Help with choosing a new GPU

[CommanderFett]

So I currently run a GTX 780, and I feel that won't be adequate for my future needs, namely Star Citizen at Ultra. If you don't know what that is, check out the sub forum here. I digress.

So what I know is that I have a warranty for 2 years from Microcenter on my 780, which cost me $500 or so at the time. I want to make a claim on that warranty, but I don't know how.

I want to then use said money to upgrade. I was debating between GTX 970 SLI and a GTX 980. I was wondering if the community here could provide a helping hand to a poor noob.

[SkilledRebuilds]

If it's not producing errors you cannot use warranty to get your money back for a perfectly working card...

IE: You cannot return it without it having issues...

 

Right?

[deVIZtation]

You bought a warranty from MicroCenter? What does it cover?

[wyattzx]

Your 780 is not under a 2-year Return Policy. It's 2-year warranty. There is a difference. Be respectful of that, please. The two best cards you can get right now would be the 295x2 from AMD, or the GTX 980 from NVIDIA. 

[LongbowX404]

snip

Hi there,

I work there.

Just bring it in. Tell them you have a plan. (IF you have receipt, even better) Otherwise we'll look it up.

780 is more power hungry than the 970 or 980. 

When does your warranty expire?

[CommanderFett]

Hi there,

I work there.

Just bring it in. Tell them you have a plan. (IF you have receipt, even better) Otherwise we'll look it up.

780 is more power hungry than the 970 or 980. 

When does your warranty expire?

August 23, 2016. I bought it last year on my birthday. I kept all the receipts.

[LongbowX404]

August 23, 2016. I bought it last year on my birthday. I kept all the receipts.

 

I'd wait for the 980 Ti/Whatever they're calling there next one. 

Prices might go down on the 980/970 and you can always consider the next guy. 

I'm off to reseat my cooler. 110C Core temp=bad.

 

[RZeroX]

What resolution will you be playing at?

[CommanderFett]

What resolution will you be playing at?

Currently 1080p 60hz. Eventually WQHD 120hz.

[RZeroX]

Currently 1080p 60hz. Eventually WQHD 120hz.

I would go with the 970 SLI as you shouldn't exceed the 3.5vram.

[CommanderFett]

I would go with the 970 SLI as you shouldn't exceed the 3.5vram.

The what now?

[RZeroX]

The what now?

Vram=Video Ram

[CommanderFett]

Vram=Video Ram

I have 16 gb of RAM

[RZeroX]

I have 16 gb of RAM

I'm not talking about ram I'm talking about vram the ram which is on the GPU..

[CommanderFett]

I'd wait for the 980 Ti/Whatever they're calling there next one. 

Prices might go down on the 980/970 and you can always consider the next guy. 

I'm off to reseat my cooler. 110C Core temp=bad.

But in terms of performance, what's better?

[CommanderFett]

I'm not talking about ram I'm talking about vram the ram which is on the GPU..

Oh. So what's this about 3.5? All the models at MC are 4 gb

[Briggsy]

Oh. So what's this about 3.5? All the models at MC are 4 gb

 

you won't use the last 512MB. its only about 4 times faster than system ram, and to access it blocks off the other 3.5GB of VRam for that memory cycle. so basically the 970 is a 3.5GB card.

[RZeroX]

Oh. So what's this about 3.5? All the models at MC are 4 gb

GTX 970 slows down when using more than 3.5GB VRAM but you shouldn't even hit this much vram when using 1080p

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/297381-nvidia-responds-to-gtx-970-35gb-memory-issue/

[CommanderFett]

GTX 970 slows down when using more than 3.5GB VRAM but you shouldn't even hit this much vram when using 1080p

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/297381-nvidia-responds-to-gtx-970-35gb-memory-issue/

So if I SLI it, that brings me up to 7gb, which is more than enough for 60+ fps at WQHD, right?

[CommanderFett]

you won't use the last 512MB. its only about 4 times faster than system ram, and to access it blocks off the other 3.5GB of VRam for that memory cycle. so basically the 970 is a 3.5GB card.

so what I'm understanding is that its innefficient

[RZeroX]

So if I SLI it, that brings me up to 7gb, which is more than enough for 60+ fps at WQHD, right?

Vram doesn't double you will still have the 4gb even tho only 3.5gb of it is fast while the last 512mb won't be usable.

[CommanderFett]

Vram doesn't double you will still have the 4gb even tho only 3.5gb of it is fast while the last 512mb won't be usable.

so would 3.5 gb be good for WQHD ultra settings at +60 FPS?

[RZeroX]

so would 3.5 gb be good for WQHD ultra settings at +60 FPS?

Yeah it should be good enough for WQHD.

[CommanderFett]

Yeah it should be good enough for WQHD.

That's with SLI, right?

[RZeroX]

That's with SLI, right?

Yeah that's with SLI should be able to get 60 fps+ in most games.