GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Honestly, there isn't much of a price gap between the 3GB and 6GB versions anyway...

Is there actually a significant gap between the 3 GB and 6 GB versions? If my memory serves me right, back when we were looking at the GTX 960, the difference between 2 GB and 4 GB at 1080p resolution was practically negligible. It’s almost like trying to choose between two slightly different shades of gray; you barely notice the distinction until things get complicated. Isn't more VRAM generally considered the better bet once you start pushing past 1080p resolutions?

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In my opinion, this GPU has a major flaw—that 3GB of VRAM is a massive hardware bottleneck given how much raw power the chip actually has.

It’s not just about the VRAM, either; the GTX 1060 3GB actually has about 10% fewer CUDA cores.

or maybe this one:

It doesn't necessarily have to be—honestly, there are some games I can barely even remember. Last year, we were already seeing titles demanding more than 3.5GB of VRAM even at 1080p resolution—and that’s if you're pushing everything to Ultra, of course. 🙂 If you're already shelling out the cash for a new graphics card, why not just get a decent one so you don't have to worry about it? I was just looking at the numbers and noticed the price gap between the 3GB version and the 6GB version is only about $167. If you've got the extra room in your budget, I’d definitely recommend going with the 6GB version... mostly because of all the new releases coming down the pipeline, and just for that peace of mind in the long run.

Like the title says, I'm looking for a GPU that can actually handle current titles and whatever comes next at settings leaning toward High.
My current setup is an I5 3570 k on a Z77 pro3 with an HD7850 2gb OC, and honestly, most games have been stuck between Medium and High, while something like Battlefield 1 benchmark 1080 p Ultra barely runs on minimum, so it's definitely time for a new card.
I’m willing to stretch my budget up to $833, paying cash.
What’s the best move here, and am I going to run into a massive bottleneck with my other parts? Given the CPU, I shouldn't be seeing major issues for a little while longer, right?
Thanks.

You’re looking at either the GTX 1060 6GB or the RX 480 8GB for this price range. The GTX 1060 is going to have the edge in DirectX 12 titles, while the RX 480 performs better in DirectX 12. Either way, make sure you grab one with a three-year warranty, regardless of which path you take.

Battlefield 1 benchmark 1080 p Ultra

This one? I think so, I just need someone to confirm. 😁

http://www.amd.com/product.asp?produc...&code=62679AMD

If you're shopping at AMD, you might as well grab one of these cheaper options:

Sapphire RX 480 8G D5 Nitro+ 1306/8000 MHz - $0.76

XFX RX 480 8GB GTR 1288/8000 MHz - $0.80

Sapphire RX 480 8G D5 OC Nitro+ 1342/8000 MHz - $0.80

MSI makes a solid card, but honestly, you're mostly paying extra just for the name. I'd suggest any of these three instead. They're all pretty much on par, though word is the XFX GTR handles overclocking the best. If you don't care about tweaking settings, that first Sapphire is a great pick, and the second one comes factory overclocked. All of these come with a three-year warranty...

It’s not like I’m specifically planning to buy from AMD; I just mentioned them because they have a solid selection.
I'll just grab whatever ends up being the cheapest, though having overclocking headroom is definitely an advantage for the XFX, and since my CPU and motherboard are already unlocked, it only makes sense to get a card that can be overclocked too.😁
I've always been the type to hunt for best-buy components, so I used to go with Sapphire because their cooling was top-tier and they were cheaper than the competition without sacrificing any performance.
The selection is way broader now than it was a few years back when I was buying parts, so I'm going to dig through some more reviews before I make a final call.
Anyway, thanks for the pointers, you've been a huge help.

I'd probably go with the XFX GTR model.

crimsonstag84 said:I'm leaning toward the XFX GTR model.

signature 😉

What about this one?
It’s already factory overclocked... so what’s the real difference? Should I grab the factory version, or just overclock it myself—meaning, do I go for the GTR if it's significantly better, or just stick with this cheaper option if they're basically the same thing?

Every single spec sheet out there says you need at least a 550W power supply for an RX 480.

To me, it makes zero sense because even under full load, I'm nowhere near hitting those specs. I'm running an XFX 450 w unit that's only a year old and still has five years of warranty left, so I don't see any reason to bother swapping out my power supply.

The GTR model pulls a bit less power and stays way cooler.

By the way, this is the cheapest RS model I found:

If this doesn't convince you to pick up an XFX GTR, nothing will.

You won't have any issues with the power supply; even at full load, you're looking at less than 300W. For context, a buddy of mine is running an i5 6400 paired with an XFX 480 gtr on that exact same unit without breaking a sweat.

Alright, I'm picking up the GTR today then. 🙂
Just a quick tip regarding the RAM: right now I've got four 2GB sticks running at 9 latency—two are 1333MHz and two are 1600MHz, so everything is just settling at 1333.
If I pulled out those 1333 ones and swapped in two 4GB sticks, I'd be sitting at 12GB total running at 1600MHz.
Will I actually feel a difference if I go with 1600, or should I just ditch them all for some new sticks at, say, 2400MHz? Is there a noticeable jump, or is it just some marketing gimmick that won't change how the PC feels?

- You won't actually notice any difference in RAM speed
- The gap between 8GB and 12GB of RAM isn't something you'll feel (yet) while gaming either
- If that still bothers you, just bump your frequency from 1333MHz up to 1600MHz

Short and sweet!
Thanks. 👍

Some of you guys might have already spotted this, but it’ll probably come as a surprise to most—the single fan xfx 470 (which is usually their cheapest custom model) actually doesn't look like total crap! Historically, XFX has had a bit of a reputation for making crappy single fan GPUs (like those core editions). Of course, the stock settings aren't exactly roses, but once you start tweaking things, it performs surprisingly well.

On stock settings, the behavior is a bit weird, but with a little tweaking, it works great. I tested it in The Witcher, which is basically like running Furmark. Without bumping up the power limit, it sits at ~800MHz and hits the power ceiling. It has a 0RPM mode, but it acts strangely at stock; it lets the temp climb to 70+°C before the fan goes crazy at 70% speed. Then it drops to 60-62°C, but the fan stays stuck at 60-65%. With a -96 voltage offset and +50% power limit, it holds a boost above 1200MHz, staying at the rated 1226MHz about 99% of the time. Using a custom fan curve, it runs at 68-70°C with 45-50% fan speed (around 1600-1700RPM). It’s not silent, but it’s acceptable to me.

In GTA 5, which isn't quite as demanding as W3, it runs at 62°-65° with about 40% fan speed. You can barely hear it over the 1200RPM case fans. Compared to my old setup, the noise level is pretty much the same. I'm totally satisfied, especially since I have a fresh 3-year warranty on this one, whereas my old card only had about 9 months left on its original 2-year warranty.

# My old one was an xfx R9 280, and I got this one through a warranty replacement.