GTX 480 SLI vs GTX 770

Carlitos714

Carlitos714

[H]ard|Gawd
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Nov 1, 2009
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I currently have GTX 480's in SLI and I am debating on getting a GTX 770. I have $143 evga bucks so that will help bring the cost down. A gtx 770 will cost me $315-305 depending on the model after the bucks.

I don't care about heat (both 480's have full waterblocks) or power (I only turn on my rig to game) or nose.

I play games like BF3 and Crysis 2/3.

I usually game at 870 core/ 2200 memory on my 480's

Resolution is 1900 x 1200

For pure performance, what is the best solution???

Again I don't care about power, noise or heat.
 
Filter said:
just buy a used 670 and o/c it.
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Last time I looked an overclocked 670 won't beat sli 480's. Actually I don't even think a GTX 680 will either. That would be a downgrade and who does downgrades anyhow?

Thanks for your answer btw.
 
If you don't care about power or heat there really isn't a reason to upgrade. If you're satisfied with SLI quirks (which admittedly are extremely few) you may as well stay with the 480s. The 770 will be the same speed to very slightly faster. Closer to the same speed.

Now, the 780 would be a definite upgrade but presumably that isn't an option for you. Other factors to consider are re-sale value and the ability to add a 2nd 770 in the future, which would tilt the decision in favor of the 770 - but in a straight performance comparison while ignoring heat/power/noise, they (480 sli vs 770) will be about the same.
 
xoleras said:
If you don't care about power or heat there really isn't a reason to upgrade. If you're satisfied with SLI quirks (which admittedly are extremely few) you may as well stay with the 480s. The 770 will be the same speed to very slightly faster. Closer to the same speed.

Now, the 780 would be a definite upgrade but presumably that isn't an option for you. Other factors to consider are re-sale value and the ability to add a 2nd 770 in the future, which would tilt the decision in favor of the 770 - but in a straight performance comparison while ignoring heat/power/noise, they (480 sli vs 770) will be about the same.
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Agree. Depending on your budget, the more logical performance upgrade from 480 sli, would be a gtx 780.
 
Another factor to consider which I forgot to mention is VRAM. Presumably starting this fall the situation with VRAM may be very different from now, and something higher than the 1.5GB on the 480 may make sense - But performance wise you won't gain anything from going to a single 770 in the games that you're currently playing. Really you're looking at wildcard factors to make the purchase worth it (ability to SLI later, 2/4GB VRAM, future proofing, re-sale value, etc) Also obviously there is heat/noise/power which is heavily in favor of the 770, but that's a non factor for you. :)
 
Here's a thread with benchmarks from several who upgraded from 480 SLI to a single GTX 780:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18514668

The last post there sounded just like you, with his 480s highly clocked under water; performance seemed much the same except he could up the AA settings on heavy VRAM games and still get the same performance.

Based on that thread, I'd say 480 SLI is definitely somewhere in 770 to 780 territory, depending on how well OCed the 480s were.
 
Carlitos714 said:
Last time I looked an overclocked 670 won't beat sli 480's. Actually I don't even think a GTX 680 will either. That would be a downgrade and who does downgrades anyhow?

Thanks for your answer btw.
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770 isnt much faster then a 670 and you can save a ton of cash buying used.
 
Then there is only on anwser a titan


I know out if his price range but he wont find something with in it
 
xoleras said:
If you don't care about power or heat there really isn't a reason to upgrade. If you're satisfied with SLI quirks (which admittedly are extremely few) you may as well stay with the 480s. The 770 will be the same speed to very slightly faster. Closer to the same speed. Now, the 780 would be a definite upgrade but presumably that isn't an option for you. Other factors to consider are re-sale value and the ability to add a 2nd 770 in the future, which would tilt the decision in favor of the 770 - but in a straight performance comparison while ignoring heat/power/noise, they (480 sli vs 770) will be about the same.
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Thank you. Yeah I really wish I could get a 780 but, its out of my budget. I think selling my 480's with waterblocks I could get $160-$220 per card depending where I sell? So at least I could get $320 which would be enough to pay for the 770 (@ $315 w/ my evga bucks). You are right adding a second 770 in like a year even 1.5 years would be enough to hold me down for some time.

tonyftw said:
Agree. Depending on your budget, the more logical performance upgrade from 480 sli, would be a gtx 780.
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I understand but, I don't have the money for a 780

xoleras said:
Another factor to consider which I forgot to mention is VRAM. Presumably starting this fall the situation with VRAM may be very different from now, and something higher than the 1.5GB on the 480 may make sense - But performance wise you won't gain anything from going to a single 770 in the games that you're currently playing. Really you're looking at wildcard factors to make the purchase worth it (ability to SLI later, 2/4GB VRAM, future proofing, re-sale value, etc) Also obviously there is heat/noise/power which is heavily in favor of the 770, but that's a non factor for you. :)
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Thank you very much. I agree that the 1.5 gb ram on the 480's is what hurts them.
evilsofa said:
Here's a thread with benchmarks from several who upgraded from 480 SLI to a single GTX 780:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18514668

The last post there sounded just like you, with his 480s highly clocked under water; performance seemed much the same except he could up the AA settings on heavy VRAM games and still get the same performance.

Based on that thread, I'd say 480 SLI is definitely somewhere in 770 to 780 territory, depending on how well OCed the 480s were.
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Thank you very much for this info. It has been very helpful! I just wonder how a 770 with a serious overclock does. Whatever card I get, it will be water cooled for sure.
 
Filter said:
Then there is only on anwser a titan


I know out if his price range but he wont find something with in it
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Honestly I would rather get sli 670's, 680's or 770's instead OF getting a titan. All these options, I don't have the $$ for them :(
 
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Grab a second hand 670 / 680 for now, then get a second one for SLI when you have more cash.

But to be honest, SLI 480's should max any game at 1920x1200 for quite some time yet.
 
Yep, some decent deals around second hand for 6XX series cards at the moment. Bagged my Gainward Phantom GTX680 4Gb for £200 recently :)
 
xoleras said:
Another factor to consider which I forgot to mention is VRAM. Presumably starting this fall the situation with VRAM may be very different from now, and something higher than the 1.5GB on the 480 may make sense - But performance wise you won't gain anything from going to a single 770 in the games that you're currently playing. Really you're looking at wildcard factors to make the purchase worth it (ability to SLI later, 2/4GB VRAM, future proofing, re-sale value, etc) Also obviously there is heat/noise/power which is heavily in favor of the 770, but that's a non factor for you. :)
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Oh god not the vrams issue debate again. 1.5 is still plenty unless your gaming on multi-monitor or 4k res screens. :rolleyes:
 
hdgamer said:
Oh god not the vrams issue debate again. 1.5 is still plenty unless your gaming on multi-monitor or 4k res screens. :rolleyes:
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Curious, since Bioshock infinite reported 2.5GB VRAM use at 2560x1600 per MSI afterburner / EVGA precision OSD. I guess these programs are lying to me.
 
Seriously who gets SLI high powered cards for 1920??? Absolutely no reason whatsoever to get more than one high end card unless you're gaming in multi-mon or 30" high rez.
 
xoleras said:
Curious, since Bioshock infinite reported 2.5GB VRAM use at 2560x1600 per MSI afterburner / EVGA precision OSD. I guess these programs are lying to me.
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OMG it REPORTED it used it. Oh noes the card is now slow. It ran out of vramssssss. When cards run out of vram it turns into a stutter fest. And that is when the gpu is actually capable of keeping up. A program reporting it is using more vram doesn't mean it's not caching or doing some kind of other algorithm since it has extra resources kind of like what windows does. Depends on the game engine though, but does not mean it has to have those resources to play the friggin game. LOL
 
OMG it REPORTED it used it. Oh noes the card
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Dude, read what you just posted. Read it two or three times and realize how utterly ridiculous and childish you sound right now. Are you thirteen years old? Because you're acting like it.

Good grief. Apparently, you're offended at the suggestion that your 1.5GB GTX 400 or 500 may not have longevity. If you improve your reading comprehension, you would realize that my original suggestion was related to the fact that games coming this fall can and will use more VRAM, since the next generation console ports will have a lot more in terms of assets and high resolution textures. And that creates a situation where more VRAM is desirable, which is what I suggested. If you're offended at that truth, then i'm sorry. There are situations where you can easily exceed 1.5GB of VRAM use, especially if you're using 2560x1440 resolution which is increasingly common.
 
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Astrodave said:
Seriously who gets SLI high powered cards for 1920??? Absolutely no reason whatsoever to get more than one high end card unless you're gaming in multi-mon or 30" high rez.
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ppl with 120hz screens who wants 120fps or higher.
 
citizen__erased said:
Grab a second hand 670 / 680 for now, then get a second one for SLI when you have more cash.

But to be honest, SLI 480's should max any game at 1920x1200 for quite some time yet.
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You might be right. It eats up BF3 and we will have to see what BF4 does to my cards. On Crysis 3 I can run everything maxed out except anti aliasing. Anything more than 2x SMAA, I start to dip under 60 fps.
 
dremic said:
this... end up with 690 performance for half the price.

im about to buy my 2nd 670 theyre hovering around 290 AMIR
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The thing is I don't have the $$ to buy SLI 670's. I wouldn't buy 1 gtx670 because that would be a downgrade for me. As I mentioned I could get a gtx770 for $315 after using my EVGA bucks but, I am trying to see if the 770 gives me the same performance as SLI 480's @ 1200P. That or just get another 480 since I already have a waterblock for it and a PSU that could handle them.
 
Carlitos714 said:
The thing is I don't have the $$ to buy SLI 670's. I wouldn't buy 1 gtx670 because that would be a downgrade for me. As I mentioned I could get a gtx770 for $315 after using my EVGA bucks but, I am trying to see if the 770 gives me the same performance as SLI 480's @ 1200P. That or just get another 480 since I already have a waterblock for it and a PSU that could handle them.
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A 770 will not give you the same performance. Think of it this way. A GTX480 is slightly slower then a GTX660ti. SLI 660tis blow a 680/770 out of the water.

I wouldn't get another 480 though. That's just throwing money in the can. Save alittle longer and grab a 780/Titan.
 
Jorona said:
A 770 will not give you the same performance. Think of it this way. A GTX480 is slightly slower then a GTX660ti. SLI 660tis blow a 680/770 out of the water.

I wouldn't get another 480 though. That's just throwing money in the can. Save alittle longer and grab a 780/Titan.
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Starting today, there's a new option in the mix. Per the HardOCP review, the GTX 760 replaces the GTX 660Ti, outperforms it in every way, and comes very close to GTX 670 performance.

GTX Titan: $1100
GTX 780: $650
GTX 770: $400
GTX 760: $250

GTX 760 SLI: $500 and blows away the Titan.

This will force 660Ti prices down, and is already starting to do that; I'm seeing a MSI 660Ti on newegg for $255 with a mail-in rebate taking it down to $235 right now, and whatever is left in stock will just have to follow suit.

The OP's resolution is 1920x1200. I simply can't recommend a 780 or Titan when he can get 760 SLI or 660Ti SLI for way less than half the price, and is well accustomed to working with SLI.
 
evilsofa said:
Starting today, there's a new option in the mix. Per the HardOCP review, the GTX 760 replaces the GTX 660Ti, outperforms it in every way, and comes very close to GTX 670 performance.

GTX Titan: $1100
GTX 780: $650
GTX 770: $400
GTX 760: $250

GTX 760 SLI: $500 and blows away the Titan.

This will force 660Ti prices down, and is already starting to do that; I'm seeing a MSI 660Ti on newegg for $255 with a mail-in rebate taking it down to $235 right now, and whatever is left in stock will just have to follow suit.

The OP's resolution is 1920x1200. I simply can't recommend a 780 or Titan when he can get 760 SLI or 660Ti SLI for way less than half the price, and is well accustomed to working with SLI.
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I just read the review on those cards. And I think that might be the best move for me right now. I think those cards will serve me well for at least 2 years maybe? What ever card/s I get they will be watercooled and probably bios modded to get the most out of them.

I do have about $145 of evga bucks plus whatever I can get from my 480's. I might even be able to pocket some $$$. I wont get the 660ti though. the GTX 760's are starting to look very temping. Yes your are right for 1920 x 1200 those cards would be great for a few years I think.
Astrodave said:
Where are these 760s? I don't see any for sale anywhere?
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everywhere
tonyftw said:
They have 10 different versions available at newegg. I'm not sure if amazon has any at the moment.
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Thank you for pointing that out!
 
So I bit the bullet and ordered myself a GTX 770 TF OC. I don't plan to go SLI in the near future so I went for a little extra oomph in gpu power. Can't really justify the 780 as I'm only running 1080p. A couple years from now, I might add another 770 for cheap or just upgrade to whatever the next great gpu is -- Volta?
 
I think 760's in SLI would be the best option for now. They have a pretty nice price/performance point.
 
Astrodave said:
Seriously who gets SLI high powered cards for 1920??? Absolutely no reason whatsoever to get more than one high end card unless you're gaming in multi-mon or 30" high rez.
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I am one who does such things. I like to feed my 120hz montior all the frames it can eat.
 
The reason to go SLI even on a single screen is to have headroom and to increase your minimum frame rate.

I had 480SLI for about a year and I used the Arctic 3 slot coolers to keep them cool and quiet and run them at about 825-850 IIRC.

I bought the 680 when it came out and they were so hard to get that it took me a couple weeks to get the second one.

What I found out in that period of time was that at 5760x1080, a single 680 performed about 90% as well as 480 SLI. Also, I live in Texas and I have a portable A/C in my home office and those 480s were the main reason.

I often see people opt for either two older cards or two newer, mid range cards because in SLI, they outperform (or match) the current top end single card.

In my opinion, any time you can afford to sell off your older cards and consolidate into a single newer card - even without an obvious increase in power, you should consider doing so because you then have the option of adding a second one of those cards at some point in the future.

I would consider consolidating to a 680/770 (try to get a 4GB card to be more future proof). You could put it under water if you wanted to, but the new cards run so much cooler, I would put the water block money towards a second card.
 
xoleras said:
Curious, since Bioshock infinite reported 2.5GB VRAM use at 2560x1600 per MSI afterburner / EVGA precision OSD. I guess these programs are lying to me.
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maybe...maybe not. BUT if you took the time to read, he said @ 1920 x 1080 which is quite a bit different.

off topic - I remember when 1920x1080 was considered a high res. Now 1080p isn't even good enough /sigh

When did everyone start being able to afford 30" monitors =( Apparently im the only one still stuck in the recession lol.
 
wooj said:
ppl with 120hz screens who wants 120fps or higher.
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or ppl wh obought their monitors just a few short years ago when apart from the gigantic top of the line beasts that cost 1500 and would look like dirt @ anything lower than 2560 and 1920x1080 was the res that everyone said exactly what your saying about.

I know my 27" is 1920 and im not always even getting 60fps w/ candy on. Course when I SLI later (as you recommend is a bad idea) This should remedy that.
 
well i'm 120hz screen with sli 770 gtx and im not happy :mad:
need more fps, the problem is the minumum fps. I can't handle the dips, it's annoying.
The dips are more noticeable in SLI then single card.
 
I've been running 480SLI in 3DVS for 2 or 3 years now and have been very happy with the performance I am getting overall. The only game I'd like to see more FPS in is Just Cause 2 in 3DVS. I don't want to spend a lot either so I think I'm going with 760SLI. I should see at least a 50% increase in FPS from what I've seen which would put my FPS at 40+ for the only game that I play that really needs more power. Sure I'd love to go with 780's but with a new young rugrat my days of spending $1000 on two video cards are over I'm afraid.
 
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