GTX 760 Dilemma

[Subyman]

I recently built an ITX system that originally had a 7970 in it. I sold the 7970 before the R series came out to maximize the value and installed an MSI GTX 760 Gaming in it. Its been fine for 1080p, but I'm planning to run it on my 1440p or dabble with 1080p 144hz in the future.

Originally, I thought I'd pick up another 760 and move to an mATX board for SLI, but since Nvidia didn't drop the price of the 760's it is hard to spend ~$280 on an MSI gaming when either a GTX780 could be had for $499 or a R8 280X is only $20 more.

Here are my main options:

1. Sell GTX 760 and move to a GTX 780 or potentially a R9 290X/290
2. Sell ITX board and buy mATX board, have fun building in another case and add a GTX 760 for SLI.
3. Sell ITX board, sell GTX 760, buy R8 280X and mATX board, build another case and potentially crossfire another 280X.

I hoped Nvidia would drop the GTX 760 price, right now its hard to consider it with the R8 280X so close in price.

 

[raghu78]

at 1440p the GTX 780 and R9 290 / R9 290X are better choices. wait for nov 5th R9 290 launch reviews and then decide on the card.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

It's a shame that nvidia didn't decrease prices for the 760. It was a great value when it débuted at ~$250, but the price of everything else has since dropped while the 760 held steady at that price point.

I would tend to agree with you that adding another 760 doesn't make a lot of sense value-wise, but then you also have to take into account the fact that you'll inevitably lose money reselling the 760 (if you don't have another use for it).

The 760 suits my needs fine for 1440p, but I'm only playing Dota 2 at the moment. If I were buying a new card, I'd probably get a 780 at today's prices (Dota seems to run smoother on nVidia hardware).

 

[Teizo]

760 SLI is fast. It is faster than any single card out there according to the numbers I get. If you go that route, you will not be let down imho. Two 760s for $520 are allot faster than a single 780 (at stock that is).

My MSI 760 clock up to 1293mhz core (I have gotten to 1306 on a single card), and 7600mhz memory. I normally run them 1280/7400 without issue and get 100+ in every game except Crysis 3 (I still break 100, but most of the time I am 65+ with the occasional drop to the mid 40s).

I still think they are a decent value @ $260, but the R9 280X @ $310 is a good deal.

 

[Subyman]

The good part about the 760 is they sip power, which would be best for a smaller mAT build. I guess I'll wait to see what the R9 290 offers. Maybe there will be some good deals on the 760 during the holidays or maybe nvidia will do some more price shuffling.

 

[Teizo]

Even overclocked to the max, my max power draw according to my killawatt P3 in Crysis 3 is barely over 500 watts peak, so your PSU will be fine. Most of the time I am around 425-450 watts or so, and at stock my system doesn't break 400 watts hardly. Just to give you an idea.

 

[raghu78]

OP if you intend to go to 1440p , GTX 760 is out. if your current card is 2GB its a poor choice for 1440p even with SLI due to VRAM bottlenecks.

 

[moonbogg]

OP if you intend to go to 1440p , GTX 760 is out. if your current card is 2GB its a poor choice for 1440p even with SLI due to VRAM bottlenecks.

Yep. Time for the Vram police to show up and restore order. 2GB is lacking at 1440p in some newer games. I'm changing my name to VramCop.

 

[Subyman]

I picked up a Asus Maximus Gene IV 2011 mATX to do the SLI/crossfire build. Finally going 2011. I don't think 2GB is going to slow me down that much. I'll most likely only use this GPU setup for 6 months or so. I'm not kidding myself that I want it future proof haha.

 

[Teizo]

I don't think 2GB is going to slow me down that much. I'll most likely only use this GPU setup for 6 months or so. I'm not kidding myself that I want it future proof haha.

It won't. It is not ideal perhaps, but it will still do OK in SLI. Single card, maybe not so much. Linus had two 760s in SLI on a 4K TV running just fine. Ok, nothing runs 4K just fine, but they put up decent numbers all things considered.

Although, if you are going to use two cards, two R9 280Xs will be beastly absolutely no doubt for the price if AMD can get their drivers right. You would likely have to upgrade to the 860 Seasonic Plat though.

edit - vid for reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdrw-FIhfZs

 

[Subyman]

I'm considering doing the R9 280X's, but I think they draw a lot of power if they are like the 7970 I had. I'll put together the 2011 system and then see what the 290 offers on the 5th. Two 280X's would be awesome. I need to look up the crossfire benchmarks on those.

 

[NTMBK]

Hold onto your setup and wait until after Christmas- there's likely to be another round of price corrections after the 780Ti/Ultra/whatever comes out. And do yourself a favour and go single card- packing that much power into an iTX case is just damn cool.

 

[Subyman]

I've got a full ATX PSU, 3570k, and 760 in a Silverstone SG05 right now and it is pretty sweet. I'm wanting to move to a mATX build though for 2011

 

[ZGR]

GTX 760 SLI would probably be beaten by only the GTX 780 ti or R9 290X. It often beats Titan in many games.

I'd check out R9 290 reviews when they are out or look at the GTX 780. The R9 290X reference runs too hot IMO, especially if it will be in an ITX based system.

The GTX 780 ti will be quite pricey, but it will be the fastest single card you can get your hands on. Hopefully some aftermarket R9 290X's can give some overclocking ability to match.

If you are going 2011, then you have to go all out and get a nice Crossfire/SLI build.

 

[snouter]

My GTX760 SLI seems to do a good job with BF4 on 1440p.

On the other hand, you could probably get ok money for the GTX760 if sold used now. That is one benefit of it not getting a price cut.