GPU for VR

[shponglefan]

Right now I have a Radeon R9 270X, which the SteamVR test has told me is completely inadequate for VR gaming.

So I'm looking at upgrading. My main priority is actually fan noise. The last thing I want is a GPU that sounds like a vacuum cleaner under load.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti seems like it would be a good choice for both speed and fan noise, but I'm wondering if there is anything else comparable out there.

Alternatively, I'm wondering if it might be better just to wait another 6+ months and see what comes down the pipe. Especially with AMD's new VR driver tech...

[PopinFRESH]

Hey shponglefan,

Since you are on the fence with VR and seem like you are probably going to wait until you can try it out and/or get more perspective from other users after launch I'd recommend waiting. nVidia is slated to have their confrence in early April, at which it is expected that they will announce their higher end Pascal GPUs based on the GP100 chip (The Pascal version of the Titan, and the Pascal equlivient of the 980). If rumors are correct we will see the Titan come to market with limited availability late April/early May and the "1080" release around June or July.

Also AMD just did an AMA which they alluded to decent progress being made on getting Polaris churning through GF's 14nm FinFET process. I'd expect to see some new AMD cards based on Polaris sometime 2H16, likely toward the end of Q3 beginning of Q4.

In other words, regardless which GPU vendor you prefer there will likely be some significant updates to their lineups that will be well suited for VR should you decide to eventually get an HMD. Based on past performance, stability, and driver support as well as what nVidia is expecting from Pascal, I'm planning on getting either a new Titan or "1080".

As you discussed fan noise as a concern, I'd also point out that it is widely expected that the new cards from both nVidia and AMD are expected to be significantly more power efficient due to the long awaited jump from 28nm to smaller processes. This in theory would suggest that it is reasonable to expect quieter cards, so another reason to wait (Although I have recently helped several friends building new rigs with 980ti's and they are already fairly quiet).

I'll see if I can dig up some sources for some of these nVidia rumors, but I might not have time until tomorrow afternoon. As usual with rumors, a little googling would probably turn up some info if you want to look into it yourself. Do some searches for Pascal, Polaris, nVidia GTC, etc.

Hope that helps,
-PopinFRESH

[Tя!cky ツ]

I have the EVGA GTX 980 TI SC ACX 2.0+ The fan doesn't even turn on when your just at your desktop. Only when it needs it underload. Vary quite system that combines heat pipes and fins. But it does tend to throw radiate heat in your case. So make sure you use case fans to exhaust that out.

[shponglefan]

@:PopinFRESH: Thanks for the feedback and reasoned approach. Part of my rationale for upgrading now would be usage for existing gaming. I have a 3 monitor setup, so a more powerful card would be beneficial. But you're right that there is a lot stuff on the immediate horizon, so it's tough to decide to take the plunge now or wait 6 months...

@Tя!cky: Thanks for the feedback on that card. I have a well vented case (multiple intake and exhaust fans), so heat in the case shouldn't be an issue. I like the idea of the card's fans not even spinning unless under load.

[Tя!cky ツ]

Originally posted by shponglefan:

@ :Po pinFRE SH: I have a 3 monitor setup, so a more powe rful card driver be beneficial.

What Gpu are you using now? Dual Gpu or Sli. My main rig is also 3 monitor setup got 2x Titan X. Using
my 2nd PC for VR Vive cause hearing no Sli drivers.

[shponglefan]

Originally posted by Tя!cky ツ:

Originally posted by shponglefan:

@ :Po pinFRE SH: I have a 3 monitor setup, so a more powe rful card driver be beneficial.

What Gpu are you using now? Dual Gpu or Sli. My main rig is also 3 monitor setup got 2x Titan X. Using
my 2nd PC for VR Vive cause hearing no Sli drivers.

Just a single Radeon R9 270X. It works reasonably well for most of the games I've played. ARMA 3 is the only title I've tried where it ran far too slowly for three monitors.

I also should note I'm running at 5760 x 1080 resolution (three 1920x1080 monitors).

[Tя!cky ツ]

Due to Batman Arkham Knight I went Titan X Sli...Then the bastards announced withdraw of Sli support. I kept my Perorder and we all the mess that was. Good news for me was the Titan X held the 60 fps cap on single monitor. But I was pissed could'nt run 3 monitors. So I got a refund from steam, 6000x1080 @ 144hz frame rate in the hundreds every game with Sli support.

[starburst]

forget 1 card you need 2 cards for vr but sli and crossfire dont work in vr

[grenadecx]

Originally posted by CTID:

forget 1 card you need 2 cards for vr but sli and crossfire dont work in vr

No you do not.

[shponglefan]

Just pulled the trigger on the EVGA 980 Ti FTW (plus the Vive and Rift). I figured screw it and decided to just go all in.

I'm sure there will be better h/w down the road, but the 980 Ti should suffice for a little while.

[starburst]

Originally posted by grenadecx:

Originally posted by CTID:

forget 1 card you need 2 cards for vr but sli and crossfire dont work in vr

No you do not.

your right you dont need 2 cards it all depends on what graphics your happy with mario karts should be fine

[Badacid.Velox]

Originally posted by CTID:

forget 1 card you need 2 cards for vr but sli and crossfire dont work in vr

So you're basically saying you need something that doesn't work in VR for VR? Hooookay then!

980TI is fine for VR. I've never even heard mine make any kind of noise. I do have my PC positioned a meter or so behind my chair though but still, unless you play games with sound off, I think you're pretty unlikely to hear your card. I think your more likely to hear case fans than GPU?. As said above though, if you can wait, the next gen of GPU's does look pretty amazing.

[Unlimited]

I ran the test on a Sapphire R9 380 Nitro 4GB, no frames under 90 FPS and it put me in the medium settings range. So it would be usable on a $200 card, though perhaps not ideal.

[Minitu]

I'm on the same boat. For now just trying to get a cheap second hand 290 while I wait for Polaris or Pascal, whichever comes first. I have the feeling that this round Polaris/DX12/liquidVR will come first and rule.

[Black Blade]

For now I am with the amazing Intel integrated waiting for pascal to drop the prices so I can go get a GPU

[Kamikaze Ice]

Originally posted by Tя!cky ツ:

Due to Batman Arkham Knight I went Titan X Sli...Then the bastards announced withdraw of Sli support. I kept my Perorder and we all the mess that was. Good news for me was the Titan X held the 60 fps cap on single monitor. But I was pissed could'nt run 3 monitors. So I got a refund from steam, 6000x1080 @ 144hz frame rate in the hundreds every game with Sli support.

So many people had problems running Arkham Knight when it was first released on PC.
I didn't. Intel i5 2600k (OC@4.2) and an Nvidia GTX 770 (4GB VRAM). Ran at 1920x1080, with everything on, and only went below 30 fps in a few specific areas and most were cutscenes.

Not trying to brag, but I'm using my experience to make a point. Many people who had cards more powerful than mine were hampered by the cards architecture. It wasn't that the cards performance was inadequate, but it was the way they made their performance (read: it was the message's fault, not the messenger)


Seriously, wait for the new line of cards to come out. They will be one of the largest jumps in video card performance in years. IMO, since the ATi 9500/9600/9800/xt architecture. And maintaining a high framerate is required IMO. 'Cause immersion and motion sickness.

Don't forget to consider near-future games (read: games coming out in the next 2 or so years), and the growing number of games with little to no performance optimizations (see: Arkham Knight, Tomb Raider, Assassin's Creed, etc).