Upgrade from Gigabyte GTX 580 3GB

[Gregster]

Thanks for all the replies guys, however it's not so much that I NEED to upgrade, it's the fact that in 5 months, I'll have moved out and be married - so this is potentially the last upgrade I'll be doing for the foreseeable future.

Actually getting tempted to just buy a 690 and to hell with the consequences

So damn indecisive.

I think people are going to be disapointed when the GTX 780 does show up. I don't think the performance will be much better than the GTX 680 and it will still be overpriced. Also unless nvidia slim the chip down a bit, it will be a hot running/poor clocker.

I also feel the same Kaap. I hear bits here and there that just make me think the 780 will be a 680 with more oomph.

Jack, I understand your plight and with this being the last big upgrade for a while, you would want the best.

A 680 is fantastic and a great card but over priced IMO, the same goes for the 7970 but you would be better off buying 2*7950's than either one of those cards. This will help a lot more for future proofing and should see you well for a couple of years.

The 690 is a great card and better for noise and heat but is it worth that extra layout? I was tempted a while back and if not for water cooling, I would be kicking myself for not getting one.

 

[Kaapstad]

Yeah that is true about the V-RAM, however I am only gaming on a single screen at 1920x1080 - And I really do love my monitor, so I don't see me changing that for a few years at least. True however that the 690 is expensive, but this is the last chance really, tempted to just blow the money on a product I'm certain I will love.

I love the GTX 690 myself, I have got 3 of them.

@1920x1080 you will have no problem at all, as far as quality goes its the best 2 GPU solution you can get because of a hardware fix for microstutter that other 2 GPU solutions can suffer from.

The downside is the price and the lack of vram which makes them unsuitable for a multi monitor setup.

 

[Jackaby]

I love the GTX 690 myself, I have got 3 of them.

@1920x1080 you will have no problem at all, as far as quality goes its the best 2 GPU solution you can get because of a hardware fix for microstutter that other 2 GPU solutions can suffer from.

The downside is the price and the lack of vram which makes them unsuitable for a multi monitor setup.

Based on what you've said, I'll probably go with a single 690 tbh. I've tried a multi-monitor config and I just couldn't get on with it, so I'm sticking with the single screen for gaming. If I post my other hardware would you be able to tell me of any conflicts? (If there is any, which I doubt).

 

[Kaapstad]

Based on what you've said, I'll probably go with a single 690 tbh. I've tried a multi-monitor config and I just couldn't get on with it, so I'm sticking with the single screen for gaming. If I post my other hardware would you be able to tell me of any conflicts? (If there is any, which I doubt).

I know I am pointing out the obvious but you can get 2 x gtx 680s or 2 x HD 7970s for less money.

As far as hardware goes a GTX 690 will work in most systems, just make sure there is enough room in your case. The cards are about 11.5 inches long.

 

[Jackaby]

I have the Corsair Graphite case - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-043-CS

As for the rest of my hardware:

Mobo- Asrock Extreme 4 Gen 3
CPU- Intel i7 2600k (currently at stock but want to OC) - Watercooled with Corsair H80.
8GB Corsair Dominator 1600mhz
850w PSU
128GB Primary SSD
256GB Secondary SSD

 

[ALXAndy]

This is where I struggle to move on from my 480's in sli, no current gen single card can compete with it and the price of current gen cards makes it impossible to upgrade from what I have, my advice is to wait for the next gen, it won't be long now

Having gone from 480 SLI to a 670 Jetstream (not counting the appalling experience I had with a 7970) I can tell you that it's more than worth it. Hardly any heat and hardly any noise for a start. I don't even have to run an app to control the fans and have never heard them even so much as spin up on my 670.

That and the electricity bills. I went from a I7 950 with 480 SLI to a Sandybridge Xeon, low powered mobo and a 670 and I'm saving a fortune. Plus my computer room no longer acts as a sauna.

 

[Kaapstad]

You should be fine hardware wise, just double check that you can get an 11.5 inch card in the case but it looks like you can.

The PSU is ok a GTX 690 can use up to 350w when overclocked

You really need to look at ocing your CPU to somewhere just over 4.0ghz to avoid a bottleneck. You don't need to go any higher than that, just turn the in game settings up a bit to max things out.

 

[Sliver]

I dont see the need to upgrade really..

I bet the guy in that video wanted to hang himself once he saw what he got for his £600 ! lmao

I have a 580 and see no need (except benchmark envy lol ) to upgrade. When Maxwell comes out in Q1 2014, I'll certainly be looking at a 780.

 

[Kaapstad]

I bet the guy in that video wanted to hang himself once he saw what he got for his £600 ! lmao

I have a 580 and see no need (except benchmark envy lol ) to upgrade. When Maxwell comes out in Q1 2014, I'll certainly be looking at a 780.

Have I got this right, the guy in the video paid £600 for a GTX 680.

 

[Jackaby]

You should be fine hardware wise, just double check that you can get an 11.5 inch card in the case but it looks like you can.

The PSU is ok a GTX 690 can use up to 350w when overclocked

You really need to look at ocing your CPU to somewhere just over 4.0ghz to avoid a bottleneck. You don't need to go any higher than that, just turn the in game settings up a bit to max things out.

Just checked out a review for the case - Maximum video card length: 13” (330 mm) or 18” (457 mm), if one of the hard drive cages is removed - Looks like I'm fine on that front.

Definately going to look at OC'ing, have been wanting to do it for a while but need to do some serious reading before I charge in. Only really want to go for something between 4.2/4.5

 

[Kaapstad]

Just checked out a review for the case - Maximum video card length: 13” (330 mm) or 18” (457 mm), if one of the hard drive cages is removed - Looks like I'm fine on that front.

Definately going to look at OC'ing, have been wanting to do it for a while but need to do some serious reading before I charge in. Only really want to go for something between 4.2/4.5

If you are going to o/c the CPU there are plenty of people on the o/cing part of the forum who will help you.

 

[Jackaby]

Yeah I'm sure they will

Still, staying on the cautious side of things, if I knew the presets on my mobo were any good then I would use them, but voltages can be far lower if done manually. However it look's like I'm set on a 690 thanks to you.

 

[SirCanealot]

I went from a 950mhz GTX 580 to a 1300mhz 680 and I was happy with the results (considering I didn't pay TOO much to do it).

But it depends on what you play... I remember Alan Wake stressed out the 580 a little too much with max settings. And Far Cry 3 pegs the 680 at 80-90% usage with just FXAA on at 60fps 95% of the time. And I'm happy since I know I would have had a sub-par experience with Far Cry 3 had I still been on the 580. And with some other games like Crysis 3 coming up (well...hopefully the GAME PLAY will be good - I did quite enjoy Crysis 2...). So I'm happy knowing my rig has a bad-ass MOFO GPU in it.

But as I always say to customers in my shop: how much time is the money worth to you? If it takes you 2 weeks of hard grinding at work to earn the money to upgrade, then will you be satisfied? If you have a decent amount of spare money and can pocket the money spare in a few days then why the heck not?

I earn around £40 a day in my retail job (6.70 an hour or something). So assuming I had NO expenses (which is obviously impossible) a £300 GPU means I've gone to work for 7 hours a day every day for over 1 working week. I think this is the best way of looking at things.

Either way,a good GTX 680 is one bad-ass MOFO. Buy it already!

 

[Jackaby]

I went from a 950mhz GTX 580 to a 1300mhz 680 and I was happy with the results (considering I didn't pay TOO much to do it).

But it depends on what you play... I remember Alan Wake stressed out the 580 a little too much with max settings. And Far Cry 3 pegs the 680 at 80-90% usage with just FXAA on at 60fps 95% of the time. And I'm happy since I know I would have had a sub-par experience with Far Cry 3 had I still been on the 580. And with some other games like Crysis 3 coming up (well...hopefully the GAME PLAY will be good - I did quite enjoy Crysis 2...). So I'm happy knowing my rig has a bad-ass MOFO GPU in it.

But as I always say to customers in my shop: how much time is the money worth to you? If it takes you 2 weeks of hard grinding at work to earn the money to upgrade, then will you be satisfied? If you have a decent amount of spare money and can pocket the money spare in a few days then why the heck not?

I earn around £40 a day in my retail job (6.70 an hour or something). So assuming I had NO expenses (which is obviously impossible) a £300 GPU means I've gone to work for 7 hours a day every day for over 1 working week. I think this is the best way of looking at things.

Either way,a good GTX 680 is one bad-ass MOFO. Buy it already!

Well currently, I'm sitting on a pretty decent job and am lucky enough not to be paying rent (thanks Mum!) - My only current outgoings are fuel for the car, which only works out at about £15-£20 a week. Aside from that there is only minor spendings really such as alcohol, and treating the fiance to meals out and whatnot so my outgoings are minimal. So this really is the time to buy, as soon as me and my wife are living together I am going to have very little spare money, so really I think treating myself to a 690 is the way forward xD

EDIT: Also forgot to take into account that I can sell my 580 and knock that off the money for this, and I'm owed more than £200 from a friend that had some problems with student finance, but his loan comes through on the 7th...so really taking that into account it's not all that much out of my own pocket now for the 690.

 

[BS Dave]

Dude i would hold fire buying anything until you OC that 2600k

Nvidia cards are well know to LOVE highly clocked CPUs.

Get that 2600k up to 4.5/4.6 and you'll see a decent boost from your 580.

 

[bfar]

If you've sat on the fence this long then why not wait another few months? Roll that 400 quid up, stick it in the back of a drawer and get yourself a nice next gen wedding present in the summer!

If your playing at 1080p then a 580 should keep you sweet until then. I don't think the 580 is worth much second hand these days.