GTX 770: Too much, or just right?

[Tymell]

Hi all,

I've been out of the loop with PC gaming for quite a few years now, and am planning on getting back in again soon, currently working on putting together a solid gaming computer for just that. Someone strongly suggested the Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 for the graphics card, and while it does look like a very nice piece it also pushes the whole thing to the upper end of my budget.

I can afford it, but I'm concerned it might be overkill. To give it some context, as I say this is a gaming build, but with online gaming being less important to me (MMOs in particular I have next to no interest in). And while I of course like my games to look good, I'm not someone who insists on mind-blowing graphics in order to enjoy a game. I want a good graphics card primarily so I can get plenty of games (current and future) to work. How nice they look -while- they work is a bonus.

I realise it probably boils down to "you get what you pay for", and that investing more now might pay off later. But it could also be that something this high end might be wasted on my purposes.

More informed opinions on the matter would be much appreciated, as would any suggestions of alternatives that will still get the job done

 

[notty22]

It helps to list out what the rest of the computer build will be.
cpu
psu
monitor /resolution
budget for gpu /over all
what you are using or came from for PC gaming

A gtx 660 or 7850 might be right for you at half the price, it's hard to quantify.

 

[Tymell]

Currently I'm looking at the following:

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3570K CPU
Motherboard: AsRock Z77 Extreme4
PSU: Corsair Builder Series CXM 500W

Monitor I haven't decided on yet, but probably not something too fancy.

I pretty much stopped PC gaming around 2006/2007, when I had to shift to using laptops and got most of my gaming fix via consoles.

 

[Kenmitch]

Currently I'm looking at the following:

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3570K CPU
Motherboard: AsRock Z77 Extreme4
PSU: Corsair Builder Series CXM 500W

Monitor I haven't decided on yet, but probably not something too fancy.

I pretty much stopped PC gaming around 2006/2007, when I had to shift to using laptops and got most of my gaming fix via consoles.

Nothing to fancy would be 1080p most likely.

Guess it would depend on what games interest you.

The GTX 660 could work. I'd skip the 7850 for a 7870 at least.

 

[toyota]

at least 8gb of ram I hope. and that psu not really a good choice for a gaming pc. for just 15-25 bucks more you can have a much higher quality psu that is better suited for a higher end gaming pc.

only you can make up your mind if you want a 770 or not. it is certainly not overkill at all as even now you will have to turn down settings in the most demanding games and upcoming games will be even more demanding.

 

[Tymell]

Nothing to fancy would be 1080p most likely.

Guess it would depend on what games interest you.

Right now it's more about catching up on all the games I've had to ignore over the past 6 years or so, but in time I'll be moving on to recent ones, and that's where I wouldn't want to be left behind too much.

at least 8gb of ram I hope.

8GB indeed, at least to start, possibility of adding more later.

and that psu not really a good choice for a gaming pc. for just 15-25 bucks more you can have a much higher quality psu that is better suited for a higher end gaming pc.

Any particular recommendations?

only you can make up your mind if you want a 770 or not. it is certainly not overkill at all as even now you will have to turn down settings in the most demanding games and upcoming games will be even more demanding.

For me it's mostly about being able to get games to work. Maxed out settings isn't something I've ever been concerned about, even if it'd also be nice to have more than minimum settings too.

 

[lagokc]

If the 770 is a bit more than you want to spend, keep in mind the 760 should be released sometime this week with nearly the same performance but for $100 less. Though if you really only want to run at modest settings a 650Ti Boost will run everything comfortably. I've actually not come across a game that the 7750 can't handle well provided AA and AS are kept down to 2x which at 1080p is plenty.

 

[toyota]

If the 770 is a bit more than you want to spend, keep in mind the 760 should be released sometime this week with nearly the same performance but for $100 less. Though if you really only want to run at modest settings a 650Ti Boost will run everything comfortably. I've actually not come across a game that the 7750 can't handle well provided AA and AS are kept down to 2x which at 1080p is plenty.

you are acting as if you only have to turn down AA to 2x for the 7750 to play games at 1080. lol thats nonsense as the 7750 will have to turn down many settings in the more damning games and AA usually wont even be an option. I have to turn down settings in many games and dont even use MSAA and my gpu is 2.5 x faster than yours. maybe you like getting just 30 fps averages though.

 

[goobee]

It sounds like a good 6-series will suit you just fine since you will be focusing on older games for the time being. In a year or two, that 770 will have dropped in price considerably or something better/cheaper may be available. IMO, you can't go wrong with a 660TI or 670, especially since maxing out eye candy and FPS is not a priority.

 

[lagokc]

you are acting as if you only have to turn down AA to 2x for the 7750 to play games at 1080. lol thats nonsense as the 7750 will have to turn down many settings in the more damning games and AA usually wont even be an option. I have to turn down settings in many games and dont even use MSAA and my gpu is 2.5 x faster than yours. maybe you like getting just 30 fps averages though.

Depends on the game. I have not tried Far Cry Blood Dragon yet, but Shogun 2 and the Tomb Raider reboot both run just fine. If OP doesn't care that much about graphics and is going to be catching up on games from the last few years then anything from the 650Ti Boost to the 760 should be adequate.

 

[toyota]

Depends on the game. I have not tried Far Cry Blood Dragon yet, but Shogun 2 and the Tomb Raider reboot both run just fine. If OP doesn't care that much about graphics and is going to be catching up on games from the last few years then anything from the 650Ti Boost to the 760 should be adequate.

well yes I was referring to newer games. and you most certainly don't run Tomb Raider with only turning down the AA to 2x. not even close. you would have to be running no AA or just FXAA and have several other settings turned down just to get 30 fps with a 7750. not trying to bust your balls but I just dont like seeing expected performance exaggerated when someone is looking for advice.

EDIT: just ran the Tomb Raider benchmark with max settings and 2x AA and got 30.3 fps. and that is with an oced gtx660 ti that would be well over 2.5 faster than a stock 7750.

 

[Tymell]

Thanks the the replies and advice folks

For now I'm going to wait and see how prices change: I'm not actually intending on purchasing anything until I next get paid (end of the month) anyway, so I'll see where things stand then, but for now I probably am leaning towards something slightly lesser, since it sounds like a 6-series (or even the 760) could give me a cheaper option that'll cover my needs for the time being.

 

[JTsyo]

If the 770 is a bit more than you want to spend, keep in mind the 760 should be released sometime this week with nearly the same performance but for $100 less. Though if you really only want to run at modest settings a 650Ti Boost will run everything comfortably. I've actually not come across a game that the 7750 can't handle well provided AA and AS are kept down to 2x which at 1080p is plenty.

760 or 760 Ti due this week?

 

[lagokc]

760 or 760 Ti due this week?

Judging by the images from Computex, what people had been calling the 760Ti is going to be called the 760. Either way what you should expect is a 670 rebadged as a 760 and possibly with higher core/memory clocks for ~$300. Whether nVidia will go back in and put something between the $300 760 and the $400 770 is anyone's guess.

 

[lagokc]

just ran the Tomb Raider benchmark with max settings and 2x AA and got 30.3 fps. and that is with an oced gtx660 ti that would be well over 2.5 faster than a stock 7750.

Found your problem.

 

[toyota]

Found your problem.

lol have you even followed our own conversation? go back and look at everything we just said. it goes all the way back to you acting like just turning down AA to 2x is the only graphical concession that you have to make in games with a 7750.

 

[lagokc]

lol have you even followed our own conversation? go back and look at everything we just said. it goes all the way back to you acting like just turning down AA to 2x is the only graphical concession that you have to make in games with a 7750.

Have you been following it?

If OP doesn't care that much about graphics and is going to be catching up on games from the last few years then anything from the 650Ti Boost to the 760 should be adequate.

Not everyone cares about turning the texture quality from high to max.

 

[toyota]

Have you been following it?



Not everyone cares about turning the texture quality from high to max.

you are not making the least bit of sense now. follow the full conversation between me and you instead of taking my posts of context.

 

[RussianSensation]

For me it's mostly about being able to get games to work. Maxed out settings isn't something I've ever been concerned about, even if it'd also be nice to have more than minimum settings too.

$400 cards are best suited for those who upgrade very often. You should at least drop down to $280-285 HD7950 V2 with 4 free games:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202003

Instead of spending $400 on 7970GE/770 card and keeping it for 4+ years, it's a lot better to get 7950 V2 card and pocket $115 savings towards a future upgrade.

The card that's slated to arrive from NV by end of June is GTX760, not 760Ti. 760Ti has been slated for August 2013:

http://videocardz.com/42960/nvidia-geforce-gtx-760-to-be-released-on-june-25th

If you are not a huge gamer and you do not mind upgrading more frequently (every 1.5-2 years), since you are just getting into gaming, perhaps you can start off with GTX660 2GB for $171 after 10% off:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121660

This is a good card to start off. I would not go below GTX660/7870.

Let's break it down for you:

GTX660 for $171 = 100% (or $1.71 per 1% in performance)
HD7950 V2 for $285 = 121% (or $2.35 per 1% in performance)
GTX770 for $400 = 153% (or $2.61 per 1% in performance)
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/grafikkarten/2013/nvidia-geforce-gtx-770-im-test/4/

The more expensive the card, usually the worse value it is. What makes 7950 a little bit special is because it can overclock to reach GTX770/7970GE in performance (so a 7950 @ 1100-1150mhz would get you 150% in performance for $285 or about $1.90 per 1%, plus you get 4 free games that don't come with the 660). If you are not overclocking, it's a lot better to grab something like a GTX660 and then upgrade again in 2-3 years, rather than buying a $400 card and keeping it for 4-5 years. Buying a $400-500 card and keeping it long term is an ill-advised PC building strategy because over the last 15+ years, this strategy has proven that it costs a lot more over time and is a far less effective way to future-proof your PC for next gen games rather than buying $200-250 GPUs and upgrading more frequently. Also, if you buy a $400-500 card and keep it for 4-5 years, you end up with outdated feature set but every 2 years new GPU architectures keep bringing cool new features/IQ improvements/VRAM increases, etc.