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Extra 970 or ... ?

guddler

guddler

guddler

Associate
Joined
21 Nov 2014
Posts
98
Location
UK
I'm contemplating some extra umpfh in the GPU department.

I game at 21:9 - 2560x1080 so not massively demanding but a bit more than 1080p and I do like to know I'm getting the best graphics that I can. I recently built an i7 6700 Skylake system, based on the Asus Maximus Gene Micro-ATX board.

Due to keeping costs down I decided to stick with my MSI GTX-970 card (just under 12 months old) and figured I'd go SLI later if I needed it. I did intend to go up to a bigger screen with 3440x1440 but I doubt that will happen unless they seriously come down in price. Everything seems great. The system can max out GTA-V, Fallout 4 and maintain 60fps, more or less. It obviously drops every now and then but it's pretty much OK so I was happy.

Then I bought the Witcher 3. Span it up, whacked it up to Ultra like normal for a new game and boy was I in for a surprise! It's disappointing on such a new rig but yeah, I searched and quickly realised that I'd found the title that was going to push my GPU over the edge. So right now I'm on Ultra with some stuff turned down like hair-works and a couple of other things. Again, pretty happy. But it sows the seeds in my mind...

What would give me the best increase for my money? Adding a second MSI GTX 970 in SLI or selling that 2nd hand and getting a 980 or even a 980ti? My intention would be to be able to maintain 60fps and bring the temps and the fan down a little if at all possible. Currently I'm topping out at 74C. I realise that is perfectly OK, but more often than not I can game below 60C and the fan doesn't even come on.

Things are a really tight fit on my Micro-ATX board - so much so I cut a card separator between the CPU heat-sink and the back of the GPU as I was afraid they might touch and short out (they don't), but a 2nd should fit OK.
 
If your budget allows get the 980Ti

Went from 970's in SLI to this single 980Ti.

I'm much happier with just the one card in my system now.

No more micro stutter, so much smoother game play.

And I don't have to wait on patches to fix bugs with SLI anymore. :D
 
Forget 980 as an option. The 980 is overpriced and pointless now the 980ti exists.

A 2nd 970 would be fine, but getting a 980ti would be the best option, budget permitting.
 
If you are on a 970 now wait for next gen. People have to turn things down in games like Witcher regardless of the card they have so I wouldn't worry too much. It's a decent card that will happily keep you gaming until the die shrink.

I wouldn't waste money on something to replace it now especially if you are staying on 2560x1080 for the foreseeable.
 
Sencha said:
I'd do above. Just tweak down a little and wait for the next gen.
Click to expand...

So depressing! But I hear you all - thank you :)

In reality, I've not got the funds to do anything with this before Xmas now anyway, two new front tyres on the car this week have put pay to that. The 980 route seems like it would be a lot of effort for not much gain? But anyway, so out of interest...

1. What does it take to run a "next gen" title like The Witcher 3 flat out without tweaking it down? (theoretically, 2 x 980?)

and also, probably more importantly since this is what I'd REALLY like to do when money is back to normal in the new year.

2. What does it take to drive a 3440x1440 screen? I guess maybe the question should really be how much of an impact would 3440x1440 have over 2560x1080?

I guess a 34" 2560x1080 is an option instead of upping the resolution. Something I've noticed on the W3 is that the wife playing on the XBox using the living rooms 50" Sony Bravia looks WAY nicer than when I play it on my 29" super-wide. Since we know from a technical point of view my system is much better, I guess it has to just boil down to the sheer size difference.

I suppose I should also mention that I also use flight sims from time to time. Mostly X-Plane 10, but sometimes FSX. Those and the drop in framerates in MMO's like Guild Wars 2 were the CPU clincher that made we finally upgrade my aging i7 950 from 2010.
 
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