Bonus from work. New GPU/monitor or other?

Iceni

Iceni

Iceni

Associate
Joined
9 Jan 2015
Posts
52
Hey folks I've had a nice bonus from work.

My current PC looks like this.

i5-2500K @4.4Ghz
EKWB HF 240

MSI P67-G45

16GB corsair vengeance DDR3 1600Mhz. (4 dimms)

Palit GTX 970 3.5GB *cough*

FSP 800W silver PSU

250Gb samsung 840

8Tb spinning raid

27" LG super slim bezel IPS. 1080p

Mech keys

Nice mouse

Saitek X65-f


So with my bonus I have a few options.


Do I go SLI with another GPU. I already have a second matched GPU in another machine and Would be picking up a GPU to go in that machine so I can put the second card in my machine. I'd be limited to 1080p doing this and don't really think I need more GPU power than I already have.

Or do I add 2 27" IPS screens for a 3 screen setup. I think the GPU might struggle in this configuration. I play a lot of flight sims and the extra screens might actually be nice.

Or is another option better looking at my specs.


The monitor I have in mind are these.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-025-AO&groupid=17&catid=1120

They have the same bezel and panel as my current LG monitor. Added to that they have a DP input so i can pick up 2 cheap mDP>DP cables and save money not having to convert mDP>HDMI.


The GPU will not be going in this machine but it will be another GTX 970. i know the limitations with the ram on these cards. I have kept a very close eye on the un-foldings of the past month and have decided that I can live with the limitations.

If I were to pick up a new GPU it would probably be one of these.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-071-ZT&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1010


I'm in a bit a pickle over this TBF. I know going either route puts me in odd positions. I'm either going to have to use the single monitor with 2 cards and take advantage of DSR. Or I get more desktop area and may have to reduce the eye candy.
 
Hmm, strange one - as you said, the extra monitors would be nice for flight sims whereas a bit more horsepower would be nice also

However, if you go for the extra 970 it would be a waste on a single 1080p monitor, so the best choice imo is the extra monitors imo
What exact PSU model is that you have?
 
The psu is this one. I think I must have an early revision as my sticker says silver on it not bronze, but it's the same PSU. Chances are someone actually tested it properly and they relabeled them :D

http://pics.sunrise74.com/57/2224473/800/05.jpg

I went for the model as it has a good 3.3V rail as well. And I have a voodoo 5 5500 PCI that I'll run from time to time and it's a little heavy on the 3.3/5V molex connectors. It's one of the few cards that has up to 30W draw on the wrong rails!

The PSU in the rig has actually been faultless. I was a bit dubious at first the reviews are generally not great for FSP's in terms of ripple, But even at 4.4-4.8 Ghz the system has never crashed.


I think the monitors are the way forwards, I can always upgrade the GPU later if I need to. It's the cheaper of the 2 options as well and GPU's will fall in price.

I suppose I'll have to upgrade anyway for star citizen in terms of GPU. I can't see a single 970 been enough on launch. Especially not at 5760 x 1080.

I was thinking about 4K res. But I've done small res before with CRT's. I had a nice 22" that did an obscene resolution back in the day. And for all it's worth that small res is actually more of a pain because of text size. I tested a 4K res on my current 27" using DSR and at 27" the screen just doesn't feel large enough.
 
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The PSU is fine, before my upgrade to the gtx 970 it was running Hd6970's in crossfire. Yeah it's not a top end PSU, but it's not a firecracker either.
 
Sounds like it should be fine to me, I think FSP OEM for a few companies and it seems okay if you've been running this long with no problems so that should be fine
At 27" I'd recommend a 1440p monitor, it works great at that resolution and size
 
I'll have a good think about 1440p.

I don't tend to be rash with decisions like this. There is a lot to weigh up as well, Going 1440 would mean I need more GPU power for multiple monitors, and if I went to them with the intention of getting 3 then I have to factor in how I think the price will shift over the next 12 months.

I'm going to have to make the call at some point this week, desktop real estate or FOV. I'm still none the wiser as to which is more important to me atm.

I suppose If I did go 1440 I could scale the single monitor to 32".

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-069-AC&groupid=17&catid=2898

The question is is FOV more important.
 
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