Highly modded gpu upgrade needed?

[mac2636]

My apologies if this is the wrong forum. I'm feeling it is time to upgrade my gpu and was hoping to get some input. I'm starting to see some frame rate drops at 1080p especially inside my custom buildings that use a lot of lights and objects. I just purchased a 1440p monitor and feel that a gpu upgrade will almost be a necessity once it arrives.

 

Since my case is a mini ITX I have shied away from Radeon cards, but there is currently a really good deal on a 8GB XFX Radeon R9 390X for $359.99 after rebate. Which is way cheaper than any GTX 980 right now. What do you guys think?

 

 

 

Current rig

Cooler Master Elite 130
Intel Core i5 4690K
16GB PC3-14900
MSI GTX 970 4GB

Current Load Order

 

 

Fallout4.esm
ConcealedArmor.esm
ArmorKeywords.esm
Snap'n Build.esm
Homemaker.esm
SettlementKeywords.esm
Safe SSEx.esp
FO4Tweaks.esp
NoFallDamage.esp
Zoom.esp
CBBE.esp
Jacket.esp
Eli_ArmourCollection.esp
cutoffs-calyps.esp
Harness-calyps.esp
Colossus.esp
zWGirlClothSimply.esp
CommChemExpanded.esp
Weaponry Overhaul.esp
LegendaryModification.esp
ChineseStealthArmorLegendaryMod.esp
LegendaryModificationMisc.esp
Slower VATS - 10%.esp
10% Fusion Core Drain.esp
NoObjectLimit.esp
LongerPowerLines3x.esp
Move (Get Out the Way).esp
NoNegativeAffinityNof*#@s.esp
NoAffinityCooldown.esp
Realistic Death Physics.esp
powerful.50 .esp
SniperDamage.esp
Synth Field Carbonhelmet.esp
N7_Synth Field Carbonhelmet.esp
CompRedo.esp
UnlimitedFollowers.esp
GlovesOfTheCommonwealth.esp
DX Commonwealth Mini Dresses.esp
zWGirlClothMina.esp
DD_1x1_Foundation_Blocks.esp
DDP_Bridge_mark1.esp
DDP_Elevators_mark1.esp
DD_Floor_brace.esp
Dont Throw Stones.esp
DDP_Ramps_mark1.esp
DD_Spiral_staircases.esp
DD_All_the_COncrete.esp
DD_Columnsandstuff_1_0.esp
Crafting Workbench.esp
Crafting Workbench - GlovesOfTheCommonwealth Patch.esp
Crafting Workbenches - Ammo.esp
ConcealedArmor.esp
Craftable Armor Size.esp
Chem_redux.esp
WeaponRacks.esp
WeaponRacks-Weapons-Vanilla.esp
WeaponRacks-Tools-Vanilla.esp
Simple Intersection - Homemaker Patch.esp
Simple Intersection.esp
Scrap Everything.esp
UniqueFollowers.esp
SkjAlert_RS+.esp
Under1wear.esp
NewFace_Settlers.esp
PowerGoggles.esp
PowerGogglesPlus.esp
WraparoundNVG.esp
J&C Outfit fix.esp
J&C Outfit fix - More Armor Slots.esp
Paintable Mining Helmets.esp
SettlementContainers_NoRespawn.esp
Homemaker.esp
DX Commonwealth Shorts.esp
DX Vault Girl Shorts.esp
Armorsmith Extended.esp
Spartan-Calyps.esp
Armorsmith Calyps Extended.esp
Armorsmith Unique Followers One Rings.esp
keywordsAE.esp
Eli_Utility Jumpsuits.esp
Armorsmith Elianora Extended.esp
zWInsanity.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-ArmorBySlot.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-CosmeticsByType.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-ExplosivesSortBottomWeightless.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-Perks.esp
ValdacilsItemSorting-ValsPicks.esp
VIS-PatchChemRedux.esp
VIS-PatchWeaponRacks-SortBottom.esp
Snap and Build - Modules.esp
Snap and Build - Patches.esp
Snap'n Build - SK patch.esp
infiltrator.esp
ALD Travel Backpack.esp
Scrapper Corpse Highlighting.esp
Homemaker - Greenhouse and Bunker Disabler.esp
Homemaker - SK-SnB Patch.esp
ScrapDeadThings.esp
Eli_ArmourCollection_CWB_Patch.esp
Crafting Workbench ALD Backpack Patch.esp
AzarPonytailHairstyles.esp
DX Chem I Care Outfit.esp
Armorsmith DeserterX Extended.esp
JC-Bikini.esp
CompanionTweaksFixes.esp

 

[Boombro]

Do you wish for a 4k fallout 4 and using any right now?

[mac2636]

Do you wish for a 4k fallout 4 and using any right now?

Thanks for responding Boombro, I really appreciate it. I would eventually like 4k but the monitor I just bought is only 1440p, so it would likely be next year before I make the move to 4k. FO4 is by far the most graphically intense game I play. Most other games in my library are strategy/simulation type games.

[Boombro]

4k is still more detailed even on none 4k screens, so some use it for that.

 

Again, you said you have a small cube case. So a R9 card may not be a good idea. Does you live in a cold place with a window open? Do you have a good compact cooler? Does the case have a good airflow?

 

The 390x itself it not much of upgrade from your card and it can still keep up if you modded your game right and scarped stuff from your custom building for that screen.

 

The best thing for you is buying a bigger mid tower case or save up for a better GPU instead.

[mac2636]

4k is still more detailed even on none 4k screens, so some use it for that.

 

Again, you said you have a small cube case. So a R9 card may not be a good idea. Does you live in a cold place with a window open? Do you have a good compact cooler? Does the case have a good airflow?

 

The 390x itself it not much of upgrade from your card and it can still keep up if you modded your game right and scarped stuff from your custom building for that screen.

 

The best thing for you is buying a bigger mid tower case or save up for a better GPU instead.

I have downloaded a few of the 4k texture replacers just am not using the just yet as I am still playing with all of the settlement mods.

 

Thanks again for your help. Case has good airflow. Temps are all in good range under heavy load (not cool though). Live in FL and use the PC in a room that's pretty much 72 year round. Unfortunately a bigger case isn't an option for, mostly because of transporting.

 

I'm thinking maybe I should just wait for a gtx 980 ti to go on sale in the next couple of months.

[Boombro]

Some mid tower cases and even full tower are meant for moving around, I myself use a corsair C70 and it comes with great strong handles, the only problem is weight. Yet again, your choice.

 

It better to wait for sale, fallout 4 and skyrim is bad with SLI and crossfire so buying a single card is much wiser and fallout 4 may get even more better patches.

[tomomi1922]

 

4k is still more detailed even on none 4k screens, so some use it for that.

 

Again, you said you have a small cube case. So a R9 card may not be a good idea. Does you live in a cold place with a window open? Do you have a good compact cooler? Does the case have a good airflow?

 

The 390x itself it not much of upgrade from your card and it can still keep up if you modded your game right and scarped stuff from your custom building for that screen.

 

The best thing for you is buying a bigger mid tower case or save up for a better GPU instead.

I have downloaded a few of the 4k texture replacers just am not using the just yet as I am still playing with all of the settlement mods.

 

Thanks again for your help. Case has good airflow. Temps are all in good range under heavy load (not cool though). Live in FL and use the PC in a room that's pretty much 72 year round. Unfortunately a bigger case isn't an option for, mostly because of transporting.

 

I'm thinking maybe I should just wait for a gtx 980 ti to go on sale in the next couple of months.

 

 

I personally would advice against 980 for the price. You can go ahead and buy at places that allow return. Knowing how the industry works, they charge you an arm and a leg on something that tests higher on spec. But in reality the difference is so tiny. 10 years ago I forked out $100 more to get this "high end" 3D video card, $250 for some Diamond nVidia card. And 2 years later people on Toms hardware reported they do see an acceptable performance increase, if at all noticeable. Woe was me!

 

16Gb RAM is over kill for a video game. My main rig is at 16Gb RAM because I do video editing. Adobe Premiere eats up RAM and CPU power like nothing. I am not sure FO4 can even take advantage of more than 8Gb of RAM. Older game like The Sims 3 (supposedly a RAM hungry game) could only go allocate 2Gb for itself and any more push will crash the game. I know your OS and other operations will take up RAM as well, but they do not take up THAT much RAM. Unless you have an idea of running something huge like Photoshop, After Effect, Premiere all at once along with FO4 .... then your CPU and GPU will be taxed out first before your 16Gb RAM is a concern.

 

I saw the Radeon 8Gb for some $350 too, very attractive. But since I work with Adobe Premiere that only can take advantage of nVidia GPU, so I am limited to that. If you do not mind forking out this much amount of money, why not pay $70 or so for a new case? I would say that is your best bet.

 

1440p or 4k (2048p) basically just increase your resolution. 2048p is about 4x 1080p. I tried running that (stupid nVidia optimization suggested such optimization because I have a dual monitor setup) and it gets my 60fps down to 20fps in Vault 84.

 

I current run an older i7 core with my new 970 GTX 4Gb with 16Gb RAM. For performance concerns, my GPU is heavily taxed. So my money is well spent I guess.

 

I too would say .... get that Radeon 8Gb with new case. And while at it, look into a new CPU, but I don't think it's that necessary, unless you really want to go 4k. But why? I can tell you why I want to use 4k for video, but 4k for a 3D game .... I wouldn't see a huge difference unless your monitor is around 32" and up.

________________________________

 

I too love all the lights + long shadows. I have mods that add shadows to the game that Fallout 4 Vanilla refuses to add (fear of performance loss). Light and shadow tax your game heavily, even more than God rays. However, here are 2 things I use to optimize shadows:

 

- There is a 3rd party mod (as in not part of the game) that optimizes shadow distance and quality based on a threadshold. Thus if you are in a place with too much shadows .... like my Sanctuary that every of the settlers wear helmets with lights walking around, the mod optimizes the game so it doesn't have to draw out EVERY SINGLE shadow from about 20 different light sources. And our eyes can't count that many shadows, so it is a win-win.

 

- There is a custom FO4 Launcher/Tweaker that lets me adjust shadow quality. FO4 defaults quality at 4k or so on Ultra. I lower it down to around 1024. The only difference is the shadow is not as sharp, but it doesn't look half bad. Definitely not jaggy and edgy (like you forgot to turn on Anti-Alias)

 

So my rig gets by at 60fps in most places in the wild, with ENB. I use "Alone", it is less taxing, But I use it because it looks great for me, feels even better than other ENB out there. In central Boston with a lot of shadows going on and Sanctuary (all thanks to the shadow mod), I still get some 30-40 fps. Human eyes can only discern anything below 30fps anyway, so I don't feel any slow down or lag or hiccup.

[mac2636]

Thanks again everyone. I think I will just wait until a gtx 980 goes on sale. My Cooler Master Elite 130 is basically the max size case I can work with (it is actually a little too big, but I can still manage it). I have a separate PC at home that uses an Antec 900 case, but most of my gaming is done when I am away from home with my travelling rig.

[tomomi1922]

Thanks again everyone. I think I will just wait until a gtx 980 goes on sale. My Cooler Master Elite 130 is basically the max size case I can work with (it is actually a little too big, but I can still manage it). I have a separate PC at home that uses an Antec 900 case, but most of my gaming is done when I am away from home with my travelling rig.

Ah I see, traveling rig. That sounds like an oversized Playstation you carry around. Of course I still want to play on PC because I can mod the game, or what's the point, right?

 

What do you already have now, graphic card wise? Can you still play the game? It may be a while before 980 can go on sale.

[mac2636]

 

Thanks again everyone. I think I will just wait until a gtx 980 goes on sale. My Cooler Master Elite 130 is basically the max size case I can work with (it is actually a little too big, but I can still manage it). I have a separate PC at home that uses an Antec 900 case, but most of my gaming is done when I am away from home with my travelling rig.

Ah I see, traveling rig. That sounds like an oversized Playstation you carry around. Of course I still want to play on PC because I can mod the game, or what's the point, right?

 

What do you already have now, graphic card wise? Can you still play the game? It may be a while before 980 can go on sale.

 

MSI Gaming GTX 970. Game is very playable on mostly high setting at 1080p, except god rays and shadows. I'm just beginning to see some frame rate drops in certain instance, which I imagine will get worse when I move to 1440p.