GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

analogtiger19 said:Do you have any idea what time it is when the cheapest NVIDIA GTX 1060 at Best Buy is already... 🤣 🤣 🤣
link

That would mean all the other "standard" retailers will be charging around $200-$220 once they actually hit the shelves. 😬

And do you know how much things cost back in the motherland right now?

http://m.computeruniverse.net/item/3930363539343330 😁

We still don't know what the custom models will go for, but the current prices look incredibly promising. It’s just a matter of waiting for them to reach our local importers and retailers. Honestly, with the way taxes work here, this 8GB model from the site should basically cost $613 in the US

Two days ago, I placed an order through Computeruniverse. NVIDIA GTX 970 (Sapphire),
for $235. In my estimation, this is a solid value.

https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...380x-nitro.asp

However, I just noticed they also have the NVIDIA GTX 1060 available for $250. The listing states it is "coming soon" with expected arrival in mid-July, but since I won't be back in the States until August, I can afford to wait.

https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...ite-retail.asp

That price difference of ten bucks is negligible to me. I believe I still have time to modify the order, but I am weighing my options. First, the GTX 1060 utilizes a single cooler and comes in a very compact shroud. Given my past negative experiences with single-fan cards, I question how it will handle thermal management.🤔
Second, from what I gather—though I may be mistaken—this GTX 1060 is optimized for VR, which is not something I intend to utilize anytime soon.

The question is simple: should I stick with my current order for the NVIDIA GTX 970, or change it to the NVIDIA GTX 1060 8GB?
I maintain that the card I already ordered is more than sufficient for decent gaming performance, especially paired with my Intel Core i7-3770K and 16GB of RAM (1600MHz). I see no urgent need to switch.

What is your assessment?
It would be foolish to second-guess myself over a mere $10.🕺

It’s pretty straightforward... just cancel the order and wait until those NVIDIA GTX 1060 cards with custom coolers—meaning standard fans—hit the shelves.

The NVIDIA GTX 970 isn't worth that kind of cash. If you're planning on playing at 1080p, honestly, just hold out for the NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti. Based on everything we know, it'll likely outperform the 970, and you should be able to snag one for around $220 max.

wiredotter14 said:It is quite simple... cancel the order and wait for the NVIDIA GTX 1060 models with custom coolers—meaning the ones with standard fans
.
The NVIDIA GTX 970 isn't worth the money at that price point. If you intend to play at 1080p resolution, simply wait for the NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti, which will likely outperform the 970, and should cost no more than $220.

That is precisely the issue. Waiting is the problem.😁
Who knows when the version with the custom cooler will actually arrive? What am I supposed to play until then? Angry Birds on my phone? 🙂

And why do you claim the NVIDIA GTX 970 isn't worth the cost?

Regarding this NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti, according to this site http://videocardz.com/amd/radeon-rx-400/radeon-rx-470, it is slated for Q2 2016. That implies it should have been released already. 🤔

What is your assessment of this NVIDIA GTX 1060 I linked? Should I proceed with the purchase regardless of the subpar cooler?

analogtiger19 said:Do you have any idea what time it is when the cheapest NVIDIA GTX 1060 at Best Buy is already priced like that? 🤣 🤣 🤣
link

That would imply that all the other "standard" retailers will be stuck selling them for around $2,000 to $2,200 once they actually hit the shelves. 😬

It’s actually kind of funny seeing Best Buy occasionally undercut everyone else like this... even if it's just a promotional price where you dodge some sales tax, bringing it down to roughly $1,800, it isn't really a bad deal at all. 👏

Ethan Campbell81 said:Well, that’s exactly the issue—the waiting. 😁
I mean, who knows when the versions with custom coolers will actually drop? What am I supposed to play until then, Angry Birds on my phone? 🙂

And how can you say an R9 380 isn't worth the money at that price point?

Regarding this RX 470, http://videocardz.com/amd/radeon-rx-400/radeon-rx-470 they're saying it should be out by Q2 2016, which means it really should have been here already. 🤔

What do you think about this RX 470 I linked? Should I just grab it despite that single cooler design?

Look, it's better to compare these prices in USD. Like you said, this NVIDIA GTX 1070 is only slightly more expensive than that R9 390X. Plus, it's way more powerful and actually pulls less power.
The RX 470 was officially supposed to launch at the same time, but I'm guessing we won't even see a standard AMD version, just direct custom cooler models.
If the price where you're shopping is $250 for the NVIDIA GTX 1070 8GB, then the RX 470 will probably sit around $175-$185, and that card beats the R9 390X.
So, the 390X isn't worth it.

If you have—or plan to get—a monitor higher than 1080p, go with the NVIDIA GTX 1070. If you're sticking to 1080p, save your cash and wait for the 470X (likely later this month).

That NVIDIA GTX 1070 you linked uses AMD's reference design, and honestly, it's not bad. Most sources say it holds up fine and isn't too loud, and it looks like you can undervolt that card without losing any performance.

Bottom line: if you really don't feel like waiting, just grab the NVIDIA GTX 1070 now (once it ships).
Otherwise, wait for the custom coolers or the 470X.

wiredotter14 said:The RX 470 was officially slated for a simultaneous release, but my guess is we won't even see a standard AMD version; instead, it'll go straight to custom coolers.

It’s pretty straightforward. After all, they presented it completely bare—just the chip without any cooler attached.

wiredotter14 said:If you're seeing an NVIDIA GTX 1070 priced at around $250 where you shop, then you can expect that RX 470 to sit somewhere in the $175 to $185 range. At that price point, it's definitely going to outperform the R9 380X.
Bottom line: picking up the R9 380X just isn't worth the money.

It’s even less than that. The MSRP for the RX 470 was set at $149. Over in the States, people actually respect the MSRP for the 480. Now, the big question remains: when will prices around here finally settle back down to normal?

Timothy Kim60 said:Even less. They’re calling the MSRP for the NVIDIA GTX 1060 $149. Overseas, people actually respect the MSRP for the NVIDIA GTX 1070. Now we just wait to see when prices here finally settle back down to some kind of "normal."

I said 160-170 because if there aren't any reference cards available, launch prices usually creep above MSRP. Plus, the dollar took a bit of a hit.

I am planning to go with an NVIDIA GTX 1070. Since I have no intention of waiting around for a Sapphire model, I would likely pick up this XFX version:
https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...480.asp#review
or perhaps one from Gigabyte:
https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...eon-rx-480.asp

I haven't used any XFX hardware before. What is their general reputation? Are they reliable, and how do they handle thermal management?

Ethan Campbell81 said:Look, I'm just going for an NVIDIA GTX 1070. Since I don't feel like waiting on a Sapphire model, I'd probably grab this XFX one:
https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...480.asp#review
or maybe the Gigabyte version:
https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...eon-rx-480.asp

Never actually used anything from XFX before. Are they any good? Reliable? How do they handle heat issues and stuff like that?

All three links you posted are just reference designs. There's basically zero difference between them.
Just get the cheapest one (Sapphire).
Those other prices? You're just paying a premium for faster shipping.

wiredotter14 said:All three links you provided feature reference designs. Consequently, there are virtually no differences between them.
Go with the cheapest option (Sapphire).
Those other price points are simply a premium paid for faster shipping.

I have been reviewing the numbers, and I found that the Gigabyte R9 390 8GB is only 90 cents—not dollars, cents—more expensive than the NVIDIA GTX 1070:
https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...-g1-gaming.asp

https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...eon-rx-480.asp

There is one significant distinction, at least in my view: the R9 390 features a 512-bit bus, whereas this NVIDIA GTX 1070 is 256-bit. While the core clock on the NVIDIA GTX 1070 is slightly higher than the R9 390, the R9 still holds the advantage with its 512-bit bus, which explains why the pricing is so similar.
Power consumption is the only other factor. I see the R9 draws considerable power, but that is easily managed with a reliable 650W power supply.

Looking at benchmarks, I see that this R9 390X (factory overclocked) actually outperforms the NVIDIA GTX 1070 in certain tasks.

Therefore, should I proceed with the NVIDIA GTX 1070, or would it be wiser to choose the proven option? A friend owns this R9 390X and is highly satisfied with it, so perhaps I should take the R9 390X.

Neither the R9 390 nor the R9 390X, or even the reference NVIDIA GTX 1070, seem like the best deals right now... I guess you should wait for some custom NVIDIA GTX 1070 models. They’ll probably be a bit faster and cheaper than the R9 390X, plus they’ll pull about 100W less power.

Ethan Campbell81 said:I was just browsing around and realized that a Gigabyte R9 390 8GB is only about 90 cents—not dollars, cents—more expensive than an NVIDIA GTX 1070:
https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...-g1-gaming.asp

https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...eon-rx-480.asp

There's one major difference, at least in my book: the R9 390 features a 512-bit bus, whereas this NVIDIA GTX 1070 is only 256-bit. While the core clock on the NVIDIA GTX 1070 is slightly higher than the R9 390, the R9 still holds that advantage with the 512-bit interface, which explains why the prices are so close.
The only other thing is power consumption; I noticed the R9 is a total power hog, but that isn't really an issue for me since it's easily handled by a solid 650W power supply.

Looking at some benchmarks, I see that this R9 390X (factory overclocked) actually beats out the NVIDIA GTX 1070 in certain areas...

So, should I stick with the NVIDIA GTX 1070, or should I go with a proven performer? A friend of mine owns this R9 390X and he’s incredibly happy with it, so maybe I should grab the R9 390X instead.

Keep in mind that the 390 and the 390X aren't identical cards, and that Gigabyte model likely has the weakest cooler in the entire series.

crimsonstag84 said:Neither the 390/390X nor the reference RX 480 are smart buys right now. Just wait for the custom RX 480 models. They will be faster and cheaper than the 390X while pulling 100W less power.

Timothy Kim60 said:Furthermore, the 390 and 390X are not identical cards, and that Gigabyte model likely has the worst cooler in the series.

My patience is clearly lacking.
How long is the actual wait for those custom RX 480 models to hit the market? A month, two, three, or six?😁
Regarding the R9 390, I would lean toward the Asus version based on a friend's recommendation:

https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...gd5-gaming.asp

The downside is the 300W draw under normal load, which means it could spike to 400W during heavy stress.
The advantage, as stated, is the 512-bit bus and a factory overclocked core clock of 1070MHz. That should suffice for high settings for the next 2-3 years.

To be blunt, I am undecided. Some say take the R9 390 and you can't go wrong; others prefer the reference RX 480; then there are those claiming neither is worth the money currently.

If I were you, I'd just hold out for a custom NVIDIA GTX 1070. They should be dropping this month—if my memory serves me right, Sapphire might even have them landing in about two weeks.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:If I were you, I’d hold out for a custom NVIDIA GTX 1070. They should be arriving this month. If my memory serves, Sapphire will have them in stock within two weeks.

It would be ideal if those custom models arrived within the month. That would eliminate any indecision on my part. My only concern is whether those "two weeks" actually turn into two months.

Ethan Campbell81 said:It’d be killer if the custom boards dropped this month. If they did, I wouldn't even have to think about it... as long as that "two-week wait" doesn't turn into a two-month headache.

Unlikely. Usually, you're looking at about 3 or 4 weeks after the reference cards hit the shelves before the custom models show up.

It should definitely happen sometime this month, likely by the middle

Ethan Campbell81 said:Regarding the R9 390, I’d probably lean toward the ASUS version—mostly just because a buddy talked me into it.
I checked out that link. It’s basically just a list of hardware specs. Not much else to say there. Just more parts moving around the market.

The main advantage, like I said, is that 512-bit bus. Plus, you get a factory overclocked core clock at 1070MHz. That should be plenty to handle high settings for the next two or three years.

Look, I’m feeling pretty clueless right now. One group is telling me: "Just grab that R9 390, you can't go wrong." Another bunch says I'd be better off picking up a reference model RX 480 instead. Then there's you guys, claiming neither one is even worth the money at this point...

Ethan Campbell81 said:So I'm just sitting here looking at prices, and I realize that the Gigabyte R9 390 8GB is only 90 cents more than the RX 480. Just 90 cents.
Check this out. A decent deal on an ASUS ROG Strix card over at Best Buy. Prices are finally moving in the right direction, but you still have to watch for those hidden shipping fees. It's a solid piece of hardware if you can snag it before the stock dries up.

Like the guy said above, neither of these is a good deal right now. It’s even worse when you start seeing these insane prices being asked. An RX 480 should be sitting around $250. Of course it looks like a rip-off if you're looking at an offer for $315. Neither the RX 480 nor the R9 390 makes any sense at $300 or more in this market.

Another thing: what resolution are you planning on playing at?

wiredotter14 said:Second point: What resolution are you planning to play at?

1080p. I don't own a 1440p monitor.

I have decided to wait for the custom RX 480 models instead. I am not returning to the States until next month anyway, so I can afford to wait those extra few weeks.