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System build with new monitor, which GPU and free or G sync

Skidder

Skidder

Skidder

Man of Honour
Joined
28 Nov 2007
Posts
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I'm speccing my next build. Have an ageing 2500k (heavily over clocked mind) and a 6950 unlocked to 6970.

From input in CPU section looks like I will be going ryzen.

Machine will be used as my main work computer (nothing interesting lots of Microsoft office) but also for gaming and I will get a Rift/Vive.

I need to spec a GPU bearing in mind I plan to do VR. My monitor is also to be replaced so I figured that while I read the current AMDs are over-priced relative to performance, I am open to them if the overall performance and deal with a freesync monitor would be desirable.

I am out of touch on hardware. Should I be worried about gsync / freesync? Is the tech good. I am planning at least a 27 inch 1440 monitor.

Any recommendations for GPU/monitor combos?

I am not restricted to set budget but I do like to hit a good value / performance mark. My days of buying the highest end cards in tri-sli are over for the minimal performance gain. I would go to max £400-£500 on GPU and would prefer not to pay too much more than that for monitor.

Games I play are varied, FPS etc. like them to look pretty :)

Thanks
 
Skidder said:
Should I be worried about gsync / freesync?
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Think of them like Betamax and VHS. G-Sync got there first, however Freesync does the same thing cheaper, and has much more support/availability. It's winning the "format war" however when it's done that doesn't mean G-Sync will magically stop working in new or existing games.


Skidder said:
Any recommendations for GPU/monitor combos?
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It's a pretty complex question ATM.

If you can find an AMD Vega card for RRP then the obvious answer is to buy one plus a Freesync monitor, however the chances of finding one for RRP are pretty much impossible so we're in the bizzaroworld where Nvidia are giving better price/performance lol. Obviously you have to compare the total package price (monitor+card total) and bear in mind that the monitor choice will limit you next GPU choice down the line (unless you buy a new monitor too).
 
For £400-£500 you're looking at either a gtx 1070, a limited number of gtx 1080's or the hugely overpriced Vega 56. None of them offer great value for money imo, but, they are the only options unfortunately and it is not clear how soon the next lineup of nVidia Gpu's will be released or if it is worth waiting.

As far as monitors are concerned you should check out the monitors section. There seems to be a debate on monitors lately with huge variation in panel quality, even across the same models, and it appears to be a bit hit and miss that you get one without some sort of issue.

Hope that helps you somewhat.
 
I don't have VR but i'm sure you could go down to a GTX 1060 or RX 580 depending on the game and settings used, however i would recommend you get the best GPU available within your budget since that will be the biggest dictator of gaming performance. A 1060 is not gonna be great for 1440p either and i personally feel a 1080 or up is where you should be looking for that resolution, although a 1070 should be acceptable.

A good idea would be to wait for now as a 1070ti is rumoured to be coming soon which if true, and it seems to be true, should sit right in the middle of your budget and offer the best price/performance in this category. I would honestly avoid Vega 56 for now as it is hugely overpriced and pretty much negates the difference in price between freesync and gsync.

Unfortunately with the relative lack of competition the graphics card market has become somewhat overpriced generally over the last couple of years in the mid-range segment.
 
Thanks. I don't upgrade often so would rather spend more now and it be good now and still ok in a few years rather than be cheap now and force myself into an upgrade in 12 months. So may be I should be looking at 1080.
 
Skidder said:
Thanks. I don't upgrade often so would rather spend more now and it be good now and still ok in a few years rather than be cheap now and force myself into an upgrade in 12 months. So may be I should be looking at 1080.
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You probably want at least a 1070 then as it's a big jump above the 1060. They say the 1070ti is coming out on the 26th of this month and it should be within a few percent off of a 1080 might be worth seeing what that brings.

I'm in same position about to upgrade the whole system and the only real choices for me right now are the 1070/1080 (The 1060 is far too slow, the vega cards and the 1080ti are too expensive)
 
ubersonic said:
Think of them like Betamax and VHS. G-Sync got there first, however Freesync does the same thing cheaper, and has much more support/availability. It's winning the "format war" however when it's done that doesn't mean G-Sync will magically stop working in new or existing games.



It's a pretty complex question ATM.

If you can find an AMD Vega card for RRP then the obvious answer is to buy one plus a Freesync monitor, however the chances of finding one for RRP are pretty much impossible so we're in the bizzaroworld where Nvidia are giving better price/performance lol. Obviously you have to compare the total package price (monitor+card total) and bear in mind that the monitor choice will limit you next GPU choice down the line (unless you buy a new monitor too).
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It's a strange one.

I'd suggest AMD users are much more likely to buy a Freesync monitor than an Nvidia user buying a G-sync monitor.

Freesync is obviously less expensive and an open format so it's well supported. But Nvidia seems the go to card for the mass public who don't really understand Freesync and G-Sync. There are a LOT more Nvidia cards in people's PCs.

I do hope that Freesync becomes the standard and Nvidia cave in and support it in the end
 
Some VR benchmarks here:

http://www.babeltechreviews.com/rx-vega-64-liquid-10-vr-games-vs-the-gtx-1080-gtx-1080-ti/6/


2hwcxlt.jpg
 
Skidder said:
Thanks. I don't upgrade often so would rather spend more now and it be good now and still ok in a few years rather than be cheap now and force myself into an upgrade in 12 months. So may be I should be looking at 1080.
Click to expand...

I think the 1080 is the probably the best option right now for both 1440p and VR, especially if you want to keep it for a while. However as i said the 1070ti, if it appears, may be the better option as it should be close to 1080 performance for a less money, not to mention the possibility of Volta in the earlyish part of next year. Its just a question of how long your prepared to wait.
 
VR under DX11 and with a few developer backs hands maybe. DX12 or Vulcan plus Pascal = Ouch.

Freesync. People have hacked it to work on Nvidia and it's only a matter of time before Nvidia open support.
 
jigger said:
VR under DX11 and with a few developer backs hands maybe. DX12 or Vulcan plus Pascal = Ouch.

Freesync. People have hacked it to work on Nvidia and it's only a matter of time before Nvidia open support.
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Source? I have never seen a freesync hack for Nvidia cards and haven't seen anything from Nvidia to say they are going to support it soon or at all. I really wish they would though as i have a freesync monitor with a 980ti.
 
40Four said:
Source? I have never seen a freesync hack for Nvidia cards and haven't seen anything from Nvidia to say they are going to support it soon or at all. I really wish they would though as i have a freesync monitor with a 980ti.
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I'd be interested in a hack getting it to work on desktop parts. It's worked on mobile NVIDIA parts for ages obviously. Given it's partly their spec it's irritating they keep blocking their users from using it :(
 
Telecaster said:
Has freesync improved, didn't it used to have a really narrow operating window that wasn't very helpful, like 35-65 fps or something?
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As said depends on the monitor, theoretical range is fine and in practise plenty good ranges are available. As with gsync it's got frame doubling etc to deal with very low frames.

Nothing to choose between the technologies except price - but in the market adaptive sync is barely regulated so up to you to check reviews to ensure you're getting a decent model.
 
David Bisset said:
I'd be interested in a hack getting it to work on desktop parts. It's worked on mobile NVIDIA parts for ages obviously. Given it's partly their spec it's irritating they keep blocking their users from using it :(
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It is irritating, but aslong as they are making money on G-Sync i can't see them adopting it anytime soon. I didn't have the money for a G-Sync monitor but wanted 144hz and Freesync just happened to be included.
 
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