GTX 980 w/ i7 4770k or GTX 780 w/ i7 4790k - Best bet for performance?

[NicoSkill246]

So, I currently have a GTX 780 and an i7 4770k @3.5GHz. I am looking into buying one of these parts but if absolutely necessary both. To get the most out of performance and Frames Per Second, should I keep the cpu and buy a GTX 980 or keep the gpu and buy an i7 4790k or something else around that price range to get the most performance, frames per second, and smoothness. Also, I currently have 16gb of ram and a 750w power supply. Thanks!

[SkywardKkalox]

Keep the CPU and get a 970 instead of the 980.

And also get a CPU cooler, and a z87 mobo if you don't already have one and overclock this bad boy.

The 970 is more bang for the buck for about the same performance as th 980 for a MUCH, MUCH lower price.

[Dzzope]

GPU will have much more impact on FPS. That said a 780 is plenty if you are on 1080.. (Depending on game and refresh-rate)

[shirokado]

Keep the CPU and get a 970 instead of the 980.

And also get a CPU cooler, and a z87 mobo if you don't already have one and overclock this bad boy.

The 970 is more bang for the buck for about the same performance as th 980 for a MUCH, MUCH lower price.

970 is not about the same performance. 980 performs a good 10% better.

[1Scotty1]

970 is not about the same performance. 980 performs a good 10% better.

10%, yet costs almost double the money

[Robin88]

So, I currently have a GTX 780 and an i7 4770k @3.5GHz. I am looking into buying one of these parts but if absolutely necessary both. To get the most out of performance and Frames Per Second, should I keep the cpu and buy a GTX 980 or keep the gpu and buy an i7 4790k or something else around that price range to get the most performance, frames per second, and smoothness. Also, I currently have 16gb of ram and a 750w power supply. Thanks!

Get the GTX 980 and keep the 4770K, there's almost no real world difference in per clock performance between the 4770K and the 4790K. You're set on the CPU for at least 4 to 5 years if the current rate of CPU performance increases continues (i.e. almost no major performance increase between new generations) so get the better GPU and keep your CPU until such a time as hexacore or octacore CPU's become mainstream.

 

Although having said that, have a look around at GTX 780 prices, you may be able to get a second GTX 780 for far less than the cost of GTX 980 and you'll get near GTX Titan X performance from them in most games, and when you don't, you'll still get the awesome performance from 1 GTX 780.

Your PSU and RAM are fine, you're set for quite a while yet so don't worry about those.

[shirokado]

10%, yet costs almost double the money

If someone wants to buy a fast gpu, why suggest something that performs worse. yes I know that the 970 is about 200 dollars cheaper, and for people who can't afford 980's its a great option. But if you can afford a 980, theres no reason to lower yourself to a 970.

[1Scotty1]

If someone wants to buy a fast gpu, why suggest something that performs worse. yes I know that the 970 is about 200 dollars cheaper, and for people who can't afford 980's its a great option. But if you can afford a 980, theres no reason to lower yourself to a 970.

I completely understand what you are saying, I am just saying that for some it is not worth it to fork up almost double the money for that 10% performance increase I rather went 970 SLI and that blows a single 980 out of the water

[NicoSkill246]

I completely understand what you are saying, I am just saying that for some it is not worth it to fork up almost double the money for that 10% performance increase I rather went 970 SLI and that blows a single 980 out of the water

What if I even bought the 970 and then hooked up sli with the 780 and 970 or is that not possible and not worth it if possible

[1Scotty1]

What if I even bought the 970 and then hooked up sli with the 780 and 970 or is that not possible and not worth it if possible

You cant SLI two different cards...

[NicoSkill246]

You cant SLI two different cards...

yea i didnt know that im kinda a noob at this stuff  :huh:

[1Scotty1]

yea i didnt know that im kinda a noob at this stuff  :huh:

That is why this forum exists, to help out anybody

[NicoSkill246]

That is why this forum exists, to help out anybody

I was just researching online, and I cant find the same 780 online as the one i have rn. Its a windforce gtx 780 and I cant find any online. What should I do? Do you know where I could find one?

[NicoSkill246]

I was just researching online, and I cant find the same 780 online as the one i have rn. Its a windforce gtx 780 and I cant find any online. What should I do? Do you know where I could find one?

nevermind I found one but its twice the price of a 970 . What should I do

[1Scotty1]

nevermind I found one but its twice the price of a 970 . What should I do

For 1080p gaming a single 970 will do the trick

[Skander1345]

nevermind I found one but its twice the price of a 970 . What should I do

Two 970's SLI?

[NicoSkill246]

Two 970's SLI?

Yea I think if I can get some extra cash I'll do that

[yippy3000]

A GTX 970 is not really an upgrade at all from a 780.  Even the 980 is barely an upgrade, you probably wouldn't notice.  I would do one of two things:

 

1) Get 2x GTX 970 in SLI

2) Wait a year or two and then upgrade to what is the top of the line at the time.  It might even be worth it just to wait for the 980ti later this year.

[Ryoku]

A GTX 970 is not really an upgrade at all from a 780.  Even the 980 is barely an upgrade, you probably wouldn't notice.  I would do one of two things:

 

1) Get 2x GTX 970 in SLI

2) Wait a year or two and then upgrade to what is the top of the line at the time.  It might even be worth it just to wait for the 980ti later this year.

@NicoSkill246

 

I agree, upgrading to a single 980 or 2 970 wouldn't be worth the cost per performance upgrade, Unless you have money to throw away.  Your best bet would be to wait or try and find a 2nd used 780 for cheap (if you willing to chance that).

[shirokado]

A GTX 970 is not really an upgrade at all from a 780.  Even the 980 is barely an upgrade, you probably wouldn't notice.  I would do one of two things:

 

1) Get 2x GTX 970 in SLI

2) Wait a year or two and then upgrade to what is the top of the line at the time.  It might even be worth it just to wait for the 980ti later this year.

I'd honestly just buy a refurbrished gtx 780 from newegg's ebay store, and then SLI the 780 instead. 970 isn't that much faster than 780 at stock, and while overclocked, they're still pretty close.

[yippy3000]

This is actually the best option if you can get a 780 for around $400 USD.  While it is preferred to get the exact same model, as long as you get the same type of 780 (ti or not ti) it should work just fine.

 

I'd honestly just buy a refurbrished gtx 780 from newegg's ebay store, and then SLI the 780 instead. 970 isn't that much faster than 780 at stock, and while overclocked, they're still pretty close.

[shirokado]

This is actually the best option if you can get a 780 for around $400 USD.  While it is preferred to get the exact same model, as long as you get the same type of 780 (ti or not ti) it should work just fine.

400? You can get a refurbrished gtx780 for about 330

[NicoSkill246]

This is actually the best option if you can get a 780 for around $400 USD.  While it is preferred to get the exact same model, as long as you get the same type of 780 (ti or not ti) it should work just fine.

 

This is actually the best option if you can get a 780 for around $400 USD.  While it is preferred to get the exact same model, as long as you get the same type of 780 (ti or not ti) it should work just fine.

So If I have a 780 windforce I can get a stock 780 to sli with it?

[yippy3000]

So If I have a 780 windforce I can get a stock 780 to sli with it?

 

 

Yes but.  Any two 780s should SLI together just fine, however, they will run at the speed of the slowest 780.  Your windforce is probably slightly factory overclocked, if you got a reference one to SLI with, the windforce would downclock to match it.  That said, bang for your buck, another 780 is the way to go.

 

As for price, 780 stock goes up and down a lot, I have seen them on Amazon/eBay for as much as $700. That is why I mentioned $400 as I would not go above that when shopping for one.

[arnavvr]

Keep the CPU, and get a second 780 in SLI.