New GPU - 770GTX Sli, Single 780GTX? Something else?

[Juusuhako]

I have a 295GTX where one GPU is dead; I've postponed it long enough, so I need a new GPU.

I've read a whole lot and im leaning towards a 770GTX, with plans on adding a 2nd when money allows it. However, alot says buying a single 780GTX and OCing it would be better, and then add a 2nd when the new 20nm cards come out since they'll lower in price.

However, I only run 2 monitors, and at a 1900x1200 resolution. Would 780GTX sli bottleneck? Also, would it be worth to pay the extra for the 770GTX 4GB versions, rather than getting 2GB? (also assuming I have sli, so it'll be 4GB vs. 8GB ).

My PSU is a 750W Thermaltake Toughpower, it has "4 12V+ Rails" (its 5 years old), it should run 1 770GTX, im not sure about 2 though.

Im asking because the 770GTX is on offer for £220.

 

[barnsley]

1) SLI only uses the memory on one card. so its 4gb total vram vs 2gb.
2) your PSU is a bit of a ticking time bomb . Thermaltake is a bit iffy and that coupled with age is bad.
3) what do you mean bottlenecking? Explain how/what would be bottlenecking a gtx780?
4) which card for £220? (i.e) brand

 

[Juusuhako]

1) SLI only uses the memory on one card. so its 4gb total vram vs 2gb.
2) your PSU is a bit of a ticking time bomb . Thermaltake is a bit iffy and that coupled with age is bad.
3) what do you mean bottlenecking? Explain how/what would be bottlenecking a gtx780?
4) which card for £220? (i.e) brand

So the 2nd card doesnt even use the extra 2GB? Its just there for no reason at all and isnt being utilized?

I know my PSU is old . But surely it can run 1 770GTX for now, right?

I just read someone saying it could bottleneck? I guess a better way of asking is if it would be overkill for my 2 monitors and 1900x1200 resolution (the 780GTX Sli that is). I have an 3570k at 4.3GHz and 8GB ram aswell.

Its this one.

 

[JR23]

I would get a GTX780 (probably a Lightning) and a new PSU (RM650) which would make a solid setup for 1080p with none of the inherent problems of SLI. Upgrade to a 780Ti if you feel its really necessary but I doubt it would be. Get a bigger PSU if you plan to increase your gaming resolution to 1440p or triple 1080's in the future as that would probably need another card.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/msi_gtx780_lightning_review/1
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=60147

JR

 

[Juusuhako]

I would get a GTX780 (probably a Lightning) and a new PSU (RM650) which would make a solid setup for 1080p with none of the inherent problems of SLI. Upgrade to a 780Ti if you feel its really necessary but I doubt it would be. Get a bigger PSU if you plan to increase your gaming resolution to 1440p or triple 1080's in the future as that would probably need another card.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/msi_gtx780_lightning_review/1
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=60147

JR

Thats quite a jump in the price range however. One of those are about £440 (without the PSU). In regards to problems with Sli, I've never had any with my 295GTX... Okay, one time with League because it didnt officially support it, but thats fixed now.

What problems are we talking about?

 

[barnsley]

Thats quite a jump in the price range however. One of those are about £440 (without the PSU). In regards to problems with Sli, I've never had any with my 295GTX... Okay, one time with League because it didnt officially support it, but thats fixed now.

What problems are we talking about?

Your power supply needs replacing.
Also, one card is better than two.

 

[Juusuhako]

Your power supply needs replacing.
Also, one card is better than two.

Im gonna need some help understanding these things...

First of all, do you believe I need a new PSU for a single 770/780?
And how does it make sense saying 1 GPU is better than 2?

Surely 2x770 would outperform a single 780?

 

[JR23]

Thats quite a jump in the price range however. One of those are about £440 (without the PSU). In regards to problems with Sli, I've never had any with my 295GTX... Okay, one time with League because it didnt officially support it, but thats fixed now.

What problems are we talking about?

A 780 would cost less than two 770's :/ and then you could get away with a smaller PSU so it's even cheaper, how is that a price jump :huh:

Driver issues are less of a problem now I agree and most things get along well with SLI. By 'problems' I meant there will obviously be an increased power draw, hence increased heat dissipation required. Because they are stacked the top one will always run hotter which is a bit of a problem unless you opt for blower style coolers. Just having one single card is a far more refined solution and it's not like you need more graphics power for 1080p

JR

 

[Juusuhako]

A 780 would cost less than two 770's :/ and then you could get away with a smaller PSU so it's even cheaper, how is that a price jump :huh:

Driver issues are less of a problem now I agree and most things get along well with SLI. By 'problems' I meant there will obviously be an increased power draw, hence increased heat dissipation required. Because they are stacked the top one will always run hotter which is a bit of a problem unless you opt for blower style coolers. Just having one single card is a far more refined solution and it's not like you need more graphics power for 1080p

JR

I wasnt gonna buy 2 now, I was gonna buy 1 and then add a 2nd when money allows it. I planned on using my current PSU for a single 770, as im sure it can handle it?

770 to 780 is a big jump in price, so im wondering if its worth the extra performance, simply...

 

[barnsley]

I wasnt gonna buy 2 now, I was gonna buy 1 and then add a 2nd when money allows it. I planned on using my current PSU for a single 770, as im sure it can handle it?

the PSU is a very big risk. Don't come running when it dies and takes everything with it.

 

[Edge]

the PSU is a very big risk. Don't come running when it dies and takes everything with it.

This. It's more than just "What will run it." It's a low quality and very old model. If you're going to put money into a new card, you'd do well to replace that PSU too.

Also, 780 SLI for 1900x1200 is overkill of the highest degree, imo.

 

[Juusuhako]

the PSU is a very big risk. Don't come running when it dies and takes everything with it.

This. It's more than just "What will run it." It's a low quality and very old model. If you're going to put money into a new card, you'd do well to replace that PSU too.

Also, 780 SLI for 1900x1200 is overkill of the highest degree, imo.

I dont find Thermaltake "low quality", it is old however, I agree.

What PSU would you suggest for a 770 Sli? I have absolutely no idea how much Watt I need.

 

[barnsley]

I dont find Thermaltake "low quality", it is old however, I agree.

What PSU would you suggest for a 770 Sli? I have absolutely no idea how much Watt I need.

A gold rated 850w PSU would suffice. I'd look at Corsair's RM 850, XFX's pro 850w, seasonic's M12II EVO 850w or Superflower's Leadex GOLD 850w (EVGA also sell a version of this).

And pretty much everyone here has alot against Thermaltake.

 

[Juusuhako]

A gold rated 850w PSU would suffice. I'd look at Corsair's RM 850, XFX's pro 850w, seasonic's M12II EVO 850w or Superflower's Leadex GOLD 850w (EVGA also sell a version of this).

And pretty much everyone here has alot against Thermaltake.

Is it very important for it to be gold?

 

[barnsley]

Is it very important for it to be gold?

yes as it'll put out the required amount of power for those cards. It'll also be nice and efficient.

 

[SPS]

So the 2nd card doesnt even use the extra 2GB? Its just there for no reason at all and isnt being utilized?

No each GPU uses their own memory but they will have the same data in both, so it's not like it's extra memory for other data.

 

[Boonstick]

A gold rated 850w PSU would suffice. I'd look at Corsair's RM 850, XFX's pro 850w, seasonic's M12II EVO 850w or Superflower's Leadex GOLD 850w (EVGA also sell a version of this).

And pretty much everyone here has alot against Thermaltake.

I'd say you could get away with a lower wattage PSU than 850w. I'm running 2x GTX780Ti in SLI and an Intel i5 oc'd to 4.4ghz on a AX760.

The quality of the PSU is just as important then the wattage to be honest. If you draw to much through the PSU it will just switch off/not turn on, were as bad quality has the potential of melting your pc

 

[barnsley]

I'd say you could get away with a lower wattage PSU than 850w. I'm running 2x GTX780Ti in SLI and an Intel i5 oc'd to 4.4ghz on a AX760.

The quality of the PSU is just as important then the wattage to be honest. If you draw to much through the PSU it will just switch off/not turn on, were as bad quality has the potential of melting your pc

except an AX760 is platinum while the rm850 is gold, meaning they'd put out about the same.

 

[Boonstick]

except an AX760 is platinum while the rm850 is gold, meaning they'd put out about the same.

Well I confirmed this with a web based calculator. It said I'd be drawing about 670w and didn't take into account the psu rating.

 

[JR23]

except an AX760 is platinum while the rm850 is gold, meaning they'd put out about the same.

What :huh: the difference between gold and platinum rating is about 2% so even if it did directly effect the output it wouldn't make 100 watts difference. Secondly most Corsair product numbers come from what the theoretical total of all the rails working at their limit and it's generally roughly equal to what the +12v rail on its own can deliver.

RM750 outputs 750W (62.5A) on the +12v rail
AX760 outputs 756W (63A) on the +12v rail
RM850 outputs 850W (70.8A) on the +12v rail
AX860 outputs 852W (71A) on the +12v rail

The efficiency rating silver/gold/platinum effects what they pull from the wall, not what they deliver to the components. Obviously efficiency is directly related to heat output, as all of the 'lost' power will be turned into heat.

JR