Help me find good games that justify better GPUs

[Habeed]

My current system : i7 OCed to 4.1, 12 gigs DDR3 1600 CAS 7, X-25M SSD, a western digital black for mass storage.

My GPU : a single GTX 460 1GB.

So I've got a top of the line processing system but a mid range budget GPU.

I'm trying to justify going SLI or getting a better GPU to myself...but I can't find any games that need it!

Good games I know about
Running at 1920x1200 resolution
Fallout 3/Fallout New Vegas - everything maxed, 60 fps
Bad Company 2 - 2x AA, everything maxed, 60 fps
GTA 4 - same
Left 4 dead 1&2 - same
Supreme Commander Forged Alliance - same
Two Worlds II - same
The Witcher - same
Dragon Age Origins - same


The only games I can't quite max out are
1. Metro 2033 - have to turn stuff off. Still has excellent graphics, but the game isn't very good. It's a linear FPS in a setting that's really grim and depressing. Also no multiplayer.
2. Just Cause 2 - everything on high but a couple of GPU sucking special effects turned off. Runs great and looks great.

I'm playing most of the best available titles for the PC that have been released in the last few years. The best RTS game, the best RPGs, the best FPS games...and nothing needs a better GPU.

Are there games that will be coming out in the forseeable future that I'll want a new GPU for? Most AAA games today (that is, a game with the 10 million + budget it takes to have top of the line graphics) are multi-platform, and so the graphics detail are limited by the lowest common denominator, the consoles. No point in having more detailed textures and models than a console can render, so the PC port isn't going to be very GPU intensive.

 

[Rifter]

Crysis still beats my system up pretty bad, and its almost an identical system to yours.

 

[zerocool84]

STALKER Clear Sky

 

[cixx79]

I've got three words: Crysis, Crysis, and Crysis. I can only imagine what the rest of the Crysis games will do to my computer, mine's not OC'd at all and seeming how Rifterut has almost the same setup as you, I hope our computers don't implode into oblivion.

 

[Habeed]

Crysis : hmm. I was able to play it so-so on an 8800 GT. A 460 is probably enough to run it on high without anti-aliasing.

 

[Rifter]

STALKER Clear Sky

totally forgot about this game, and yeah its pretty brutal on your system too.

 

[Keysplayr]

Crysis, Metro2033, Stalker ClearSky, Alien vs Predator, MafiaII

These games I suggest only because they can be cranked up to put a hurting on even the highest end cards today. There are surely some I've missed.

 

[Jacky60]

Try running Arma 2 (its like a very enhanced Battlefield 2 with crysis like graphics) with high quality settings and watch your rig fall to its knees and beg for mercy.

http://uk.pc.ign.com/objects/958/958404.html they've fixed the bugs with subsequent patches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaAnCP9GeMQ&feature=related


I think your GTX 460 should get its coat and leave.

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

Most of the currently existing games that are both worth playing and graphics intensive have been mentioned. Games that are coming out within the next year that SHOULD fit this bill:

Crysis 2 (March)
Rage (September)
Batman: Arkham City (Unknown)
Battlefield 3 (Unknown)
Possibly Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Unknown)

So if you can't find a compelling game right now, wait til March, buy better hardware for cheaper, be happy.

 

[taltamir]

Crysis : hmm. I was able to play it so-so on an 8800 GT. A 460 is probably enough to run it on high without anti-aliasing.

SLI of GTX580, still can't max out crysis.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4012/nvidias-geforce-gtx-580-the-sli-update/2

Check it out, they are running lower quality graphics and lower quality AA.
Also, if you have an older game you are maxing out, consider forcing SSAA in the drivers... SSAA isn't new, it just isn't used much because it requires a LOT of computational power, but provides the best quality AA out there.

 

[Matrices]

To be honest, you're not going to find more than 1 or 2 games that require more than a single 460 at 1080p, unless you're obsessed with supersampling AA. If you really want to up the ante, then invest in a 30" display or triple display config, and then go SLI to drive that.

In other words, you can't invent games with more demanding graphics, but you can replay the games that are already out there in ways that are more graphically demanding and enjoyable.

 

[Insomniator]

This thread is going to show how WEAK the gaming scene is in terms of graphics, thanks to consoles.

As an example, I think many of the 3+ million people that have bought SC2 are the types that will ONLY be playing SC2 for quite a while. That can't be good for hardware companies! L4D, TF2, and COD do not require beefy machines at all either.

If Crysis didn't exist I don't think there would be a single game that is both worth playing and worthy of new graphics cards...

 

[flopper]

at 5760x1080 you need more power.
todays gaming at 1920x1080 isnt as noted in need of more.

 

[Vdubchaos]

This thread is going to show how WEAK the gaming scene is in terms of graphics, thanks to consoles.

Agreed

I simply cannot find or justify ANY game worthy of a PC/GPU upgrade right now.

I'm running 4870 and I'm fine with it, sure it doesn't push MANY games to the max...but I'm fine with that. Just waiting for that next graphics leap which doesn't seem to be coming AT ALL.

 

[notty22]

There is hope.
We know there is a Crysis II coming.
Dirt 3
Battlefield Bad Company III

I'm asking for more driving games.

F1 2010, with dx11 patch, requires a lot of gpu power. Check out Hocp's gtx 580 review. They got less than 40fps at 2560x
I get 60 with my setup at 1920x1080
Step forward
The new EA NFS Hot Pursuit game- graphically is a disappointment from what I've seen.
Step backwards

 

[taltamir]

while there are a FEW graphically high end games coming, its the same old thing... uninspired plots and gameplay that we have seen a million times before.

Gameplay needs to come first, graphics come second. Unfortunately most current games are lacking in both departments.

 

[vshin]

I had a 4870 as well and had difficulty justifying an upgrade. With 28nm on the horizon, I decided only on a <$200 budget upgrade to an oc'd 6850, mostly so I can maintain 60fps with 4xMSAA at high graphic settings. The low idle power consumption is also a bonus so I can feel better about leaving my computer on all day. I certainly couldn't justify spending $500 for a GTX 580 since I don't play above 1920x1200.

If I had anything above a 4870, I wouldn't bother upgrading at all since there will be a HUGE performance leap going from 40nm to 28nm within a year. In addition, id should be releasing RAGE around that time, which is probably the only upcoming game that will be designed to perform beyond console specs.

 

[BD231]

COD: BLACK OPPS!!!!! Oh wait, I'm pushing 100fps with a hd4850 on max detail because it was programed for consoles ....

Hawx 2, RE5, That new star wars dark side jedi game is a sh*t load of fun and looks great, bioshock 2, Crysis Warhead, Dead Space, Mafia 2, Necro Vision, Singularity, assassins creed 2, tom clancys end war, Arma 2, NFS Shift, NFS most wanted.

 

[happy medium]

So if you can't find a compelling game right now, wait til March, buy better hardware for cheaper, be happy.

This ^^^^

 

[Vdubchaos]

This ^^^^

That's what I'm doing. But I have this gut feeling Crysis 2 will be a failure as well.

# of reasons for that
1. Crysis original game play wasn't all that great either. Graphics were great.....multiplayer was ok
2. EA is making it
3. 3d crap[ (i'm sorry but I have 0 desire to play ANY game in 3d, especially FPS)
4. EA is making it



Wouldn't surprise me if my interest in gaming in general will diminish by that point.....I really haven't been "looking forward" or interested in playing any games lately outside of F1 2010 and FIFA 2010.

 

[bryanW1995]

This thread is going to show how WEAK the gaming scene is in terms of graphics, thanks to consoles.

As an example, I think many of the 3+ million people that have bought SC2 are the types that will ONLY be playing SC2 for quite a while. That can't be good for hardware companies! L4D, TF2, and COD do not require beefy machines at all either.

If Crysis didn't exist I don't think there would be a single game that is both worth playing and worthy of new graphics cards...

we won't really need new high end cards until the next round of console upgrades. when is that, 2012 or 13?

 

[Powermoloch]

6850 CF is gonna last me for a long time

plus I have two extra 5770s to power up my "other" computers...at low resolutions, these guys are a beast.

Hell, my PNY xlr8 GTS250 runs great on MOH, Max settigns @ 1440x900 resolution on my gateway rig.

I wont be upgrading for very very long time...plus i have 120+ games backlogged and only attempted finishing just a few

 

[Vdubchaos]

we won't really need new high end cards until the next round of console upgrades. when is that, 2012 or 13?

Even than, chances are new consoles will be on par with Mid range PCs at that time.

When 360 came out my 800xl was equivalent to ATI GPU in the 360.....which I already had for a YEAR at the time.

 

[VirtualLarry]

So are you guys telling me that CF HD6870 is overkill for a 1920x1080 screen?

Oh well, it's just money!

 

[exar333]

So are you guys telling me that CF HD6870 is overkill for a 1920x1080 screen?

Oh well, it's just money!

No, its not overkill. Its about right if you like high AA settings and max detail. More than one is probably overkill at that resolution though, for most games.