GPU for 4k gaming computer

[othertomperson]

Yes I have seen a 4k display, sure you can hit 60fps by lowing settings turning of AA etc, though AA still does have some noticeable effects even at 4k

And some games will still struggle to hit 60 on highest settings 60fps consistently

Also I said SLI 970s would be the minimum... so not sure what the problem is? here is what I said below "you need at least 2 970s.." to get 30-60fps

that statement is 100% true

No. Not 30-60. 55-60, maybe. Two 970s will NEVER drop as low as 30 at ANY preset. Cherry picking benchmarks that ramp up unnecessary AA just to make your point is ridiculous.

[Guest]

Exactly, there are so many pixels on a 4K display it basically does AA for you without turning an AA processing algorithm on.

[ShadowCaptain]

No. Not 30-60. 55-60, maybe. Two 970s will NEVER drop as low as 30 at ANY preset. Cherry picking benchmarks that ramp up unnecessary AA just to make your point is ridiculous.

 

I did not cherry pick bencharks, I just grabbed the first one I saw, I dont think AA is unnecessary even at 4k though that depends on screen size

 

for example a 24" 4k display will be much sharper than a 34" 4k display where AA will make a noticeable effect

 

Also there are benchmarks with very low to no AA and the minimum FPS drops to around 30/35 fps during certain scenes,

[Najuno]

It's always best case to hear from people that use this stuff... It is a matter of fact that all current highend cards have a lack of raw GPU computing power. No matter if one likes that or not and it doesn't matter if you name the child nVidia or AMD.

 

I am driving a 4K 60Hz monitor with a 3way GTX980 SLI. First of all this story of a GTX970 2way SLI gets you always above 50+ FPS in AAA titles with ULTRA settings, even very high setting with max 2x AA is a fairytale, period.

 

I tried 4K with a 2way GTX980 SLI. It was playable in most games with high setting max 2x AA from highest 65-25FPS, depending on the game. For me this wasn't really a dream coming true so I went back to 1440p in ULTRA which is for a GTX980  2way SLI no problem at all (GTX970 2way SLI will do just fine as well).

Since I use the 3way SLI 4K became really much more enjoyable. I see hardly any suttering and even though the third card doesn't scale as good as a second does. My min FPS (THIS is what matters) are way better in all AAA games and I never drop under 40-45 FPS. Now the investment behind this is the issue for most of the people, because to make things right that doesn't only mean 3 GPUs but also a X99 built plus a good 4K monitor and next thing you know you spent 5k+ dollars.

Most of the time I can play games like DragonAge:Inquisition, DeadSpace3, Arma III, The Crew or StarCitizen with enjoyable 50-60 FPS in max details with moderate AA settings.

 

Though I am personally already waiting on the next highend cards, to get more GPU for my money. Maxwell 204 was a good start but nVidia and AMD need to bring way better cards to make 4K way more available for PC gamers as the monitors become cheaper every 6 months.

As a side note, that Acer 144Hz IPS display is, if they manage to bring a good quality, absolut killer! It combines all many highend users have been waiting for years already.

[okeanos315]

And how would 2 gtx970s perform in 2 or 3 years? Would I have to replace them or would they be fine?

[Fate]

And how would 2 gtx970s perform in 2 or 3 years? Would I have to replace them or would they be fine?

You would definitely want to replace them. 

The issue with spending this much money on 4k is, you still cannot max out current games with two 970's, and when you can't max out current games, you're going to have a real hard time even playing them at decent settings 2-3 years down the road.

Let's look at a GPU released 2-3 years ago; 650ti.

The 650ti could play AAA games at decent settings at the time (probably comparable to what two 970's can play games at 4k right now), but by now, it's pretty obsolete compared to what there is now for the same price. (it was $150, you can get a R9 280 for that price after MIR which utterly destroys the 650ti)

 

The same will likely happen with the 970's. 

 

You spend $700 on them right now, and you won't even be able to play current gen titles maxed out. In three years, $700 worth of graphics cards will destroy $700 in graphics cards today.

 

I just came to the realization why investing in 4k right now is not really worth it right now after what I wrote.

 

You should at least wait for the 390x.

[Cheddle]

So I am building a 4k gaming computer, but I am concerned that one gtx970 won't be enough. What do you recommend? Do you think this is going to be enough?

 

my single gtx980 is almost there... some titles I get 60 fps, even with AA. (talos principal for example, COD:AW (no aa)) but most its more like 30 fps...

 

SLI gtx 980's > tri-SLI gtx970s > crossfire r9 290x > gtx 980 > r9 290x 8gb >= gtx 970 > r9 290 are my guestimations