- Sep 5, 2003
- 19,458
- 765
- 126
Test Setup:
i7 5960X @ 4.6Ghz
R9 290X @ 1.1Ghz / 5.5Ghz memory
R9 295X2 @ 1.09Ghz / 5.5Ghz memory
GTX980 @ 1.42Ghz / 8Ghz memory
GTX980 SLI @ 1.42Ghz / 8Ghz memory
Titan X @ 1.38Ghz / 7.5Ghz memory
AMD Catalyst 15.4
NV 350.12
Summary
1. For $600-650, R9 295X2 or 290X CF makes $1000-1200 980 SLI a pretty wasteful purchase as you do not get much valuable increase in performance for that 80%+ premium.
2. Titan X OC is nearly as fast as 980 SLI and actually beats R9 295X2 in minimums. Armed with 12GB of VRAM and many Titan X cards often overclocking > 1.38Ghz, it's probably better to get a single Titan X over 980 SLI today. If future games use > 4GB of VRAM, the Titan X OC will keep its performance while 980 4GB SLI / R9 295X2 will begin to stutter.
3. 980 OC is basically a waste of money over R9 290 OC for 4K gaming as neither is fast enough. If you really want 4K gaming, you are better off with 970 SLI or R9 295X2 instead of buying a $500-550 980.
4. For 4K gaming at 60 fps and very high quality settings, you will need Titan X SLI as R9 295X2 and 980 SLI aren't fast enough. That means we are about 1-1.5 generations away from a single card being good enough for 4K gaming at VHQ.
Individual games:
--
i7 5960X @ 4.6Ghz
R9 290X @ 1.1Ghz / 5.5Ghz memory
R9 295X2 @ 1.09Ghz / 5.5Ghz memory
GTX980 @ 1.42Ghz / 8Ghz memory
GTX980 SLI @ 1.42Ghz / 8Ghz memory
Titan X @ 1.38Ghz / 7.5Ghz memory
AMD Catalyst 15.4
NV 350.12
Summary
1. For $600-650, R9 295X2 or 290X CF makes $1000-1200 980 SLI a pretty wasteful purchase as you do not get much valuable increase in performance for that 80%+ premium.
2. Titan X OC is nearly as fast as 980 SLI and actually beats R9 295X2 in minimums. Armed with 12GB of VRAM and many Titan X cards often overclocking > 1.38Ghz, it's probably better to get a single Titan X over 980 SLI today. If future games use > 4GB of VRAM, the Titan X OC will keep its performance while 980 4GB SLI / R9 295X2 will begin to stutter.
3. 980 OC is basically a waste of money over R9 290 OC for 4K gaming as neither is fast enough. If you really want 4K gaming, you are better off with 970 SLI or R9 295X2 instead of buying a $500-550 980.
4. For 4K gaming at 60 fps and very high quality settings, you will need Titan X SLI as R9 295X2 and 980 SLI aren't fast enough. That means we are about 1-1.5 generations away from a single card being good enough for 4K gaming at VHQ.
Individual games:
--
Last edited: