Upgrade GFX

[Flacco]

Here is the link to my current build.

Current:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=34217450&postcount=2

Graphics Card: GTX 670 - GIGABYTE GV-N670OC-2GD
PSU: XFX Core 550W

Reason: I'd like to get better consistent frame rate on CS:GO and perhaps stream on twitch.tv. Its not that I get bad frames now but they aren't consistently above 144 with a full server.

Budget: $375 or so. I was looking at R9 290 4GB cards or maybe one of the new Nvidia's if they are in my budget.

My main question I guess is now the right time to upgrade or should I wait longer. If you foresee prices dropping significantly in the next 6 months or so or you just really don't think any card I'd purchase now at my budget would be worth the upgrade I can wait. CS:GO is the main game I play currently and I don't foresee myself switching to anything newer. So this card should last me until I decide to build a new PC in 2-3 years.

 

[mistersprinkles]

DDR3 1333? 8X1 or 2X4? Single stick= single channel. Bad move.

Do you even have a 144Hz monitor?

I think upgrading to play such a basic game is foolish but if you must upgrade the GTX 970 is a good value for the money right now. It may go down in price as newer AMD cards come out to compete with it. Right now it's just over $300 US.

 

[Flacco]

DDR3 1333? 8X1 or 2X4? Single stick= single channel. Bad move.

Do you even have a 144Hz monitor?

I think upgrading to play such a basic game is foolish but if you must upgrade the GTX 970 is a good value for the money right now. It may go down in price as newer AMD cards come out to compete with it. Right now it's just over $300 US.

There was link in the post. The memory is 2x4.

Yes I have two monitors. the acer is 120hz also have a BenQ XL 2420TE which is 144.

 

[Defenestration]

Go for latest nVidia's 9xx if you're buying now due to much lower power requirements.

Also, there are the new G-Sync/FreeSync standards. Both are still very new and FreeSync has been adopted by VESA for a new standard, but G-Sync is ready now.

 

[mfenn]

If you're having trouble getting a good framerate (> 60) on CS:GO with a GTX 670, i5 3570K, and 8GB of RAM, then you have something wrong with your computer. Check background processes for high CPU utilization.

 

[Cerb]

DDR3 1333? 8X1 or 2X4? Single stick= single channel. Bad move.

Only a bad move using IGP. Makes practically no difference with a dGPU. 1333 may be less than ideal, but that was a couple years ago (prices not comparable to now, necessarily).

Even so, 144FPS all the time is going to be pretty much impossible. Is your GPU always at 100% at whatever resolution you're playing at?

 

[Flacco]

Go for latest nVidia's 9xx if you're buying now due to much lower power requirements.

Also, there are the new G-Sync/FreeSync standards. Both are still very new and FreeSync has been adopted by VESA for a new standard, but G-Sync is ready now.

Yea I read that about the new nvidia's. Was a bit worried if my current power supply could handle the newer cards so was leaning that way.

If you're having trouble getting a good framerate (> 60) on CS:GO with a GTX 670, i5 3570K, and 8GB of RAM, then you have something wrong with your computer. Check background processes for high CPU utilization.

I get around 200 on my current settings. However it fluctuates especially on full servers. I'd like something that could have me safely above 144 at all times. When there are those fluctuations it some times gets difficult to aim. Trying to stream really kills the FPS. I get around 100 then. It's been awhile since I tried but I think that is what it was.

 

[Cerb]

You really don't need a blind hardware upgrade. You need to identify what is causing the most slowdowns.

 

[Flacco]

How can I identify what is causing the slowdowns?

 

[mfenn]

How can I identify what is causing the slowdowns?

Graph your CPU and GPU usage during a match. Here's a guide on how to do so. Whichever one you see maxed out when the FPS drops is your bottleneck.

My bet is that you're seeing CPU utilization spikes when somebody joins or leaves (Source engine games can often have this problem), but collecting the data will help.