Need help on GPU upgrade

[Richter93]

Hey folks.

Been looking for an upgrade to my well aged ASUS GTX560 Ti, my main games atm is FC3/4, Flight Sim X, CsGo(I know this doesnt need an upgrade).

My budget is around 300$.

With my limited knowledge on this subject im learning towards the MSI GeForce GTX 960 Gaming 2GB and 750 Ti

My specs is as followed:
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz OC'D @4.30
GPU: Asus Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1Gb
RAM: 16GB
MOBO: Gigabyte Sandy bridge z68AP-D3
PSU: From what I can see it says 750W on the marker, not sure since the marker is on the inner side of my case.
Display: 24" 144hz 1920*1080p

So questions,
1. Will I even be able to use a Gtx 960 on this system?
2. Would the upgrade be worth it from what I've got now?
3. Would the 960 be worth it over the 750 Ti or should I look elsewhere?
4. Should I pick 2gb or 4gb?

I'd prefer staying with GeForce 🙂

Thanks in advande, Andreas.

 

[Forever Oleg]

1) Yes. Depends on the power supply.
2) Not really.
3) GTX 960 is much more powerful than GTX 750 Ti but 960 over 560 Ti is not a huge upgrade either - a noticable one though.
4) With that budget, either get the GTX 970 or R9 390. Make sure your power supply can handle them. Tell us the make and model.

 

[Richter93]

I can't see make and model on my psu because the marker is on the inner site and is blocked, what I can see though is some big white letters saying 750W

 

[geofelt]

1. Yes, a GTX960 needs only 430w.
Here is a chart for other options:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

2. Worth is something that only YOU can determine. GTX960 is three tiers higher on tom's hierarchy list. That is the minimum separation they recommend for an upgrade.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

3. No, not worth it. As per the list, gtx750ti is a sideways step.

4. A good question. It probably depends on the price premium.

VRAM has become a marketing issue.
My understanding is that vram is more of a performance issue than a functional issue.
A game needs to have most of the data in vram that it uses most of the time.
Somewhat like real ram.
If a game needs something not in vram, it needs to get it across the pcie boundary
hopefully from real ram and hopefully not from a hard drive.
It is not informative to know to what level the available vram is filled.
Possibly much of what is there is not needed.
What is not known is the rate of vram exchange.
Vram is managed by the Graphics card driver, and by the game. There may be differences in effectiveness between amd and nvidia cards.
And differences between games.
Here is an older performance test comparing 2gb with 4gb vram.
http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Video-Card-Performance-2GB-vs-4GB-Memory-154/
Spoiler... not a significant difference.
And... no game maker wants to limit their market by
requiring huge amounts of vram. The vram you see will be appropriate to the particular card.

I suggest a EVGA GTX970 which will cost you about $320.
Anything less and you will forever wonder if you should have gone bigger.

 

[10tacle]

Also, and you may already know this but I'm throwing it out there anyway, don't expect any FPS increase in FSX with a GPU upgrade since it responds mostly to CPU core GHz speed, not GPU power. But if you are upgrading, get a 970 if your budget is $300.

Right now NewEgg has an MSI factory overclocked variant for $310(US), but it also has a $20 rebate and you get a free new game (Rise Of The Tomb Raider). So net price would be $290 plus a free $60 game when it is released. This is a killer deal on a 970 if you can deal with the white color scheme. This card can be overclocked very easily to within 90% (plus) performance of a similar MSI 980 that costs $200+ more. Get it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127833

 

[Richter93]

I know about FSX and GPU yes, but thanks anyways I might save for another month and go for the 970 then, but im living in denmark and by the looks of it newegg doesnt ship to DK and the 970 is pretty expensive over here. But thanks for your answers

 

[10tacle]

I know about FSX and GPU yes, but thanks anyways I might save for another month and go for the 970 then, but im living in denmark and by the looks of it newegg doesnt ship to DK and the 970 is pretty expensive over here. But thanks for your answers

Do you know someone who lives in the Netherlands? NewEgg/UK carries this for £218 (€285‎) and ships there if they can forward it to you:

www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127833&cm_re=video_cards-_-14-127-833-_-Product

No rebate and no free game though. And you may get screwed by taxes and import fees if this isn't banned from export to mainland EU nations (can't imagine it would be though). Just giving you all options I know of!

 

[10tacle]

Well scratch that idea even if it was an option. Shipping to the Netherlands from NewEgg/UK would be outrageous with the duty/import/VAT taxes. WOW!!! So sorry you guys have to put up with this nonsense over there. 🙁

Subtotal: €285,99
Estimated VAT/GST & Duty: €65,98
€30,21 - World EggSaver Standard (4-8 Business Days)

Grand Total: €382,18

 

[Richter93]

Wow thats some shipping fee :O I've got family in the UK that would ofcourse be a possible solution if they were to visit us soon. Thanks a lot for your help/effort 10tacle. Really appreciated 👍

 

[Richter93]

So after looking around a bit I guess I'll buy the MSI 970, new question then on reqs it says 1x8-pin and 1x6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.
By looking on this site http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm I have 2 6 pins (GTX 560 Ti) how am I gonna work this out?

 

[Forever Oleg]

Either:
1) Deal with it but take the risk when GPU overloads
2) Buy a new power supply
3) Adapters

 

[10tacle]

So after looking around a bit I guess I'll buy the MSI 970, new question then on reqs it says 1x8-pin and 1x6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors. By looking on this site http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm I have 2 6 pins (GTX 560 Ti) how am I gonna work this out?

Well that's a big OOPS. You need a power supply with at least one 6+2 pin PCIe connector. Now some people may tell you that you can get an 8-pin adapter for that which can be plugged into two spare molex (4-pin) power connectors from your PSU (Molex for things like hard drives and case fans). It's called a PCIe-Molex adapter. Here's an example: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400034CVF&cm_re=StarTech_LP4PCIEX8ADP-_-12-400-034CVF-_-Product

But I would NOT recommend that due to wattage differences with Molex vs. dedicated PCIe cable power requirements for video cards. You are risking card damage and in worse case a fire if you have a less than high quality PSU. Unfortunately, upgrading video cards often requires upgrading power supplies.

 

[Forever Oleg]

+1 to the post above.