Graphics card for Modded Skyrim/Fallout

[Thor.]

Still if it doesn't effect the price much, then why not. Its just a added bonus to have that extra vram. Why argue with that.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Thor.

[FMod]

GTX 770 4GB cost a lot more, on Amazon it's 220 vs 290 pounds or +30% to the price - while the difference in performance is very far from +30%, it's around 3% even in heavily modded Skyrim.

 

On Scan.co.uk it's 230 vs 280 for MSI, that's +22%, but again, if one goes to spend more, there's R9 290 for 315, and the gain from 770/4GB to R9 290 (that has 4GB as standard for that matter) is 15%, which is a lot. 3% isn't.

 

Pretty much the only two times in the last 5 years that I recall it being worth investing in a video card with more VRAM than usual were:

* HD6950 - where you could unlock the 2GB version into a 6970

* HD7850 - where the 2GB version only cost $10 more

[Beriallord]

I got crossfire 7970s, both OC'd by about 15%, and they eat up skyrim and crap it out.

 

You could run the lighter versions of most of the ENB packs and get 60fps with just one 7970, but you'll get dips in the 40s-50s in spots.

 

I think the closest new GPU to a 7970 is an R9 280, with maybe the 280 being slightly better.

 

I used to have x2 6950s (unlocked to 6970s), and quite honestly I got nearly the same performance with a single 7970 as I did with crossfire 6970s. 2gbs of Vram can be a bottleneck depending on which mods you use. Normally 2 6970s are 30% better than a single 7970, just not in modded skyrim.

 

If you hit a Vram bottleneck, you'll know it. They're the biggest possible FPS tanks. Like dropping from 60fps down to 25-30 instantly. I ran into such spots in the swamp outside Solitude. With a 7970 that had 3gbs of Vram instead of 2 with the 6970s I didn't run into that. You could try scaling the textures back from 2k to 1k, or scaling back some of mods that improve effects like water, etc. There is a special set of circumstances going on in the swamp area with mods that makes the FPS tank there with 2gbs of Vram. A combination of the textures, water, water effects, and fog that make 2gbs of Vram cry.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Beriallord

[Thor.]

Now if you have no budget, i recommend a gtx780ti for skyrim, it'll push 90fps or even 120fps with mods=enb and then some.

 

its the one graphics card highly recommended for Watch Dogs.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Thor.

[ElhajGranny]

Thanks for all of the replies! Really helped me out.

One predicament though, I had a look and my PSU has only got 1 spare 6-pin connector, which is kinda restrictive when going for mid-to-high range GPUs
Is it worth buying a new one? It's 600W and not modular so I think i'll need a new one eventually.

[FMod]

I agree with Werne 4K textures are completely pointless unless you have a 4K monitor.

Strictly speaking, if you come close enough that the texture takes e.g. 10 of your screens, you will see the difference. Happens all the time in games when you jam your nose into a wall. I wish they finally brought back the classic solution of detail textures for that, or, better, used procedurally generated detail textures (i.e. random surface roughness).

 

But, while at the question pf 2K vs 4K, I'm yet to see 4K textures come from a mod that look much different from their 2K versions. There simply isn't enough high frequency data in digital camera output to fill up that resolution.

 

 

 

One predicament though, I had a look and my PSU has only got 1 spare 6-pin connector, which is kinda restrictive when going for mid-to-high range GPUs

 

Most PSU that I know have two PCI-E connectors. Two or more, or none, but rarely just 1. You probably need to replace the PSU. If you buy a card that requires 2 PCI-E connectors, it will not start at all. That can be circumvented by a cheap Y-cable, of course.

 

By the way, back to your links, the card you linked as "770 4GB" is actually 760 4GB. 760 is a weaker card and a 770/2GB will beat 760/4GB in every situation.

 

 

As to replacement PSU, I think this is the one you'd want:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151136

It's "only" 550W, but actually should supply more power than a no-name 600W, while being better.

 

An alternative is a 750W unit from the same series:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151132

 

Seasonic G-?50 and S12G are recent and market breaking models. At the prices they're offered at, and considering their quality, there is simply no reason to look at any other brand, or even anything else from Seasonic, with exceptions only for specialist builds.

[ArchangelCassiel]

Didn't mean to post the same thing twice just ignore this

Edited July 31, 2014 by ArchangelCassiel

[ArchangelCassiel]

 

I agree with Werne 4K textures are completely pointless unless you have a 4K monitor.

Strictly speaking, if you come close enough that the texture takes e.g. 10 of your screens, you will see the difference. Happens all the time in games when you jam your nose into a wall. I wish they finally brought back the classic solution of detail textures for that, or, better, used procedurally generated detail textures (i.e. random surface roughness).

 

But, while at the question pf 2K vs 4K, I'm yet to see 4K textures come from a mod that look much different from their 2K versions. There simply isn't enough high frequency data in digital camera output to fill up that resolution.

 

Yes you do see the difference from close up but i personally don't pay much attention to the texture resolution while playing. Of course I notice/don't like them to be too low res but I don't see the point of 4K on a regular 19"-22" monitor (which I own too). It would look damn good on a great big TV though :) I tend to leave as much resources as possible for mods and squeeze every last bit of performance out of it :)