nvidia video card upgrade

[sto_]

was up toms hardware

well i want to upgrade my video card and was wondering if i could get some help.

should i go with a gtx 780 6GB or with the gtx 980 4GB

i love to crank up the all the settings in the games that i play and i also run 3 monitors at 5670x1080 . i have my current gpu oc @ 1242 mhz but i get a little bit of tearing sometimes usually i would restart the game and it goes away. would getting a new card take care of this.

thanks for the help


my specs
cpu- i5 3570k @ 4.2ghz
gpu- gtx 660 sc @1242 mhz
motherboard- asus p8z77 v-lx
ram- 16gb corsair xms3 1333mhz
powersupply- corsair rm850

 

[unknownofprob]

The first slot runs at a constant bandwidth of X16

Gigabyte States - 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)

Bracketed figure is the configuration when slot is shared.

Slot 2 is : 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8)

Also - The PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16 slot. Noting shares X16 slot, which is slot number 1.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

If I'm correct in grasping it, you and I are on same track. Since the CPU is limited to 16 PCIe lanes, single GPU would have to be run on the first slot at x16 bandwidth. In SLI, due to bandwidth sharing, the config of Slot 1/2 would be x8/x8 resulting in x16 lanes.

 

[unknownofprob]

majority of boards run in X8/X8, others run in X16/X8. One Gigabyte Board can run in X16/X16 not LGA 2011. I know it is slightly confusing but that board's first slot stays neutral when shared, hard to believe with 16 lanes I know. It may appear to be better when running in X16/X8 but it's pretty much the same as X8/X8 due to the PCI-E lanes of the processor as you have stated.

 

[sto_]

cool thanks so this is what ima go with let me kno what yall think

mobo
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z77extreme4

gpu x2 http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-gtx970gaming4g

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Oh ok, you were talking about MoBo's bandwidth, I was confusing it with CPU lanes which can't be more than 16 for the mentioned one. And yes there's no performance difference in real world as GPUs are simply not fast enough to utilize the extra bandwidth provided.

 

[sto_]

majority of boards run in X8/X8, others run in X16/X8. One Gigabyte Board can run in X16/X16 not LGA 2011. I know it is slightly confusing but that board's first slot stays neutral when shared, hard to believe with 16 lanes I know. It may appear to be better when running in X16/X8 but it's pretty much the same as X8/X8 due to the PCI-E lanes of the processor as you have stated.

which board wil run x16/x16

 

[MeteorsRaining]

OP, that seems a great deal to me

 

[sto_]

Oh ok, you were talking about MoBo's bandwidth, I was confusing it with CPU lanes which can't be more than 16 for the mentioned one. And yes there's no performance difference in real world as GPUs are simply not fast enough to utilize the extra bandwidth provided.

so there is no reason to get a board that is x16/x16

 

[unknownofprob]

Oh ok, you were talking about MoBo's bandwidth, I was confusing it with CPU lanes which can't be more than 16 for the mentioned one. And yes there's no performance difference in real world as GPUs are simply not fast enough to utilize the extra bandwidth provided.

Exactly, it has the potential to but it can't.

X16/X16 motherboard (Haswell not ivy/sandy bridge platform, same 16 PCI-E lanes however)

"so there is no reason to get a board that is x16/x16"

Not exactly, there is a difference, not huge though.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Oh ok, you were talking about MoBo's bandwidth, I was confusing it with CPU lanes which can't be more than 16 for the mentioned one. And yes there's no performance difference in real world as GPUs are simply not fast enough to utilize the extra bandwidth provided.

so there is no reason to get a board that is x16/x16

With the current CPU, no. Even i7 3770k doesn't support 32 lanes, I don't know why it has x16/x16, no use with LGA1155.

 

[sto_]

alright thanks guys been very helpful

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Glad to help

 

[unknownofprob]

Just for a little fun - To be slightly technical, X8/X8 caps out some graphics cards to a point, especially when overclocked

X16/X16 allows full optimum bandwidth, regardless of the processor and lanes. when X16 lanes are shared, it's still using 16 PCI-E lanes, as when they are 'shared', they don't tend to be added. As for X8/X8, only 8 lanes tend to be used as the X8 lane is shared, however it does utilise the 16 lanes of the processor, but it isn't really taken advantage of as well as dual X16 bandwidth.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Ok so as the MoBo lanes themselves get shared, x16/x16 is better for high end cards, as a 16 lane is getting shared compared to a 8 lane (on MoBo). Noted!

 

[sto_]

i have a nother question since i plan on water cooling should i get the evge cuz i kno i wont void warranty from removing cooler

 

[unknownofprob]

yep, and get the reference model so all screws line up as well as PCB the correct length. Custom PCB's tend to have the GPU in slightly different locations and VRM's tend to be located much further away to what the stock model had it originated.

 

[sto_]

yep, and get the reference model so all screws line up as well as PCB the correct length. Custom PCB's tend to have the GPU in slightly different locations and VRM's tend to be located much further away to what the stock model had it originated.

and will they still oc high?

 

[unknownofprob]

yes, this is only recommend as custom PCB's won't properly fit the water block.

 

[sto_]

ok which one should i get


1 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Superclocked-256bit-Graphics-04G-P4-1972-KR/dp/B00NI45AUU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1412708415&sr=8-2&keywords=evga+gtx+970+sc

2 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Superclocked-256bit-Graphics-04G-P4-0974-KR/dp/B00NI64A7C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412708415&sr=8-1&keywords=evga+gtx+970+sc

 

[unknownofprob]

First one, second link has slightly different bolting layout to the reference cooler, as well as a cooler you don't need.

 

[sto_]

First one, second link has slightly different bolting layout to the reference cooler, as well as a cooler you don't need.

thanks i wanted the first one too now i just have to find a waterblock noone sells it yet but i read the 670 fits and on eks website they say it does check here http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/waterblock/3831109856482


but im looking for a full cover waterblock

 

[unknownofprob]

yep, you want the full coverage waterblock that cool GPU and VRM. I am also aware that the GTX 670 waterblock works with the GTX 970.

 

[sto_]

yep, you want the full coverage waterblock that cool GPU and VRM. I am also aware that the GTX 670 waterblock works with the GTX 970.

do you kno who sells the 970 waterblock ive looked everywhere i can think of

 

[sto_]

whats the difference between the 8 and 6 pin?

 

[unknownofprob]

8 pin can deliver up to 150W, 6 pin can deliver up to 75W.

Where do you live? - online store availability