gtx 960 or 970?

[Scyther]

Hi, my current system is old and as follows:

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 Processor (3M Cache, 3.10 GHz)
Mobo: Asus P8H67-M (1155 socket)
RAM: 8GB Corsair DDR3 Vengeance (2 x 4)
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular
GPU: HD4850 Gigabyte 512 ddr3 (23.5 cm long)
Case: Antec P180

With Windows 10 on the horizon and me being locked out of modern and DX12 games, I felt it was time to upgrade the GPU.

I mainly play on a 19" 1440x900 monitor and usually in windowed mode. But I am entertaining the idea of occasionally playing on a 42" 1080p TV, thanks to a 20m HDMI I just bought.

I was certain I'd get the 960, and I'm still strongly leaning towards it, because it's supposedly very quiet, power friendly and affordable.

However, I've been thinking for £100 more, I could basically get like double the power - and I hear the 970 is relatively quiet/ power friendly as well(?)

However, I kind of feel the 970 might be overkill given the fact I'll mainly be playing on this small monitor, and also, the rest of my PC isn't that high-spec.

Another slight issue is that I fear the 970 may not fit in my case; I have an IDE drive next to where the GPU comes to and it can only fit about 24.5 cm. If I were to move the IDE drive elsewhere, it could fit a 30 cm long card at max. Also, not sure if my PSU would adequately power the 970. I have 1 6 pin free and have nothing plugged in to the 2 red 8 pin ones.

So, at a crossroad and wondering which one to get.

Thanks in advance.

 

[3t3P]

well 1080 isn't a high resolution, what games are you wanting to play? do you need max settings?
Excess power is always nice.

The 970 is efficient and your OCZ PSU could run two of them in all honesty so you will be fine. It's not a very long card either, surely you can just do a test fit in your case to see if it will fit from dimensions available online?

Not sure how i3's stack up against i5's for gaming.

 

[kaku]

960 is a waste of time. It's more expensive than a 670, has worse performance, and the power consumption difference is negligible.

 

[shadow_boxer]

Save up for a proper 1080p monitor first then look for a GPU.

Best option then would be a second hand GTX 670/680/280/280X.

The 960 isn't a good card, crippled by poor memory bus and overpriced.

 

[Gibbo]

970 all the way!

 

[Lokken86]

Of course Gibbo what say that... but yea he's right. 970!

 

[Gibbo]

Of course Gibbo what say that... but yea he's right. 970!

No I say the truth and I felt very underwhelmed when I tested a 960, a card we sell and have over 1000 in stock, but fact is 970 can offer upto nearly double the performance and it does not cost twice as much. 970 offers better value!

 

[ALXAndy]

Listen man nothing in the PC world is ever overkill. These parts die out logically far sooner than you realise.

Always, always get the absolute best you can afford.

 

[Xelene]

Hmm, do the 960 really cost 2/3 of 970 price for half the power? seems like a bad deal for me.

If I was in that ballpark I'd be looking at a 285 or maybe even a 290?

 

[Kaapstad]

No I say the truth and I felt very underwhelmed when I tested a 960, a card we sell and have over 1000 in stock, but fact is 970 can offer upto nearly double the performance and it does not cost twice as much. 970 offers better value!

+1

Compared to a 970 or 980 the minimums on the 960 are really bad too.

 

[varkanoid]

I would consider upgrading the CPU too as an i3-2100 is not a brilliant CPU for gaming. Would be looking to try and pickup a cheap 2500k

 

[Scyther]

Thanks for the input, guys.

You've twisted my arm; I think it would be wise to get the 970, so I will. It meets my needs in regards to quietness and seems like amazing value for money.

As for the CPU upgrade, maybe down the road I will, but I'm rather happy atm with this one for non-gaming activities, like encoding video etc. I don't mind taking the hit for now and lowering settings if need be.

And the monitor, again maybe I will upgrade it later, but I dread buying new monitors and fearing things like dead pixels, etc. if I want to do 1080p gaming, I can do it with the 42" TV I have downstairs (I recently hooked my PC up with a 20m HDMI).

I'm looking at the GTX 970 Asus Strix as the one to get, I might have to shift an IDE drive around to get it to fit, though. This one seemed to be the best in regards to less noise, like no 'whine noise', etc. If anyone has anything else I should know about it, let me know.

I was wondering though, with the announcement of the GTX Titan 12GB, could we possibly see a price reduction on the 970 (or 980) coming any time soon? Hypothetically-speaking, by when and how much would it be reduced by?

Thanks.