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General discussionnVidia GTX 980 running 3 monitors - enough power?(12 posts)(12 posts)
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Posted June 03, 2016
Hi all. I have just got a new job and can finally look at upgrading my computer from it's current status of geriatric to brand spanking new.

Looking at options, I am considering adding a third monitor to my setup so I can enjoy some good wide screen gaming.

Question is, can I run three 1080 monitors off of a single GTX980? Or do I need more than one video card?
I am not looking at setting everything to ultra quality, I just want to enjoy wrap around games without too much stutter.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Currently the build I'm looking at would be something like this:
https://www.digitec.ch/en/ShopList/Show?shopListId=985248F10C72D412805D9A41A4407DD6

(other thoughts on the parts also welcome, but this post mainly about what a single 980 can provide.

For comparison, this is what I'm running now:
Intel i7-930 @2.8 GHz CPU
Gigabyte X58A UD3R Mobo
Corsair 6GB RAM
Sapphire Radeon 7850 2GB GPU
250 GB SSD
2TB WD Black HDD
Antec 750W PSU
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Posted June 03, 2016
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thief_39: Hi all. I have just got a new job and can finally look at upgrading my computer from it's current status of geriatric to brand spanking new.

Looking at options, I am considering adding a third monitor to my setup so I can enjoy some good wide screen gaming.

Question is, can I run three 1080 monitors off of a single GTX980? Or do I need more than one video card?
I am not looking at setting everything to ultra quality, I just want to enjoy wrap around games without too much stutter.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Currently the build I'm looking at would be something like this:
https://www.digitec.ch/en/ShopList/Show?shopListId=985248F10C72D412805D9A41A4407DD6

(other thoughts on the parts also welcome, but this post mainly about what a single 980 can provide.

For comparison, this is what I'm running now:
Intel i7-930 @2.8 GHz CPU
Gigabyte X58A UD3R Mobo
Corsair 6GB RAM
Sapphire Radeon 7850 2GB GPU
250 GB SSD
2TB WD Black HDD
Antec 750W PSU
You may want to hang around a bit, there is a raft of new cards hitting the market soon. Some other posts on here about it although I can't find it now as it is buried under a growing mound of Galaxy. Witcher3, Connect posts.

Example:
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/5/7/11615806/nvidia-gtx-1080-1070-pascal-specs-price-release-date
Post edited June 03, 2016 by nightcraw1er.488
Posted June 03, 2016
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nightcraw1er.488: You may want to hang around a bit, there is a raft of new cards hitting the market soon. Some other posts on here about it although I can't find it now as it is buried under a growing mound of Galaxy. Witcher3, Connect posts.

Example:
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/5/7/11615806/nvidia-gtx-1080-1070-pascal-specs-price-release-date
Here you go:

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/new_nvidia_cards_on_the_horizon
Posted June 03, 2016
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nightcraw1er.488: You may want to hang around a bit, there is a raft of new cards hitting the market soon. Some other posts on here about it although I can't find it now as it is buried under a growing mound of Galaxy. Witcher3, Connect posts.

Example:
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/5/7/11615806/nvidia-gtx-1080-1070-pascal-specs-price-release-date
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adaliabooks: Here you go:

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/new_nvidia_cards_on_the_horizon
Thanks. I was looking at this computer for Chrimble if I can save up enough:
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/view-item/Vortex-GF-10-Extreme/?gclid=CIOuq87Ki80CFcYcGwodIBYFPg
Has a GTX1080 in it.
Posted June 03, 2016
In theory it should be powerful enough, depending on the games ( and min FPS ) you have in mind. But as others suggested, you're probably better off waiting a little longer and then picking up, in example, a new GTX 1070 or one of the new AMD GPUs.
Posted June 03, 2016
Don't forget also about the new upcoming Radeon cards like RX 480 and later on in the year the Vega line up.
Posted June 03, 2016
The problem is there will always be new cards, or deals, or things of that nature, so I'm just working with what I have at available at the moment.
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CharlesGrey: In theory it should be powerful enough, depending on the games ( and min FPS ) you have in mind. But as others suggested, you're probably better off waiting a little longer and then picking up, in example, a new GTX 1070 or one of the new AMD GPUs.
As far as FPS goes, I'm happy with a solid and consisten 60. I've played TW3 and Shadow of Mordor on my current system, both getting around 30 - 45 on a single monitor with the 7850 and the occasional tear.

For argument's sake, let's say I want to play The Witcher 3 across three monitors, running a combined 5760x1080 at 60 FPS with 4x - 8x AA and high texture resolution.
Posted June 03, 2016
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thief_39: The problem is there will always be new cards, or deals, or things of that nature, so I'm just working with what I have at available at the moment.
...snip
Ah, but with this one, you can get the equivalent or more processing power than a titan, with less energy consumption at only a bit more cost. And its out now.
Posted June 03, 2016
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thief_39: The problem is there will always be new cards, or deals, or things of that nature, so I'm just working with what I have at available at the moment.
...snip
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nightcraw1er.488: Ah, but with this one, you can get the equivalent or more processing power than a titan, with less energy consumption at only a bit more cost. And its out now.
Sadly, I'm already pushing my budget with a standard 980 in Switzerland. Going for a ti or one of the 1080s is nigh on twice what I can spend on upgrading my GPU right now.

And that will have to happen soon - one of the fans on the 7850 has been rattling quietly for a short time now too and I'm a bit worried it's going to just decide to die sometime soon. POS.


Unless I can drop something else down on the rest of the list (link posted in OP). If I can make savings elsewhere, then maybe I could spring for a 1080.
Post edited June 03, 2016 by thief_39
Posted June 03, 2016
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thief_39: As far as FPS goes, I'm happy with a solid and consisten 60. I've played TW3 and Shadow of Mordor on my current system, both getting around 30 - 45 on a single monitor with the 7850 and the occasional tear.

For argument's sake, let's say I want to play The Witcher 3 across three monitors, running a combined 5760x1080 at 60 FPS with 4x - 8x AA and high texture resolution.
Nope, not going to happen with a GTX 980. It's a nice GPU, but apparently even in a single screen setup Witcher 3 pushes it to its limits ( 1080p, max settings, constant or almost constant 60FPS ). It definitely won't be capable of maintaining 60FPS if you triple up the total workload. If you're willing to sacrifice some of the visual quality and FPS rates, or play less demanding games than Witcher 3, then it might work.

Either way, I'd advise against buying a GTX 980 now, unless you can get a good second-hand deal. For a new GPU you'd likely be better off with the GTX 1070. Also, I'm not experienced with SLI setups, but I wonder if 2 of the upcoming RX 480 would be a good idea. They'll apparently be similar in performance to the GTX 980, but at a much better price point.
Posted June 03, 2016
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thief_39: If I can make savings elsewhere, then maybe I could spring for a 1080.
Don't spring for a 1080. Spring for a 1070. It'll save you a chunk of change, and will perform nearly as well. Plus, you can SLI 1070s for almost the same price as a single 1080, and that will beat six kinds of hell out of whatever you throw at it. Therefore, you can play triple-screen games nicely for a while until you get a little more money, then buy a second 1070 a few months later when you have some more money laying around.
Posted June 03, 2016
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thief_39: If I can make savings elsewhere, then maybe I could spring for a 1080.
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OneFiercePuppy: Don't spring for a 1080. Spring for a 1070. It'll save you a chunk of change, and will perform nearly as well. Plus, you can SLI 1070s for almost the same price as a single 1080, and that will beat six kinds of hell out of whatever you throw at it. Therefore, you can play triple-screen games nicely for a while until you get a little more money, then buy a second 1070 a few months later when you have some more money laying around.
Heh, can't find those ATM. Can see the 1080s locally though. They will set me back SFr 850 (I think that's about $900 USD), where the 980 will cost me SFr 500.


EDIT - OK, have had time to look. So the 1070s aren't out yet. Will need to see what the go is for them. It will be a month or two before I can start to buy parts for the new build, but hanging out already. Then again, could always get the rest sooner and then grab a monitor and GPU on later... but dammit, I really want to retire the i7-930!
Post edited June 03, 2016 by thief_39
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General discussionnVidia GTX 980 running 3 monitors - enough power?(12 posts)(12 posts)
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