Video card suggestion please

[LucShep]

 

2 hours ago, Beirut said:

Questions... questions... questions... I require a great deal of emotional security.

 

If a particular 4070ti draws 285W, and is pulling 75 off the MB, is it safe to use one cable with an 8-pin and a 6+2-pin to plug into the 12 pin connector that goes into the card? My PSU is a Corsair 750W RMX Gold.

 

Thank you.

That's definitely pushing it. I see you're investing a good deal on this, please don't ruin it.
Let me rephrase it... you should NOT use a single PCIe cable for any GPU that runs more than 225W! (never, ever!)

Up to 225W total GPU power is OK - - -  (150W of single PCIe cable from PSU + 75W of motherboard PCI slot).
Any more than that and you'll be at pure mercy of luck, because a single PCIe cable is rated at 150W, at most. 

In the scenario that you suggest, with the GPU drawing 285W, then that means 210W(+) going through the single PCIe cable. That's definitely beyond its capabilities! 
You can guess the rest...  *imminente kaput*

The Corsair RMX 750W is a good PSU and wil handle any RTX4070Ti just fine, but you really need two separate PCIe cables (from the PSU) to plug into the 12 pin connector (with the adapter cable 2x PCIe 8-pin that is included). And notice - it's not only for that particular model, it's for all RTX4070Ti. They all draw more than 225W.

That Corsair RMX 750W PSU comes with two PCIe cables, so you have the second PCIe cable that you need.

In case you don't have (broke it, or gave it, or lost it, whatever) you can get a PCIe cable replacement for your Corsair modular PSU from Amazon ($15,00 CAD): 
https://www.amazon.ca/OwlTree-Braided-Splitter-Adapter-23-6inch/dp/B099W6CS3C/ref=sr_1_15?crid=OVYF87VKWJGA&keywords=corsair%2Brmx%2Bpcie%2Bcable&qid=1682040023&sprefix=corsair%2Brmx%2Bpcie%2Bcable%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-15&th=1

If you're going to do it, do it right.  
 

Edited April 21, 2023 by LucShep

[Beirut]

 

@LucShep I see you are not to be argued with. 

 

Thank you for the solid feedback. I appreciate it. I'm putting a lot of thought into all this because $1000+ is real money for me, and there is a 4070ti for an almost decent price and I've been planning a spring upgrade for a while. I'm still thinking about the 4070, but for the $200 difference I can get ~ 3090ti performance with the 4070ti instead of ~3080 with the 4070.

 

Thank again. 

[LucShep]

If you're going to invest in a new GPU, and if it's for the mid to long term, I agree that you should get the best performance you can get.
It's worth paying a bit more in the end and feel the bigger satisfaction once in the sim.

If you do not want to upgrade PSU (i.e, keeping the Corsair RMX 750W), then the RTX4070Ti is the best choice you can fit there, more so since you mention DCS is your main sim/game of choice (Nvidia biased). 
Performance wise, it's 20% to 25% faster in general than the RTX4070, depending on game, option details and resolution, which is quite a bit of difference (see here).

That said, if you feel adventurous with AMD choices, there are (older) RX6800XT 16GB selling a bit cheaper these days, and the (newer) RX 7900XT 16GB as well...

Edited April 21, 2023 by LucShep

[Beirut]

7 hours ago, LucShep said:

If you're going to invest in a new GPU, and if it's for the mid to long term, I agree that you should get the best performance you can get.
It's worth paying a bit more in the end and feel the bigger satisfaction once in the sim.

If you do not want to upgrade PSU (i.e, keeping the Corsair RMX 750W), then the RTX4070Ti is the best choice you can fit there, more so since you mention DCS is your main sim/game of choice (Nvidia biased). 
Performance wise, it's 20% to 25% faster in general than the RTX4070, depending on game, option details and resolution, which is quite a bit of difference (see here).

That said, if you feel adventurous with AMD choices, there are (older) RX6800XT 16GB selling a bit cheaper these days, and the (newer) RX 7900XT 16GB as well...

 

 

Unfortunately the gods of the video cards are mad. The 6800XT goes for as much or more than the 4070ti, as does the 7900XT. The only real deals, kind of, are the 6700XT and 6750XT, both can be had for about $500Cdn. ($400 US)

 

I'll just keep watching the prices. 

 

 

[LucShep]

Ouch...  no bueno then.
RTX4070Ti it is, if brand new GPU then.

I know you're not into used GPUs but, still, at least take a quick look at the RTX2080Ti 11GB that are available on the used market.
Yes, it's an older model but still excelent for 1440P, well constructed whatever version (so long as it isn't a Dell or single-fan model) as it was Nvidia's flagship from 3rd quarter 2018 to 3rd quarter 2020.
Slightly bit faster than the RTX3070 8GB (and more VRAM, at 11GB), used ones can be found at $550 CAD or best offer (on Ebay, for example) and they're coming down on price.

Edited April 21, 2023 by LucShep

[Beirut]

18 minutes ago, LucShep said:

Ouch...  no bueno then.
RTX4070Ti it is, if brand new GPU then.

I know you're not into used GPUs but, still, at least take a quick look at the RTX2080Ti 11GB that are available on the used market.
Yes, it's an older model but still excelent for 1440P, well constructed whatever version (so long as it isn't a Dell or single-fan model) as it was Nvidia's flagship from 3rd quarter 2018 to 3rd quarter 2020.
Slightly bit faster than the RTX3070 8GB (and more VRAM, at 11GB), used ones can be found at $550 CAD or best offer (on Ebay, for example) and they're coming down on price.

 

 

Dropped the hammer on a 4070. Hope to have it by Tuesday. The price was... acceptable  as was the delivery time. That was as much cash as I've ever spent on a PC part. I could have waited and saved $50 or something, but I've been planning a spring upgrade for months. It was time to "add to cart". 

 

It will be a solid jump over my 2060. And it will have the DLSS3 stuff, for whatever joy that brings. Can't wait to hit the maps and see those fiery FPS. 

[LucShep]

Understood, that's reasonable.
Congrats on the upgrade.  
 

BTW, regardless of VRAM limits - and unless you're an "online-only-DCS-warrior" - I strongly suggest to give Taz's Optimized Textures mod a go.
There's no visual difference and over 3GB(!) of VRAM savings, much smoother on any system (a "must" IMO).

 

Edited April 21, 2023 by LucShep

[Beirut]

20 minutes ago, LucShep said:

Understood, that's reasonable.
Congrats on the upgrade.  

 

Thanks. Looking forward to it. You were right that a 4070ti might be a better choice, but the 4070 ticked all the boxes. Speed enough. VRAM enough. Under $1k (Cdn.) total. Sips power along with my 65W CPU. I've never had a great rig, but always a good enough rig. So the 4070 really fits the bill.

 

 

20 minutes ago, LucShep said:

BTW, regardless of VRAM limits - and unless you're an "online-only-DCS-warrior" - I strongly suggest to give Taz's Optimized Textures mod a go.
There's no visual difference and over 3GB(!) of VRAM savings, much smoother on any system.
 

 

I'm going to read about that. Thanks.

Edited April 21, 2023 by Beirut

[Beirut]

4070 delivered, installed, and working.  

 

The new MSI card is significantly lighter than the EVGA 2060 Super it replaced. That thing was a tank. Installed super easy, one 8-pin connection, and it works. Hard to say exactly what the improvements are, but it's crisp and clean and wayyy faster. A good 100% in many places I'm sure, and it runs the new Normandy 2 map very nicely. What a pleasure to cruise down low with fluid FPS. I can still slow it down significantly with all the settings maxed, but with the settings high enough for quality eye-candy, it runs lak buttah!  Looking forward to what it does with the South Atlantic.

 

Definitely the most expensive single upgrade I've ever bought. First time I've felt my rig was more than medium level. Now it feels... medium+. 

[Kageseigi]

On 4/21/2023 at 6:29 AM, Beirut said:

The only real deals, kind of, are the 6700XT and 6750XT, both can be had for about $500Cdn. ($400 US)

Congrats on the 4070! Enjoy it!

For others interested, though I don't know the price in Canada, the 6750XT is currently on sale for $309 (after rebate).