Upgrading On A Budget

richie_C

richie_C

richie_C

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Joined
10 Jun 2011
Posts
38
My current set up is:

I5 - 2500k
RAM - 16GB DDR3
GPU - Radeon HD6850


Now what I'm wanting to do with my PC is try out some new GPU rendering engines such as Octane and Red Shift this means I need more RAM and a better GPU.

Now when I look online I know the best card to get is a 1080ti but its well out of my budget. Given my price range I could afford a 1060 or a 1050ti. The only problem is that I can put them in SLI if I decide to buy another one in the future.

Would it be best to get something like a 970 second hand which is on par with a 1050ti and I can put it in SLI if I choose to get another in the future?

I dont want to spend a fortune as I'm just starting to learn about these rendering engines, if I get serious about it I'll get a 1080ti.

As for RAM would I need the exact same brand or do I just need to match the bus speed of the RAM and the CAS?

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
So you have 8GB modules now? And your motherboard supports a further 2 8GB modules?
I'm not 100% sure Sandy supports 8GB DIMMs but anyways..

If you go with anything above like 970/1050Ti territory your slow CPU is going to bottleneck it. I suggest getting the max possible overclock out of your CPU.

BTW with the prices of RAM these days, buying 16GB of (obsolete) RAM for an (obsolete) system seems pretty foolish... but it's not my money.
 
You need to take into account that support for sli is dying out so going for a decent single card is the way, also depends on what resolution your gaming at say 1080p I’d recommend a 1060 6gb anything above like 1440p you need a better card.
 
SLi for gaming- wouldn't personally choose... SLi for rendering - great - if you know what your doing you can rendering differently from both cards- I havent done it for many many years but hopefully someone more clued up can help . But still rule of thumb is buy the most powerful card you can... then add a second 2nd hand if needs be
 
Sorry for the lack of details. My budget for the graphics card would be like £200 thus why I was looking at older 970's.

At the moment I have 16GB with 4 x 4GB moduels. Max I can have on my mobo is 32gb.


What I want to do with the card/s and using SLI is purely for rendering. GPU rendering. I dont really game anymore so thats no an issue.

To my knowledge because I'm rendering with the GPU it wont use my CPU thus shouldn't cause a bottle neck.

As for RAM prices I do agree it may be a bit silly to get some extra ram when new ram is just as much.

Thing is the thought of getting a new mobo, cpu, RAM and gpu seems like it would cost A LOT
 
16 GB is plenty fine. Try what you want to, try, Hook up here or otherwise with others with similar interests before spending cash. That way you make contacts worth more than money.
 
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