[- Paul -]

Hello!

I currently have a GTX 460 and would like to upgrade as it's still the bottleneck in my i7 system.

I will need to buy a new motherboard so would like recommendations for them but my main question is

Am I better buying another GTX460 and setting up in sli or would I be better off replacing my card with a new (faster) one (bearing in mind I'd have to buy a new mobo aswell)

Cheers.



More details about my computer


Component Details Subscore Base score
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz 7.4
Determined by lowest subscore

Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB 7.5
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 7.7
Gaming graphics 4095 MB Total available graphics memory 7.7
Primary hard disk 302GB Free (442GB Total) 5.9
Windows 7 Professional

System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model Precision T1500
Total amount of system memory 8.00 GB RAM
System type 64-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 4

Storage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total size of hard disk(s) 3717 GB
Disk partition (C 302 GB Free (442 GB Total)
Disk partition (D 244 GB Free (932 GB Total)
Media drive (E CD/DVD
Disk partition (F 769 GB Free (1397 GB Total)
Disk partition (G 394 GB Free (932 GB Total)
Disk partition (I 890 MB Free (15 GB Total)

Graphics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter type NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
Total available graphics memory 4095 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 1024 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 3071 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.17.12.9036
Primary monitor resolution 1920x1080
DirectX version DirectX 10

[Graaf_van_Vlaanderen]

About a month ago I built a new computer.
Case: Antec Three Hundred and a 650W Antec PSU
I've chosen the following CPU and Asus motherboard to be able to overclock.

System Software / Hardware Information

Hardware:
Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K @ 3.40GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ASUS P8P67, Chipset: Intel 2nd Generation Core Family DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 500GB Seagate ST500DM002-1BC14, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 1024MB (810/2004MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC892, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168B

Software:
OS: Ubuntu 11.10, Kernel: 3.0.0-15-generic (x86_64), Desktop: KDE 4.7.3, Display Server: X Server 1.10.4, Display Driver: NVIDIA 290.10, OpenGL: 4.2.0 NVIDIA 290.10, Compiler: GCC 4.6.1, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080

If you can wait a couple of months Intel will release its new CPUs of the 'Ivy Bridge' architecture. The memory in my setup is DDR3 1600MHz Corsair.
For the record all my storage is on a FreeBSD ZFS filesystem file server.

[TimZ]

I've built many computers before so I think I have a clue what I'm talking about
I would really wait just a month or two until nvidia releases the next series in their gpu line up. ATI has already released their new gpu series and nvidia will follow very quickly.
As for motherboard upgrades, it will better to upgrade your motherboard and CPU at the same time. That could end up being more expensive than the gpu replacement and your just going to end up upgrading both things probably within the year.

I would wait a few months, intel will release more of their new CPUs and they will be much lower in price.
I'm on he same boat as you. I currently have a 480 gtx and a x58 motherboard with a i7 920 at 4 ghz
I need to upgrade my gpu and want to upgrade my board and CPU but I'm playing the waiting game for a bit

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by TimZ

I would wait a few months, intel will release more of their new CPUs and they will be much lower in price.

This guy knows his stuff.

The latest rumor's on nVidia's first next generation release (GK104), expected launch moved up to February to match AMD's early January launch, speeds much faster than AMD's 7970, most rumor's say it beats the 7970 in all areas.

The most interested article i read was from semiaccurate, which have a reputation for being completely anti-nVidia. They even said that the next GeForce card will 'beat in all areas' the 7970. Read the comments, his readers can't even believe he said it.

http://semiaccurate.com/2012/01/19/n...-clear-winner/


On a different topic, seems like you are trying to upgrade a Dell prefab computer. I would probably not attempt this, and start from scratch on a new computer wholely. The reason being that Dell tweaks all their components to work with their own system. Which makes getting compatible replacement parts a hassle when not using Dell directly for the upgrade.

In march, Ivy Bridge will release on the LGA 1155 socket. This will come with motherboards that have PCI-E 3.0, quad-channel ram, and native USB 3.0. In addition to the new tri-gate transistors in the Ivy Bridge chip, the die shrink down to 22nm will let you run the chip with 'less power: more performance'.


To go back to your original question though, why do you think you'll need a new mobo to upgrade a video card?
There shouldn't be an compatibility issues between your pci-e 2.0 and the latest cards come out. Even the stuff rated at PCI-e 3.0 right now can still run off a pci-e 2.0. The only reason I can think of is because you have a dell, and they put in ducting into the case. Perhaps you don't have enough physical room for a bigger card? But you can always remove the ducting.

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

This guy knows his stuff.

The latest rumor's on nVidia's first next generation release (GK104), expected launch moved up to February to match AMD's early January launch, speeds much faster than AMD's 7970, most rumor's say it beats the 7970 in all areas.

The most interested article i read was from semiaccurate, which have a reputation for being completely anti-nVidia. They even said that the next GeForce card will 'beat in all areas' the 7970. Read the comments, his readers can't even believe he said it.

http://semiaccurate.com/2012/01/19/n...-clear-winner/


On a different topic, seems like you are trying to upgrade a Dell prefab computer. I would probably not attempt this, and start from scratch on a new computer wholely. The reason being that Dell tweaks all their components to work with their own system. Which makes getting compatible replacement parts a hassle when not using Dell directly for the upgrade.

In march, Ivy Bridge will release on the LGA 1155 socket. This will come with motherboards that have PCI-E 3.0, quad-channel ram, and native USB 3.0. In addition to the new tri-gate transistors in the Ivy Bridge chip, the die shrink down to 22nm will let you run the chip with 'less power: more performance'.


To go back to your original question though, why do you think you'll need a new mobo to upgrade a video card?
There shouldn't be an compatibility issues between your pci-e 2.0 and the latest cards come out. Even the stuff rated at PCI-e 3.0 right now can still run off a pci-e 2.0. The only reason I can think of is because you have a dell, and they put in ducting into the case. Perhaps you don't have enough physical room for a bigger card? But you can always remove the ducting.

It is a dell mobo - its out of the original case and in a full size now. I added the 460, added ram and upgraded the psu aswell. New mobo needed only if I decide to SLI two cards. Is it worth (or possible) to sli the 460 with a faster card? - My main question is really - buy another 460 for sli (inlc new mobo) or buy new graphics card that is fast as two sli 460's. My CPU never goes above 35% load on any game. I only play at 1080p (thats max for my screen)

[UltimateBMW]

I've never been a big fan of SLI unless you are running massive resolutions, ie multi-monitor setups. Since you are running a pretty standard resolution for today's market, I would suggest upgrading to a single better card. It'll save you a short term headache of having to build only half a system and maintain compatibility with other components you currently have.

SLI also creates quirks every once in a while. Most modern games should be fine on it, because they test for it now. But even still, I've seen new games come out with strange SLI issues. It's just overall simpler to have 1 fast card over 2 medium cards. Plus, you always know your card is running at max capacity.

[3lusive]

I would go with one faster card over two in sli. While the 460 is still a powerful card, buying another faster card will "futureproof" you a little bit more over having two in SLI.

[Templar]

A lot of people I know say having two cards in SLI is more of a "bragging" point than it is actually logical (for most users anyway).

I have a great desktop still, overpaid a while ago and spent money on an Alienware, but the computer is now almost 5 years old. I am looking to probably build my own soon. I'll probably salvage some from my current desktop (like the DDR3 I have is pretty new, and the hard drives are new too due to an issue I had a few months back).

I'll be waiting a little while though, because I want to wait until some of the better stuff comes out so the prices on current stuff goes down.

[- Paul -]

So what video card should I be looking at to replace the 460? - I normally only replace with something that's near twice as fast.

[UltimateBMW]

What is your budget and time frame?

Rumors on the next nVidia cards are that it will beat the new AMD stuff in every way. The GK104 will be out in 1-2 months for a rumored $299.

[TimZ]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

What is your budget and time frame?

Rumors on the next nVidia cards are that it will beat the new AMD stuff in every way. The GK104 will be out in 1-2 months for a rumored $299.

Yea you need a budget before you even consider a new card. You can go up to 800 dollars on a new card.

[SpunkyXL]

I just SLi'd my GTX 580's.. Runs all my games on max settings on (2560 x 1600). Comp runs hot though!! Make sure you have a big case