Hardware Decision for V3.0

[G-YMML1 582]

I'm not starting this topic at the Hardware Forum as nature of the question is rather commercial than technical.

 

I have i7-2700k (4.4 OC-ed), 2xRaptors, GTX780 and 8GB RAM and it has worked very nicely since April 2012. As P3D is getting more demanding in terms of video, I'm planning to upgrade for 980Ti very soon (hope my Z77 MB is supporting it). However, I'm questioning myself whether it's good idea to start with new, 6700k-based system. My understanding is that even if successfully overclock it to 4.4-4.6, there will be no superiority over my current system.

 

So, the question is money. There are two alternatives.

 

Alternative One: to buy just GTX980Ti, pay $650 and get obvious bump in FPS, AA-settings and other as many simmers reports suggest.

 

Alternative Two: to buy brand new i-6700k based custom made PC for ~$2,000. The real question is whether I get significantly better performance over video-card alone upgrade. P3D still doesn't use multi core power of newest CPU efficiently, so I spend additonal $1,400 over video-upgrade.

 

Your advise would be much appreciated

 

Dmitriy 

 

[Bob Scott 7,716]

If your Z77 mobo supports PCIe 3.0 (some do, some don't), then the video card alone is a good choice.  And maybe revisiting your overclock a bit...most 2700Ks can do 4.7-4.8 with a little work and a high-end after-market cooling solution.

 

If your mobo is PCIe 2 only, then you may want to consider a mobo/CPU upgrade as well...I suspect the 980Ti is gonna be bandwidth limited on PCIe 2 with P3D v3.

 

Regards

[Brian_A_Neuman 198]

I was looking at doing the same with my computer.

 

I am running an i5-3550 (3.3) no OC with 8GB of ram.

 

My vid card is a Radeon 7800 series that absolutely needs to be changed up. How would I know if my motherboard can accept PCIe 3.0?

[Guest]

If your Z77 mobo supports PCIe 3.0 (some do, some don't), then the video card alone is a good choice. And maybe revisiting your overclock a bit...most 2700Ks can do 4.7-4.8 with a little work and a high-end after-market cooling solution.

 

If your mobo is PCIe 2 only, then you may want to consider a mobo/CPU upgrade as well...I suspect the 980Ti is gonna be bandwidth limited on PCIe 2 with P3D v3.

 

Regards

Very, very interesting! I also have 780 (with 6 GB BTW) and was thinking about switching it for a 980Ti. I just checked the specs of my motherboard, AsrockZ97 Extreme6 and it says it has 'PCI Express x16 (Gen 3.x) slots'. I suppose, just to be sure, Gen. 3.x is what you call PCIe 3.0...? I really do wonder how much performance will improve in v3. Will it just be a few fps, like going from 30 to 33 or much more? Or will it mainly make it possible to for instance enable 4x SGetc. AA?

 

Btw right now my resolution is 1920x1080.

[G-YMML1 582]

So, you think that additional investment into CPU (beyond 100% investment into 980Ti) won't do the magic trick? 

[Bob Scott 7,716]

@Jeroen--more than likely PCIe Gen3.x refers to PCIe v3.0.

 

I think P3D V3 is going to require a re-look at use of PCIe bandwidth.  In FSX, most of the video processing is done by the CPU and then pushed to the graphics subsystem.  In P3D V3 (which leverages DX11), it's obvious that the GPU is getting hit much, much harder.  AFAIK, there are no definitive metrics for bus bandwidth usage in P3D V3 yet.  But if I were going to spring for a 980Ti or Titan X I'd want it to go into a mobo on a bus that can feed it at full speed. 

 

@Brian--you'll need to get the specs from your mobo or system manufacturer, although with an Ivy Bridge CPU, it's highly probable that you do have PCIe 3.

 

Regards

[G-YMML1 582]

Never mind. Just found the answer to my question. Funny, but Newegg still sells Z77 platform

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821

[ryanbatc 12,819]

Check online - go to manufacturers site - most have pdf versions online

[Bob Scott 7,716]

Folks, how to check with 100% assurance whether my MB PCI-3.0 compliant. The manual was lost during my recent relocation

 

Google it...most mobo manufacturers have manuals in .pdf format available for download.

 

But that said...regarding your CPU...now that I think about it, I don't think a Sandy Bridge CPU can support PCIe 3 even if the mobo does.  That was one of the reasons I moved from a 2600K to my present 4790K.  Sooooo...given that, I might consider going for the full Monty.  But remember, I'm retired from the government...I'm comfortable spending other people's money!  :-)

 

Cheers

[G-YMML1 582]

Bob,

 

I have Ivy, not Sandy Bridge.

 

Also, how CPU support or lack of thereof could affect 980Ti performance on MB that supports PCIe-3? My understanding that it's two separate issues.

[Bob Scott 7,716]

Bob,

 

I have Ivy, not Sandy Bridge.

 

Also, how CPU support or lack of thereof could affect 980Ti performance on MB that supports PCIe-3? My understanding that it's two separate issues.

 

Dmitriy;

 

A 2700K is most definitely a Sandy Bridge CPU.  Ivy Bridge are the 3000 series i3/5/7 processors.

 

The PCIe bus originates in the CPU.  SB CPUs do not support the higher bandwidth.

 

See: http://www.overclock.net/t/1317094/sandybridge-and-pcie-3-0-not-compatible-well-this-is-a-kick-in-the-teeth

 

Regards

[gboz 157]

I'm not starting this topic at the Hardware Forum as nature of the question is rather commercial than technical.

 

I have i7-2700k (4.4 OC-ed), 2xRaptors, GTX780 and 8GB RAM and it has worked very nicely since April 2012. As P3D is getting more demanding in terms of video, I'm planning to upgrade for 980Ti very soon (hope my Z77 MB is supporting it). However, I'm questioning myself whether it's good idea to start with new, 6700k-based system. My understanding is that even if successfully overclock it to 4.4-4.6, there will be no superiority over my current system.

 

Your advise would be much appreciated

 

Dmitriy 

 

 

Do some googling re. pci express 3.0 versus 2.0 and I think you will find there is almost no practical difference with most benchmarks.

 

eg

http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/pci-express-scaling-game-performance-analysis-review,17.html

 

The new card would be the way to go.

Faster and with double the memory.

If you are still not happy you can always put the 980ti in a Skylake board later.

Putting your old 780 in Skylake would be holding it back I think.

 

gb.

[RW1 615]

Very, very interesting! I also have 780 (with 6 GB BTW) and was thinking about switching it for a 980Ti. I just checked the specs of my motherboard, AsrockZ97 Extreme6 and it says it has 'PCI Express x16 (Gen 3.x) slots'. I suppose, just to be sure, Gen. 3.x is what you call PCIe 3.0...? I really do wonder how much performance will improve in v3. Will it just be a few fps, like going from 30 to 33 or much more? Or will it mainly make it possible to for instance enable 4x SGetc. AA?

 

Btw right now my resolution is 1920x1080.

I have just upgraded my GPU which is the same as yours..GTX780 and got a GTX980TI...My Mobo  supports Gen2 but the 980 works fine at x16, i`ve just done a bios update which now allows me to close or rather shut down any of the 4 PCI lanes and make a dedicated slot now with full x16 bandwidth Gen3 in 1 slot which works fantastic. Gone from 18-30 fps with the 780 up to 40-70 fps mostly with the 980TI, i run frames unlocked with Gsync.

 

Rick

[Steve Cannell 4]

Just this week I could finally justify a rebuild of my P3D computer.

 

My 2600k was such a great overclocker that for the last few years any upgrade wasn't worth the price.

 

I run 2 x 970's in SLI in 4K. The Skylake 6700k combined with the z170 motherboards showed a significant boost in benchmarks with SLI.

 

I still can't comment on any personal experince as I am yet to overclock and install addons to P3D 2.5 and 3.0

 

I'm excited to see what this new build and P3Dv3 will bring.

 

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

I have just upgraded my GPU which is the same as yours..GTX780 and got a GTX980TI...My Mobo supports Gen2 but the 980 works fine at x16, i`ve just done a bios update which now allows me to close or rather shut down any of the 4 PCI lanes and make a dedicated slot now with full x16 bandwidth Gen3 in 1 slot which works fantastic. Gone from 18-30 fps with the 780 up to 40-70 fps mostly with the 980TI, i run frames unlocked with Gsync.

 

Rick

Wow, that really sounds very interesting! I think I will order a 980Ti to give it a try! I can always return it if I don't like what I see. Someone I know already showed interest in buying my 780 which would make this switch even nicer.