Hardware Advice - GTX 6xx

[ClairObscur]

Grettings,

I plan to order the GTX 6xx, but i wanted before to have somes advices, because i do not have much knowledges about Hardware. My configuration is a basic one, and i hope with this new graphic card to work more confortable.

What do you think is better ?

Option 1 : Order the GTX 690, and up my Ram to 8go (sadly, my motherboard cant up than 8 apparently, i have actually 6Go), and stay with my A6-3600 (AMD). Adding a second monitor (24p)

Option 2 : Order the GTX 680, and up my Processor to I7 (Intel) and then changing my motherboard too, up my Ram to 16go, Adding a second monitor (but 17p)

I am affraid to not use fully the capacity of the GTX 690 if i stay with my basic config, but is maybe a mistake.

Thx you for your answers.

Sincerly,

C.O

[mib2berlin]

I would go for a new rig and a GTX 680 as you not only render on your system, i7 / 16 GB is a huge impact compare to your old system.
Buy a mainboard with two or more PCIe slots and use the GT 530 for displays and GTX 680 for rendering.
Calculate the power supply for two GTX 680 if you need more render power later.

Cheers, mib.

[Timmaigh]

I would go for a new rig and a GTX 680 as you not only render on your system, i7 / 16 GB is a huge impact compare to your old system.
Buy a mainboard with two or more PCIe slots and use the GT 530 for displays and GTX 680 for rendering.
Calculate the power supply for two GTX 680 if you need more render power later.

Cheers, mib.

For Octane, i do not think the CPU-GPU "relationship" is so important. But if you wanted to play the games, i can see that weaker AMD CPU wont be able to feed 690 with enough data to fully utilize its potential.

Still, i would not buy 690. It costs almost 1000 EUROs and is not even better than older 590, which i bought myself last year in May for 600 EUROs. If you want that computing power, get second-hand 590 instead. In general, i would buy just something cheaper for now and upgrade later, when something worthwhile comes out -> I do not consider this current generation of GPUs worth the money, if its slower than the previous one (in Octane).

[ClairObscur]

I listened your advices. Better to go to a GTX 680 then with a new motherboard and proc.

Here the config i maded :

Tower : Zalman Z11
Supply : Antec HCG - 520W
Processor : Intel Core i7 3770
Motherboard : MSI Z77A-G45 (3 slot PCI express x16 for the future )
Ram Memory : Corsair VENGEANCE RED 2 x 8 Go DDR3 PC15000 CAS 10
Graphic Card : MSI GeForce GTX 680 4 Go - Twin Frozr III OC
System : Window 8 Professionnal EOM

If you have any advices, welcome.. i will order that in the end of the week.

Sincerly,

C.O

[kavorka]

I would get a bigger power supply. Especially if you want the option to expand in the future.
On Nvidia's website, they state the min system power supply for the 680 is 550W, which you have less than. Its important to be able to handle power spikes, so you always want more than the "min". You should really think about getting a 800W or more, it will ensure that your card will live longer and allow for adding a second card if you want in the future.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop ... ifications

[ClairObscur]

Thx you for your advice kavorka. Then i will change my supply to ANTEC HCG - 900W.

Also, i hesiting to take the Window 8 Profesionnal or going to the safe (if we can call that "safe" ) Window 7 Ultimate.

C.O

[glimpse]

From what I've read so far, I wouldn't go for W8, no benefit at all when You compare those with W7.

Rig looks nice, though I would put bit more extra to Unlocked CPU, that is marked with 'k' suffix in the end (like 3770k) & OC it a bit. why? Well, some of the proceses like voxelisation is still single threaded..and having higher rinin' chip will let You to save some time on long run, especially if You will try to do some animations =) OverClocking is not a rocked science, with good cooler it will not harm You CPU/APU but could actually benefit quite a bit =)

[ClairObscur]

Thx you glimpse for your advice.

After your comment, i will stay to the W7 but will upgrate my version "Familly" to "Profesionnal" then (or ultimate ?) Also, i will up to the I7 3770K (even is a bit more charge for it).

So, if i recap :

Tower : Zalman Z11
Supply : Antec HCG - 900W
Processor : Intel Core i7 3770K
Motherboard : MSI Z77A-G45 (3 slot PCI express x16 for the future )
Ram Memory : Corsair VENGEANCE RED 2 x 8 Go DDR3 PC15000 CAS 10
Graphic Card : MSI GeForce GTX 680 4 Go - Twin Frozr III OC
System : Window 7 Professionnal

Thx you again for your helps mib2berlin, Timmaigh, kavorka, glimpse.

Sincerly,

C.O

[kavorka]

I can't be positive on this, but I am looking at pics of your motherboard and your case. I also have a Zalman case, but not that model. I have a problem where my bottom PCIe slot is where yours is on your motherboard, and while in the case, it takes up the bottom slot. This shouldn't be be a problem, except the GTX cards take up the physical space of 2 cards, so if I were to put a GTX card in the bottom PCIe slot, the fan outflow would be covered by the case, which is obviously bad.

I can't say this is actually the case with your setup, but you may not be able to use the 3rd PCIe slot for a video card. You do have onboard video with that board, which is good (use that for your display).
Just keep in mind that 2 cards may be your limit.

[rappet]

From what I've read so far, I wouldn't go for W8, no benefit at all when You compare those with W7.

Rig looks nice, though I would put bit more extra to Unlocked CPU, that is marked with 'k' suffix in the end (like 3770k) & OC it a bit. why? Well, some of the proceses like voxelisation is still single threaded..and having higher rinin' chip will let You to save some time on long run, especially if You will try to do some animations =) OverClocking is not a rocked science, with good cooler it will not harm You CPU/APU but could actually benefit quite a bit =)

Yes Glimpse.. Thanx you again for your advice in the past that helped me configuring my new build.
And indeed the Intel Core i7 3930K i have watercooled with the Corsair Hydro H100 ( processor cooling) has upgraded the cpu to @4,3 ! (from @3.1 I think it standard is)