SLI is 20-30% slower than that.

Titan's go over 3gb, doesn't mean they're actually using it. In these pictures for instance, the titan is using more vram, because the game is caching some:

 

 

Might change from game to game. With a single Titan Black I get constant 45+ FPS  going over 3GB. In all of those results, going over 3GB occurs when they turn on AA, which takes a lot out of a GPU. I'd say it looks like it's running out of power, it just happens that the amount of VRAM used is correlated. 

 

I'm basing all of this off personal experience though, I've found that a single Titan Black is plenty powerful enough to use more than 3GB. SLI 780 is more powerful than that, so it should be able to use more. Never used it though. 

[rodion.zissou]

I will still suggest getting the 290X instead and later add another 290X

 

GTX780 SLi dual GPU have troubles pushing 4K resolutions

I'll look into the 290x. I need to look further into AMD gpus in general. I have been very biased on the Nvidia side from the start, not even considering AMD. Perhaps it's time I explore.

[HarryTaint]

A nice review.

 

 

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_geforce_gtx_780_strix_6_gb_graphics_card_review,1.html

 

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/06/11/asus_strix_gtx_780_oc_6gb_review_exclusive/1#.U7IqFPldUdA

[rodion.zissou]

Ok, so I did some research and I don't think a 290 or 290x will work. I haven't seen any consistent performance advantage for the 290x to the 780 or 780ti. The prices between 290x and 780 seem pretty neck and neck. It seems simpler and wiser overall to go with a 780. I also don't want to have to watercool my gpu. I will also be getting a shield2 so there's that.

[fringie]

If you plan on gaming at 1440p I'd say the 3GB cards are fine and the AMD 290(x) cards will probably fair better long term due to the 4gb.

 

I'd only say go for the 6GB varients if you intend on SLI'ing them AND gaming at resolutions above 1440p. 4k, 3x monitors. If you do production work (or w.e. it's called) I've heard vRAM helps but you'll know what programs you use so you can just google it yourself. Even then, I think AMD cards are better than Nvidia for that type of thing.

 

I do think SLI/tri-sli 6gb cards is a good idea though. 6GB is more than you need but 3gb is cutting close at the moment as it is.

[Unclescar]

While Lays isn't wrong, I personally find it safe to say that the tiny amount of extra money spent to get the 6gb varient over the 3gb varient, especially in an SLI setup (which is what I'm going to do) is simply to remove one possible bottleneck that occurs more often lately than it did when the 780s were first released. With the 4gb 290 in a decent demand largely because of its bigger frame buffer, a 6gb 780 is a good alternative if you like Nvidia's features.

If the card runs out of power then the card runs out of power, but I feel like it'd be far better for a card to run out of power and give all its got before it runs out of memory than to run out of memory before it runs out of power and still have more performance it could have offered otherwise.

[MightyUnit]

OP I like the 780 personally. I own a 780ti, 780, a number of 280x and even a 7950. I am not saying 290/290X are a bad way to go rather IMO 780/780ti are more polished.

 

Concerning Vram. I think one has to really look at the big picture (no pun intended). I mean what good is it having a metric butt tonne of vram to store the rendered frame(s) if the GPU is not powerful enough to render such a complex frame at an acceptable frame rate? Do you follow?

 

IMO a single GTX 780 and 3GB is a sweet spot.   

[rodion.zissou]

Getting the 780 classified.

[Shaqo_Wyn]

Getting the 780 classified.

Great! I don't know why people feel the need to push the 290/290X EVERY time somebody is thinking of going Nvidia. It's not like the 780/780ti is instantly obsolete because of 1GB less VRAM and a 384 vs 512 bus width. SLI 6GB's 780's will be cray on THE sweet spot resolution IMO with is 1440p. From vids I've seen with this setup it can still push at least 4.5GB efficiently on 1440P on Ultra.