What to do - Computer Upgrade

[Raekwon]

Good Morning,

I'm trying to find out what would be my biggest performance gain on my PC if I were to change out one thing. I'm looking at a new video card but I think it might be held back by other components. Here is what I have (Spoiler Tags for CPUID)

The biggest issue I have is this is a DELL XPS so only a handfull of MB/Processor upgrades for this case are available. I'd prefer not to swap cases but if this is my biggest bottleneck I will consider.

This is the card i'm thinking of getting http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX41628

Nvidia 580GTX 1.5GB (Main Monitor 40" LCD)
Nvidia 285GTX (2 x 22" Monitors)
120GB SSD
240GB SSD
6GB Ram
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz

Spoiler!

Processor 1ID = 0 Number of cores4 (max 8) Number of threads8 (max 16) NameIntel Core i7 920 CodenameBloomfield SpecificationIntel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz Package (platform ID)Socket 1366 LGA (0x1) CPUID6.A.4 Extended CPUID6.1A Core SteppingC0/C1 Technology45 nm TDP Limit130 Watts Core Speed3368.4 MHz Multiplier x FSB21.0 x 160.4 MHz Rated Bus speed2887.2 MHz Stock frequency
2666 MHz





ChipsetNorthbridgeIntel X58 rev. 12SouthbridgeIntel 82801JR (ICH10R) rev. 00Graphic InterfacePCI-ExpressPCI-E Link Widthx8PCI-E Max Link Widthx16Memory TypeDDR3Memory Size6144 MBytesChannelsTripleMemory Frequency481.2 MHz (2:6)CAS# latency (CL)7.0RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD)7RAS# Precharge (tRP)7Cycle Time (tRAS)20Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC)59Command Rate (CR)1TUncore Frequency2566.4 MHz
Memory SPDDIMM #1 SMBus address0x50 Memory typeDDR3 Module formatUDIMM Manufacturer (ID)Micron Technology (2C00000000000000) Size2048 MBytes Max bandwidthPC3-8500F (533 MHz) Part number16JTF25664AZ-1G1F1 Serial numberEA248E95 Manufacturing dateWeek 22/Year 09 Number of banks8 Nominal Voltage1.50 Volts EPPno XMPno AMPnoJEDEC timings tableCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency JEDEC #15.0-5-5-15-20 @ 380 MHz JEDEC #26.0-6-6-18-24 @ 457 MHz JEDEC #37.0-7-7-20-27 @ 533 MHz JEDEC #48.0-8-8-23-31 @ 609 MHz DIMM #2 SMBus address0x52 Memory typeDDR3 Module formatUDIMM Manufacturer (ID)Micron Technology (2C00000000000000) Size2048 MBytes Max bandwidthPC3-8500F (533 MHz) Part number16JTF25664AZ-1G1F1 Serial numberEA248E96 Manufacturing dateWeek 22/Year 09 Number of banks8 Nominal Voltage1.50 Volts EPPno XMPno AMPnoJEDEC timings tableCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency JEDEC #15.0-5-5-15-20 @ 380 MHz JEDEC #26.0-6-6-18-24 @ 457 MHz JEDEC #37.0-7-7-20-27 @ 533 MHz JEDEC #48.0-8-8-23-31 @ 609 MHz DIMM #3 SMBus address0x54 Memory typeDDR3 Module formatUDIMM Manufacturer (ID)Micron Technology (2C00000000000000) Size2048 MBytes Max bandwidthPC3-8500F (533 MHz) Part number16JTF25664AZ-1G1F1 Serial numberEA248E98 Manufacturing dateWeek 22/Year 09 Number of banks8 Nominal Voltage1.50 Volts EPPno XMPno AMPnoJEDEC timings tableCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency JEDEC #15.0-5-5-15-20 @ 380 MHz JEDEC #26.0-6-6-18-24 @ 457 MHz JEDEC #37.0-7-7-20-27 @ 533 MHz JEDEC #48.0-8-8-23-31 @ 609 MHz

[PsYcNeT]

If you upgraded to say, an i5-4670k/4770k, you might see ~30% increase in performance before overclocking. After overclocking, that might jump to ~40-45% depending on your chip luck and the cooling methods used. A decent 4670+motherboard+RAM+cooler will run you just about $500.

On the other hand, today MemEx has 7970's on sale for $330 bucks. If you have a motherboard and PSU that can handle 2 of those puppies, you'd be pretty ballin', though CrossFire is a bit trickier to work with than SLI.

OTOH, you could buy a 770 for ~$420 right now (or a 4 GB for $520), which is about 60% faster than a 580.

In summary, a new videocard would probably give you better numbers than a new CPU setup, however you are running 4 gens back on processors, and generally there is about a ~7-10% increase in performance per processor generation.

[Raekwon]

I think cost wise I'm better off with the 7970 and Overclock it but I'm scared to switch to Radeon, I've always been an Nvidia guy.

[PsYcNeT]

Yeah I'm an NVidia guy myself, but that 7970 deal is pretty awesome, and the 7970 is the only ATI card I would ever consider buying.

If you're reluctant, this Windforce 770 is on sale after rebate for $390 at NCIX this week:

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=84048&...e&promoid=1336

The Windforce cooler is second only to ASUS's DirectCUII for cooling/noise ratio, and overclocks very well.

[Raekwon]

So lucky for me I waited and did 't go the ATI route, now the Dilemma is do I get the 770 for $329 or the 780 for $500. I don't think I will take full advantage of the 780 with my system and the resoloution I play at ( 1920x1080). I figure I can sell my 580GTX for roughly $150 so that cuts costs a bit.

Hmm what to do.

[Jbo]

I ended up buying the R280 which actually benchmarks better then the 770 for ~ the same price. Also, I recommened adding more RAM to the rig you have up there. (Min 8, recommend 16 for new games coming down)

[PsYcNeT]

Trust me, with the spate of games coming out (and already out) there is still a noticeable difference between the 770 and the 780 even at 1920x1080. Remember that pure processing power allows you to enable non-game related enhancements beyond geometry, textures and lighting, things like MSAA and ambient occlusion, which can take a good looking game to wow territory. Not to mention your lowest frames and average frames will be higher, and your chances of running at a solid VSync are increased.

That said, it's your budget, and the 770 is still a great card.

EDIT: Also the 780 is a 3GB card, which in more recent games (about 6 this year) has actually been usable and shown some impact on perfomance.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Trust me, with the spate of games coming out (and already out) there is still a noticeable difference between the 770 and the 780 even at 1920x1080. Remember that pure processing power allows you to enable non-game related enhancements beyond geometry, textures and lighting, things like MSAA and ambient occlusion, which can take a good looking game to wow territory. Not to mention your lowest frames and average frames will be higher, and your chances of running at a solid VSync are increased.

That said, it's your budget, and the 770 is still a great card.

Well the 780 does come with 3 free games. The new batman, new assasins creed and splinter cell.

So I could sell my old card and the 3 keys for those games and easily swing it.


Worth looking into

[Hemi-Cuda]

I would think about delaying buying a new card until the GeForce 800 series comes out in the first quarter of 2014. The performance increase from the 700 series is supposed to be very large

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I would think about delaying buying a new card until the GeForce 800 series comes out in the first quarter of 2014. The performance increase from the 700 series is supposed to be very large

This is also an option, however whether it comes out in March/April as projected, or May/June which seems more likely (I mean, the 7xx series just came out in June 2013), factors in.

I'll be buying 2x880s regardless, but I'm also horrible about buying #### I don't need.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Why are you going SLI 880? Do you plan on buying a 4K monitor also? 2 880's will give you the power of close to 4 Titans, what do you need that kind of power for?

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Why are you going SLI 880? Do you plan on buying a 4K monitor also? 2 880's will give you the power of close to 4 Titans, what do you need that kind of power for?

Originally Posted by Tenacious D

To be the best
We got to pass the test
We gotta make it all the way
To the top of the mountain
We can do it again!
To feel the high
We got to learn to fly
We got to take it to the sky
On the wings of an eagle!

You're the best in the world!

I plan on getting a 2K GSync monitor and running it to sync at 120hz early next year, so with the coming boom 2x880s seems sufficient. It all depends on the benchmarks however, so if 1 880 can beat my 2x680s, then I might stick with 1 for a few months until the first price drop before I get the second.

Also, I'll be getting an Oculus Rift retail, and they've said they run much better on SLI configs since you can dedicate a card to each eye.

[photon]

Getting the 770 with the intent of doing SLI later is also an option.

[Raekwon]

Ended up going with http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX46151

Its weird though they advertised $329 then charged me $339 and I didn't notice, now the price is $299 WTF lol

[Raekwon]

Ended up going with http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX46151

Its weird though they advertised $329 then charged me $339 and I didn't notice, now the price is $299 WTF lol

Emailed them to find out what the deal is. Regardless its a sweet card so far.

[PsYcNeT]

If you go back they'll credit you, they're good for that.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

If you go back they'll credit you, they're good for that.

I wasn't too worried, just annoying to have to drive back because of it. Went in this morning and got credited back $40. $299 for the 770 is a sweet deal.

[Tyler12]

I bought the same card as well online Sat, It was on for $299 because of their anniversary sale.