GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

I’d stick with my original plan regardless. You can actually pair it with a decent GPU later on, whereas if you go with this Intel setup, you'll probably end up having to swap out both the CPU and the graphics card anyway.

@Flatron - I have to admit, your suggestion actually seems like the best way to go, even though I wasn't sold on it at first. Once I have the cash, I'll just swap in a beefier power supply and a better GPU. Honestly, if I pick a decent graphics card now, I'm pretty sure I won't even need to touch the processor for another year or two.
I do have a few concerns, though:
Opinions online regarding the integrated graphics on this motherboard are all over the place. Some people claim they can run games at 1080p, others say they can't even manage 720p on low settings, and then there's a middle ground (which I assume just depends on the specific game).
I also noticed that integrated performance relies heavily on RAM speed. Will my future 4GB be fast enough for that, if you know what I mean? (I'm assuming 1600MHz will cut it). I know this is just integrated graphics, so I'm not expecting miracles, but I want to be certain since I'll be stuck with it for a while. Also, would it make any sense to try and Crossfire my HD4650 with it?

@Smartic - Your idea is also solid, mainly because of the price, but just for the short term. If I wanted to drop a high-end GPU in here a year from now, I'd likely have to swap the processor too. I generally prefer Intel over AMD, but the prices 😠 are hard to ignore. So, I'm going with an AMD CPU this time around.

@Joseph Barrett/">@@Joseph Barrett - If my processor could actually handle those kinds of graphics cards, I probably would build something like that, but since it can't... once I'm already at the point where I have to replace the GPU, the processor, add more RAM, and swap out the PSU, I might as well just start fresh with an entirely new build and a new motherboard. :zubo

Thanks for the input, everyone. 😁

It really depends on what game you're playing and how much RAM you've got under the hood. These processors pretty much rely on having dual channel memory to actually perform; otherwise, they're kind of sluggish. If you're going with that Flatron combo, I'd say my best bet is just to grab another 4GB stick ASAP to get that speed up.

There’s basically zero difference between Richland and Trinity.

Higher memory frequency is always better for integrated graphics since that's where most of its performance comes from. 🙂

You can go up to 1866MHz here; the APU will definitely make good use of it. 🙂

It’s not much more expensive than your standard 1600MHz sticks, except you have to grab a pack of 8 to get the deal.

Let me throw one more question your way 😁 Why wouldn't I just go with the GTX 750 Ti? From what I can see, the power draw difference is negligible. Right now I'm at 50W, the GTX 750 is 55W, and the GTX 750 Ti sits at 60W. I guess my current cooling setup could probably handle that card for a while. Looking at hwcompare, there isn't much of a gap, but if I decide to jump to a completely new build in a few years—which isn't out of the question, given my budget-conscious mindset—I think I could flip this combo much faster and easier. Most people—a bunch of amateurs like myself who don't look past the GB count 😬—would probably buy it anyway.

Are you guys suggesting the cheaper version because it’s just not worth paying the extra $67 for the pricier one?

ruggedeagle40 said:Let me throw one more question out there: 😁 Why not just go with the GTX 750? From what I can see, the power draw difference is tiny. My current setup pulls 50W, the GTX 750 is 55W, and the GTX 750 ti hits 60W. Should be enough for my current cooling to handle that card for a while, right? Looking at hwcompare, it doesn't seem like much of a gap. But if I decide to jump to a totally new rig in a few years—which is definitely on the table since I'm all about efficiency—I bet I could flip this combo way faster. Most people out there don't know any better than just looking at the 😬GB number
anyway.
$67 Are you guys suggesting the cheaper version because the extra cost isn't worth it?

The 750 ti is a bit stronger, sure... but whether it's actually worth your money is up to you. 😁

ruggedeagle40 said:I have one more question for you. 😁 Why wouldn't you just go with the 750? From what I can see, the difference in power draw is negligible. My current setup sits at 50W, the GTX 750 pulls about 55W, and the GTX 750 Ti is only around 60W. Surely my current cooling solution could handle running that card for a while? As far as I can tell... hwcompare It isn't a massive difference, really. But if I decide to jump to a completely new build in a few years—which isn't off the table, because let's face it, I have a bit of a consumerist streak—I believe I’d be able to sell this specific combination much faster and for a better price. Most casual buyers out there don't look any further than the GB count anyway. 😬).

They advised me to go with the cheaper version because, frankly, it just isn't worth the extra money. $67 Is it worth going for the more expensive option, or should I stick with the budget choice?

Look, you can definitely make it work. My suggestion for the GTX 750 was based purely on finding that sweet spot—it’s the bare minimum you’d want if you actually want The Witcher 2 to run smoothly without blowing your power supply, especially since the retail price at Best Buy is relatively reasonable for a casual gamer like yourself. If you want to step it up, you could go with the 750Ti; it’s a bit more powerful and costs a little extra, but the power draw remains just as low.

Asus just unveiled the GTX 780 featuring a brand new STRIX cooler that keeps the fans completely silent during idle periods.
http://www.techpowerup.com/201067/as...hics-card.html

placidstag18 said:I could really use some advice on picking out a new graphics card. Here’s what my current setup looks like:

Corsair 430 w CX power supply
Asrock P55 Extreme motherboard
Extreme I5 760 2.8 (overclocked to 3.6)
Raidtek EreBoss Heatpipe cooler
8 GB DDR3 1333 (two 2 GB sticks and one 4 GB stick)
WD 1TB HDD
LG DVDRW
Zalman Z11 case
Current GPU - Sapphire HD 5670 1GB DDR5

I'm looking for a better card that'll give me higher FPS in newer games—and obviously, I want to spend as little as possible :-). Right now, my limit is about $0.33
for the new card.

crimsonstag84 suggested an R7 265 (thanks, crimsonstag84!), but I've decided to wait until I can bump up my budget a bit. Now I have roughly $0.57 available, so I'm looking for recommendations in that range that will work with my current components and power supply.

placidstag18 said:crimsonstag84 recommended the R7 265 to me (thanks, crimsonstag84!), but I’ve decided to wait a bit, bump up my budget, and now I have roughly $0.57. I’m looking for recommendations in that range that would work with the build and power supply I mentioned earlier.

Try setting it up like this:

Sell off your current power supply, take whatever cash you have left over from the graphics card budget, and grab this instead:

1 x Sapphire R9 280 3GB OC, 3GB GDDR5 384bit, 28nm
1 x Zalman 500-GS_II PSU, 500W, ATX12V V2.31, active PFC

$593 AMD

I'm not really sure if upgrading to this power supply is worth the hassle; I'd probably just grab an XFX TS 550W for $50 more instead.

I'm torn between picking up one of these two graphics cards:

http://www.nabava.net/graficke-karti...-pcie__5618121

http://www.nabava.net/graficke-karti...-ddr5__5466781

So, I wanted to get some input—which one is actually the better bet? I'm leaning toward NVIDIA since I've always heard they play nicer with Intel's processors, plus there's this nagging idea that ATI's drivers can be a total headache... though maybe I'm just wrong about that. Anyone have an opinion?

Also, looking at my current setup, would my existing CPU end up bottlenecking a new card this much?
If I go with the ATI option, I'm hoping my power supply can actually handle it.

CPU: Intel Dual Core E8500 (overclocked to 2 x 3.5 GHz)
GPU: GF 9800 GT (current card)
Memory: 6GB RAM DDR2
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L
PSU: Chieftec 450W

You might be overthinking the compatibility and driver issues—both companies run into those hiccups every now and then. The links aren't working for me, but I'm guessing you mean the R7 265 and the GTX 750? The R7 265 is slightly more powerful, though the GTX 750 is way more power-efficient, and they're priced pretty similarly. You'll probably want to overclock your processor a bit more for either one.

crimsonstag84 said:You're overthinking the compatibility and driver issues—both companies run into them every now and then. Links aren't working, but I'm assuming we're talking about the R7 265 and the GTX 750? The 265 is slightly more powerful, but the GTX 750 is way more efficient, and they're priced pretty similarly. You'll probably want to overclock your processor a bit more for either one.

Exactly, those are the two. Fixed the links for you.
So if the 265 is a bit stronger, I guess you're leaning toward that over the GTX 750?
Do you think this power supply can actually handle it?
Because if my PSU is strong enough to run both cards without breaking a sweat, then knowing which one is more "efficient" doesn't really matter to me, does it? :/

Your power supply should handle both cards without much trouble. Personally, I’d go with the GTX 750; it runs significantly cooler, which allows for better overclocking—I've actually tested this myself. Specifically, if you can grab the MSI version, the GTX 750 Ti would be an even sharper choice.

Bump that processor up to 3.4GHz. That ought to be plenty to keep pace with either card.

mellowtiger83 said:Your PSU should handle both easily—but if I were you, I'd grab the GTX 750. It runs way cooler and overclocking headroom is better (I've tested it), especially that MSI model. The GTX 750 is definitely the smarter play here.

Bump that CPU up to 3.4GHz; that should be enough juice for either card.

So, what kind of overclock did you manage on the GTX 750?
The GTX 750Ti is obviously better than both, but it costs more at $67, and my budget for a GPU is capped at $300 🙂
The processor is already overclocked to 3.5GHz.

Maria Brown76 said:What kind of overclock did you manage on that GTX 750?
The GTX 750Ti is obviously superior to both, but then again, it carries a higher price tag of $67. My budget for a GPU is capped at $300 🙂
. My processor is already overclocked to 3.5GHz.

I used to own a 750Ti; I can't recall the exact specs, but I know it was quite significant.🙂 I've cycled through plenty of cards over the years. Since you're working with a tight budget, grab an R7 260X—maybe an OC version—or keep an eye on eBay for a GTX 750Ti; you might find one at a decent price that still includes a warranty and a software bundle. For that amount of money, if you know how to haggle, you could even snag a 270X🙂, or perhaps a 7850 or 7870. Your power supply should handle any of those; Cooler Master is a reliable brand.

I personally have a Gigabyte 7790 OC version for $193. It's essentially just an R7 260X under a different label.

With the GTX 750, you can push the core clock past 1300MHz and get the memory up to roughly 5000-5200. That’s about where you'll hit the ceiling.

What kind of graphics card would you recommend for this specific build? My budget is roughly $367
1 x Thermaltake V3 BlackX Edition, ATX, mATX
1 x OCZ 500W ModXStream Pro Power Supply, SLI-Ready, 12V/36A, Active PFC
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Corsair Vengeance Series, 1600MHz, 9-9-9-24
1 x WD 1TB Caviar Blue 10EZEX Hard Drive, 1000 GB, SATA3, 64 MB, 3.5"
1 x Asrock 970 Extreme4, AM3+, AMD 970 + SB950 - 4 x DDR3 2100(OC)
1 x AMD FX-Series X8 8350 Processor, 4.0GHz, 16MB, 125W, AM3+