What's the best compatible graphics card my current build can run?

[TYK310]

motherboard: Asrock 970m pro3
Processor: AMD 6300
power supply: corsair cx600m
OS: windows 10
current graphics chip: geforce GTX 750 ti

I was looking for upgrades but I noticed a lot of the newer cards require a PCI express 3.0 slot and I'm confused if my motherboard has that. The manual says PCIE3 x4 mode. could someone help me determine the highest graphics card my motherboard supports?

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Your MB will run them... you have 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots... most MB can't run PCIe 3 mode at this time.
Here is a general performance chart for GPU's... http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/common_gpus.html

 

[TYK310]

@tea urchin - Ya I have that MB. So you're saying if i connect one of the newly released single graphics chip that says pcie 3.0 in its spec requirements (ie. a gtx 980 ti or r9 390) it will still work at full performance still in my pcie2.0 slots?

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Pcie3 requires a direct connection to the CPU... the new Intels are just getting around to doing this... so you still need a PCIe2.0 compatible GPU... and there are plenty of gtx980 ti's and R9 's in stock that do this... post your interest and we can give you a thumbs up.
Your CPU will be holding you back from full performance... they work as a team.

 

[maxalge]

@tea urchin - Ya I have that MB. So you're saying if i connect one of the newly released single graphics chip that says pcie 3.0 in its spec requirements (ie. a gtx 980 ti or r9 390) it will still work at full performance still in my pcie2.0 slots?

pcie 3.0 is backwards compatible

however your system is not good enough to run the top tier gpu's

the most I would put into your current system is either a gtx 960 or a r9 380

 

[TYK310]

tea urchin, oh thats good to know cause i never knew the cpu could be the limiting factor. What cpu would I need to have to be able to run the top end gpus like a 980/970 or r9 380/390? would I need to upgrade my mobo as well? I'm looking to invest for the next few years.

 

[TYK310]

TYK310, yes, I am saying your graphics card slot would not be a bottle neck for a new really strong card.But your 6300 cpu would, so dont buy anything faster than a 380 4 gig unless you plan to build a new pc.

tea urchin, oh thats good to know cause i never knew the cpu could be the limiting factor. What cpu would I need to have to be able to run the top end gpus like a 980/970 or r9 380/390? would I need to upgrade my mobo as well? I'm looking to invest for the next few years.

 

[maxalge]

TYK310, yes, I am saying your graphics card slot would not be a bottle neck for a new really strong card.But your 6300 cpu would, so dont buy anything faster than a 380 4 gig unless you plan to build a new pc.

tea urchin, oh thats good to know cause i never knew the cpu could be the limiting factor. What cpu would I need to have to be able to run the top end gpus like a 980/970 or r9 380/390? would I need to upgrade my mobo as well? I'm looking to invest for the next few years.

an i5 for 980/390 , so yes you would need a new motherboard


you could get a 8350 overclock it and run a gtx 970 ( dont know how good your current mobo is for this option though )


your current processor will run a 380/ gtx 960