GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Won't 🙂

btw, there's some talk floating around about HBM cards: the AMD Radeon R9 390X might hit around $700 (maybe $2167) and the AMD Radeon R9 390 could be near $550 (around $1667).

crimsonstag84 said:It won't 🙂

By the way, word on the street regarding HBM cards: the R9 390X is looking to hit around $700 (roughly 6000-$2167), while the R9 390 should be closer to $550 (around 4500-$1667).

That's quite a bit.

It looks like the GTX 970 will be the smart move for high-end gaming until Pascal finally arrives.

Well... I guess the R9 390 should technically outperform the GTX 980 while coming in a bit cheaper. Plus, it looks like AMD might undercut the GTX 970 by dropping the prices on the R9 380 and 380X—which seem to be nothing more than polished versions of the 290/290X anyway.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Exactly what I mean is—if a rebranded R9 290 ends up priced at around $200, hardly anyone is going to bother looking at a GTX 970 for over $300. Though, I suppose if those higher-end models drop below the $300 mark, we might see some interest there again. 🤷

The real question is whether we’ll even need anything more powerful than a GTX 970 for 1080p gaming before the next generation of consoles hits the market...

As far as actually getting the game to launch—it definitely won't run, but I have no idea what specific settings or FPS we're looking at once it does

If we look at GTA V, it has already pushed the PS4 to its absolute limits, while the Xbox One is sitting at 900p. Of course, we can expect some further optimization and incremental improvements, but I wouldn't count on more than a 15% gain—considering the jump from the previous generation was closer to 20-30%. In my view, a GTX 970 should be plenty to run things at 1080p on ultra settings with a steady 35-45 FPS. Having DirectX 12 in the mix will help, and all this new HBM tech is really just luxury territory once you start aiming for 4K.

edit: Apparently, DirectX 12 will allow for both the iGPU and the dedicated GPU to work together. That's more good news for us.

Unfortunately, running everything at Ultra settings—especially if you're cranking up MSAA—isn't going to happen. In fact, we're already seeing titles out there that struggle to hit 1080p click, but you can rest assured that any game from this current generation will definitely run

It really all comes down to how the developer decides to optimize their game... Assassin's Creed was a total mess performance-wise, much like Watch Dogs—it seems like Ubisoft always struggles when it comes to optimization.

That’s true, but there will be plenty more games like this down the road. That's why I hate making bold predictions about everything running at ultra settings with sky-high FPS when even current titles struggle to hit those marks. Plus, you see all these benchmarks being run without MSAA, and then some geniuses crank up MSAA x8 and act completely shocked when the performance tanks.

Is it actually worth picking up this graphics card? I’m trying to figure out what kind of performance boost I’d really see since I’m just running on integrated graphics at the moment. My current setup is running an ASUS motherboard with 4 GB of DDR2 800 MHz RAM and an Intel Core i5 dual core processor, plus I've got this power supply feeding it all...

It’s worth the investment if you actually plan on gaming. What kind of setup are you running right now? Just a heads-up: your CPU is going to be a major bottleneck for any modern graphics cards, though you can always swap out the whole platform (CPU, motherboard, and RAM) down the road.

Unfortunately, that GPU isn't even close to being worth that much money. You're better off picking up a used card for around $350—$133though keep in mind those pull more power, so you won't be able to rely on some generic, off-brand power supply.
Do you need a case? For that price point, you could actually get a decent, reliable power supply instead.

GPU (if you insist on buying new) - http://www.nabava.net/search.php?tp=0&q=R7+250x
Power Supply - http://www.nabava.net/search.php?tp=...tron+hexa+400w

Also, I’d strongly suggest doing a quick Google search for reviews on eDigital before you buy anything from them.

I'm currently on the hunt for a new case and a power supply unit, though I did pick up some parts from Micro Center for my other build recently and everything has been running perfectly smoothly...

What’s your total budget for all three components?
Regarding eDigital, the real headache starts when you need to file a warranty claim. They recently pulled out of the US market, so I'd much rather stick with a reliable, fast-shipping retailer—someone like Amazon or Newegg

Timothy Kim60 said:What kind of total budget are we looking at for those three components?
Well, my main concern with using edigital is how they handle returns and warranty claims, especially since they just pulled out of the US market recently... if I'm going to order from an international retailer, I’d much rather go with someone reliable and fast, like Newegg or maybe B&H...

$367 I'm trying to cover the case, the power supply, and the graphics card, plus I still need to grab another 2 GB of DDR2 RAM, so I'm aiming for about $1,300 total...$467.

EVGA 400W + Spire Maverick/MS Phoenix + R7 250X. You can probably snag that 2GB DDR2 card for about $100$40, but honestly, you might be better off saving that cash for a whole new platform
.
This setup could likely run on a generic, unbranded power supply without any issues, provided it's actually functioning correctly (in which case, grab it if you're certain you aren't planning to upgrade your CPU anytime soon)

Sam Murphy said:$367 I need a case, a PSU, and a GPU since I've gotta add another 2 GB of DDR2 RAM. Total budget is around $1300$467.

1 x EVGA SuperNOVA 400W, 80 Plus, 120mm
1 x MS CARBON black case, no PSU included
1 x EVGA Radeon 250 DDR5 1GB/128bit, HDMI, DVI, VGA
Total: $388

futura

Timothy Kim60 said:I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately looking into the specs for the EVGA SuperNOVA, trying to determine if it’s truly going to hold up under the kind of load I’m planning to put on my rig... It’s one of those components where you really don't want to cut corners, because everything else depends on it being rock solid... + I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately looking into the Spire Maverick, and I have to say, there is something about its design language that really catches the eye... It feels like one of those cases that tries to strike a very specific balance between being functional and actually looking decent on a desk, which isn't always an easy feat when you're trying to manage airflow and aesthetics at the same time... I find myself wondering how it will hold up once I get all my components tucked inside, especially when it comes to cable management and keeping things looking clean... It’s definitely a curious option for anyone looking to build something a little different.../MS Phoenix... + I was just sitting here thinking about that old EVGA Radeon... it really makes you wonder how much we take for granted when we're looking at modern hardware, because back then, having something like that felt like such a massive leap forward for anyone trying to get into gaming without breaking the bank...You know, if you're really looking to hunt down some 2GB DDR2 sticks, you can probably snag them for around a hundred bucks... or maybe even less if you're lucky...$40But honestly, you might be better off just holding onto that cash and saving up for a completely new platform instead...

I am honestly feeling a bit stuck on how to approach this specific topic... I've been sitting here for quite a while trying to find the right way to frame my thoughts, but everything seems to fall short of what I actually want to convey... It’s one of those situations where you know exactly what you mean in your head, yet finding the perfect sequence of words to express that depth feels almost impossible... Honestly, you could probably get away with using a generic, no-name power supply if it’s actually functioning correctly... though I’d still be a little cautious about that. If you are absolutely certain that you aren't planning on upgrading your CPU anytime soon, then you might be able to make it work, but only if the unit is reliable...

It’s honestly getting harder and harder to save anything meaningful these days... one minute you finally have some extra cash sitting in your account, and the next, it’s just gone, vanished into thin air. So, my plan is basically to grab the GPU, the case, and the power supply right now while I actually have the funds, and then once I manage to scrape together enough again down the road, I'll circle back to pick up the motherboard, the RAM, and the CPU...🙂

Since we're already talking about buying used gear, would this one actually be an upgrade over that EVGA Radeon
?

What about the power supply?

Just some random case.

And some RAM

Maybe a slightly beefier processor too?

None of the stuff you linked is worth the money, and honestly, you shouldn't even touch it. That graphics card is half as powerful as what you actually need... and that case looks like it belongs in the era of the Core i7. That Corsair listing smells fishy as hell, too. Trying to upgrade that platform is just throwing money down a bottomless pit. If you were going to pick a processor for that setup, you’d have to go with something quad-core—specifically something from the Core i9 series—just so it isn't completely underwhelming. So no, don't buy anything from those links. 🙂