A couple hardware questions

[connaught]

Hi everybody, my first post here. A few hardware questions, which I'm sure you've all heard before.

 

The first is a thinly veiled "future proofing" (I cringe at it just like you do) or VRAM question.

 

I will be going off to university soon and it's likely that getting new parts for the PC will be a no-go - my money will probably be used up trying to feed myself with pot noodle and tinned beans. So my rig, specs in my signature, will have to last me a while. Since Christmas is coming up this is one of my last chances to get new parts. I had intended all the way up to the 900 series announcement to get another 770 and put it in SLI with my current one - however the 900 series has me doubting, particularly on the VRAM front. I say this because modern titles tend to use quite a bit of VRAM, for example, I can hardly play Watchdogs on the ultra texture settings without it stuttering terribly when going fast.

Considering the price of a 980, a 970 is more likely for me to get. However, there is always the option of buying a 4GB 770 and running it in SLI for now (Yes, I know it will function like a 2GB) and maybe being able to save for a second 4GB version in the future. Or you could tell me I'm being paranoid and I should just get another 2GB 770 (the price difference between a 4GB and 2GB is small anyways).

 

The second question should be much more simple: Is there such thing as a "quality" SLI bridge? I have the two-way MSI one which came with my motherboard, however I was wondering if some brands are just "better" than others, or if that is just not applicable to a SLI bridge.

 

Thanks in advance!

[SuperPug]

Get another 770 if you can find a cheap one (2GB that is). GTX 770 SLI will run games fine for a while to come.

Running games on High or Medium is fine too you know - if you're on a tight budget.

 

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1064?vs=1351

[Profquast]

Looking at some benchmarks the 970 is about 30% faster than the 770 at a 25% price increase. SLI 770's will probably perform a lot better, so if you're willing to deal with extra noise, heat and power usage, it is the better option. An SLI bridge is an SLI bridge, it's just a couple of runs of a conductive material, nothing more nothing less. At such a short distance quality doesn't really matter that much. Also watchdogs stuttering at high speeds probably has more to with watchdogs than with your 770.

[connaught]

Thanks for the replies! It looks like another 2GB 770 is my choice then.

What sort of temp increases do people see with a SLI setup? I haven't ever had problems with my GPU overheating or throttling, with an air cooled setup everything tends to hang around 60 when gaming.

[SuperPug]

Thanks for the replies! It looks like another 2GB 770 is my choice then.

What sort of temp increases do people see with a SLI setup? I haven't ever had problems with my GPU overheating or throttling, with an air cooled setup everything tends to hang around 60 when gaming.

 

If the gpus sit right nex to eachother the top one might get a little less air and hence get a bit warmer... of course the overall heat in the case will increase aswell (unless its the reference cooler) but if you have good airflow it won't matter.