Need a graphics card update, what is worthwhile getting?

gradyhawks · 14 Sep 2017 at 08:16

Hey up,

Need a new GPU (or 2nd hand!). Not sure on budget, I have a 144hz 1440p monitor that is currently ran by a single 290 4gb. There something I should be waiting for? Or do I really need to spend £300+ to get something that is considered a worth while upgrade?

Don't have a budget, just want to know what would be a worthwhile upgrade. The monitor is freesync, but not fixed in staying with the AMD side of things.

Grady

mid_gen · 14 Sep 2017 at 08:41

Depends on how great your 'need' is tbh. You're coming up to the tail end of an nVidia cycle and AMD's somewhat lacklustre initial Vega offering. Pretty sure there's going to be something more compelling to upgrade in the new year.

I almost convinced myself to get a 1080ti to ugprade from my 970 but sanity prevailed. A used 980ti is probably best value right now, but I'm going to sit it out.

gradyhawks · 14 Sep 2017 at 09:14

It worth getting another 290 and xfire? Is that still a thing?

malachi · 14 Sep 2017 at 09:37

gradyhawks said:
It worth getting another 290 and xfire? Is that still a thing?

Nope, xfire and SLI is dead. I dropped to a single 290 before I upgraded to Vega 64.

gradyhawks · 14 Sep 2017 at 09:38

Ah a shame... how much do 2nd hand 980ti's go for?

fastwunz · 14 Sep 2017 at 09:59

gradyhawks said:
Ah a shame... how much do 2nd hand 980ti's go for?

£175+

gradyhawks · 14 Sep 2017 at 10:24

well on the look out I go! Would be able to flog my 290 for £100 or so looking at the MM. So £75-£125 update is well within reach!

TallPaul1878 · 14 Sep 2017 at 18:29

You will be doing very well if you can pick up a used GTX 980Ti for £175.

That's a bargain. If you take a look on a popular auction website they are just starting at that price and most are well over £200 with multiple bids on them.

Martini1991 · 15 Sep 2017 at 10:49

You're basically stuffed.
You'll be able to get a fury x with change basically lol.

At the moment, because of AMD'S pricing "structure" you can't buy anything

Jimmy Weirdarms · 15 Sep 2017 at 10:59

malachi said:
Nope, xfire and SLI is dead. I dropped to a single 290 before I upgraded to Vega 64.

Why do folks say this? I'm genuinely interested because AFAICT SLI is alive and kicking, and the online benchmarks put SLI'd 1070s around or slightly above Titan Xp performance.

mickyflinn · 15 Sep 2017 at 11:12

Jimmy Weirdarms said:
Why do folks say this? I'm genuinely interested because AFAICT SLI is alive and kicking, and the online benchmarks put SLI'd 1070s around or slightly above Titan Xp performance.

I think its because some games dont support SLI/crossfire and a lot of modern titles dont scale so well. Nvidia has droped support for 3/4 way SLI also.

chroniclard · 15 Sep 2017 at 11:15

I just went 980 to second hand 1080 @ 1440p and its running really well. However I have gsync.

I would say while a 980Ti is going to run fairly well you will have to knock some settings down a little to get higher FPS, in some games.

opethdisciple · 15 Sep 2017 at 11:23

If you have Gsync monitor either 1070 or secondhand 1070/1080.

If you have Freesync, I'd save up for a Vega 56.

Jimmy Weirdarms · 15 Sep 2017 at 11:26

mickyflinn said:
Nvidia has droped support for 3/4 way SLI also.

That bit I knew, apparently you can buy the bridge for it but nvidia will only activate it for very few things. So, an expensive waste of time! But 2-way seems relatively well supported, and DX12 is supposed to do seemless multi-gpu support without needing SLI. Guess we'll see how well that works.

Martini1991 · 15 Sep 2017 at 11:57

Theres nothing seamless about multi gpu on any of the current dx12 games lol

arc@css · 15 Sep 2017 at 12:46

The 290 not cutting it, or is it to scratch an itch?

Since you have a freesync monitor you might be better off by going for a Vega 56 card, though from what I've seen (which isn't that much admittedly) it seems very game dependent whether or not you'll see a big enough difference to make the upgrade a good one. Maybe others that have made that very switch have found it to be a decent enough one?

Personally, unless you're really finding your current card not fast enough anymore, I'd keep it and wait it out. It's either that or pay through the nose.

mickyflinn · 15 Sep 2017 at 13:36

ignore

Marine-RX179 · 15 Sep 2017 at 13:54

What CPU you using and any overclock?

Pushing 120/144fps display, the CPU can become a bottleneck for the graphic card, particular if the game itself has a poor engine that do not utilise the CPU to 100%.

Having a fast graphic card is part of the requirements for pushing higher rate frame rates, not the ONLY requirement

Aneskimo · 16 Sep 2017 at 12:26

If you need to Upgrade then maybe a used 980ti but looking on a well known auction site more like £280ish don't have access to mm on here yet so not sure what is in there. Is waiting till NVidia next release an option? we are not far off now (I think) and you could save up a bit more in the mean time, suppose it depends on how big that itch is

Andy · 16 Sep 2017 at 13:51

I am in the same boat and it is a sad state of affairs. I'm pretty pressed for cash so i think im going to wait it out and hope for the best. It's annoying though as i dawdled on the launch day for a 64 :'(