Basic 4k graphics card

ugly ferret · 2 Nov 2014 at 20:44

Hello!

Just bought a new tv (Samsung uh7500) and I'm looking for a graphics card that can output 4k but I'm a bit confused about my options. Obviously not looking to play new games at that res, just looking to play some video and mess around with some older games so don't want to spend too much, maybe around £150.

So was looking at either Geforce gtx 760, something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-206-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1830

Or a radeon r9 280 like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-347-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

I know the 280 is faster but I'm more interested in how well it works at 4k since there seem to be lots of issues. I'm more familiar with nvidia drivers too.

So my main questions are:

1) Can either of these cards actually output 4k at 60hz over hdmi? I saw one one site that the 280 was limited to 2560x1600 over hdmi and the gtx 760 limited to 4k but at 30hz. Is this correct? As far as I can see my tv has no displayport but I read on another forum that a user was running battlefield 4 at 3840 x 2160 at 60hz on a gtx 680 with no problems? Very confused! My tv is hdmi 2.0 btw.

2) Are the GeForce 9 series the only cards that can run 4k at 60hz over hdmi? Are there any plans for a midrange 9 series card before Christmas?

3) How does the amd free game offer work? Quite like the idea of a free game, do any of the gtx 760 come with free games?

4) If anyone has my tv, if you could let me know about your experience with any graphics cards, it'd be very helpful?

If anyone can answer any of my questions, I'd be eternally grateful!

Cheers!!

Jumper118 · 2 Nov 2014 at 20:59

ugly ferret said:
Hello!

Just bought a new tv (Samsung uh7500) and I'm looking for a graphics card that can output 4k but I'm a bit confused about my options. Obviously not looking to play new games at that res, just looking to play some video and mess around with some older games so don't want to spend too much, maybe around £150.

So was looking at either Geforce gtx 760, something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-206-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1830

Or a radeon r9 280 like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-347-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

I know the 280 is faster but I'm more interested in how well it works at 4k since there seem to be lots of issues. I'm more familiar with nvidia drivers too.

So my main questions are:

1) Can either of these cards actually output 4k at 60hz over hdmi? I saw one one site that the 280 was limited to 2560x1600 over hdmi and the gtx 760 limited to 4k but at 30hz. Is this correct? As far as I can see my tv has no displayport but I read on another forum that a user was running battlefield 4 at 3840 x 2160 at 60hz on a gtx 680 with no problems? Very confused! My tv is hdmi 2.0 btw.

2) Are the GeForce 9 series the only cards that can run 4k at 60hz over hdmi? Are there any plans for a midrange 9 series card before Christmas?

3) How does the amd free game offer work? Quite like the idea of a free game, do any of the gtx 760 come with free games?

4) If anyone has my tv, if you could let me know about your experience with any graphics cards, it'd be very helpful?

If anyone can answer any of my questions, I'd be eternally grateful!

Cheers!!

neither card can do 4k@60hz. you need display port to do 4k as i don't think any cards have hdmi 2.0 yet.

ugly ferret · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:03

Thanks for confirming this. Can the r9 280 even do 4k at 30hz?

I wonder how that guy got his gtx 680 to work at 60hz then? I thought the GeForce 9 series was hdmi 2.0?

Rroff · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:08

He won't be using a HDMI only 4K TV and getting 60Hz on a 680, displayport to a 4K monitor or the rare 1-2 TVs with DP maybe.

The 280 should do upto 4096x at 30Hz over HDMI fine. I've seen more issues with AMD and 4K resolutions though neither has a flawless record.

Jumper118 · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:16

ugly ferret said:
Thanks for confirming this. Can the r9 280 even do 4k at 30hz?

I wonder how that guy got his gtx 680 to work at 60hz then? I thought the GeForce 9 series was hdmi 2.0?

idk if the 280 can do 4k, but i think it would considering kaveri apu's can do 4k at 30hz over hdmi. a 680 can't do 60hz over hdmi.

ugly ferret · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:17

Cheers, I guess he was mistaken then! I suppose a gtx 970 is my only option at the moment? Any news on cheaper 9 series models or an amd equivelant in the near future?

andybird123 · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:20

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...xysSLguTnaFsXawbg&sig2=FB3Z08C5RiTNG0fyfhowvw

Although i would strongly recommend against trying to play 4k games on a 760 (nor 280)

ugly ferret · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:27

Thanks, very interesting!

I wasn't planning on playing any new games at 4k, I have quite a few games from around 3-6 years ago which I'd hoped would run ok at 4k .... unreal tournament 3 type era games?

triss · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:34

For your money and 4k imo your best to spend your budget on
A 2nd hand 290's/780's
B add a little more and get a new 780/290 ,Some of these come with a gamecode/s you can sell to make up the difference
And yes atm its only the 900 series that has HDMI 2 iiirc

If i had to pick one out of your choice i'd probably go for the 280 for the Vram , I dont know but i'd say even older games at 4k you might find the 2gb on the 760 a hurdle

ugly ferret · 2 Nov 2014 at 21:49

triss said:
I dont know but i'd say even older games at 4k you might find the 2gb on the 760 a hurdle

Thanks, I suspected as much! If a £150 2gb 760 could run unreal tournament 3 in 4k at 60 fps (using the dodgy method above), I'd be happy. Thinking I should bite the bullet and just get a 970? As I said in my original post, it's just for messing around with some old games so I didn't want to spend too much.... but if you're going to do something, might as well do it properly!

Disco_P · 2 Nov 2014 at 22:31

Honestly I would either wait for a cheaper HDMI 2.0 card or get a 970. There is no point having spent so much on a 4K TV only to have to sacrifice colour quality in order to use it.

smogsy · 3 Nov 2014 at 07:18

Ut3 is still fairly demanding game from memory

ugly ferret · 3 Nov 2014 at 12:47

Disco_P said:
Honestly I would either wait for a cheaper HDMI 2.0 card or get a 970. There is no point having spent so much on a 4K TV only to have to sacrifice colour quality in order to use it.

Yes! Very wise words, I think you are right. I will wait for a bit, keeping an eye on 970 prices or hopefully a 960 will appear soon.

Ut3 is still fairly demanding game from memory

Maybe it is! I was hoping that if my gtx 460 could run it in 1080 at well over 100fps, a 760 might manage it at 4k? Maybe not though.

smogsy · 3 Nov 2014 at 12:58

ugly ferret said:
Yes! Very wise words, I think you are right. I will wait for a bit, keeping an eye on 970 prices or hopefully a 960 will appear soon.

Maybe it is! I was hoping that if my gtx 460 could run it in 1080 at well over 100fps, a 760 might manage it at 4k? Maybe not though.

you cant really do it this way but say i doubt youll find a good benchmark for ut3 on new cards? say you still had your 460

1080p = 120fps
4k is 4x 1080p pretty much

120/4 = 30fps

now find the % speed difference between 460 & 760 And do the maths

will not be accurate, but will give a very rough ballpark

almighty15 · 3 Nov 2014 at 13:05

Put the extra and get a 290 or 780?

andybird123 · 3 Nov 2014 at 13:19

almighty15 said:
Put the extra and get a 290 or 780?

neither of those cards have hdmi 2.0 - the OP wants to use his TV for gaming

ugly ferret · 3 Nov 2014 at 13:31

smogsy said:
you cant really do it this way but say i doubt youll find a good benchmark for ut3 on new cards? say you still had your 460

1080p = 120fps
4k is 4x 1080p pretty much

120/4 = 30fps

now find the % speed difference between 460 & 760 And do the maths

will not be accurate, but will give a very rough ballpark

Haha, that's exactly what I did in my head! I could see the 760 was just over twice as fast a 460 so I came up with 60fps.... might not work out in reality though.

RobCrezz · 3 Nov 2014 at 15:45

I bet a 760 could easy run UT 3 at 4k no problem. UT3 recommended a 7800GTX ffs!

rtho782 · 3 Nov 2014 at 16:17

For HDMI 2.0 you need a 970 or 980, both have it.

Other nVidia cards will do 4k@60hz with 4:2:2 over hdmi 1.4, which is a massive quality drop.

The only other way to achieve 4k@60hz is Displayport.

ugly ferret · 3 Nov 2014 at 19:58

RobCrezz said:
I bet a 760 could easy run UT 3 at 4k no problem. UT3 recommended a 7800GTX ffs!

Haha, part of me wants to get one just to find out if it can! Might ask for one for Christmas as it just about fits into Christmas budget. That'll give me another month to see what else happens in the market....