GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Hey everyone. I was wondering if someone could weigh in and help me decide which graphics card is actually the better pick here.
I'm looking at the SAPPHIRE AMD RADEON R9 380 x nitro 4GB DDR5 versus the Asus GeForce GTX 960 Strix DC2OC 4GD5 4GB DDR5. Interestingly enough, the GTX 960 seems to be sitting at a higher price point $38. I've tried running some comparisons myself, but I’d much rather get your real-world perspectives. Which one holds more weight in your book, and what makes it the winner? (Full disclosure, the specs I've provided aren't super granular; I just did a little digging on the range debate and pulled what I could from Google)

modEDIT: We don't need this list 😉

The first option wins on pure value—it’s all about that price-to-performance ratio. The second one is the smarter play if you care about efficiency, since its performance-per-watt is much higher. You really ought to check out some professional reviews and gaming benchmarks to compare the actual graphs. Also, let me know your exact specs: which power supply model are you running, what case are you using, and which CPU do you have?

Timothy Kim60 said:The first one is definitely the powerhouse here—if you're looking at pure price-to-performance, it's the clear winner—whereas the second option is much more efficient if you care about performance per watt. Honestly, your best bet is to dive into some deep-dive reviews and check out actual in-game benchmarks to see how they hold up. Also, could you let me know exactly what kind of power supply you're running, which case you've got, and what your CPU is?

Regarding the case and the PSU, they might actually suffice for now, but I'm fully planning on swapping them out regardless. Here is the current setup I'm working with.

Power Supply: LC POWER LC6600 V2.2 600W (It’s not exactly a household name like Corsair or EVGA, but I've had it running smoothly for two or three years now without any hiccups)
The case is an Antec (I can't recall the specific model off the top of my head), and since it's on the smaller side, I’m looking to upgrade because there's no way one of these cards is going to fit comfortably inside it.
CPU: AMD FX 8350 4 GHz 8

Do you think you could point me toward a solid power supply and a decent case right away? Finding a reliable PSU feels pretty straightforward to me, but finding the right case that won't give me a headache is what's really weighing on my mind.

Those GPUs aren't actually that long; they'll fit into any standard case, provided you double-check the dimensions first. If you're looking to upgrade, at least consider some budget-friendly options like the Zalman Z3 or similar models (around $100), or if you want to spend a bit more, look into brands like Fractal R4, Define, or TT F31.
You really ought to swap out that power supply (those office-grade units are risky), especially if you're planning on picking up an R9 380. I'd recommend something like a Fortron Hyper 600W with a 5-year warranty, which should run under $167. Otherwise, you can grab a Gigabyte R9 380 for about $1800+; sure, it runs a little louder than the SAPPHIRE AMD RADEON R9 380 x nitro, but it comes with an extra year of warranty and is honestly a great deal.

Timothy Kim60 said:Those cards aren't actually that massive; they should fit into any standard PC case without an issue, though I’d definitely recommend double-checking those dimensions first just to be safe. If you end up looking for an upgrade, you might want to aim for something like a Zalman Z3 or similar budget-friendly options—maybe around $100—or if you're feeling a bit more upscale, look into brands like Fractal R4, Define, or even a TT F31.
You really ought to consider swapping out that power supply, too, especially since it looks like an office-grade unit; if you're planning on picking up a 380X, you'll want something reliable like a Fortron Hyper 600W with a five-year warranty, which you can find for under $167. Otherwise, there's the Gigabyte 380X sitting at about $1800+, and while it does tend to run a little louder than the Sapphire model, it comes with an extra year of warranty and is honestly such a great deal right now.

Thanks so much for the heads-up! So, based on what you're saying, would you personally lean toward the 380X? Or do you think it's smarter to just hold onto my cash for a little longer and wait until I can grab a GTX 970 or maybe even a 980?

cosmicbison38 said:Thanks for the heads up. So, are you leaning towards the 380X? Or should I just bite the bullet, save my cash, and wait for a GTX 970 or 980 instead?

Honestly, you're better off waiting a couple of months. A whole new generation of GPUs is right around the corner...

What would you consider the absolute best graphics card one could reasonably acquire for approximately $233?
I am under no illusions regarding the limitations of such a modest budget, though I find myself wondering if any value remains to be found; my primary interest lies solely in revisiting titles released in 2013 or earlier.

Raymond Hernandez10 said:What’s the best GPU I can grab for around $233?
I know I won't get much, but I'd just be playing games from 2013 or earlier.

New or used? An ATI 7850 would probably be plenty for what you're looking for, and you can definitely find one in that price range.

I had briefly entertained the notion of purchasing something brand new, though if I am forced to venture into the used market, I certainly wouldn't want to shell out more than roughly $133; after all, why should one invite unnecessary risk when one could simply avoid it altogether?

What CPU and which specific power supply are you running?

A bottom-of-the-barrel 500W power supply paired with nothing more than a Pentium G1820 processor...

If you can take a look:

http://www.newegg.com/p/computer-parts/graphics-cards/

Otherwise:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search/sapphire-r7-250

If you're looking at the used market, the strongest option you could grab for $233 would definitely be an HD7850 2GB, or maybe even an HD7870 if you hunt around enough. That said, those cards are total overkill for your CPU, and honestly, they're too much for your power supply to handle—it’s just too big of a risk. Your sweet spot would actually be finding a used GTX 750 or 750Ti, but you won't find those for $133 like you're hoping.

Looking at brand-new options, considering your PSU and CPU constraints, the R7 250 sp512 is your best bet. If we're talking about the absolute limit for $233, then this is technically the most powerful card available right now based on web pricing, though even that is a bit of a stretch given your power supply issues.

I could really use some help picking out a new graphics card—I’m totally lost on what actually fits my current rig. I pulled my old card out already, so I'm just running off the integrated graphics right now, which isn't ideal if I want to actually play anything.
My setup is running an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual Core 4400 plus
What would be the absolute best bang-for-your-buck option if my budget is around $167? I'm open to suggestions for something used on eBay or Craigslist too.
Thanks in advance 🙂

http://www.ebay.com/itm/graphics-card-listing

Even this one might be overkill for your CPU; it's honestly a bit slow by today's standards, I guess.

What kind of power supply are you running? Like, the specific model...

Dell Inspiron 350
AC input 120V AC 4A 60Hz
Output 350 W

Oof, that power supply is pretty terrible; it can only put out 144W for the CPU and GPU combined. There's no way it's going to run any decent graphics card, for sure.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/computer-cases-listing-example

So, I'm guessing this is a power supply recommendation?
Which GPU would actually be a smart buy to pair with this PSU?

Buying a GPU at this price point is a total scam because for $167 you get garbage, but if you bump it up to $33 you actually get something 50% better. I guess you should either hunt for something used or grab an NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 (make sure it's the GDDR5 version, not the GDDR3 one). You probably need to swap out that power supply too, since it's pretty much junk and ancient.

I don't even know what games you're aiming for? Your whole setup is pretty dated and weak, so maybe you should just look into buying something newer altogether. You could grab a new PSU and a GPU now, then just reuse them when you eventually build a new PC.