Replacement Graphics Card

Colin Miller

Colin Miller

Colin Miller

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16 Sep 2020
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My old graphics card (GTX 770) finally gave up the ghost so i'm in the market for a replacement.
My PC is around 5 years old with a 4790K CPU and a 600w psu (so RTX 3080 is a non starter)
My Monitor is an Acer Predator X34 at 3440x1440 resolution with Gsync which keeps me in the nvidia camp.

The RTX 3070 looks very very good, but it's not here yet and I also wonder if i'd be wasting money on one of these since my CPU is rather Antiquated. On the other hand it's a big screen so there's plenty of work for the GPU to do.

Alternately i was considering the RTX 2060 Super, or even the non super version.... which is here and available right now and may be better sized for the existing PC.

I'm limping along with the on board HD 4600 just now, which at least keeps my PC alive for work, but Gaming is definitely off the menu.

What would you recommend? Should i wait, or just go for the lesser card?
 
If you need the frame rates then a 3080 with a new psu other wise the 3070. Of course your going to loose some performance because of the cpu but that's the same whichever gpu you get.

The question is can you wait ?
 
Well, I have a 3440x1440 monitor and a 2070S. I also have a 4790K knocking about someplace.

Firstly, I don't think it is a waste of money. The 4790K is a good CPU. Of course there are better, but when I replaced my 4790K for a 9700K the main difference I saw in games was that with the 9700 they were smoother. The difference was not huge, but it was noticeable. In particular it tended to affect the low framerate figures, giving them a little boost so when the game slowed down with the 4790K it slowed less with the 9700K. But replacing the graphics card boosts the maximum frame-rate figures by far more, so yes, I certainly think there is life yet in the old 4790K!!

The 2060S is not really capable of driving your monitor. Personally I would use at least a 2070S or wait until the 3060 comes out in the near(ish) future. The 2070S will run the most demanding games at 3440x1440, 60fps on Ultra without DLSS. With your monitor DLSS is a viable option and can greatly increase your fps so that alone may be good for you. Less demanding games the 2070S will push to the limits of your monitor and beyond. Having said that, to get some of the really demanding games up near the refresh of your monitor you may well need a 3070 or even a 3080. I plan on getting a 3080! So really it all comes down to the games you play.
 
Just wait for the inevitable drop of the second hand price of a 2070 when the 3060/3070 are released, You may even be able to pick up a 2080 for silly money considering what the 2080ti seem to being sold for now.
 
LOL it's a slippery slope first the GPU... then you need the CPU to match, but for that you need the Mobo, and of course new faster memory. Heck just buy an new PC.
Sadly Getting Married squashed those days where i could upgrade whenever i wanted :(.

I'm only getting away with a Graphics card, because the last one broke.

It does sound like the 2070S would be a better option than the 2060S, but that's then getting into the near price bracket of the 3070.

I just wish i knew some dates for the 3070... and of course whether there will be supply/demand issues.
 
this is worth a watch as he uses a previous generation cpu as well as the newest generation one.

 
Thanks all, those links were really useful.
It looks like my Monitor is what sways it. the 4790K would be hideously under powered on a low spec monitor, but with 3440x1440 at max refresh to take care of, it gives the GPU enough to do to make things more reasonable.

Now... can i hold out till the 3070 drops :)
 
re PSU, I'm comfortably running a 2080Ti on an otherwise modest system on a Corsair 550W psu. Some of the PSU "requirements" are ass covering.

(ryzen 3600, 32GB ram, AIO cooler, 1 ssd)

On that note, go for 32GB ram if you can as it's not that dear at present.
 
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