GTX660 upgrade

[JarredSpec]

Hi all. I currently have an Asus GTX660 DCUII OC card which i'm looking at upgrading. Ideally I'd like to get a GTX970, but I can't stretch the budget that far so i'm looking for a semi-upgrade.

 

Use is light gaming (Pretty much just Dirt3 and Dirt Rally) and photo editing via Adobe CC (Photoshop and Lightroom 6). I've noticed the 660 struggling with Dirt Rally, and any speed boost I can get out of Lightroom and Photoshop would be welcome.

 

Curious to see what options people might suggest for under $300US ($400NZD). 

 

For example there is a used EVGA Dual Classified GTX770 available locally for ~$280 (USD). Worth considering? Not ruling out AMD either. Is a 2nd 660 in SLI worth the hassle? (or is it even really upgrading - not familiar with SLI)

[Comessy]

A 970 is $300...

[Octavialicious]

A 970 is $300...

did u not read his post, he's in new zealand

[Comessy]

did u not read his post, he's in new zealand

Yes but he said his budget is $300USD

[JarredSpec]

A 970 is $300...

 

Unfortunately, here in NZ we get done over when it comes to electronics. Here is an example of what prices we pay here:

 

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=c&p=video_cards

[IateMApoo]

Is GTX 960 an option ?

[Guest]

770

[ThE_MarD]

Heyyo,

Tbh? I was totally going to recommend the GTX 770. I run GTX 680s two-way SLI, which the 770 is a slightly upgraded rebrand and they're a fantastic GPU. I can crank my graphics to full on many games and she'll run at 1080P without issues. Even a single GTX 770 is still a beast of a GPU since it performs faster than a single GTX 680.

EVGA non-stock coolers like that dual classified using an ACX cooler like you're talking about? They're insanely good... by insanely good? I mean one of the BEST models you can get of that GPU. Even a used one is still a fantastic GPU.

[JarredSpec]

Is GTX 960 an option ?

 

I've looked at it, definitely a consideration if it'll add a performance boost over the 660. This one is an option: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=VGAGBV00965&name=Gigabyte-GV-N960G1-GAMING-2GD-GTX960-2G-OC-Version

[IateMApoo]

I've looked at it, definitely a consideration if it'll add a performance boost over the 660. This one is an option: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=VGAGBV00965&name=Gigabyte-GV-N960G1-GAMING-2GD-GTX960-2G-OC-Version

In most cases 960 is equal to 770, but since it newer it runs cooler and uses less watts from the wall.

[JarredSpec]

In most cases 960 is equal to 770, but since it newer it runs cooler and uses less watts from the wall.

 

Ahh yes that brings up power supply. I currently have a Corsair HX650. Is that going to have issues coping with any of the GPU upgrades mentioned above? Currently powering an overclocked 4770K with H100i, 3 HDDs and 2SSDs

[IateMApoo]

Ahh yes that brings up power supply. I currently have a Corsair HX650. Is that going to have issues coping with any of the GPU upgrades mentioned above? Currently powering an overclocked 4770K with H100i, 3 HDDs and 2SSDs

650W should be fine for even that oldish 770

[ThE_MarD]

Heyyo,

Oh, I forgot to comment on SLI!

SLI is a hella-fine option too tbh. What size of Power Supply you got? Does it have all the necessary power connectors as well?

Looking at this...

http://technewspedia.com/geforce-gtx-660-2-way-sli-outperforms-the-geforce-gtx-680-and-radeon-hd-7970-ghz-edition/

and this...

http://old.lanoc.org/review/video-cards/5953-nvidia-gtx-660-sli-performance?showall=1

apparently GTX 660 SLI is a very viable option too! Just try to find a matching GPU to the model you have. They also need to have the same amount of VRAM.

BUT... what's your motherboard too btw? You HAVE to have an SLI-ready motherboard and an SLI bridge. Those are dirt cheap though and most SLI-ready motherboards come with one.

As I said, I run two-way GTX 680 SLI and I freaking love it. The only games I tend to have issues with? Ones that need lots and lots of VRAM. My 2GB GTX 680s these days tend to run into VRAM walls before I run into GPU usage limits lol... that's especially true with GTA V. I bet I could crank my graphics higher if I had 3GB or 4GB of VRAM.

[Octavialicious]

Yes but he said his budget is $300USD

Don't you know prices are way higher in other countries?

[JarredSpec]

Heyyo,

Oh, I forgot to comment on SLI!

SLI is a hella-fine option too tbh. What size of Power Supply you got? Does it have all the necessary power connectors as well?

Looking at this...

http://technewspedia.com/geforce-gtx-660-2-way-sli-outperforms-the-geforce-gtx-680-and-radeon-hd-7970-ghz-edition/

and this...

http://old.lanoc.org/review/video-cards/5953-nvidia-gtx-660-sli-performance?showall=1

apparently GTX 660 SLI is a very viable option too! Just try to find a matching GPU to the model you have. They also need to have the same amount of VRAM.

BUT... what's your motherboard too btw? You HAVE to have an SLI-ready motherboard and an SLI bridge. Those are dirt cheap though and most SLI-ready motherboards come with one.

As I said, I run two-way GTX 680 SLI and I freaking love it. The only games I tend to have issues with? Ones that need lots and lots of VRAM. My 2GB GTX 680s these days tend to run into VRAM walls before I run into GPU usage limits lol... that's especially true with GTA V. I bet I could crank my graphics higher if I had 3GB or 4GB of VRAM.

 

MoBo is an Asus Gryphon Z87. Its fine with SLI. The HX650 might struggle with a second GPU though.

[JarredSpec]

Should also mention the Monitor is 2560x1440 too (Asus PB278Q)

[ThE_MarD]

Heyyo,

Hmm, rocking a 1440P montior? That's pretty badass. I was thinking of eventually jumping up from my 1080P Asus monitor as well. Man does Asus make a purdy monitor.

BUT, that higher screen resolution does jack up your VRAM useage. As I said, on GTA V I easily max out VRAM before my GPU useage spikes, so on newer games? enough VRAM is kind of more important than raw processing power. I'm maxing out 2GB on my 1080P monitor with x2 Anti Aliasing.. so I imagine that 1440P might just do the same.. hmm.. won't be a problem once DirectX 12 and Vulkan eventually takes over... but for the meantime and all games that won't get upgraded to those? 2GB of VRAM might be problematic, especially in the long run.

So? After thinking it more over? For light gaming and a good boost in Photoshop and Lightroom? That EVGA GTX 770 is a more sound investment. More VRAM will give you better performance in photoshop and lightroom where-as on a GTX 660 SLI setup? It will have the problem of mirrored VRAM present in current 3D API. Essentially what that means? In order to render anything under OpenGL 3.x or 4.x or DirectX 11? The GPUs need to both load the same identical information. They can't share the memory information between cards due to software limitations (hardware limitations if you have an older DirectX 10 only GPU, but the GTX 660 is a DirectX 11.0 feature GPU) so in memory-intensive programs like Photoshop? A bigger slab of VRAM will probably aid you more than raw processing. I don't even know if any Adobe programs take advantage of SLI setups tbh... never tried and I haven't really researched into it so there's a chance under Photoshop and Lightroom that the second GPU might just sit on idle spinning fans.

[CalebTheEternal]

Unfortunately, here in NZ we get done over when it comes to electronics. Here is an example of what prices we pay here:

 

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=c&p=video_cards

Woah that's pricey, is it like that even in local stores? 

[JarredSpec]

Woah that's pricey, is it like that even in local stores? 

 

Pretty much. There's the usual exchange rate markup of course, but also the "You live outside the US so screw you" tax too.

 

PBTech here are usually one of the cheaper places around, there's a store nice and local to me too.

[JarredSpec]

Heyyo,

Hmm, rocking a 1440P montior? That's pretty badass. I was thinking of eventually jumping up from my 1080P Asus monitor as well. Man does Asus make a purdy monitor.

BUT, that higher screen resolution does jack up your VRAM useage. As I said, on GTA V I easily max out VRAM before my GPU useage spikes, so on newer games? enough VRAM is kind of more important than raw processing power. I'm maxing out 2GB on my 1080P monitor with x2 Anti Aliasing.. so I imagine that 1440P might just do the same.. hmm.. won't be a problem once DirectX 12 and Vulkan eventually takes over... but for the meantime and all games that won't get upgraded to those? 2GB of VRAM might be problematic, especially in the long run.

So? After thinking it more over? For light gaming and a good boost in Photoshop and Lightroom? That EVGA GTX 770 is a more sound investment. More VRAM will give you better performance in photoshop and lightroom where-as on a GTX 660 SLI setup? It will have the problem of mirrored VRAM present in current 3D API. Essentially what that means? In order to render anything under OpenGL 3.x or 4.x or DirectX 11? The GPUs need to both load the same identical information. They can't share the memory information between cards due to software limitations (hardware limitations if you have an older DirectX 10 only GPU, but the GTX 660 is a DirectX 11.0 feature GPU) so in memory-intensive programs like Photoshop? A bigger slab of VRAM will probably aid you more than raw processing. I don't even know if any Adobe programs take advantage of SLI setups tbh... never tried and I haven't really researched into it so there's a chance under Photoshop and Lightroom that the second GPU might just sit on idle spinning fans.

 

Yeah, the 1440p was a luxury buy at the time, fantastic for photo editing. I may just have to live with the 660 for a bit longer and save for a 970 and try to sneak a $450 (US) GPU past the Mrs   Ideally I'd like to get a couple of years out of my next GPU

I should be able to recover a few $$ by selling the 660 too.

[JarredSpec]

Ok pulling the trigger on a 970. Question is: Which one? :lol:

 

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?p=search&sf=gtx+970&c=video_cards

[Nup]

A good deal on a 290 may be nice for you? 

[JarredSpec]

Picked up a 970 Strix this morn. Looking forward to getting it in. 

 

Not looking forward to when the Mrs notices heh