[Solved]Graphics Card Upgrade

[Claude Clark]

I want to buy a new card that will be able to play BF4 at, or close to, max. I plan on building another rig in a few months and giving this one to my wife. I don't want to overpay(over $300) for a card that I'll probably get for the new build and that this one doesn't absolutely need. More than likely, whatever I get for this one will be fine for her for a long time. I just want to enjoy BF4 and a few other games that my current card can't handle the way I want. Anyway, here is my current build:

ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Mobo
Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz
Corsair Dominator 12GB SDRAM
EVGA SC GeForce GTX 580
Intel X25-M 80GB SSD (No laughing at my small drive 😛)
Corsair 750TX 750W 80+ Bronze PSU
Dual Samsung 22" Monitors @1680x1050
Win7 64bit

Thanks, in advance, for your time and suggestions.

 

[lostmenoggin]

GTX 760 is probably your best bet. The R9 280x, GTX 770 are going to be the 2 top dogs in the $300-$320 range and will get great frame rates @ 1050. $260 you're looking at a GTX 760 which will still do really well. I wouldnt recommend anything below a 760 though.

 

[rolandzhang3]

The 760 is not that much more powerful than a 580 so it's not worth it. The 280x/7970 are a fair bit more powerful and would be your best bet around the $300 price range. Of course if you could find a 770 for fairly cheap, that would also be a good option.

 

[lostmenoggin]

760 is not worth it? The 580 is old. The 760 is a way better card and will last longer. Newer tech, uses less power and you can find them in stock at most all parts retailers, unlike the 580. Plus with black friday coming up there should be some sweet deals. I agree the 280x would be the best bet if he wants to spend the full $300. If $40 is a significant price difference for him the 760 will be a good card.

 

[rolandzhang3]

Replacing the 580 with a 760 is not worth it, if it was a plain GPU purchase hell yeah the 760 is worth it. The 760 is not a big enough improvement to justify calling it an upgrade. He's not asking about whether to get a 580 or 760, op just wants a decent upgrade for the 580.

A 7970 or 280x would be a better option. The 580 is older tech for sure, but it still puts out very respectable numbers in games. The big thing of note is that the 580 doesn't have enough VRAM for modern games so there are frame rate dips.

This is what I would call an upgrade
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/767?vs=770

Having a look at power requirements it seems that your PSU should be able to handle SLI 580s, which would be a massive performance boost

 

[potpolima]

580 to 760 is just like a 15% performance increase...would i pay 300$ for additional 15% performance??hell no!!!
i should get another 580 since i have sabertooth mobo and a 750W psu
580 sli is almost 780 level

 

[lostmenoggin]

Sorry the pain meds are kicking in lol. I missed the part that said he already had a 580 so yea the 760 wouldn't be much of an upgrade.. I would def not go SLI 580. Too much power draw and old tech. Better get a newer card and give the 580 to his wife when he builds the new PC. I still stand by the 280x if he wants to swing the full $300. It's a hair cheaper than the 7970 and has marginal performance increases along with being newer.

 

[rolandzhang3]

A 280x OC/7970 GHz if he can find it for around or under $300 would be great. If the system can support SLI then it's still an available option, though if it's the 580 with 1.5GB of VRAM that may not really be enough.

 

[Claude Clark]

I take it, from y'all responses, I need to go ahead and fork up the cash for the 780 and be done with it. It will last my wife for a while and she'll be able to follow me to different games without worry. I'll grab the 690 for my new rig, if nothing else comes out, instead of sticking her with the 580 again like I was planning.

Thanks for the responses. Y'all really helped me out.