When & What? GPU Upgrade path/plan for HD6990

[Tinsley847]

I know I am jumping the gun a bit on GPU upgrading. I'm just a huge believer in having a plan (even a loose one) for what I want to do next. My guess is that it will make the most sense for me to make the leap when the next generation is released.

Also when I bought the 6990, I knew very little about what I was doing. I had no idea that I should have been buying (2) 6970 instead. Also, I'm pretty sure since I only run 1 monitor, that it was the wrong GPU for me all together.

System Specifications:

I. Processor/CPU: I5-3570k, No Overclock.

Edit: I might make a simultaneous jump to an i7-3770k when I buy my GPU upgrade.


II. Current Graphics Card: HIS Radeon HD 6990 4 GB, No Overclock.


III. Display Resolution: 1920x1080 (I only use 1 monitor)


IV. Power Supply Unit Specification (Brand, Wattage, Ampage, Age). If possible, please provide a link to a website containing the power supply specifications: If I need a bigger PSU, I will buy one. So, this shouldn’t factor in too much. Currently using a Coolermaster 850w, 80plus bronze.


V. Case Specifications(N/A, Model, Length, Low Profile, Cooling, HTPC, Water, Silent): Thermaltake Overseer RX-I | Black Full Tower


Purchase Details:

I. Budget? Please be sure to include currency (If not USD), retailer preferences & specify whether rebates are a viable option. $500-$1000 & I typically order from Newegg, Tiger Direct, or Amazon.


II. Any particular preferences (Manufacturer[nV or AMD], Brand[XFX, Sapphire, EVGA, etc], Cooling Solutions)? I don’t want to aftermarket cool anything. I also prefer not to overclock.

I’m getting to the point where I support AMD simply because I don’t agree with PhysX implementation. Biggest issue being, the disabling of a secondary nvidia card in a primary amd rig.
However, it really sucks to spend $800 for a gpu solution (6990) and still have to turn graphical settings down or off (PhysX). I know it is just eye candy, but that’s kinda what you expect to get with a top end gpu.


III. Do you plan to have any Multi-GPU solutions such asCrossfire or SLI? I’m not sure. The closest I have gotten to xfire is a 6990.


IV. Have you previously looked at a product(s) which you feel would fit your needs? I was looking at the GTX 680 4gb as a possible upgrade. But I’m debating if I should wait till the next gen gpu’s are released from amd/nvidia.


V. What are your needs for this GPU? Which games(If any)do you intend to play? If you have this information at hand, what are the desired detail levels?
Battlefield 3: Max Settings
Borderlands 2: Max Settings
Starcraft 2 Heart of the swarm: Max Settings
Crysis 3: As high as I can get w/ a stock 3570k.
Not released yet…
Dead Island Riptide: Max Settings
Battlefield 4: Max Settings

I like to play whatever is new for the most part. I tend to buy a lot of AAA games and then finish a small percentage of them lol.


VI. Do you plan on overclocking the card you intend to purchase? No.

 

[thilanliyan]

Wait until the next gen is released unless you're desperate to change. No one really knows what is coming and your questions will be better answered when they do come.

 

[Greenlepricon]

Unless you want to lose the dual gpu fast, or are seeing some problems, I would keep it for now. That's a really capable card and is overkill for a single monitor. If you want the best, a high-end next generation card will do the trick. We're still waiting for those to appear though.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

It is approx as fast as a 7970ghz in recent games in terms of fps. But since it is a dual card, I would say the gaming experience won't be better than a 7950 stock in terms of smoothness etc. A 7950 stock is not overkill at 1080p no as and neither is a 7970ghz.

A 7970ghz will give similar fps in most games but will be much smoother. The good news is that if you sell this card then you won't need to invest much to buy a 7970ghz. A 690 or titan is a true upgrade but will still need to be replaced in 2014 mid tops.

 

[werd]

It is approx as fast as a 7970ghz in recent games in terms of fps. But since it is a dual card, I would say the gaming experience won't be better than a 7950 stock in terms of smoothness etc.

LOL

 

[werd]

Follow up post to you OP since like you I have a dual GPU solution from AMD (two 6970s).

So, if your current card is similar to my 6970s (and it is), it should be able to max all those games you mentioned really except crysis 3. I also run a 3770K. I would suggest that you stick it out until the next iteration. Don't believe subjective statements that your card will give you "about the same game experience as a 7950"--your card is much faster. Microstuttering *IS* an issue, but if you download a program called RadeonPro and use dynamic vysnc so that the minimum framerate never drops below whatever you define, you will not perceive any frame latency/microstuttering, and this comes with the added benefit of not having the typical super super super shitty response time lag that is associated with normal vysnc. For example, I run crysis3 frame limited at 50 FPS and it (almost) never drops below this, and it runs quite smooth at this without microstutter. If you want to pay like $600+ to improve your situation you can, but I'd wait.

 

[alcoholbob]

LOL

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/515?vs=508

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Titan

/thread

 

[werd]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/515?vs=508

why dont you link the card he mentioned in my quote mr red panda

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/515?vs=550

 

[Tinsley847]

I think I have experienced the micro stutter in borderlands 2. My gf & I play side by side, and sometimes my card has hiccups that she doesn't. She is only running a 7950 Boost & a worse cpu than me. So seeing her computer perform better than mine is what sparked my thoughts and planning. You guys are always great to reply and help. I will educate myself on micro stutter and possible solutions.

 

[vampirr]

Don't upgrade to i7 3770k for gaming, not worth it at all... Not the Haswell as well.

 

[SolMiester]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/515?vs=508

So where the game is CPU limited, they are close?

 

[Tinsley847]

Follow up post to you OP since like you I have a dual GPU solution from AMD (two 6970s).

So, if your current card is similar to my 6970s (and it is), it should be able to max all those games you mentioned really except crysis 3. I also run a 3770K. I would suggest that you stick it out until the next iteration. Don't believe subjective statements that your card will give you "about the same game experience as a 7950"--your card is much faster. Microstuttering *IS* an issue, but if you download a program called RadeonPro and use dynamic vysnc so that the minimum framerate never drops below whatever you define, you will not perceive any frame latency/microstuttering, and this comes with the added benefit of not having the typical super super super shitty response time lag that is associated with normal vysnc. For example, I run crysis3 frame limited at 50 FPS and it (almost) never drops below this, and it runs quite smooth at this without microstutter. If you want to pay like $600+ to improve your situation you can, but I'd wait.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good Radeon Pro guide for creating profiles. The software is overwhelming for a first time user. A lot of settings to choose from. All I would like to do, is use the adaptive v-sync.

I'm hoping adaptive v-sync will be better than the built in v-sync on Sim City. Without v-sync, I get terrible tearing in the screen. Then with v-sync on, it is much better. But then when moving across a map it will studder step every once in a while, which I guess is the low quality v-sync?