Videocard Upgrade Advice

[bioject]

I want to upgrade my existing video card so that I can play games on max settings and 4k. Right now depending on the game, I definitely struggle even getting 60FPS. Witcher is a prime example. I want to be able to play Deus Ex Mankind Divided, Mirrors Edge 2, and Outlast 2 on max settings.

I have been considering the EVGA 1080 FE card but I am hoping it will drop in price to $500 around black friday. If I were to purchase this card, would anything in my current hardware setup bottleneck me? My budget is $500. If there was going to be a bottleneck issue, what card should I get that would be the most economical so that I can still enjoy running games well for the 2016-2017 years until I decide to fully upgrade my PC. Based on what I have seen, it seems to me hardware requirements haven't increased that much with the exception of videocards.

Here are my current specs:
Samsung 850 2.5 SSD 500GB (For Win 10 and other programs)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147373

Samsung 250gb (For Steam and all games)

EVGA GTX 680
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130769

ASUS P8Z77-V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131819

G.SKILL Ripjaws 16GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231456

Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5Ghz Quad-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

Corsair HX Series 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

 

[voltoid27]

Based on what I have seen, it seems to me hardware requirements haven't increased that much with the exception of videocards.

You're right about that, the fact that you can play many modern games on a Core 2 Quad from 2006-2007 says a lot. Your setup should be fine for a 1080 but try overclocking your CPU a bit to push it that extra bit further. I wouldn't specifically go for a Founder's Edition necessarily unless the price is right, but that's a decision you'll have to make based on that and your case's airflow situation.

Ultimately the 1080 is the perfect upgrade right now from the 680 and you won't be disappointed.

 

[bioject]

Based on what I have seen, it seems to me hardware requirements haven't increased that much with the exception of videocards.

You're right about that, the fact that you can play many modern games on a Core 2 Quad from 2006-2007 says a lot. Your setup should be fine for a 1080 but try overclocking your CPU a bit to push it that extra bit further. I wouldn't specifically go for a Founder's Edition necessarily unless the price is right, but that's a decision you'll have to make based on that and your case's airflow situation.

Ultimately the 1080 is the perfect upgrade right now from the 680 and you won't be disappointed.

Thanks!

That sounds like a plan. Any idea when the 1080 is expected to go down in price? I'm hoping November or Christmas at the latest.

 

[voltoid27]

That I don't know, I'm not really up to speed on historical graphics card pricing around holidays :/ The cheapest 1080 right now is $606 so I'd imagine prices will drop a bit by then, and combined with holiday or Black Friday deals that should take you down to $500. All speculation of course.

What resolution do you play at btw? If you're using 1080p or 1440p60 you might as well save some cash and go for a 1070.

 

[bioject]

That I don't know, I'm not really up to speed on historical graphics card pricing around holidays :/ The cheapest 1080 right now is $606 so I'd imagine prices will drop a bit by then, and combined with holiday or Black Friday deals that should take you down to $500. All speculation of course.

What resolution do you play at btw? If you're using 1080p or 1440p60 you might as well save some cash and go for a 1070.

Right now I'm just playing at 1080p, but I also want to get a 4k monitor at some point. But when I think about it, 4k is probably not going to be for awhile. Like half a year awhile maybe longer since the TV I want to get is probably going to cost around $1300. Maybe it would be worth it just to go for the 1070. Either way I imagine I'll be getting some amazing performance gains going from my current card to the 1070.

 

[voltoid27]

Yeah, a 1080 is ridiculously OP for a 1080p monitor unless it's 144Hz+ and you want to max literally everything. From what I'm hearing you might build a whole new PC by the time you get a 4K monitor, so a 1070 would be fine for now. And yeah, 680 -> 1070 is still a huge jump.

 

[burgessanthony]

The 1080 won't do 4k and max settings om those games. If that's your true criteria, 2x1070s might be better.

The 1080 WILL do 4k, even max on some games, but we are still a generation behind true single card 4k imo

 

[burgessanthony]

http://www.trustedreviews.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1080-review-performance-benchmarks-and-conclusion-page-2

As you can see heavier games need settings dropped to manage 4k60.

 

[bioject]

Yeah it seems like 4k won't be standard for awhile. Maybe in two years and by then I'll have the TV. 4k is nice, but 1080p still looks great and I would prefer being able to run all the graphics settings butter smooth.

 

[burgessanthony]

1440p ultrawide is was away better than 4k Imo

 

[bioject]

1440p ultrawide is was away better than 4k Imo

Why is it better? logically wouldn't 4k be superior because it's a higher resolution?

 

[burgessanthony]

I just prefer ultrawide having used it now and 3440x1440 is very sweet (a mate has a setup with that). It makes everything better I think...

It's also doable with a 1080 (what he uses) and it'd be tricky to see difference between that and 4k in terms of textures etc

Anyway...off topic

 

[bioject]

Last question. With my current setup and the 1070 card, would it be worth upgrading to a 144k/1440 resolution monitor or will the 1070 card struggle with max settings on current gen games? Should I just wait and sit with my 10 year old 1080p monitor until I'm ready to fully upgrading my comp in a couple of years and get a 4k monitor when it becomes standard?

Sometimes I wish they wouldn't push higher resolutions so quickly. I was fine with the concept of 4k, but not there seems to be 1440 resolution, 5k, and even 8k. I'm worried 1440 resolution will be the new 720p during the age when 720p and 1080p were competing. Would like to get a monitor with a resolution that will be the standard for the next decade. Perhaps it is too early to tell? So far TV wise it seems 4k is being pushed everywhere. I didn't even know 1440 was a thing until this thread.

Or is the logic that 1440 looks great while not being a resource hog like 4k will be and should last for plenty of years to come?