Nvidia GTX 980 Ti - Overkill for my rig?

Slyboots

Slyboots

Slyboots

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Joined
30 Sep 2011
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So I'll be travelling to the US soon (few weeks) and playing with the idea of getting a new GPU while I'm there to take advantage of exchange rates etc

Right now the hot card at the moment is the new GTX980, and while not cheap it could be doable but I fear it might be too much for my current rig without upgrading other parts

So.. advice is needed from the much more knowledgeable and experienced folks here on what would be my best move forward :D Im thinking of a budget around the £500 mark total?

Current specs are :

Intel Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz Socket 1155 6MB Cache
Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard
16GB DDR3 PC3-12800C9
MSI HD 7850 OC 2048MB GDDR5
400W PSU (Afraid the make escapes me at the moment)

I know its not the newest machine on the block, but anywhere I could make improvements for 1440P gaming (and with luck, with the Rift if/when that comes out ;)

Advice?
 
minimum psu requirements quoted by nvidia are 500w..but these tend to be playing safe and disingenuous as i believe there are other factors other than wattage that are important like Amps

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine
again conservatively suggests your pc with 980 would draw 338W

there are people on these forums claiming that running a card in an underpowered psu pc can break the pc / card so be careful. If the PSU protects against this, then this should be FUD, but im not a power expert..

If your 12V rail provides the same amps as a reputable 500W psu, then i says its worth a go without buying a new psu. but wait for a consensus.

you cant buy a significantly better psu and a reasonable cooler 980 for £500 going by ocuk prices..maybe stateside things are different.....
 
I'm just concerned I suppose that it would be like trying to cram the engine from a tank into a ford fiesta (Shows how much I know about cars ;))

Still. a new PSU shouldnt be that big of a deal..
 
Overclock the CPU, upgrade the PSU and you're good to go!

I'm running a 3570k on an ASUS Gene V at 4.5Ghz and would have no issues with running SLI 980 ti's on it.
 
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