Upgrading 2x MSI GTX 660 to 1070/1080

[DICKHILL]

Hi guys! 

First of all, I hope this is the right place to put my topic...
(It sounded like the "Graphics Cards" in the Hardware forum were for more detailed hardware questions...)

 

But here we go...
I'm thinking about upgrading my, really disappointing, 2-Way SLI MSI GTX 660 TF III cards to one MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X...
Which would be a huuuge and noticeable upgrade!

But can't quite figure out if 1080 Ti would be worth the extra costs or a "total overkill" ?
So the regular 1080 came to my mind and also did the smaller 1070/1070 Ti...

 

To be honest... I actually don't game anymore...
It does happen thought, and are games like GTA V, Watch Dogs 1 & 2, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Call of Duty, Mafia III, BF3 & 4 and a bunch of other smaller games...
I usually only use my workstation for webbrowsing and managing my servers...  (Sometimes some Photoshop and Lightroom)
... BUT! - Please don't make your decision on the missing gaming part.

I just want to know if I, in real life (not just hardware specs), actually get more value from the extra costs on a 1080 Ti versus the smaller cards.

I hope that you guys are willing to help me out here, so thanks in advance!! 

 

 

The prices here in Denmark, as I write this topic:
- 1080Ti: $990 USD
- 1080: $733 USD
- 1070Ti: $663 USD
- 1070: $631 USD
(All MSI GeForce GTX Gaming X!)

 

Full PC specifications are available under my profile, but the most important are as followed: 
CPU: Intel i7-4770K (Cooling: Corsair H80i v2)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G43 GAMING
Storage: Soon 2x MZ-75E500B in RAID0
RAM: 16GB 2133MHz
PSU: Cooler Master GX750W (Should have the required cables for a 1080Ti)
... Bare with me.. It's 4 years old... 

[SlipperyPete]

depends on the resolution.

1080p: gtx 1070(ti)

1440p: gtx 1080

4k: gtx 1080ti

[sftgunner]

7 minutes ago, SlipperyPete said:

depends on the resolution.

1080p: gtx 1070(ti)

1440p: gtx 1080

4k: gtx 1080ti

I'd say that the 1070 should give more than 60fps for most titles at 1440p..., let alone a 1070ti...

[DICKHILL]

Thanks for the really quick reply! (:

I haven't even thought about resolution...
I only have 3x Asus VN247H (1080P) monitors (and my Samsung TV for movies, etc.), so the need for more, isn't quite there. (Yet!)
But wouldn't it be better to prepare and also be cheaper in the end?

But running 1080P for once, would sure be an experience since my 2x 660 even can't do that.

 

 

## UPDATE:

I have of course seen some comparison videos on YouTube and know that the 1080 Ti can give significantly more FPS...

Here's one of them, which shows (in 4K) that the 1080 Ti gives around 20-30 more FPS than 1080:

 

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

I went from dual 770s to a 1070 and didn't really notice any increase in performance.  Considering the difference between a 660 and a 770, you should have a nice boost, not to mention a massive drop in power draw. 

 

A 1070 will handle GTA5 in 1080p with maxed settings just fine on 75Hz screens.  Haven't tried 144Hz.

That being said, I know from experience that a 1060 3GB keeps the game above 60fps as well with everything on high and very high and all draw distances maximized.

 

EDIT : Yeah, with 3 1080p monitors you may want to consider the 1080 or 1080ti indeed.  Unless you only plan to play on a single screen.

 

[SlipperyPete]

6 minutes ago, Gunner23 said:

I'd say that the 1070 should give more than 60fps for most titles at 1440p..., let alone a 1070ti...

while i agree with this point this specific individual seems to not upgrade often so i was thinking about the future as well as the present

[sftgunner]

Just now, SlipperyPete said:

while i agree with this point this specific individual seems to not upgrade often so i was thinking about the future as well as the present

Good point!

[SlipperyPete]

6 minutes ago, DICKHILL said:

Thanks for the really quick reply! (:

I haven't even thought about resolution...
I only have 3x Asus VN247H (1080P) monitors (and my Samsung TV for movies, etc.), so the need for more, isn't quite there. (Yet!)
But wouldn't it be better to prepare and also be cheaper in the end?

But running 1080P for once, would sure be an experience since my 2x 660 even can't do that.

in the future to get someone to see your post use the quote button. it exists at the bottom of the person's comment your responding to.

[DICKHILL]

40 minutes ago, SlipperyPete said:

in the future to get someone to see your post use the quote button. it exists at the bottom of the person's comment your responding to.

Just forgot it, but thanks!
But since another reply came, I thought it would answer everyone about my poor monitors. 

 

 

48 minutes ago, Captain Chaos said:

I went from dual 770s to a 1070 and didn't really notice any increase in performance.  Considering the difference between a 660 and a 770, you should have a nice boost, not to mention a massive drop in power draw. 

 

A 1070 will handle GTA5 in 1080p with maxed settings just fine on 75Hz screens.  Haven't tried 144Hz.

That being said, I know from experience that a 1060 3GB keeps the game above 60fps as well with everything on high and very high and all draw distances maximized.

 

EDIT : Yeah, with 3 1080p monitors you may want to consider the 1080 or 1080ti indeed.  Unless you only plan to play on a single screen.

 

If you didn't notice "any difference" from the dual 770s to a 1070, I will definitely need better than that!
I am really disappointed on my dual 660s, since it only runs GTA V and Mafia III quite smoothly, with lowest settings.
(Even when using GeForce Experience to set the settings, I have to chance the settings manually...)

The reason why I chose the dual 660, was due to hardware comparison where they seemed to have better specs than a Titan at the time. (4 years ago)
(I became wiser and don't think I ever will spend money on SLI again!!!)

 

At the moment, I only play on one monitor. (Forget everything about Surround, especially with 660s!  )

Have tried in ie. Dead Space 3 and Euro Truck Simulator 2, but didn't go well at all!
(If I remember right, I had to run it in 1280x1024 just to get it quite smoothly)

 

So all in all, my choice on the 1080 Ti seems to be correct from the beginning and even the extra $257 USD.

Especially for the future and now when I "have to" go for the 1080 series.

 

But since my PSU have the need 2x 8pin that the 1080 Ti needs, I think I will go for that.
(Just hopes it can deliver the power... )

[SlipperyPete]

3 minutes ago, DICKHILL said:

(Just hopes it can deliver the power... )

what PSU do you have?

[DICKHILL]

3 minutes ago, SlipperyPete said:

what PSU do you have?

Cooler Master GX750W (RS-750-ACAA-D3)

http://www.coolermaster.com/powersupply/gx-series/gx-750w/

 

 

 

## UPDATE:
According to Cooler Master's own PSU Calculator, one 1080 Ti should use/need less power than 2-Way SLI 660s
So I think I will be fit for fight!

[SlipperyPete]

1 hour ago, DICKHILL said:

## UPDATE:
According to Cooler Master's own PSU Calculator, one 1080 Ti should use/need less power than 2-Way SLI 660s
So I think I will be fit for fight!

enjoy  

[DICKHILL]

15 hours ago, SlipperyPete said:

enjoy  

Thanks! (:

 

And thanks for the help, everyone! 

[DICKHILL]

... a quick "followup", when I found out (remembered) that GeForce Experience shows the settings in all the games... 

(It's actually not as bad as I made it sound... ) 

 

So with these settings (on my dual 660)...
How much should I actually expect from a 1080 Ti or any other card?

Am I just expecting impossible things (graphic details) or would I still see a huge different?

FPS will, of course, be much higher...
But since I've never checked what FPS i get now, I don't actually care about that.. As long as it runs smoothly!