GTX 680 worth the upgrade?

[2is]

I think you guys scared the OP away

 

[MrWilks]

Same situation as this guy and I've gone for what he has. Thanks to the first half a dozen posts.

 

[Obsoleet]

It's tough for anyone to upgrade these days. I've been gaming on my 1920x1200 panel for years now with a 5870 and with what I play haven't had a need to upgrade. To me things seems to have leveled off years ago, perhaps around the launch of the 5870.

Having good performance with low power usage, quiet thermals (very quiet), HDMI audio (which started with the Radeon 4xxx series on the AMD side), DX11, and triple monitor output was pretty killer. Took a while for Nvidia to catchup to the Radeon 5xxx on the thermals, noise, power, HDMI audio and 3 monitor support but they got there.

That said, I felt I got a 'feature complete' card for ~$300 when I bought mine on launch day and haven't seen anything compelling since.

 

[cmdrdredd]

It's tough for anyone to upgrade these days. I've been gaming on my 1920x1200 panel for years now with a 5870 and with what I play haven't had a need to upgrade. To me things seems to have leveled off years ago, perhaps around the launch of the 5870.

Having good performance with low power usage, quiet thermals (very quiet), HDMI audio (which started with the Radeon 4xxx series on the AMD side), DX11, and triple monitor output was pretty killer. Took a while for Nvidia to catchup to the Radeon 5xxx on the thermals, noise, power, HDMI audio and 3 monitor support but they got there.

That said, I felt I got a 'feature complete' card for ~$300 when I bought mine on launch day and haven't seen anything compelling since.

There's plenty of games I run at 1920x1200 that don't run a constant and solid 60fps. Crysis 2, Battlefield 3, Skyrim with mods, Batman: Arkham City, Metro 2033.

There is definitely a reason to upgrade. My GTX 670 doesn't even peg 60fps in these titles at all times, there is always some drop.

 

[Obsoleet]

I don't like those games. I think they suck to be honest. They are graphically intensive though.
Sometimes I wonder if people are honestly into those games or if they "play" them (benchmark, screw around a bit then exit). Or invest hours like an old Counterstrike addict would. I do have Skyrim and have played a few of the others but skipped BF3 and skipped ALL the Crysis titles. I've played them a little bit, but they're pretty much garbage.

I play more old worn in games like L4D2. No performance issues there.

 

[blackened23]

There's plenty of games I run at 1920x1200 that don't run a constant and solid 60fps. Crysis 2, Battlefield 3, Skyrim with mods, Batman: Arkham City, Metro 2033.

There is definitely a reason to upgrade. My GTX 670 doesn't even peg 60fps in these titles at all times, there is always some drop.

This is only true if you run maxed settings which you don't need. In every single one of those games there is no perceievable difference between ultra and extreme, crysis 2 is case in point. If you look at the game and the differences between the highest 2 settings, you need a magnifying glass to see a difference. They play and look exactly the same, crysis 2 looks exactly the same on ultra compared to extreme. Metro 2033 is a more glaring example, you can toggle between the highest 3 settings and they look exactly the same. Heck, DOF makes the game look WORSE.

If I cared about 1080p i'm pretty sure i'd run something last gen because you dont need anything more. Unless someone is a nerd obsessed with running maxed settings at 60 fps (when it looks no different) or benchmarks. GTX 580 is still great for 1080p. So this all boils down to whether OP wants functionality or the latest and greatest. If he wants the former the GTX 580 is still awesome for 1080p, because it is a great performer still.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I don't like those games. I think they suck to be honest. They are graphically intensive though.
Sometimes I wonder if people are honestly into those games or if they "play" them (benchmark, screw around a bit then exit). Or invest hours like an old Counterstrike addict would. I do have Skyrim and have played a few of the others but skipped BF3 and skipped ALL the Crysis titles. I've played them a little bit, but they're pretty much garbage.

I play more old worn in games like L4D2. No performance issues there.

Why are you even replying here then? Nobody playing a old ass game engine like Source would ask if they should upgrade to a GTX 680.

The games I mentioned are so far from garbage I don't even know if I can believe you're serious. You must be a joke.

This is only true if you run maxed settings which you don't need. In every single one of those games there is no perceievable difference between ultra and extreme, crysis 2 is case in point. If you look at the game and the differences between the highest 2 settings, you need a magnifying glass to see a difference. They play and look exactly the same, crysis 2 looks exactly the same on ultra compared to extreme.

If I cared about 1080p i'm pretty sure i'd run something last gen because you dont need anything more unless you're a nerd obsessed with running maxed settings or benchmarks, even though it looks no different than quality settings turned down 1 notch.

Don't need? Who are you to say what I need!? Why play games on PC if you aren't going to run them at the highest settings. Aside from a few titles, you can just play all games on console. Why not just do that?

It does make a difference, you gotta be blind.

 

[blackened23]

Why are you even replying here then? Nobody playing a old ass game engine like Source would ask if they should upgrade to a GTX 680.

The games I mentioned are so far from garbage I don't even know if I can believe you're serious. You must be a joke.



Don't need? Who are you to say what I need!? Why play games on PC if you aren't going to run them at the highest settings. Aside from a few titles, you can just play all games on console. Why not just do that?

It does make a difference, you gotta be blind.

I have plenty of horsepower and I guess I must be blind because I CANT see a difference between crysis 2 on extreme or ultra. You're welcome to post screenshots if you think otherwise. If you're suggesting there is a big difference visually in crysis 2 or metro 2033 between maxed settings and 1 notch down, i'd say this is incorrect. The other point that should be said is that there are about 3 games that fit into this category, a GTX 580 can run 99% of games absolutely maxed at 1080p because PC development is stagnant due to consoles.

This all boils down to whether someone is a nerd obsessed with the highest settings "just because" and wants the latest or greatest (note: I fit in this category). Clearly some people like bragging rights and running all of the latest gizmo features in their games while others don't care and prefer functionality -- I like having the latest or greatest, but if I just wanted good performance 580s are just fine. So the answer to this question really rests with the OP -- does he want functional performance or the latest and greatest? I'd say 580 has great functional performance. IMHO.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I have plenty of horsepower and I guess I must be blind because I CANT see a difference between crysis 2 on extreme or ultra. You're welcome to post screenshots if you think otherwise. If you're suggesting there is a big difference visually in crysis 2 or metro 2033 between maxed settings and 1 notch down, i'd say someone else may be blind.

This all boils down to whether someone is a nerd obsessed with the highest settings "just because" or whether he wants the latest or greatest. Clearly some people like bragging rights and running all of the latest gizmo features in their games while others don't care and prefer functionality -- I like having the latest or greatest, but if I just wanted good performance 580s are just fine.

Screenshots never tell the whole story. Games in motion have things going on that may change.

I'm not saying a 580 isn't fine, I'm saying a 680 is faster and there are a few titles that can even make a single 670 or 680 feel a little sluggish. If you want to turn stuff down that's up to you, personally I don't so I want to have a card that can make the games playable at max detail.

 

[2is]

I don't like those games. I think they suck to be honest. They are graphically intensive though.
Sometimes I wonder if people are honestly into those games or if they "play" them (benchmark, screw around a bit then exit). Or invest hours like an old Counterstrike addict would. I do have Skyrim and have played a few of the others but skipped BF3 and skipped ALL the Crysis titles. I've played them a little bit, but they're pretty much garbage.

I play more old worn in games like L4D2. No performance issues there.

I play BF3 because I think it's the best multiplayer shooter around. The graphics are a nice plus. I also enjoyed crisis, but that's the type of game I play through once and uninstall, but i did play it ALL the way theough, that includes warhead as well as crysis 2. ive never bought a game to benchmark it and simply exit. just because you think the games are garage doesn't mean everyone who buys them does so to benchmark and exit. That would be dumb, as is assuming that's what everyone is doing just because you don't like the game.

 

[Obsoleet]

Why are you even replying here then? Nobody playing a old ass game engine like Source would ask if they should upgrade to a GTX 680.

The games I mentioned are so far from garbage I don't even know if I can believe you're serious. You must be a joke.



Don't need? Who are you to say what I need!? Why play games on PC if you aren't going to run them at the highest settings. Aside from a few titles, you can just play all games on console. Why not just do that?

It does make a difference, you gotta be blind.

Nah, Crysis is universally panned as a "game" and only noobs seriously play it, at least in professional gaming circles it's considered that. Prob different for plebes. You start it up, screw around, then go back to a real game. Not worth buying a 680 for. Not my cup of tea, because guys like me are keeping kids like you from stepping into a QuakeLive/CS/CSS/(CSGo in a month) match that probably isn't very fun for you and you "don't like" because you're getting scrubbed out. Not that if the userbase of those games migrated to Crysis, it wouldn't run out the noobs.

....Stick with Crysis.

 

[Obsoleet]

I play BF3 because I think it's the best multiplayer shooter around. The graphics are a nice plus. I also enjoyed crisis, but that's the type of game I play through once and uninstall, but i did play it ALL the way theough, that includes warhead as well as crysis 2. ive never bought a game to benchmark it and simply exit. just because you think the games are garage doesn't mean everyone who buys them does so to benchmark and exit. That would be dumb, as is assuming that's what everyone is doing just because you don't like the game.

BF3 is ok, when I tried it, was a little buggy for my taste which kind of turned me off of it since. I played a lot of DesertCombat though and BF2.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Nah, Crysis is universally panned as a "game" and only noobs seriously play it, at least in professional gaming circles it's considered that. Prob different for plebes. You start it up, screw around, then go back to a real game. Not worth buying a 680 for. Not my cup of tea, because guys like me are keeping kids like you from stepping into a QuakeLive/CS/CSS/(CSGo in a month) match that probably isn't very fun for you and you "don't like" because you're getting scrubbed out. Not that if the userbase of those games migrated to Crysis, it wouldn't run out the noobs.

....Stick with Crysis.

What are you talking about? Your rambling seriously made no sense.

Did you read what we were talking about? Games that make even a new card seem a bit sluggish in parts at 1920x1200. I mentioned Crysis 2. Professional gaming lol...

You're acting out the typical internet tough guy here. "You don't play real games cause you suck". Yeah while you're playing that old stuff we're playing Battlefield 3 and UT3. Maybe we don't play those old games because we've moved on to more sophisticated titles that released.

Nobody, and I assure you it wasn't implied anywhere, was saying buy a 680 for one game. We're only mentioning titles where it benefits the player in terms of performance. I'm sure I'm not the only one who revisits a game they played before that made their card struggle heavily when they upgrade. Crysis is one of those titles, as is Metro, Batman and others I mentioned.

If all I played was source games I would have never upgraded anything from Socket 775.

 

[Obsoleet]

What are you talking about? Your rambling seriously made no sense.

Did you read what we were talking about? Games that make even a new card seem a bit sluggish in parts at 1920x1200. I mentioned Crysis 2. Professional gaming lol...

You're acting out the typical internet tough guy here. "You don't play real games cause you suck". Yeah while you're playing that old stuff we're playing Battlefield 3 and UT3. Maybe we don't play those old games because we've moved on to more sophisticated titles that released.

Nobody, and I assure you it wasn't implied anywhere, was saying buy a 680 for one game. We're only mentioning titles where it benefits the player in terms of performance. I'm sure I'm not the only one who revisits a game they played before that made their card struggle heavily when they upgrade. Crysis is one of those titles, as is Metro, Batman and others I mentioned.

If all I played was source games I would have never upgraded anything from Socket 775.

That's just wrong. I can hop in a UT3 or BF3 game and ruin your night. The competition just isn't in those games, as there's no competitive scene of any stature. That means no fun, pub stomping gets old quick. There's some appeal to BF3 but not to Crysis. That's the sign of someone who just built their first PC. If you're not competitive or can't compete at a high level, Crysis is probably as good as it gets. Crysis is probably ok if that's 'where you're at'.

 

[cmdrdredd]

That's just wrong. I can hop in a UT3 or BF3 game and ruin your night. The competition just isn't in those games, as there's no competitive scene of any stature. That means no fun, pub stomping gets old quick. There's some appeal to BF3 but not to Crysis. That's the sign of someone who just built their first PC. If you're not competitive or can't compete at a high level, Crysis is probably as good as it gets. Crysis is probably ok if that's 'where you're at'.

Whatever...keep believing that.

And please drop the lame internet tough guy act. Nobody here cares. "I'll ruin your night" is pretty childish an attitude.

Also, telling someone that the only reason to play a game is for the multiplayer is very close minded. You think I just built my first PC and you think I play crysis for the multiplayer? Where do you get your delusions? Anyone who plays Skyrim, Batman, Metro 2033, Max Payne 3, or any other game where the meat of the experience isn't necessarily competition online is a noob to you is that it?

Games are supposed to be fun, don't feed me the "pro gaming" BS.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

What are you talking about? Your rambling seriously made no sense.

Did you read what we were talking about? Games that make even a new card seem a bit sluggish in parts at 1920x1200. I mentioned Crysis 2. Professional gaming lol...

You're acting out the typical internet tough guy here. "You don't play real games cause you suck". Yeah while you're playing that old stuff we're playing Battlefield 3 and UT3. Maybe we don't play those old games because we've moved on to more sophisticated titles that released.

Nobody, and I assure you it wasn't implied anywhere, was saying buy a 680 for one game. We're only mentioning titles where it benefits the player in terms of performance. I'm sure I'm not the only one who revisits a game they played before that made their card struggle heavily when they upgrade. Crysis is one of those titles, as is Metro, Batman and others I mentioned.

If all I played was source games I would have never upgraded anything from Socket 775.

Still $500+ is allot of money to spend just so you can run a few "stickler" games on maxed settings at 60fps+.

 

[Jaydip]

Whatever...keep believing that.

And please drop the lame internet tough guy act. Nobody here cares. "I'll ruin your night" is pretty childish an attitude.

Also, telling someone that the only reason to play a game is for the multiplayer is very close minded. You think I just built my first PC and you think I play crysis for the multiplayer? Where do you get your delusions? Anyone who plays Skyrim, Batman, Metro 2033, Max Payne 3, or any other game where the meat of the experience isn't necessarily competition online is a noob to you is that it?

Games are supposed to be fun, don't feed me the "pro gaming" BS.

Absolutely agree here."Pro gamer" lol,they have nothing better to do except gaming :biggrin: On a slight off topic games have become a bit easier now a days unquestionably.I think it can be partly blamed for the console audiences.I liked shooters like Quake 3 where u needed real skills to succeed.But on topic a 580 is a solid card but 680 is just better overall.There are some decisions which u have to take on ur own,no tech forums can help u regarding that.If u have spare money grab a 680 and call it a day

 

[Gordon Freemen]

Absolutely agree here."Pro gamer" lol,they have nothing better to do except gaming :biggrin: On a slight off topic games have become a bit easier now a days unquestionably.I think it can be partly blamed for the console audiences.I liked shooters like Quake 3 where u needed real skills to succeed.But on topic a 580 is a solid card but 680 is just better overall.There are some decisions which u have to take on ur own,no tech forums can help u regarding that.If u have spare money grab a 680 and call it a day

For Pro gamers it is a money making "JOB" for the rest of us it is a money draining "Hobby". Also there is like less than 12 Pro gamers that actually make a living gaming and ya LOL. GTX 580 is still a great beastly option for one monitor even better than a 680/7970 when price comes into the equation.