GPU Upgrade

[MaximusX]

Looking to upgrade my gpu and I have been looking at the 960 or 970 for ultra modded skyrim, maybe in the future counter strike global offensive, planetside 2, and to be future proof. Will the 970 3.5gb be a problem? Also if you recommend another card its should have low power consummation. By the way my computer is an alienware x51(should of built) also people have been able to put 960/970 in it so it is possible. Also probably going to tweak fan settings with afterburner.

[don_svetlio]

Looking to upgrade my gpu and I have been looking at the 960 or 970 for ultra modded skyrim, maybe in the future counter strike global offensive, planetside 2, and to be future proof. Will the 970 3.5gb be a problem? Also if you recommend another card its should have low power consummation. By the way my computer is an alienware x51(should of built) also people have been able to put 960/970 in it so it is possible. Also probably going to tweak fan settings with afterburner.

For ultra modded Skyrim, save yourself the trouble and get a R9 390. Skyrim with a lot of mods will shred through VRAM and that basically makes the 960 utterly pointless as 2 gigs is nowhere near enough. 3.5 gigs on the 970, while better, still might come an issue relatively shortly as modern games are regularly requiring more than that for the ultra presets. the 390 has more than enough VRAM (8 gigs) and it also has better performance than the 970 while being cheaper usually. If you REALLY want Nvidia, then the 970 is okay but it's only 224-bit and 3.5 gigs of VRAM might cause some stuttering if you exceed that amount of VRAM.

EDIT: What's your PSU btw?

[EnzoMP]

Lately many said the 390 one is better than the gtx970 for the price

[IateMApoo]

If you got atleast 500 W PSU go with R9 390, that 8 GB of VRAM will help out in modded Skyrim A LOT.

[MaximusX]

If you got atleast 500 W PSU go with R9 390, that 8 GB of VRAM will help out in modded Skyrim A LOT.

I would, but I don't even have a 500 w psu. I have like a 330.

[MaximusX]

For ultra modded Skyrim, save yourself the trouble and get a R9 390. Skyrim with a lot of mods will shred through VRAM and that basically makes the 960 utterly pointless as 2 gigs is nowhere near enough. 3.5 gigs on the 970, while better, still might come an issue relatively shortly as modern games are regularly requiring more than that for the ultra presets. the 390 has more than enough VRAM (8 gigs) and it also has better performance than the 970 while being cheaper usually. If you REALLY want Nvidia, then the 970 is okay but it's only 224-bit and 3.5 gigs of VRAM might cause some stuttering if you exceed that amount of VRAM.

EDIT: What's your PSU btw?

330 W I think.

[don_svetlio]

330 W I think.

330W might not be enough for a 960 honestly It does use little power but still, 330 is far too little.

[BarisERY]

Get a R9 390 instead its just better in every way except power consuption and thermals

[don_svetlio]

Get a R9 390 instead its just better in every way except power consuption and thermals

Actually, thermals are sort of similar to the 970. Just has a bigger cooler to compensate.

bigger = better right?

[NickElDubs]

I'm assuming you have got a 450w psu in the x51 and the 390 is a pretty power hungry card, i'd go with the 970 or get a new psu and a 390

[MaximusX]

330W might not be enough for a 960 honestly It does use little power but still, 330 is far too little.

If a gtx 960 was to work should I get the 4gb version?

[don_svetlio]

I'm assuming you have got a 450w psu in the x51 and the 390 is a pretty power hungry card, i'd go with the 970 or get a new psu and a 390

I'd suggest a new good quality PSU honestly. Last thing he wants is a brand new 970 with a crappy cheapo chinese PSU.

[don_svetlio]

If a gtx 960 was to work should I get the 4gb version?

No, it cannot use more than 2 gigs due to the narrow 128-bit bus.

[MaximusX]

No, it cannot use more than 2 gigs due to the narrow 128-bit bus.

What do you mean by that? My current card as 4gb.

[IateMApoo]

I would, but I don't even have a 500 w psu. I have like a 330.

330W wont be enough for 970 too.

[Knaj]

Upgrade the PSU and GPU dude...

 

330W isn't going to get you far at all in the world of gaming, unless it's very basic stuff. But in your case I recommend a R9 390

 

(Also A good XFX PSU of $40 off on newegg, so you can get that! Deal expires tomorrow!)

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-pro750wp1750snlb9

[don_svetlio]

What do you mean by that? My current card as 4gb.

That's a prime example of putting too much memory on a card that simply cannot use it.

Your card also uses DDR3 I believe whereas the 960/970/380/390 use GDDR5. That makes a world of difference.

At any rate, it's been tested and proven that 4 gigs on a 960 is pointless as it cannot use them. Unlike it's older brother, the 770, which had a 256-bit bus and the horses to drive up to 4 gigs. The 970 can drive 4 gigs but is limited to 3.5 since the 0.5 is unusable due to Nvidia's design flaw making it 224-bit 3.5 gigs.

the 380 has 4 gigs which are fully usable and the 390 has 8 gigs of which you will be able to use 6 gigs at the very least.

[MaximusX]

Upgrade the PSU and GPU dude...

 

330W isn't going to get you far at all in the world of gaming, unless it's very basic stuff. But in your case I recommend a R9 390

 

(Also A good XFX PSU of $40 off on newegg, so you can get that! Deal expires tomorrow!)

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-pro750wp1750snlb9

My pc has an external psu.