GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Thanks, guys 🙂 I have a few more questions—I'll drop them here if you don't mind.

Regarding these new motherboards: do they come with built-in WiFi, or am I going to need to buy separate hardware? (Trying to avoid running cables through my walls.)

And what's the deal with RAM—DDR3 versus DDR4? Does a higher capacity always mean better performance? 😬

I’m currently using an older LG 1080p monitor (1920x1080). Should I upgrade to an LED model, or is the difference negligible?

One last thing: I read somewhere that the RX 480 might be the smarter long-term play. Apparently, it'll outperform the GTX 1060 once DirectX 12 becomes the standard? Is there any truth to that?

- Only the high-end motherboards come with built-in Wi-Fi, so there's really no point in chasing that; you're better off just picking up a USB dongle or a dedicated PCIe card.
- DDR4 is technically the newer standard, and while you won't notice a massive difference in real-world usage, if you're building a brand-new platform and your budget allows for it, go with DDR4.
- 1080p is still a perfectly fine resolution. You can stick with a GPU in that tier as long as it has a DVI or HDMI port—keep in mind that most modern, high-end cards have completely ditched analog signals.
- The 480 performs much better in DirectX 12 and Vulkan scenarios.

So, you're suggesting the RX 480 might actually be a better call than the 1060? I'm curious about how that pairing would hold up—an i5 6400 paired with an RX 480—when running DirectX 12 or Vulkan. If I decide to skip those newer APIs entirely, would the GTX 1060 be the smarter play in that case?

The GTX 1060 generally outperforms in DirectX 11. Just take a look at the reviews
Your gaming experience will be great regardless of which one you pick; there aren't any massive performance gaps here. It’s not like the 480 is lagging significantly behind in DirectX 11, nor is the 1060 falling way behind in DirectX 12. Naturally, the exact percentages will fluctuate depending on the specific game and the particular review you're reading.

What kind of GPU should I drop into this rig? Ideally, I want it to be able to handle titles like Doom, Battlefield 4, and maybe some older classics on high settings without breaking a sweat.

Gigabyte H97 motherboard
8GB DDR3 RAM
Intel i5-4570 processor
550W Chieftec power supply
Currently running an old ATI HD 4870 with 512MB

driftingdrifter88 said:What kind of GPU should I throw in here? (Ideally, I want to run Doom, BF4, and maybe one other game on high settings)

Gigabyte H97 motherboard
8GB DDR3 RAM
Intel Core i5-4570
550W Chieftec power supply
Current GPU: ATI HD 4870 512MB

Spend whatever you can afford and just grab it. You could probably pick up some used gear too...

Honestly, I don't have much to work with right now... nothing particularly massive in mind that wouldn't be total overkill, but my current setup is definitely the bottleneck here.

It’s not really much for some people $267, while for others it’s $500 and so on. 😬

An R9 380 goes for just under $533. If you're looking for something cheaper, I guess I'd rather go with something used that still carries a warranty.

Come on, at least give me a ballpark figure for the budget

Timothy Kim60 said:Look, just give me a ballpark figure for the budget.

$200 is plenty...

So, here’s what you can get from driftingdrifter88 click since we can't find any R9 380s in stock locally up to $500
As for Nvidia, they have those GTX 960 blower cards available, but I wouldn't go for those if I were you.

I've been browsing online for the RX 470, and I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised by what I'm seeing.

I honestly think we'll see prices stabilize at a more permanent level by early September.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strix-RX460...eywords=rx+460

Check this out, about $600.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-RX-460P...eywords=rx+460

Or maybe this one for roughly $333. 😁

They arrived!

RX 470

http://www.newegg.com/graphics-card-s...63US/product/
http://www.bestbuy.com/katalog/computer-components/nitro-470-8g/

RX 460

http://www.amazon.com/search.php?tp=0&q=rx+460

Timothy Kim60 said:They arrived

470

http://www.bestbuy.com/graphics-card-s...63ADM/product/
http://www.newegg.com/catalog/comp...-470nitro-8g-/

460

http://www.walmart.com/search.php?tp=0&q=rx+460

Uh, looking at these prices for an rx 470, you might as well just grab a reference rx 480 or a Palit/Gainward gtx1060 instead....☕
It's like these local retailers are getting kickbacks from Nvidia or something.
😬

edit: even the older generations have seen way bigger price drops on Nvidia cards compared to AMD stuff.😬

MSI GTX 970 - $0.89
MSI R9 390 - $0.99

@analogtiger19

Please... 😬

MSI GTX 970

And there was also an XFX R9 390 x recently for $933 over at UziShop 😉

@crimsonstag84/">@@crimsonstag84

Don't compare Uzishop to the other shops. He imports his own stock from overseas, so he's cheaper right out of the gate. And that price for a standard MSI GTX 970 at $2,300? That's a total joke. I'm telling you, Nvidia is basically subsidizing them. 😂

A few guys who picked up the reference models from us are complaining that they aren't loud enough, though they're running pretty hot. But the second you crank up the fan speeds, they get noisy—so you're basically stuck choosing between heat or noise.

Prices for the RX 470 need to drop significantly... honestly, they aren't even worth two bucks at this point... at least for me..

Look, prices aren't going up 😁

You also have to factor in that Sapphire and MSI Gaming models are always the premium, high-end options.

In my opinion, you're better off dropping $633 on an RX 470 4GB rather than shelling out $767 for a GTX 970.