980ti 4k gaming - is adding a second card worth the investment?

Pyrex238

Limp Gawd
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Jul 12, 2006
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Let me first say, 4k is awesome. I love it. However, one 980ti leaves me right on the short side of what I consider acceptable frame rates. In most games I can set them to ultra, and then bump a few of the big performance hitting settings down, and I'm around 40-50fps, which I can live with. However, contrary to what seems to be an accepted sacrifice, I do not like playing without AA (FXAA in particular). Sure, it looks great without AA, but with AA 4k truly looks incredible. Currently, my system runs GTA V (for instance) with mostly high/very high settings with a few lower settings at 48fps with FXAA enabled, and it looks great. But, I have a 60hz gsync 4k screen, and occasionally I will hit 60fps and it looks amazing. My initial plan was just to add another 980ti and ride off into the sunset as a gangster. However, I've been a little surprise at the poor sli scaling I've seen in most games with the 980ti. A good example is Witcher 3 with a lousy 18% SLI scaling, and GTA V at something close to 20%, wow that sucks. To all those who have done it, was it worth it in hindsight? My previous experiences with SLI has been more compatibility issues and occasionally visual glitches. How has SLI changed in the last several years?
 
At this point I would wait for Pascal.

Yes, another 980 Ti would be worth it, but the next generation of GPUs on 14nm are going to be massive upgrades, and I think your money would be better spent there.
 
At this point I would wait for Pascal.

Yes, another 980 Ti would be worth it, but the next generation of GPUs on 14nm are going to be massive upgrades, and I think your money would be better spent there.

What is the time frame on the next generation? Isn't it in the distant future? Reports have indicated it's most likely Q3 or Q4 2016.
 
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My guess would be Q2 2016. No one really knows. Pascal reportedly taped out 4-5 months ago and AMD's next generation chips have also taped out. It usually takes about 3 quarters to bring chips to market, assuming they don't do a respin. So I think Q2 is a good guess.

Another 980 Ti would very much help out your performance, so really, this is more of a financial question. Because it is very likely that the next generation AMD and NVIDIA chips will be far faster, given the die shrink and the performance benefits that usually brings. So if you spend another $650 now, is that going to prevent you from upgrading next year? If no, go for it. If yes, you might be better served to save your money and go with new cards next year, which should finally make 4K60 @ max settings a realistically achievable target.
 
I think the reason was AMD has the first run of memory modules secured over NVidia.
 
I use a Samsung 48" JS9000 for my monitor.I can tell you that 980 Ti's in Sli makes a huge difference. When the scaling is working perfectly and both cards are being utilized game play is fantastic. When scaling for a game is crap or SLi is not implemented in the game, you can definitely tell the difference at 4k as the game FPS tanks hard even with one 980 Ti. If you got the cash, get a second card. I upgraded from 2 original Titans and got a huge boost. I sold my titans on Ebay and paid for one of my 980 Ti's and a little of the second with the money I made. Win win for me:)
 
I'm curious, off the top of your head, which games have the best scaling at 4k, and which have the worst?
 
Id get a second card if you are not satisfied NOW. Who says 1 pascal gpu will net you double your fps? Id like to see those charts. Get a second card and be happy.
 
I only play Smite and a few other games. I don't have vsync on but running 4k on Smite fully maxed with my battle.ini modified for uncapped fps i consistently sit at 130-24, fps. It's so nice and smooth.


It must be my old age but the 4k BenQ seems just as nice as my acer xb270hu
 
I'm curious, off the top of your head, which games have the best scaling at 4k, and which have the worst?

Well the games that I play....Arma 3 with mods plays really well. Heavily modded Skyrim, I get great scaling but the mods even with this older title really kill even high end PC's. Mad Max, Metro Last Light, BF4, all play great. Witcher 3 is kinda iffy, as there last few patches bonked Sli as the scaling is pretty much crap right now. Like I said, if Sli is implemented and working well with good driver support for the game, a 2nd 980 Ti for 4k is a no brainer.
 
Sli is basically a must for 4k. Get the card now and enjoy yourself. It's not like 2x 980 ti won't cover the cost of the next gpu
 
I'm curious, off the top of your head, which games have the best scaling at 4k, and which have the worst?

Wolfenstein New Order and Old blood both have the worst scaling, they don't support multi-gpu at all.

Those are the most recent fps games that I am aware of that don't scale at all.

Also, top downs usually don't scale at all, but those are not generally considered graphically demanding (except maybe Grim Dawn). Also, FF13 doesn't scale, but I don't count it because it's not exactly a new game (a 970 can run it at 4k on its own).
 
Wolfenstein New Order and Old blood both have the worst scaling, they don't support multi-gpu at all.

Those are the most recent fps games that I am aware of that don't scale at all.

Also, top downs usually don't scale at all, but those are not generally considered graphically demanding (except maybe Grim Dawn). Also, FF13 doesn't scale, but I don't count it because it's not exactly a new game (a 970 can run it at 4k on its own).

This issue will most likely be resolved through upcoming drivers or game updates :)

I would find a980 ti at a discount price and go for it (have in mind that the 780 ti still throws punches with the 980)
 
At this point I would wait for Pascal.

Yes, another 980 Ti would be worth it, but the next generation of GPUs on 14nm are going to be massive upgrades, and I think your money would be better spent there.

True. but i think he should've waited on a die shrink before he went with 4k. since 28nm wasn't really built with 4k in mind.
 
If you have a 4k display right now, and want to run at or near 60fps at high or max settings in current and new games - you need a second 980 Ti.
 
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