1440p / GTX 970?

[Jason3022]

Here I am with a GTX 970, i7-860 (@ 3.8ghz with HT on) and a 23" 1080p LG monitor.
I would love to upgrade to a 1440p monitor to experience what all the fuss is about.
I'm quite happy with the 1080p but am rather intrigued by the idea of a 25-27" screen.

Is my GTX 970 sufficient enough for 1440p gaming?
i.e. Witcher 3, Dark Souls 3, Fallout 4, Battlefield 4, Metro Last Light - redux.

Here's the kicker, I'm looking at this monitor: (I'm in Ontario, Canada)
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B009C3M7H0?tag=vglnk-ca-c1075-20

Yet, do I need to be concerned about a 144hz monitor, Gsync,Freesync etc. or is 60hz enough on a 27" screen for games, with the GTX 970?

Essentially, I'd like to know what 'gaming' (priority use) 1440p monitor makes sense. Then I could get an idea of what price range I'm getting into. Since there would be no point in getting one if I'm giving up on something in the gaming realm of things.

 

[Hlsgsz]

The 970 will not do 1440p properly. That's 1070 territory.
Also, what you want is 1440p, 144+hz, IPS and G-sync. But they are damned expensive.

TN: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/BcTrxr/dell-monitor-s2716dg
IPS: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/XvfmP6/asus-monitor-pg279q
most likely teh best gaming monitors ever made adn every gamer's dream: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/WDcMnQ/acer-monitor-umcx1aa002 http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/vhkwrH/asus-monitor-rogswiftpg348q

 

[photonboy]

Hi,
1) I have a lesser GPU (GTX680) and play several games at 2560x1440.

2) Your CPU however is going to be a bit of a bottleneck, so you'd have to investigate that.

3) *You can buy a 2560x1440 monitor and run games at 1920x1080.

4) Is 60Hz "enough"?
I don't understand. Perhaps you mean can the GTX970 handle 2560x1440 at 144Hz?
(not really for most games, but there is a feature called "Half Adaptive VSYNC" you can force on to run at 72FPS for when you need VSYNC ON to avoid screen tearing.

Higher than 60Hz has it pros and its cons.

5) GSYNC?
Pretty expensive

6) Freesync?
For AMD GPU's so not recommended.

so....

huh?

Summary:
It's a bit confusing, but basically a 2560x1440 monitor is useful for the DESKTOP, and also for games with small HUD/text elements like CIV5 etc that it gives the largest benefit.

You would need to experiment, but I wouldn't buy a better GPU due to the CPU you have. You have a reasonably good system but you'd need to upgrade MOST of it (CPU, GPU etc) to really upgrade properly.

So my advice is:
1. Buy that monitor or similar
2. Play games at the resolution that suit it best (1920x1080 for Battlefield 4, and 2560x1440 for CIV5 etc). again, you'd have to experiment to see what FPS you can get, vs what visual benefit there is.

 

[photonboy]

update:
The monitor you chose is the same one I'd choose at that budget. You can find it a bit cheaper ($500) right now (if sale gone, go back to pcpartpicker):
http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-pb278q-27in-led-backlit-1f-76578.htm?affiliateid=7474144

That monitor has the SAME SPECS mine has:
- 2560x1440
- 27"
- IPS
- 60Hz

The comments look pretty good, and it has a 3-year Warranty (some have one-year only).

*I have a weaker GPU, but stronger CPU. Having said that, I'll look at my list and write down some games I run at 2560x1440 after I post this. (Again, you can choose the game resolution per game).

 

[Jason3022]

update:
The monitor you chose is the same one I'd choose at that budget. You can find it a bit cheaper ($500) right now (if sale gone, go back to pcpartpicker):
http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-pb278q-27in-led-backlit-1f-76578.htm?affiliateid=7474144

That monitor has the SAME SPECS mine has:
- 2560x1440
- 27"
- IPS
- 60Hz

The comments look pretty good, and it has a 3-year Warranty (some have one-year only).

*I have a weaker GPU, but stronger CPU. Having said that, I'll look at my list and write down some games I run at 2560x1440 after I post this. (Again, you can choose the game resolution per game).

Thanks for your detailed help, really appreciate it.
To spend over $1,000 Cdn. on a monitor, then have to invest another $600+ Cdn on a GTX 1070,made my stomach gurgle lol...but I like that you've made do with it.

Do you appreciate the extra resolution, does the game look noticeably prettier to you?
Yes - an idea of what games you play would be helpful at what resolutions etc.

Who knows - maybe I should start from scratch if I wanted to go that route - new CPU/GPU/Monitor.....or at least I could start with the monitor.
Are there things you're giving up by not having a 144 hz./Gsync monitor, i.e. things you're not able to do in game, or disappointed/frustrated about?

 

[photonboy]

My system: GTX680, i7-3770K

Games I play at 2560x1440:
1) Command and Conquer 3
2) Dirt 2,3
3) Divinity Original Sins Enhanced
4) FEZ
5) Titan Quest
6) Anno 2070
7) Batman Arkham Asylum (I play later ones at 1920x1080)
8) Bioshock series
9) Burnout Paradise
10) Dark Souls series
11) Deus Ex GOTY
12) Devil may Cry 4
13) Devil May Cry (more recent)
14) Dishonored
15) Guild Wars 2
16) *all fighting games such as Street Fighter 4
17) *LEGO games (except a couple graphically demanding ones)
18) Metal Gear Rising Revengeance
19) Mirror's Edge (#1)
20) Pillar's of Eternity
21) CIV5
22) Portal 1,2
23) Psychonauts
24) The Sims 3 (I gave up though as it STUTTERS far too much)
25) Star Wars KOTOR2 (updated)
26) Torchlight 1,2
27) Trine 1,2

If I can get max or near-max settings at 2560x1440 I do so. It's a combination of how SMOOTH game games is vs visual quality.

Your GPU will allow some games I can't, but then your CPU will also prevent some games I can handle from working smoothly so you'll need to experiment.

*the higher, better quality screen is really enjoyable though. To me, it's the most important part of my system. In fact, I'm not in that much of a rush to upgrade.

HAVE FUN!

 

[photonboy]

To answer a question or two above->

1. UPGRADE SYSTEM->
Your CPU is relatively weak, so unfortunately aside from the monitor you'd have to replace that really before anything else. That's pretty expensive, and it depends what games you play how noticeable it will be.

2. MONITOR->
I love my monitor, but I will eventually buy a GSYNC monitor. That's a long discussion. I wouldn't buy an expensive GSYNC monitor with an i7-860 CPU setup though.

3. GAMES->
I now have my list, so as you can see there are lots of games that exist.

Final advice:
I would stick with the monitor you first suggested, then tweak your games for the best experience focusing on game smoothness. In some cases use ADAPTIVE VSYNC (i.e. force that on and tweak so you maintain 60FPS over 90% of the time).

Then, avoid games your system can't handle properly.

I'm really in no rush as I bought far too many games on sale. So there are NEWER games I'd like to play but I will not. I'm saving those games for a better graphics card later.

Now that I'm thinking about it recently due to the GTX1080 etc, I've realized I have plenty of fun games and not enough time so I'm sticking with the games I have.

 

[Jason3022]

I bought the Dell Ultrasharp U2515H.

Seems like a good product and tftcentral seems to highly regard this monitor as well, even for FPS gaming.

 

[frank_hnd]

unless you are getting a 1440P with Gsync I wouldn't recommend using your 970.

I was using my old GTX660 with 1440p/144Hz/Gsync and I had a great time while waiting for my GTX1070. and your 970 is an order of magnitude better than the 660. but the only reason i had a good time was because I wasn't tearing and stuttering due to having Gsync.

yes the GTX 1070 is the perfect card for that but then you start to use Gsync even less.

so, expensive monitor + your current card
or cheaper monitor + new card.

doing both expensive monitor + new card will result in a lot of money.

 

[photonboy]

I bought the Dell Ultrasharp U2515H.

Seems like a good product and tftcentral seems to highly regard this monitor as well, even for FPS gaming.

I bought the same monitor for my sister after much research.

I was going to recommend it but it's 25" instead of 27" and without being able to compare to the 27" you first mentioned I wasn't sure how they compared (seemed similar), but it is a great monitor.

I have setup that monitor for my sister, and the quality was great.

The WARRANTY is excellent as well. I had to replace a different DELL that has the same Warranty. It's three years, zero dead pixels, and the new monitor is shipped first with a pre-paid waybill to slap on the included box and drop off at the post-office.

(my replacement showed up the NEXT DAY but that may not be typical)