Upgrading PC for NTTR/2016 Games

[Goldsmack]

So Iv finally had it, a year ago my PC could run anything now its defiantly showing its age. I am not rich and as such even a $400 purches is a BIG deal and I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck. That is why I am asking for some advice. I have built about 7 custom PCs in my life but none in the last two years and PC hardware changes..FAST!!. I have Identified my two main problems RAM and GFX card specifically VRAM. For the GFX card I have settled on is the

 

Nvidia GTX 960 4G....(Or is 2G even enough these days? my 750 only has 1G!!!) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487154

 

And the RAM

G SKILL Ripjaw X Series 16G DDR3 1333 (My Mobo only suports up to 1333)

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231486&cm_re=G_skill-_-20-231-486-_-Product

 

all together $391.19 CND

 

I would like to keep my CPU as no game have ever used more then 40% and my MOBO Id also like to keep because the CPU is an odd socket and good MOBOS for it are $200

 

Any advice on my selection? should I get a good performance boost?

On dcs I have to have Clutter to Zero, Visible range High (I want Very Far) and Trees very low to get like 30 FPS on the ground taxing

Edited December 1, 2015 by Goldsmack

[Brisse]

I think all you need is a new graphics card. 4gb is the sweetspot right now. Stay away from 2gb cards. Those are, or will be obsolete very soon. Also consider the similarly priced but slightly faster R9 380.

 

None of these cards are top of the line, but they are much faster (twice?) than what you have right now.

 

ED recommends GeForce GTX780 or R9 290 for Nevada, but those are a bit more expensive than what you are looking at. Perhaps if you skip the RAM upgrade, which I think is unnecessary, you can afford a better graphics card?

Edited December 1, 2015 by Brisse

[Demon_]

Forget the RAM and find a better graphic card for now.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Demon_

[Goldsmack]

Well thats good news about the RAM, It really wont make a noticeable difference even with clutter n such?

 

ED recommends GeForce GTX780 or R9 290 for Nevada, but those are a bit more expensive than what you are looking at. Perhaps if you skip the RAM upgrade, which I think is unnecessary, you can afford a better graphics card?

 

Is int the GTX 960 better the the GTX 780? if not I have to completely re learn Nvidias cards :cry:

 

EDIT: It is better damn... the numbers threw me off

 

I only have very little experince with ATIs card but I have heard good things but I don't know there naming system or what it equals to nvidia

 

thanks for the reply's btw guys

Edited December 1, 2015 by Goldsmack

[Brisse]

The 960 is about 20% slower than a 780.

 

What you really want is a 970 or R9 390 if you can afford one of those. They should be approximatly 140% faster than your current card, and ~30% faster than a 960.

[Incontinentia]

I've heard quite a few stories about ATI driver issues in various forums so just something to be aware of. Think they are mostly sorted now (Brisse, maybe you could confirm?) but it seems cyclic. A GTX 970 would serve you very well if you can afford to stretch to that. Agreed that RAM wouldn't make a huge difference unless you've got less than 8 GB.

[whitehot]

I'd suggest the 970 any time, I've got mine one year ago and it's doing wonderfully in every game or simulator I have

[Demon_]

NVIDIA:

Look for the amount of CUDA cores, the frequency of the GPU. (The texture fill rate)

The memory clock, the memory interface width. (the memory bandwidth)

 

Maybe you will have to lower some setting because of the 3GB of Vram, but the FPS will be greater than the Gtx960.

But at your resolution (1680x1050) i think you will be ok.

 

About the ATI; http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

[Goldsmack]

awesome thanks for all the replys my limit is gonna have to be $350 for a card, If i can find a good deal within Canada. Most are selling here for between $449-$500

[Brisse]

Think they are mostly sorted now (Brisse, maybe you could confirm?)

 

They have been working well for the last two years. After the launch of Windows 10 I would even say they have been excellent. This month's release got a completely new UI so the old .NET based Catalyst Control Center is no longer the primary means of interacting with the driver.

 

I think most people bashing the AMD driver are those that perhaps went over to Nvidia many years ago and haven't tried AMD since, so they have no idea of it's current state.

[Demon_]

Canada?

Shipping is free: http://www.directcanada.com/

Shipping is $8-$12: http://www.memoryexpress.com/

 

You pay one taxe (federal)

They both have the "price beat request" except during Christmas time.

After 14 order, had no problem. They are fast, no need to spend for a faster delivery.

I think they proceed 150 order every day.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Demon_

[Goldsmack]

so after some price comparing this looks like one of the cheapest GeForce GTX 970 for $453.02 with tax, free ground shipping. http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10531102345&vpn=STRIX-GTX970-DC2OC-4GD5&manufacture=ASUS

 

If I don't find anything cheaper.....I think im gonna do it :cry: :joystick: :D I'll be my Christmas gift to my self. How long do you guys thing the 970 going to last for games on high 1 year..2......couple months? is it worth waiting for another card? this is more then the entire Xbox one console....I know BLASPHEMY comparing PC to xbox one. I hope this card is worth every penny :D

Edited December 1, 2015 by Goldsmack

[Brisse]

That's a great card you found there, with a very silent and effective cooler. I think the 970 will be fairly future proof unless you plan on getting a 4K/UHD monitor because it doesn't have the power or the memory needed to push that many pixels.

 

It's kinda hard to say where we are going to be in the future because there's a lot happening right now. There's 4K/UHD and there's VR. We are also getting close to a new generation of GPU's using smaller fabrication process, 3d transistors and high bandwidth memory. The market has been sort of passive for a year or two, but 2016 looks like a year when a lot will happen in the graphics market.

[Corrigan]

The 970 is an excellent choice.

[Demon_]

so after some price comparing this looks like one of the cheapest GeForce GTX 970 for $453.02 with tax, free ground shipping. http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10531102345&vpn=STRIX-GTX970-DC2OC-4GD5&manufacture=ASUS

 

If I don't find anything cheaper.....

 

It's $421 for me.

$395 + $20 (GST 5%) + $6 (insurance)

 

Or wait for a better deal.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Demon_

[Goldsmack]

It's $421 for me.

$395 + $20 (GST 5%) + $6 (insurance)

 

Or wait for a better deal.

 

Damn quebecers! lol :D I'm not gonna fuss over $30 after reading some reviews I'm stoke to get this card now should run most new games 60fps easily for 1680x1050. Gona order tonite or tomorrow if I make the bank. Thanks all for the suggestions if I get it shipped at a decent time ill post some results see if I can run at least NTTR mostly maxed out. I cant wait I got Track IR5 and FPS make a huge difference in immersion 30 minimum bring on solid 60fps

[Goldsmack]

Orderd today !!! ASUS GTX 970 STRIX

 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121899

 

suppose to be here 3-5 business days so Monday earliest I get this baby in my hands seems to have higher freq clocks then base GTX 970s. I almost didn't notice the info on the power connectors, needs 1 x 8-pin and 1 x 6-pin power connectors my power supply dosent have any 8 pins so I ordered an adapter along side the card

 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400034CVF

 

hope the installation is as smooth as other Nvidia cards iv upgraded and its not a bad board that I have to RMA fingers crossed. thanks again for the advice this seems like a great card to have right now. btw all in all I spent $450 on the card seemed to be an ok price compared to 10 other web sites I checked hope its good price.

[Goldsmack]

So I'm a little worried about the power connector will 2 x molex to 1 x 8 pin be ok? http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400034CVF is the exact one/ or should I have gotten a 6pin to 8pin?, I notice know that this version of card requires 1 x 8 pin. I don't want to get the card now to find out for some reason the adapter wont work. I don't think iv ever used an adapter on a GPU

[coldViPer]

Orderd today !!! ASUS GTX 970 STRIX

 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121899

 

suppose to be here 3-5 business days so Monday earliest I get this baby in my hands seems to have higher freq clocks then base GTX 970s. I almost didn't notice the info on the power connectors, needs 1 x 8-pin and 1 x 6-pin power connectors my power supply dosent have any 8 pins so I ordered an adapter along side the card

 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400034CVF

 

hope the installation is as smooth as other Nvidia cards iv upgraded and its not a bad board that I have to RMA fingers crossed. thanks again for the advice this seems like a great card to have right now. btw all in all I spent $450 on the card seemed to be an ok price compared to 10 other web sites I checked hope its good price.

 

I ordered this also yesterday :pilotfly: Hope it arrives this week.

[Kev2go]

Orderd today !!! ASUS GTX 970 STRIX

 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121899

 

suppose to be here 3-5 business days so Monday earliest I get this baby in my hands seems to have higher freq clocks then base GTX 970s. I almost didn't notice the info on the power connectors, needs 1 x 8-pin and 1 x 6-pin power connectors my power supply dosent have any 8 pins so I ordered an adapter along side the card

 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400034CVF

 

hope the installation is as smooth as other Nvidia cards iv upgraded and its not a bad board that I have to RMA fingers crossed. thanks again for the advice this seems like a great card to have right now. btw all in all I spent $450 on the card seemed to be an ok price compared to 10 other web sites I checked hope its good price.

 

ah yes the gt 970. the card advertised & labled as a 4gb card that has only 3.5gb usable vram.:doh:

Edited December 3, 2015 by Kev2go

[Demon_]

So I'm a little worried about the power connector will 2 x molex to 1 x 8 pin be ok? http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400034CVF is the exact one/ or should I have gotten a 6pin to 8pin?, I notice know that this version of card requires 1 x 8 pin. I don't want to get the card now to find out for some reason the adapter wont work. I don't think iv ever used an adapter on a GPU

 

Don't worry. The Gtx970 need only 145w and 2x 6 pins connectors (2x75w).

The reason for the 8 pins connector (150w) is for the overclocking potential. The 4 pins connectors can delivery 60w each. So 75w (6pins) + 120w (8pins) = 195w in totale. The 6 pins, 8 pins and the 4 pins connectors use the same +12v rail.

 

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_970_gaming_review,7.html

 

The bad news: Your power supply (made by Andyson) is probably a tier 5 (bad quality). You will have to replace it, one day or another.

The good: Fortunately your video card is not hungry.

Edited December 3, 2015 by Demon_

[Goldsmack]

Thats good about the conector I just hear a few conflicting reviews on the use.

 

The bad news: Your power supply (made by Andyson) is probably a tier 5 (bad quality). You will have to replace it, one day or another.

The good: Fortunately your video card is not hungry.

 

Thank you for looking into that for me I was unaware it was probably a PSU on the low end, When I bought it, it looked like it was good choice for me a year ago for the the gtx 750 I had, I didn't have in mind upgrading to something like the 970. I always try to buy PC parts with upgrading in mind. But better to know now. Would you recomend a PSU? Coolmaster? thermaltake? and at what watt? 600? I heard it best to not have your PSU to over powered for the parts your running. I also like the Idea of having a modular PSU Thanks again, regards

[Demon_]

Your power supply is only 1 year old, and probably good for 2-3 more years with this low power card.

 

The best, rare and more expensive are the Seasonic, the X-series, the XFX (made by Seasonic), Corsair AX (except the 1200w) made by Seasonic. Psu made by SuperFlower (for Europe) are great too. PC Power & Cooling.

 

Channel Well, Delta, Flextronics, FSP are good too.

 

" Premium quality Japanese capacitors with 105 °C rating increase overall reliability and extend product life" Warranty 7 years.

 

Look for the warranty, 7-5-3 years.

 

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/psu_manufacturers

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

Edited December 3, 2015 by Demon_

[Goldsmack]

ITS HERE!!!! Instated...mostly no problem, had to feng shui a few things around to fit this beast. I couldn't be happier with the card. Assassins creed syndicate runs 60fps Very high settings. I haven't had a chance to try NTTR yet because for some reason DCS 2.0 says its not installed along with all my modules? weird. Thank you guys for the suggestions I love this card!!

 

 

 

And finally....My cat likes to help with the installations.

 

[coldViPer]

+1 got this card also today, HUGE FPS improvement! Now I can run NTTR nicely 60 fps, old GTX 580 with the same settings ~19 fps :thumbup: