Upgrading video card

[Grey Fox]

If you have anything under a 660, get a new video card.

Any video card recommendations?  I am not prepared to pay more than US$800.

That's insane prices.

If Budget is not, really, an issue a GTX 970 will do the trick. That's about 350$US in the USA, 450$ in Canada.

[Monoriu]

If you have anything under a 660, get a new video card.

Any video card recommendations?  I am not prepared to pay more than US$800.

That's insane prices.

If Budget is not, really, an issue a GTX 970 will do the trick. That's about 350$US in the USA, 450$ in Canada.

Thanks.  What about CPU?  I have an i7-2600K now.  Is it obsolete?  If so, what should I get to replace it? 

[Grey Fox]

Not obsolete. Don't replace it. Unless you see a performance reason or are building from scratch it is not worth the cost to replace a 2nd Generation or more Intel I5s-I7s.

[viper37]

@Mono:
If you're looking at a non gaming silent car, then there are variations of the 7000 series without any fans.  Just search for "fanless video card".

I was not clear.  I do need to play games 

then forget about the "silent part".

Get the MSI TwinFrzr variant of the card you want, either GTX 970 or GTX 980.  Though I think the GTX 980 is overkill and overpriced at 700$, it's in your budget.

[Monoriu]

@Mono:
If you're looking at a non gaming silent car, then there are variations of the 7000 series without any fans.  Just search for "fanless video card".

I was not clear.  I do need to play games 

then forget about the "silent part".

Get the MSI TwinFrzr variant of the card you want, either GTX 970 or GTX 980.  Though I think the GTX 980 is overkill and overpriced at 700$, it's in your budget.

Nah, if 970 and 980 are not too different, I'll pick the much cheaper 970. 

[viper37]

It's faster, just not 1.5x faster.  Maybe 20% faster.  And it's sorta new, along with the Titans, so their prices are steep, until suckers early adopters all have one, then the prices will drop.

[Grey Fox]

Team Green will eventually introduce it's 960 option too.

It's probably the card we should all get.

[Barrister]

If you have anything under a 660, get a new video card.

Any video card recommendations?  I am not prepared to pay more than US$800.

That's a hell of a budget.

[viper37]

If you have anything under a 660, get a new video card.

Any video card recommendations?  I am not prepared to pay more than US$800.

That's a hell of a budget.

It's Hong-Kong.  It probably costs 50$ to get a cup of coffee

[Monoriu]

If you have anything under a 660, get a new video card.

Any video card recommendations?  I am not prepared to pay more than US$800.

That's a hell of a budget.

I have no clue 

[Monoriu]

It's faster, just not 1.5x faster.  Maybe 20% faster.  And it's sorta new, along with the Titans, so their prices are steep, until suckers early adopters all have one, then the prices will drop.

I'll wait.  I am willing to spend on the computer because that's the one object in the universe that has the highest correlation with my happiness level.  But then I guess Total War Rome 2 or Sid Meier's Beyond Earth or Elder Scroll 5 don't need the absolute best.  And I don't think anime watching requires the absolute best either. 

[viper37]

It's faster, just not 1.5x faster.  Maybe 20% faster.  And it's sorta new, along with the Titans, so their prices are steep, until suckers early adopters all have one, then the prices will drop.

I'll wait.  I am willing to spend on the computer because that's the one object in the universe that has the highest correlation with my happiness level.  But then I guess Total War Rome 2 or Sid Meier's Beyond Earth or Elder Scroll 5 don't need the absolute best.  And I don't think anime watching requires the absolute best either. 

You can build a 500$ computer to watch anime

TW2 and Skyrim can require a very good video card, but the GTX 970 is more than enough for that, even with a gazillion mods.

[Monoriu]

Is there any possibility that I can *gasp* replace the video card on my own?  I'm not inclined to drag the computer to the shop once more.  I am the sort of guy who is scared every time I open the computer case and I dare not touch the cables   

How many cables and screws are involved anyway?

[Monoriu]

GTX 970 sells for US$358 here.  980 is US$640.

[Pedrito]

Is there any possibility that I can *gasp* replace the video card on my own?  I'm not inclined to drag the computer to the shop once more.  I am the sort of guy who is scared every time I open the computer case and I dare not touch the cables   

How many cables and screws are involved anyway?

It's one of the easiest, safest operations inside a pc case.
- turn off the system
- unplug every cable , particularly the display one and the AC
- open the case, remember do not use a pair of rubber-soles shoes because they insulate you and static energy accumulating in your body can fry some component (it never never happened to me, but it's wise advice nonetheless)
- unplug the current cable of the card
- unscrew the front of the card from the chassis, please do not use magnetically charged screwdrivers
- push the small lever that's at the end of the pci-express slot farther from the chassis
- extract the old card, insert the new one until you hear the small lever going in place with a click.
- screw the front, plug the cable, close the case, attach all the other cables, start the pc, install drivers, enjoy.

L.