GTX 980 v GTX 970: Budget Christmas Build

[Barms]

Hey Guys,

I know you probably hear it a lot about 980 v 970 but I was wondering if I should upgrade my build to a 980 from a 970. For benchmarks I'd like to run GTA V at 1080p at 60 frames and if possible I'd like to play a little Ark (yes I know its hard to run anyway).

Additionaly since I am trying to as frugal a college student as possible I wanted to know if there was anything you guys thought I should cut off or add in.

The Build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($312.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master GeminII M4 58.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.75 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($147.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($324.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 88R MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($84.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($34.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1211.65


Thanks so much for the help!

 

[Tam99]

Do you use this PC solely for gaming? DO you overclock CPU? Do you use it for video rendering or anything that demands CPU power? How much would you like to spend?

If you don't use it for anything beside gaming, here's my suggestion.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.75 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($319.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($56.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.25 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($34.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1088.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 01:24 EST-0500

I don't have much knowledge about PSU and mobo so I can't tell anything from that mobo. This PSU is the one I'm using currently.

 

[jollypirate]

The psu tam suggested is much better than the corsair cx OP had in his post. If you plan on overclocking the cpu you should definetly also get a better motherboard
If you can afford a 980 i dont see why you shouldnt buy it, it will give you the aiblity to max out those really demanding games like the witcher 3 that the 970 cant, and it will last longer
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cLN7Q7

 

[Barms]

Do you use this PC solely for gaming? DO you overclock CPU? Do you use it for video rendering or anything that demands CPU power? How much would you like to spend?

If you don't use it for anything beside gaming, here's my suggestion.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.75 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($319.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($56.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.25 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($34.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1088.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 01:24 EST-0500

I don't have much knowledge about PSU and mobo so I can't tell anything from that mobo. This PSU is the one I'm using currently.

Thank you!

The if is a good call, I do a little video rendering at 1080p but I'm not really a video editor. Yes, this is mostly for gaming. As far as budget I'd like to spent around 1000 or 1200 bucks, but would be willing to go up/down where it is necessary.

So, 980 or 970? I know i5s are much more cost effective for gaming, but would it take a huge hit on performance?

Thank you

 

[Tam99]

Do you use this PC solely for gaming? DO you overclock CPU? Do you use it for video rendering or anything that demands CPU power? How much would you like to spend?

If you don't use it for anything beside gaming, here's my suggestion.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.75 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($319.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($56.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.25 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($34.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1088.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 01:24 EST-0500

I don't have much knowledge about PSU and mobo so I can't tell anything from that mobo. This PSU is the one I'm using currently.

Thank you!

The if is a good call, I do a little video rendering at 1080p but I'm not really a video editor. Yes, this is mostly for gaming. As far as budget I'd like to spent around 1000 or 1200 bucks, but would be willing to go up/down where it is necessary.

So, 980 or 970? I know i5s are much more cost effective for gaming, but would it take a huge hit on performance?

Thank you

I haven't had a chance to test between the i5 and i7 in gaming but I don't think it will be that much different.
Yes i7 will run better in CPU demanding games but not a lot. Witcher 3 for example, some ares requires more CPU power and the i7 will perform better in those areas. Check out this video to see the difference

Witcher 3 i7 vs i5

Unless you want to take the advantage of the i7 and prepare yourself for future gaming, i5 is the way to go.

GTX 970 is more than enough @ 1080p. GTX 980 is not cost effective to GTX 970 so I would either go for GTX 970 or GTX 980 Ti. I'm planning on getting a GTX 980 Ti and 1440p monitor on next year because 4k is way out of my league and I can't max out games at 4k anyway .

 

[rebelionshot]

Do you use this PC solely for gaming? DO you overclock CPU? Do you use it for video rendering or anything that demands CPU power? How much would you like to spend?

If you don't use it for anything beside gaming, here's my suggestion.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.75 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($319.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($56.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.25 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($34.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1088.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-01 01:24 EST-0500

I don't have much knowledge about PSU and mobo so I can't tell anything from that mobo. This PSU is the one I'm using currently.

Thank you!

The if is a good call, I do a little video rendering at 1080p but I'm not really a video editor. Yes, this is mostly for gaming. As far as budget I'd like to spent around 1000 or 1200 bucks, but would be willing to go up/down where it is necessary.

So, 980 or 970? I know i5s are much more cost effective for gaming, but would it take a huge hit on performance?

Thank you

I haven't had a chance to test between the i5 and i7 in gaming but I don't think it will be that much different.
Yes i7 will run better in CPU demanding games but not a lot. Witcher 3 for example, some ares requires more CPU power and the i7 will perform better in those areas. Check out this video to see the difference

Witcher 3 i7 vs i5

Unless you want to take the advantage of the i7 and prepare yourself for future gaming, i5 is the way to go.

GTX 970 is more than enough @ 1080p. GTX 980 is not cost effective to GTX 970 so I would either go for GTX 970 or GTX 980 Ti. I'm planning on getting a GTX 980 Ti and 1440p monitor on next year because 4k is way out of my league and I can't max out games at 4k anyway .

Tam99 hit the mark here, if you are just using it in 1080P the GTX970 will be more than enough for now for it will lag on ark with anything right now, and the GTX980 is not at a good price point right now considering the GTX980TI blows it away. so unless you are going to get the GTX980TI stick with the 970