GPU snobbery?

[ojgbrown]

I wanted to get peoples general thoughts on this. I have posted in general rather than graphics cards as the topic relates to a GPU's performance relative to other components and peoples perceptions of what they do and do not need, so it is a more 'general' topic.

I recently upgraded from an M4A78-VM mobo, X2 550 BE cpu @ stock, 4GB DDR2, to a Z68 ASRock pro3, i5-2500k @stock, 8GB DDR3.

My GPU is a 5770 1gb.


Whilst I was of course eagerly anticipating a significant leap in performance across the board- including in gaming, I have been stunned by just how big the leap has been. Gaming performance was not satisfactory before the upgrade and from what I had seen and read I was convinced my 5770 wasnt up to snuff when it came to playing the latest games at the highest settings.

However, with a 2500k and 8gb ram all of a sudden the 5770 is running the most demanding games at the highest settings. Perhaps not at 60fps sure but at more than playable rates. For example:

- I can play Deus Ex: HR at 1080p with eveything absolutely maxed at a constant 30fps+

- crysis runs at 1080p with everything maxed apart from AA which is at 4x at a consistent 30fps+

- The witcher 2 runs at 1080p at a solid 20-25 fps with everything maxed apart from ubersampling and draw distance.


I haven't even overclocked the CPU yet. The 5770 is overclocked to 900/1350.




My point is that I constantly see people commenting on how much GPU horsepower you need to run the latest games on max settings and whilst I accept 'run' is a vague term (can mean anything from booting up, to playable to consistent 60fps gaming depending on who you are asking). I see all kinds of posts that just confuse me- one I read recently said you would need two 460's in SLI to run Crysis on max at 1080p. TWO. From my experience as long as the rest of your components are good quality one will more than do the job (460 is notably faster than my 5770).

Why pump hundreds into 6970's and 580's when from what I am seeing a 2500k/8gb ram/6870 or equivalent combo would blitz anything available at the moment.


Obviously playing at higher resolutions and with multi monitor gaming things change but I am not talking about this, I am referring specifically to 1080p gaming on a single monitor.


My opinion is that people talk a lot of crap to justify the huge amounts of cash they spend on GPU power that they don't need to obtain the performance they desire.

Not having a go at anybody, this is just meant as an open forum for a well meaning debate on the subject.

 

[ojgbrown]

Absolutely, but I think it goes further than that- I think that enthusiast generally hype up products to such an extent that people think you need a lot more GPU power than you actually do to run everything on max.

Think about it, look at the tech thats in a 360 or PS3- it is dated, ageing technology. Something like a 5770 or 460 is an absolute monster in terms of gaming grunt in comparison but you still get people insistant you need 570's and 6950's to max games that they have running (albeit in lesser quality) on consoles.

 

[ojgbrown]

I had always intended to ugprade my 5770 as well, and I still intend to but whereas I was going to do it a couple of months ago I am now waiting until the 7000 series cards come out then I will try and pick up a cheap 6000 series card such as a 6870 or 6950 and sell my 5770 so hopefully getting a big increase in power for not much money.

 

[ojgbrown]

Not onyl will the new GPU and Ram vastly improve performance but they will enable you to get more out of the GPU also, which will buy you more time. You'll probably be surprised with how capable the machine is after the upgrade.

Thanks for the responses, although one or two seem to have misunderstood my point. This was never a thread discussing the virtues of a specific piece of hardware such as a 5770, that is just coincidental- it is the wider issue of us needing a lot less GPU power than many make out.

 

[ojgbrown]

Again, I must stress that I am not criticising anybody. People are entitled to buy whatever they want and whatever makes them happy.

I still feel one or two are missing my wider point slightly. One person said Witcher 2 at 20-25 fps maxed would not be enough and they like 60fps- perfectly understandable, but my point is this is running with the CPU at stock and an ageing 5770. People insist on crossfiring 6970's and 580's and spending half a grand or more when, for example, you can get a 6870 new for £125 and that is a HUGE step up in performance from my 5770. overclock it and the CPU as well and it would probably be at 60fps or if not bloody close since I am getting 25 now with the CPU at stock and a 5770. Assuming you sell the 5770 for £50/£60 then your only paying 70 quid net.

top of the line graphics cards on single monitor setups are at the moment massive overkill therefore in my opinion.