GPU or GPU, CPU & MOBO upgrade

Samwell · October 17, 2015

So my birthday is coming up and then it's christmas so I'm wondering what I should ask for them both (I've been a good boy this year santa!!)

My current rig has a 7870xt and an AMD FX8320 (oc to 4Ghz (could go higher but I'd rather my VRMs worked for now...))

At the moment I game on a 1080p, 60Hz monitor and the 7870 is really starting to show it's age now (been a very faithful card for the past few years). So if I upgrade I have though of a couple of options.

#1

Get a 980ti and a either at the same time or some time early next year 1440p panel (I realize that having a 980ti for 60Hz, 1080p is pretty stupid). This is what I would like to do, however I am concerned that the 8320 might not be able to keep up. I have suffered bottlenecking before when I was using my dad's old phenom so the CPU would be pegged and the 7870 would be sauntering along. If I did this, I wouldn't be able to upgrade to an i5 until the later half of next year.

#2

Get a 970 and a 1440p panel. Is a 970 able to play all current and games that will be released in the next few years at 1440p comfortably?

#3

Get a 980 and a 1440p panel.

#4

Get a 980, an i5 and new motherboard.

As I am not 'loaded', these parts will have to be second hand so the 980ti would be ~£400, 980 ~£300, 970 ~£200. The 980 only seems to be 10-12% better than the 970 so doesn't seem worth the £100 bump but the 3.5GB really bugs me.

Also ATM I have an XFX pro 650W bronze PSU, I'd have thought that it would be able to power with any of these GPU's? The end result of upgrading this is for me to have a computer that I don't need to worry about upgrading for the next 2-4 years, even if I have to turn details in later games down (well right now I have GTA V on pretty much minimum and although I'd certainly love to turn it up, I'm not unhappy with the experience). I was also pondering the idea of getting a Sabertooth to bump to CPU higher.

Any input is appreciated, thanks

OAcesync · October 17, 2015

4th one seems like the best option and you can put the next upgrade to a new monitor and next gen GPU or just the monitor

Caeradwyn · October 17, 2015

Perhaps go with the 980Ti, get the new monitor when you can afford to, and if later you see that your CPU is holding your GPU back frequently, then you can consider upgrading to a new motherboard/cpu. It's not like there wouldn't be any difference between a 970 and a 980Ti even with your CPU not being able to get the max out of it.

Next year, perhaps Zen will be around and turn out to not be another big disappointment, and if not, you'll be able to get something from Chipzilla that is even better than what they have now.

EDIT: Oh, I also wanna point out that it's likely that the GPU itself will actually start struggling before the 3.5GB memory "cap" on the 970 will actually be a major problem.

GDRRiley · October 18, 2015

4th is best for now and then latter get a 1440p panel

Streetguru · October 18, 2015

So my birthday is coming up and then it's christmas so I'm wondering what I should ask for them both (I've been a good boy this year santa!!)

Get a 390, and a 1440p display for sure, then just save up for maybe zen, or kaby lake, whichever comes first, upgrading your current motherboard probably isn't worth it

Includes a 1440p 144Hz Free-sync display, though it's only a TN panel

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/acer-xg270hu-27-inch-freesync-monitor,4166.html

PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/jYMbYJ

Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/jYMbYJ/by_merchant/

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 390 8GB Double Dissipation Video Card (£235.79 @ More Computers)

Monitor: Acer XG270HU 144Hz 27.0" Monitor (£289.99 @ Amazon UK)

Total: £525.78

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

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