Is it worth upgrading

[EvilGenius]

Hey guys,

 

I have a Gigabite G1 Gaming GTX 970, my CPU is a Intel i-5 4690K (3.50GHz). I'm starting to wonder if I should upgrade my GPU because in some games I can't run the game at High or Ultra, some games ultra is fine like Overwatch but other game like RB6 or other games(BF1, Battlegrounds) more graphical sometimes on High i have to put some settings down. I have a 27 inch BenQ screen so i play at 1440p, 60Hz. If i upgrade for a GTX 1070 or GTX 1080(maybe this one is a bit too expansive but maybe) am I gonna have a bottleneck with my CPU or I will see a difference and it would be worth it?

 

Here's my full build:

 

System

• CPU
  Intel i5 4690K
• Motherboard
  Asus Maximus VII Hero
• RAM
  Kingston HyperX Fury 16GB
• GPU
  Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 4GB GDDR5
• Case
  Fractal Design Define R5
• Storage
  Samsung 850 EVO 250GB + Western Digital Blue 1TB
• PSU
  EVGA SuperNOVA G2 750W 80 Plus Gold Certified Full Modular Power Supply
• Display(s)
  BenQ GW2765HT 27"
• Cooling
  Cooler Master Nepton 240M
• Keyboard
  Corsair K70 RGB
• Mouse
  Razer DeathAdder Chroma
• Sound
  Logitech G35
• Operating System
  Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit

 

Thanks guys, 

 

 

[Sauron]

It's always a good idea to skip at least a generation when upgrading your graphics card. A 1070 will perform better but not enough to justify the money spent compared to keeping the 970.

[EvilGenius]

Just now, Sauron said:

It's always a good idea to skip at least a generation when upgrading your graphics card. A 1070 will perform better but not enough to justify the money spent comared to keeping the 970.

So if I want to upgrade and really see a difference I should go with the 1080 if not mind as well keep my GTX 970?

[hconverse02]

You'll never be able to play all games at ultra without upgrading and spending money all the time.  Stick with what you have until there comes a game where you NEED more graphics power, not want more.  I'm sure in a few years you will have more money to upgrade and it will be a much bigger impact then going from medium/high to ultra now to medium/high ultra then

[Sauron]

Just now, EvilGenius said:

So if I want to upgrade and really see a difference I should go with the 1080 if not mind as well keep my GTX 970?

Well, the 1080 is more expensive so it's also not worth upgrading to in my opinion. Unless you can find it at a very good price.

[xDanielxOossiex]

12 minutes ago, hconverse02 said:

You'll never be able to play all games at ultra without upgrading and spending money all the time.  Stick with what you have until there comes a game where you NEED more graphics power, not want more.  I'm sure in a few years you will have more money to upgrade and it will be a much bigger impact then going from medium/high to ultra now to medium/high ultra then

It's up to him if he wants to spend money to get a more powerful videocard. Or anything, for that matter.

 

@EvilGenius I'd try to see if you can find a second hand GTX980Ti, almost the same performance as the GTX1070, but only 2GB VRAM less.

[Dackzy]

your i5 is going to hold back a GTX 1080 even at 1440p and most likely also the GTX 1070. My old 4770k did when I tested it with my 1080 a little while ago. I also have the GW2765HT.

 

The first thing I would do if I were you would be to turn down AA, since you don't really need a lot of it at 1440p, that should give a nice FPS boost. Basically tweak your settings, there are often things you can turn down without seeing any major difference and then that would allow you to turn up some of the things that can make a major difference.

 

Also no I am not going to hook up my 4770k again just to do game tests again.

[Darkseth]

Won't hold it back by much, since it's only 60 Hz (which means, only 60 fps make sense).

 

GTX 1070 has like 60% more power than a GTX 970, and more than double the Vram (3.5gb vs. 8gb).

But yea, 1080 would be a good choice, since 1080 is mostly only 50 bucks mroe than 1070, but 20-25% more performance.

 

 

And for all the Bottleneck stuff:

If your CPU delivers enough fps for YOU, everything is okay.

Does your CPU always deliver 60+ fps in your games? Set them to 720p resolution, and maybe Medium settings.

Are those fps, you see there, enough for you? Do you still have framedrops? If not, there won't be any bottleneck issue. Since you have enough fps for YOU.

 

And this answer can only be answered by yourself

 

Check if your CPU is the problem, or the GPU. If it's the CPU, it doesn't matter if it's a GTX 970 or 1080 ti, your CPU will bottleneck.

If your CPU delivers enough fps for you, but your GPU can't keep up, a faster GPU will solve your "not enough fps" problem. Simple as that.

 

 

And another thing for Bottleneck questions: What bottlenecks by how much, depends 100% on your Software + your Settings. NOTHING. ELSE. ^^

there are Games, where you can even hit CPU Limit in 4k / Ultra settings.

[adnank77]

I would recommend skipping a generation and going to next gen (11th gen) .. 

 

For now, when you can't run ultra, you'll either need to reduce settings or reduce resolution to 1920x1080 and keep ultra .. 

 

[EvilGenius]

Maybe I wi

1 hour ago, Darkseth said:

Won't hold it back by much, since it's only 60 Hz (which means, only 60 fps make sense).

 

GTX 1070 has like 60% more power than a GTX 970, and more than double the Vram (3.5gb vs. 8gb).

But yea, 1080 would be a good choice, since 1080 is mostly only 50 bucks mroe than 1070, but 20-25% more performance.

 

 

And for all the Bottleneck stuff:

If your CPU delivers enough fps for YOU, everything is okay.

Does your CPU always deliver 60+ fps in your games? Set them to 720p resolution, and maybe Medium settings.

Are those fps, you see there, enough for you? Do you still have framedrops? If not, there won't be any bottleneck issue. Since you have enough fps for YOU.

 

And this answer can only be answered by yourself

 

Check if your CPU is the problem, or the GPU. If it's the CPU, it doesn't matter if it's a GTX 970 or 1080 ti, your CPU will bottleneck.

If your CPU delivers enough fps for you, but your GPU can't keep up, a faster GPU will solve your "not enough fps" problem. Simple as that.

 

 

And another thing for Bottleneck questions: What bottlenecks by how much, depends 100% on your Software + your Settings. NOTHING. ELSE. ^^

there are Games, where you can even hit CPU Limit in 4k / Ultra settings.

So to see if its the GPU or the CPU I should put down the game like Battlegrounds at 720p and see if my fps are over 60fps and I don't have frame drops. If I do it would. Mean it's my cpu and not my GPU? 

[EvilGenius]

2 hours ago, adnank77 said:

I would recommend skipping a generation and going to next gen (11th gen) .. 

 

For now, when you can't run ultra, you'll either need to reduce settings or reduce resolution to 1920x1080 and keep ultra .. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Darkseth said:

Won't hold it back by much, since it's only 60 Hz (which means, only 60 fps make sense).

 

GTX 1070 has like 60% more power than a GTX 970, and more than double the Vram (3.5gb vs. 8gb).

But yea, 1080 would be a good choice, since 1080 is mostly only 50 bucks mroe than 1070, but 20-25% more performance.

 

 

And for all the Bottleneck stuff:

If your CPU delivers enough fps for YOU, everything is okay.

Does your CPU always deliver 60+ fps in your games? Set them to 720p resolution, and maybe Medium settings.

Are those fps, you see there, enough for you? Do you still have framedrops? If not, there won't be any bottleneck issue. Since you have enough fps for YOU.

 

And this answer can only be answered by yourself

 

Check if your CPU is the problem, or the GPU. If it's the CPU, it doesn't matter if it's a GTX 970 or 1080 ti, your CPU will bottleneck.

If your CPU delivers enough fps for you, but your GPU can't keep up, a faster GPU will solve your "not enough fps" problem. Simple as that.

 

 

And another thing for Bottleneck questions: What bottlenecks by how much, depends 100% on your Software + your Settings. NOTHING. ELSE. ^^

there are Games, where you can even hit CPU Limit in 4k / Ultra settings.

 

4 hours ago, Dackzy said:

your i5 is going to hold back a GTX 1080 even at 1440p and most likely also the GTX 1070. My old 4770k did when I tested it with my 1080 a little while ago. I also have the GW2765HT.

 

The first thing I would do if I were you would be to turn down AA, since you don't really need a lot of it at 1440p, that should give a nice FPS boost. Basically tweak your settings, there are often things you can turn down without seeing any major difference and then that would allow you to turn up some of the things that can make a major difference.

 

Also no I am not going to hook up my 4770k again just to do game tests again.

 

4 hours ago, xDanielxOossiex said:

It's up to him if he wants to spend money to get a more powerful videocard. Or anything, for that matter.

 

@EvilGenius I'd try to see if you can find a second hand GTX980Ti, almost the same performance as the GTX1070, but only 2GB VRAM less.

 

4 hours ago, Sauron said:

Well, the 1080 is more expensive so it's also not worth upgrading to in my opinion. Unless you can find it at a very good price.

 

4 hours ago, hconverse02 said:

You'll never be able to play all games at ultra without upgrading and spending money all the time.  Stick with what you have until there comes a game where you NEED more graphics power, not want more.  I'm sure in a few years you will have more money to upgrade and it will be a much bigger impact then going from medium/high to ultra now to medium/high ultra then

I'm thinking of waiting an extra year and buy my self pretty much a whole new rig. I found used Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 for around 250$(CAD), maybe i could have 2 of them in SLI for now until I get my new Rig in a year? What do you guys think, would it make a bit of a difference?

[Sauron]

31 minutes ago, EvilGenius said:

I'm thinking of waiting an extra year and buy my self pretty much a whole new rig. I found used Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 for around 250$(CAD), maybe i could have 2 of them in SLI for now until I get my new Rig in a year? What do you guys think, would it make a bit of a difference?

3 way SLI is a pain but if you can find them cheap getting one more 970 for 2 way could be worth it.

[EvilGenius]

1 hour ago, Sauron said:

3 way SLI is a pain but if you can find them cheap getting one more 970 for 2 way could be worth it.

I'm looking online and alot of games don't even work well with SLI so not sure if it's a good idea. 

[Sauron]

9 minutes ago, EvilGenius said:

I'm looking online and alot of games don't even work well with SLI so not sure if it's a good idea. 

It depends on what you play, 3 way sometimes has problems even with games that support it though.

[EvilGenius]

9 minutes ago, Sauron said:

It depends on what you play, 3 way sometimes has problems even with games that support it though.

Right now I play Rainbow Six Siège, Player unknown battleground, ARK, life is feudal, etc. I will only be doing SLI. 

[Not_Sean]

30 minutes ago, EvilGenius said:

Right now I play Rainbow Six Siège, Player unknown battleground, ARK, life is feudal, etc. I will only be doing SLI. 

Two 970's back in the way were some of the best cards to SLi, but always ask what can you buy for 500 CAD (Since you lookingto spend 250, you can sell yor 970 for another 250) if you can get a 980Ti for that price than go with that. If not than Yeah 970 Sli could be good. 

[EvilGenius]

17 hours ago, Sauron said:

It depends on what you play, 3 way sometimes has problems even with games that support it though.

Is it better to have the same GPU to do SLI? 

[Darkseth]

No. Sli with GTX 970s is pretty much the worst, you could do. Now even more, than back then.

 

Only 3.5gb Vram, it's NOT doubled when adding another.

Plus, Sli-Problems, like the need of Sli profile support, micro stuttering, way more heat and power consumption and noise.

 

And of course: Multi-GPU is Dying. Support is beeing dropped already. Less and less modern Games support it. And if they do, it's mostly only +30-60% more Performance.

 

A single GTX 1070 > GTX 970 Sli anytime of the day.

Faster in sli-supporting Games, MUCH faster in non-Sli games, less Power consumption, 8gb vs. 3.5gb Vram, faster Memory Bandwidth, more modern Architecture / features, 

 

Sli with weaker / older Cards was ALWAYS a bad Idea. It was a Bad idea 10 years ago, and it's still a bad Idea.

If it were a good Idea, everyone would do it ;-) Good ideas spread fast.

 

TL;DR: Do yourself a Favour, and don't go for Sli. really, just don't.

Sell your 970 as long you still can get something for it. 

Rather, than getting another one, and selling 2 of them in 2-3 years, when you get less for them, than today for a single one.

 

 

If you DO find a similar second GTX 970 for a VERY attractive Price, you might give it a Try. Like, <100-120 bucks.

 

But in general: If there is a Single-Card, that offers your desired performance, literaly ALWAYS go for the Single Card > Multi-GPU.

[EvilGenius]

It's pretty hard to decide if I go SLI or not. I see alot of good things about GTX 970 in SLI and games are more updated for it. Maybe instead of getting a 1070 I would wait for the next gen layer this year or beginning of 2018.

[Sauron]

On 9/7/2017 at 4:21 PM, EvilGenius said:

Is it better to have the same GPU to do SLI? 

You don't have a choice with SLI, the GPUs must be identical or it will refuse to work.

[dragonhart6505]

On 9/6/2017 at 1:09 PM, Darkseth said:

Won't hold it back by much, since it's only 60 Hz (which means, only 60 fps make sense).

 

GTX 1070 has like 60% more power than a GTX 970, and more than double the Vram (3.5gb vs. 8gb).

But yea, 1080 would be a good choice, since 1080 is mostly only 50 bucks mroe than 1070, but 20-25% more performance.

 

 

And for all the Bottleneck stuff:

If your CPU delivers enough fps for YOU, everything is okay.

Does your CPU always deliver 60+ fps in your games? Set them to 720p resolution, and maybe Medium settings.

Are those fps, you see there, enough for you? Do you still have framedrops? If not, there won't be any bottleneck issue. Since you have enough fps for YOU.

 

And this answer can only be answered by yourself

 

Check if your CPU is the problem, or the GPU. If it's the CPU, it doesn't matter if it's a GTX 970 or 1080 ti, your CPU will bottleneck.

If your CPU delivers enough fps for you, but your GPU can't keep up, a faster GPU will solve your "not enough fps" problem. Simple as that.

 

 

And another thing for Bottleneck questions: What bottlenecks by how much, depends 100% on your Software + your Settings. NOTHING. ELSE. ^

So much this. I love seeing with the same mentality as me. I have low-end specs, but it's "good enough" for me to still have an enjoyable experience at 1080p/Medium-High settings even below 60fps. And I'm ok with turning things  down a little. My monitor doesn't even support 1080p so Virtual Super Resolution and GPU Scaling are my saving grace. At 60hz mostly playing single player games, why do I need anything over 60fps anyway?

[dragonhart6505]

To OP: it really comes down to what you intend to play and how much you're willing to pay. If you can hold 60fps @1080/1440p, then just stick with what you got and turn the dials back juuuuust a smidge. If you want higher frames, then you should look into a new display too. I'd go for a higher refresh rate monitor while searching for a GPU. I'd suggest the 1070, but a 980ti will get you by