GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Does anyone know if there are any decent GPU deals coming up for Black Friday?

You can find it at all the big international retailers. Not really an option here in the States.

Peter Green said:It’s available at international retailers, but we just don't see it here in the States.

I managed to track this down, though I suppose by the time it actually reaches us, any decent discount will have evaporated.😢

https://m.newegg.com/products/N82E16...93892722486757

I spotted a Sapphire RX 580 8GB over at Newegg for just $553.
Shipping to the States is only $50, so you end up getting it for $100 cheaper than any local shop around here.
Honestly, even with shipping, it’s still a pretty solid deal.

fadedsailor17 said:found this, but by the time it actually ships to the States, the discount will be long gone.😢

https://m.newegg.com/products/N82E16...93892722486757

Unless they changed their policy recently, Amazon doesn't ship to the US...

fadedsailor17 said:I spotted this deal, but by the time it actually makes its way over here, the discount will probably be long gone.😢

https://m.newegg.com/products/N82E16...93892722486757

Keep an eye on this thread for future sales click

You should also check out the Americans—keep tabs on the European Amazon sites (co.uk, amazon de, es, it, fra). They’ll charge the local US sales tax instead of the domestic rate plus shipping (you won't see the final price until the very last step of checkout). For eu.evga.com, they apply their own listed tax plus a $15 shipping fee. Also, check out scan.co.uk and maybe a few German shops that ship to the US, like Caseking or Newegg RX 580.

Just one more thing. So, it's the exact same card, but one is an ASUS model and the other is Gigabyte—the ASUS version is about $50 more expensive. I guess you have to wonder if there’s actually any real difference between them?

The difference usually boils down to the cooling solution—think temps, noise levels, and overclocking headroom—and occasionally the warranty terms. I already went over the specifics regarding the US in your DMs, but it doesn't hurt to lay it out here.

- Most US retailers don't ship to America, let alone internationally.
- Even if they do, once you factor in sales tax, customs duties, and shipping fees, the cost will absolutely eat you alive. You'll likely end up paying more than if you just bought it locally in the States.
- Unlike in the EU, US prices don't include sales tax upfront, so things aren't nearly as cheap as people assume.
- Within the EU, you don't have to worry about customs.

Like I mentioned, my advice is to stick to European shops. Only pull the trigger if the final price is significantly lower than what we see domestically—which isn't common unless there's a massive sale going on.

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some advice here. What kind of GPU would actually make sense for this setup? I'm planning on upgrading to an Intel Core i5 down the road if the opportunity pops up—assuming I don't just scrap the whole rig before then. Right now, I'm running a Pentium G4560, 8GB of RAM, an FSP Fortron 500W power supply, a HyperX drive, and a Gigabyte GA-B250M-D3H motherboard. My monitor is a Dell UltraSharp monitor.

Thanks,

wearypilot59 said:Hey everyone,

What GPU would actually make sense for this build? I'm planning to jump to an i5 when the timing is right—assuming I don't just scrap the whole thing by then. Current specs: Pentium G4560, 8GB RAM, FSP 500W power supply, Hyper storage, Gigabyte GA-B250M-D3H motherboard. Using a Dell UltraSharp monitor.

Thanks

Depends entirely on what you want to spend.

You're looking at anything from a GTX 1050 (maybe $100ish) up to an AMD Radeon RX 580 or an NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB.

That's the upper limit for this setup.

https://www.amazon.com/graphics-cards

Maybe check for cheaper deals coming in from overseas or look through the marketplace threads.

That socket features an i5 which is strictly a quad-core chip. If you want my opinion, hunt down an Intel Core i7-7700 (4c8t) instead—it’s a much better long-term investment if you can snag it at a decent price. As for the GPU, it’s really a case of "you get what you pay for." You could go with an AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB, an NVIDIA GTX 1060, or an NVIDIA GTX 1070; honestly, you could even aim higher if you decide to pair it with that i7.

In my opinion, an AMD Radeon RX 580 is plenty for a Full HD Dell UltraSharp monitor.

Also, you could look at something like an Intel Core i7-6700; it doesn't strictly have to be a 7000 series. There isn't much of a difference.

Look, I don't care about any of those trashy little technical limitations anymore. Personally, I wouldn't even set a ceiling for myself, even when playing at Full HD. If someone’s buying, they should just grab the most powerful card they can afford 😁

An NVIDIA GTX 1080 is basically just a baseline for 1080p at 60/75hz if you're trying to run the most demanding modern titles...

Right now, my only priority is making sure this g4560 can actually handle the load, and honestly, I'll worry about everything else later. They're offering 36 monthly installments through Diners right now, so I’m thinking about picking something up if it makes sense. $500-$667 It's just that I refuse to ever throw my money down the drain...

Look, if you stick with the capabilities of a G4560, you're going to hit a wall fast. We’re seeing games nowadays that absolutely butcher even a pure quad-core setup, making stuttering pretty much inevitable—just look at how many people upgraded from an i5 quad-core just to handle the multiplayer in the latest Battlefield titles. If you're definitely planning to jump to an i5 or i7 down the road, my advice is to grab the best GPU you can afford right now. Don't settle for a GTX 1050Ti today only to realize later that it isn't cutting it.

Ultimately, everything boils down to what specific games you want to play and what kind of settings and FPS you need to be happy.

#1:
https://www.newegg.com/p/graphics-card-example

#2:
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/example-gpu

Neither the RX 580 nor the GTX 1060 will cut it.

Just because some games absolutely murder your GPU at max settings on FHD doesn't mean you actually need a beastly card.
The difference between Ultra and High settings? Honestly, most of the time, you can barely even tell.

If I were you, I’d hunt down a used GTX 1060 6GB or an RX 580 8GB—something with a warranty included—for maybe a couple hundred bucks.

P.S.

That link crimsonstag84 posted is a solid choice.

Look, I’m fully aware that an Intel Core i3-6100 isn't some powerhouse meant for high-end gaming. It’s definitely not top-tier even by today's standards, but you can only work with what you've got, right? If I want to actually upgrade this rig properly—meaning pairing a solid GPU with an i7—I’m looking at spending almost $1333.

wiredotter14 said:The gap between ultra and high settings is often barely noticeable.

I get that, but even on high settings, there are games where an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 struggles to stay above 60 fps... Obviously, nobody wants to throw money down the drain; everyone is looking for that "best buy" sweet spot. I'm just saying there isn't some fixed ceiling for what GPU you should grab for 1080p 60/75hz gaming. If you have the cash, go for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070, or even an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080Ti if you find a killer deal on the used market. Once you have the power, you can always crank up the details or just lock your fps if a game happens to be easy to run.

Sure, most modern games are definitely GPU-bound, but the real question is what would actually make sense for this specific build. If you're just aiming for 1080p, an AMD Radeon RX 580 or something slightly less powerful should do the trick if the budget is tight enough.