Overkill GPU or ...

[Curufinwe_wins]

Hello everyone, I am building a computer for a close friend who's particular budget (including peripherals) has led us into quite a conundrum....

 

We can either buy a 1080p monitor with a 980 or a 1440p with a 970. I know the 980 is super overkill for 1080p, and the 970 is a bit on the weak side for 1440p, but the plan is to upgrade the lagging part around September. 

 

As it so happens the price swap for the sizes we are looking at is about the same margin, and likely neither piece is going to get much use after replacement (there are no availble side builds to throw a 970 in or a 1080 monitor).

 

Furthermore, he would really like to move into 21:9 1440p, so should I just order the parts to run that when he can afford the monitor or give a decent-ish performance for it now?

 

EDIT I realize now this is probably the wrong spot for this post, sorry...

 

 

 

SECOND EDIT: Note this current configuration is a stopgap. End configuration is likely going to be 21:9 1440p with sli 980s but that is about 6 months off.

[Br3tt96]

Get the 970 and 1440p cause he could always just play games at 1080p. Then I would most likely get another 970

[ImBleu]

Get the 970 and 1440p cause he could always just play games at 1080p. Then I would most likely get another 970

 

^ This. And 2x GTX970s out do 1x GTX980.

[Curufinwe_wins]

^ This. And 2x GTX970s out do 1x GTX980.

I had the impression that most 1440p monitors showed significant issues downscaling to 1080p (as this is a 4/3 resolution jump). Furthermore 970 sli will not be done as it is not cheaper, and day 1 performance (obviously once patched sli 970 outperforms 980 in most every game at 1080) is what he is currently looking (stopgap build) and this current build will likely turn into sli 980s down the road.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Get the 970 and 1440p cause he could always just play games at 1080p. Then I would most likely get another 970

I failed on multiquote so above post.

[ImBleu]

I had the impression that most 1440p monitors showed significant issues downscaling to 1080p (as this is a 4/3 resolution jump). Furthermore 970 sli will not be done as it is not cheaper, and day 1 performance is what he is currently looking (stopgap build) and this current build will likely turn into sli 980s down the road.

 

1440p has an FPS hit, but not as much as something like 4k does obviously. The 970 can still push at 1440 (though not every game maxed out @ 60fps) and is what is the minimum requirement for the Oculus Rift CV1. SLI 980s is a bit of a mistake as a TitanX will give you more Vram and better performance for the same price, but for the non-upgradeable build like what you're going for, a single 970 should be more than enough. If he does end up wanting / needing more power, a second 970 isn't that hard to come around. 

 

For the price of the GTX980, you could also look at the R9 295x2 which outperforms it and can be found cheaper as well (at about $600) and is truly a good looking graphics card for its new price. 

[Br3tt96]

I had the impression that most 1440p monitors showed significant issues downscaling to 1080p (as this is a 4/3 resolution jump). Furthermore 970 sli will not be done as it is not cheaper, and day 1 performance (obviously once patched sli 970 outperforms 980 in most every game at 1080) is what he is currently looking (stopgap build) and this current build will likely turn into sli 980s down the road.

Well than get than if he can save up for a 980 and a 1440p by all means do that.

[Toxicable]

snip

the 980 is only about 12% mroe powerful than the 970, i'f suggest 970 and 1440p.

[Hunter7263]

Hello everyone, I am building a computer for a close friend who's particular budget (including peripherals) has led us into quite a conundrum....

 

We can either buy a 1080p monitor with a 980 or a 1440p with a 970. I know the 980 is super overkill for 1080p, and the 970 is a bit on the weak side for 1440p, but the plan is to upgrade the lagging part around September. 

 

As it so happens the price swap for the sizes we are looking at is about the same margin, and likely neither piece is going to get much use after replacement (there are no availble side builds to throw a 970 in or a 1080 monitor).

 

Furthermore, he would really like to move into 21:9 1440p, so should I just order the parts to run that when he can afford the monitor or give a decent-ish performance for it now?

 

EDIT I realize now this is probably the wrong spot for this post, sorry...

 

 

 

SECOND EDIT: Note this current configuration is a stopgap. End configuration is likely going to be 21:9 1440p with sli 980s but that is about 6 months off.

 

It might just be me but I would get the 1080 monitor and a 980. My justification for this is I could still use the 1080 monitor as a second monitor for what ever i want while playing games. Just me though. Also the 1080 monitor is probably has an easier and higher resale involved with it if he doesnt want to keep it.

[Curufinwe_wins]

1440p has an FPS hit, but not as much as something like 4k does obviously. The 970 can still push at 1440 (though not every game maxed out @ 60fps) and is what is the minimum requirement for the Oculus Rift CV1. SLI 980s is a bit of a mistake as a TitanX will give you more Vram and better performance for the same price, but for the non-upgradeable build like what you're going for, a single 970 should be more than enough. If he does end up wanting / needing more power, a second 970 isn't that hard to come around. 

 

For the price of the GTX980, you could also look at the R9 295x2 which outperforms it and can be found cheaper as well (at about $600) and is truly a good looking graphics card for its new price. 

Are these true? The 980 is currently looking at 550 here for reference, 970 300-350, r295x2 650. I am unsure about the titanx vs sli980 as well, have seen some games titan x holding 20+ fps higher and many many others sli980 slightly edging (in 4k, assumption is sli980 would work better in comparison at lower res).

 

Note this means currently (obviously not valid into future) that 980 is cheaper than SLI 970s and r295x2 by a nice but not extreme margin. And long term SLI 980 looks to be on par price with titan x (again its hard to say if the r300s drop 980s more or less than titan x).

 

Well than get than if he can save up for a 980 and a 1440p by all means do that.

Well the issue is he can't get everything at this moment, but will be able to in the future, so this build is really about the compromise between usability now and not wasting money later.

[WoodenMarker]

Go with 1440p. Higher resolution will generally trump higher settings and the 970 should be fine for it anyway. 

Moving thread to Displays.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Go with 1440p. Higher resolution will generally trump higher settings and the 970 should be fine for it anyway. 

Moving thread to Displays.

Thanks for the move.

[obi_wan]

1440p would be fine for the 970.

[Badger906]

a 970 will easily play all current games at 1440p with almost no compromise.

[Lays]

I had the impression that most 1440p monitors showed significant issues downscaling to 1080p (as this is a 4/3 resolution jump). Furthermore 970 sli will not be done as it is not cheaper, and day 1 performance (obviously once patched sli 970 outperforms 980 in most every game at 1080) is what he is currently looking (stopgap build) and this current build will likely turn into sli 980s down the road.

 

 

I have 2 1440p monitors and I watch 1080p streams & content all the time at fullscreen, it looks fine to me.