I'm guessing the answer is wait...

Joddie · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:14

Right then, recently bought an Asus PB278Q 27" monitor and have obviously seen a drop in fps in all games

My current system is as follows:

2500k @ 4.5 Ghz

2x gigabyte gtx 480

Asus p8p67 pro motherboard (i think, sorry...)

128gb Samsung ssd

8gb ram (not sure on make but 1600mhz stuff)

850 watt corsair psu.

I'm aware my socket type is now dead (or dying), so there is no real upgrade path with my current board. I also read somewhere that the performance of my 480's is comparable to a single 680.

I'm pretty certain the answer is wait but what should I upgrade? I really want a boost in average fps in my games really, as at the moment they run great and then bog down at times, which although isn't a huge deal, is annoying me. I haven't a budget but don't want to waste money for no noticeable gains.

Cheers

Martini1991 · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:16

May's well wait.
Nothing really wrong with your system, possibly your VRAM at your resolution though.

Joddie · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:17

Thought so, cheers anyway

dunn2010 · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:18

what resolutions do you play at? think martini may have hit nail on head

Joddie · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:20

2560 1440 I believe

Bacon? · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:22

Yeh VRAM will be quite a limitation at that resolution. I take it your cards are eithert 1 or 1.5 GB?

Martini1991 · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:23

I guess you could always just go to a 7950 Crossfire set up.
Next generation of GPU's are due in coming months, but we're on the same fabrication process, so it's closer to 5870 to 6970 gains, as opposed 6970 to 7970 gains.

CPU wise you're fine, Haswell due in the next coming months too.

Joddie · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:23

they are the 1.5gb cards.

Martini1991 · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:23

Some games will be fine, but others not so much with 1.5GB.

Joddie · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:25

Alright cheers guys

I'll have a look into the 7950's

dunn2010 · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:26

then its up to you mate, a good gfx card, 670/680/7970 with 3/4gb vram would be an improvement, would use less power and would produce less heat. (im sure those 480 cards give of some nice heat?)

so if you think you can sell the 480's for a good price and not put yourself out too much upgrading it could be worth while if you must have the games playing with everything full.

if not hold out nad make do with some settings turned off like aa off and mxaa off

Mrjobby · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:26

Id wait a generation tbh

Think if you drop aa and af you shouldn't find much of a vid mem problem.

Martini1991 · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:28

Mrjobby said:
Id wait a generation tbh

Think if you drop aa and af you shouldn't find much of a vid mem problem.

Only thing is the next generation is more akin to 480 to 580 type improvements.
If he bought a GPU set up now, he could upgrade it when we're on the next fabrication process, while still being able to get a fair amount off his 480's right now.

Arguably he could get a 7950 from his 480's at about 70 quid after postage.

Joddie · 9 Jan 2013 at 14:32

I've had to lower AA etc in most games, and yes they are rather loud

So lots of vram it is.

thanks again people