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upgrading ageing 5870 to what?

jej_knowles

jej_knowles

jej_knowles

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Joined
15 Nov 2008
Posts
485
I'm upgrading my GPU but not sure what to get. My rig is fully watercooled i7 930 @ 4.2 outputting to a 1920x1200 monitor currently using a 5870 but its struggling nowadays and want to be able to play the latest games on ultra detail settings everything maxed! What's the most economical route to take?
 
I do think the r9 290 pro is a great value/performance package. Originally I had wanted to go nvidia this time but part of me thinks that as both of the next gen consoles are using amd Hardware part of me thinks that a lot of the cross platform games on the way will favour amd GPUs do you think that is a valid consideration?
 
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To give you an idea an factory over clocked GTX760 like this.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-228-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1830

Will give you approximately double the performance of the 5870.

GTX 680/770 or HD7950/70 are also decent faster options, any faster than these and your CPU will start to become a significant bottleneck, even with these cards there may be some bottlenecking depending on the game.

Are you planning on replacing the Mobo/CPU in the near future (1 year)?
 
jej_knowles said:
Don't think any GPU available would be able to work the i7 930 @4.2 to the point where it would be a bottleneck?
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I don't know why people make blanket statements like this. If your GPU is bottlenecking your CPU you can drop your detail or AA settings, if your CPU is bottlenecking you GPU then just crank up the detail or AA.
 
I'm confused ! Some are saying no point going high end GPU as CPU will cause bottle neck and some saying it won't! Does anyone know? I can't find any benchmarks showing gaming results for over clocked 930 with current high end gpu's .
 
jej_knowles said:
Ah right so no point in going any higher as the CPU won't be able to keep up? So i7 930 no good for high end gpu's like gtx 780 or r9 290?
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The fastest card NVidia make is the GTX 690 (faster than a GTX 780, Titan or 780ti) and your CPU is more than capable of dealing with it.

I have run a GTX 690 on an i7 9xx CPU @4.2 before and it actually performed better than when it was in my 3960X system.

If you are using 1200p a used HD 7970/50 would be good or failing that a new R9 280X (basically a rebadged HD 7970).
 
jej_knowles said:
I'm confused ! Some are saying no point going high end GPU as CPU will cause bottle neck and some saying it won't! Does anyone know? I can't find any benchmarks showing gaming results for over clocked 930 with current high end gpu's .
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It's not as simple as that.

You have a pretty good CPU, pair that with a decent GPU and you're fine. A 7970 or similar is about right.

Pair it with a top line GPU like the 780TI and it may not give you the maximum possible FPS that the card can achieve. However that depends on the resolution you play at, the detail and AA you've set, the game your playing, the detail on screen.

For practical purposes your CPU will be fine for a decent card (7970/770 etc) in most titles.
 
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