GPU, where to start from nothing?

[donniemunro]

Going back to the OP (I bet you never expected a 'my card's better than your card' debate :whistling: )...

 

Any of the current high-end graphics cards with a decent CPU should allow Skyrim to run smoothly with hi-res textures. My experience (and that's my experience) is that a single card gives much better performance for money than a pair.

 

A decent GPU and CPU combination will make Skyrim look and play infinitely better than on a console (I've also got the XBox360 version ), but it'll also make a huge difference if you install it on an SSD. I've played Oblivion, Fallout 3, New Vegas and Skyrim from a HDD and I was used to watching scenery appear in the distance as I moved around. Now the scenery is just there - it's been the best upgrade yet to get the best out of these games.

[darkice6]

Hi

I have an Radeon 6950@6970 2Gb / Phenom II X4 20 @ 3220MHz/8gbddr2

Ultra settings ,some hires texturepacks and other mods uGridsToLoad=7 ,16AF/8xSSAA 1080p the game runs outside 60 (witherun with tree mod) - 100 fps and inside and dungeons 100-180 fps. With warzone mod a loss off 15-20fps in battles. Before the last patch and with older ati driver this was much slower with drops to 20 fps down- think this is why some think ati is not recommended for skyrim, but with aktuell drivers and patches it really rocks! Price should be less than a 560 ti and you got the option unlocking to a 6970 .

[hangarspace]

Thanks for the replies, you all restrained yourselves well!

 

It's almost certainly going to be a 2GB 69xx or 560ti.

 

The OS is installed on a 60GB SSD, I've tried to keep it clean and install everything non-OS on a regular SATA drive. I might look at getting a separate SSD for the skyrim, a bit OTT but they are super fast thats for sure!

 

I tried oc'ing the i5-2500K cpu and got it running at 4.2GHz no problem, didn't leave it there tho since I had no need for it at the time and with the Corsair H100 hyrdo cooling it didn't get above mid-30's, so there is plenty of scope here to.

 

Thanks again for your advice, just got to spend the dosh now.

 

Chris

[Fatalmasterpiece]

 

AMD*

 

But I agree to an extent. Nvidia has 60% of sales, while AMD has 40%. Which leads to some developers supporting Nvidia a little more.

 

Plus AMD's CTO just stepped down (he ran the graphics department). So there's no telling where they're going from here.

Yes my bad. I don't even keep up with that stuff anymore :/

 

Also OP keep in mind your system is only as good as how well you regulate it's temperature. A system that costs half as much will out perform a higher end but overheating machine. Sounds like you have that figured out though.

[Anunnak]

My old HD 4870 EAH 1gb was able to run Skyrim fairly well on Very High settings. But I built a new machine, and went with EVGA 570 GTX Super Clocked. I really suggest you do some reading, and also see where you stand budget wise. The one thing I do not miss about my old card is the afterburner sound it would make when playing games lol. Maybe all the new cards don't do this anymore, I am so glad with my purchase.

 

My current card idles around 33-34'C and while running Skyrim on Ultra with HD packs and a lot of mods, including WIS and Warzones. 65'C loaded temp may have gone up to 67'c, once or twice, seeing as even 97'C is the apparent thermal limit of the 570. So again READ and check out benchmark here's one site to get you started.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU11/188

[Micon2]

I have been looking at my options to upgrade my two year old tower and find that my options are limited.

Currently my system: Gigabyte EP45-ud3r, 4gb ram, Inno gtx275 pci-e, and the chip Intel core2 duo E8400 @ 3.0 ghz. oh its socket 775

I cannot add a I7 quad4, else I must change the motherboard and everythiing else.

 

Was told to add 4gb of extra ram and phantom nvidia gtx 550 ti 1.5 gb or some such card at around $370aus

However I feel I could get a better even the best chip I can for my current motherboard might be the bettter way to go.

I can play Skyrim on Ultra with highres textures but takes up to 10 secs to enter/exit areas and sometimes freeze for a few secs before char is ready to go again. So I play on high but notice the difference.

Regret my decision to stay with core 2duo

Can I have some suggestions please? I am not sure which chip I should try to get.

[Glhadiator]

I wouldn't touch an ATI card with a ten foot pole. All good developers are doing so with nvidia in mind and you will likely have all sorts of issues with ATI. Skyrim specificly runs best on nvidia and ENB can have issues with ATI. I also wouldn't waste time with SLI or multiple cards unless you are buying top of the line cards. The benifits you gain from paying double price from two good cards will not be greater than paying for a top of the line card.

 

Also, EVGA is where it's at.

 

 

EVGA!!!

 

Long story short...Was where you are now. Did a lot of research and everthing said the GTX 560 was THE card. Went with the advice and ordered it. I got screwed because the company (to remain un-named) dropped shipped from an un-authorized seller. Card was faulty and EVGA was not required to honor the warranty! EVGA reviewed it after one contact and decided they would honor the warranty even tho they weren't required to! Best support people I have ever dealt with!

 

And the card performance? You might be able to beat it but it will cost you a lot of money!

[a7x5631]

I wouldn't touch an ATI card with a ten foot pole. All good developers are doing so with nvidia in mind and you will likely have all sorts of issues with ATI. Skyrim specificly runs best on nvidia and ENB can have issues with ATI. I also wouldn't waste time with SLI or multiple cards unless you are buying top of the line cards. The benifits you gain from paying double price from two good cards will not be greater than paying for a top of the line card.

 

Also, EVGA is where it's at.

 

 

EVGA!!!

 

Long story short...Was where you are now. Did a lot of research and everthing said the GTX 560 was THE card. Went with the advice and ordered it. I got screwed because the company (to remain un-named) dropped shipped from an un-authorized seller. Card was faulty and EVGA was not required to honor the warranty! EVGA reviewed it after one contact and decided they would honor the warranty even tho they weren't required to! Best support people I have ever dealt with!

 

And the card performance? You might be able to beat it but it will cost you a lot of money!

 

EVGA is pretty much the best along with Asus and MSI. Step up program, free games, tons of support, community interactions, giveaways, etc. They're one of the few companies that would honor a warranty from an Ebay purchase. They don't always, but sometimes they feel like being nice.