GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

http://www.amazon.com/product_info.php?products_id=14245

It’s a solid choice—it fits perfectly within your budget, the R9 270 is widely considered one of the best value models out there, and it hits that sweet spot as the absolute maximum you should pair with your CPU. 3/3

Thanks!
If I were to shave some money off that budget for $167 and used that extra 500 to grab an SSD instead --- what kind of used card would you pick for 750-$267?
Feel free to just drop a link to a Craigslist listing if you have a spare minute!

I generally hesitate to vouch for random used listings because you just never know how reliable the seller actually is:
- my main question here is, why hasn't this sold yet? If the description is accurate, it's an incredible deal.

Here are a few other backup options for you:

Just a heads up—those three above should only be considered if you're running a high-quality power supply.

If you want something brand new with a warranty, even if it's a bit lower on the performance scale, try this:

I'm looking for a budget-friendly graphics card for gaming.
The power supply is 550W.
My current setup doesn't really matter right now because I'll be upgrading everything soon and switching over to an i5 processor.

I'm looking into getting a gtx 750 2GB, or maybe something just slightly more expensive than that.
Is it worth picking up, or should I look for something else?

It really comes down to what you're willing to shell out. A gtx 750 is a decent pick if it's around $267 dollars, especially since it's the 2GB version—though it'll likely run more like $300. For about a hundred bucks, you could have snagged an R7 265 (which is currently sitting at $367 or more), which actually outperforms a gtx 750ti for the same price tag.

Keep an eye on prices over at Newegg, and remember that cards from brands like MSI, ASUS, or Gigabyte often come with an extra year of warranty—giving you three years total—plus they usually sport much better cooling solutions.

Timothy Kim60 said:It all depends on what you're willing to pay. A gtx 750 is a decent pick if it's priced around $267 +/- since it's the 2GB version—it'll likely run over $300. For about a hundred bucks, you used to be able to grab an R7 265 (which now goes for $367 +), and that actually outperforms the gtx 750ti for the same price.

Keep an eye on prices at Best Buy or Amazon, and remember that cards from MSI, ASUS, or Gigabyte often come with a longer 3-year warranty—plus they usually have better cooling solutions.

What's the deal with those Ti or OC labels? Can someone explain if I should actually care about them?

Austin Rodriguez5 said:What do these Ti or OC labels actually mean? Can someone explain if I should even care about them?

Basically, "Ti" or Titanium means it's a beefier version of the same card—that’s all you really need to know. "OC" just means it comes factory overclocked, so it has slightly better performance out of the box. Titanium versions are always pricier (for good reason), and different models of the same card can vary quite a bit in price too (though usually not by much). Generally, when you're hunting for a GPU, just look for the cheapest version of that specific model. Also, watch out for your power supply. If you end up grabbing an R7 265, which can pull a decent amount of power, and you've already got a power-hungry CPU, a cheap, off-brand PSU might fry before you even get the new card installed in your build. I'm not saying it definitely will, but I wouldn't risk it with a junk power supply. Check the sticker on yours and let me know what it says.😉

Adam Moore3 said:Look, "Titanium" just means it's a higher-end version of the same card—that should be enough info for you. "OC" means it comes factory overclocked, giving you slightly better performance out of the box. Those premium versions always cost more (for good reason), and even different models of the exact same card can vary significantly in price (though not always for a huge reason). Generally speaking, when you're hunting for a GPU, just look for the cheapest version of the model you want. Also, watch your power supply. If you end up grabbing an R7 265, those things can pull a decent amount of power. If you've already got a power-hungry CPU, a cheap, low-quality PSU might die on you before you even finish building the new rig. I'm not saying it definitely will, but I wouldn't risk it with a junk power supply. Check the label on yours and let me know what it is. 😉

Thanks for the heads-up.

I'm running a Corsair 550 w, so there won't be any issues there.

Austin Rodriguez5 said:Thanks for the heads up.

The Corsair 550 w can handle it, so there shouldn't be any issues here.

Aha, okay then, it'll run a 750 or a 265 without any trouble. Unless maybe we're talking about Corsair's VS series?

Adam Moore3 said:I see. In that case, it'll handle a gtx 750 or an R7 265 without any issues. Could it possibly be that specific Corsair VS series model?

CORSAIR 550W, VX Series CMPSU-550VXEU, 12cm vent., ATX

Don't worry about the power supply; it's perfectly fine.

Basically, like I said before, a 750 Ti and a 750 aren't even in the same league—the first one is significantly more powerful. It’s really just a matter of how much you want to spend. There's a massive performance gap between those GPUs priced around $283 (like the gtx 750 or R7 260 x) and jumping up to the $367+ range where you find the R7 265 or the 750Ti. After that, you can find a slightly better option for every extra hundred bucks you throw at it. If you're looking for the absolute sweet spot, an R9 270 costing roughly $417 would be your best bet.

Timothy Kim60 said:I'm usually pretty hesitant about recommending random used listings because you never really know if they're reliable:
- though I have to wonder why this one hasn't sold yet. If the description is legit, it’s an incredible deal.

A few other backup options:

Just a heads up, those three above are only worth it if you're running a high-quality power supply.

If you want something new with a warranty, maybe something slightly weaker like this:

Thanks so much for all the detailed help.

An Arctic Cooling R550 power supply (that's 550W)

Is that considered decent enough? I'll look into everything closely before making a call. 👏

Yeah, that's a solid power supply.

Build specs:

AMD Athlon ii X3 455 3,30 GHz, Socket AM3
AsRock N-68-VS3 UCC PCI-E
Kingmax 4 GB DDR3
400W Power Supply
Windows 7 64

1. Looking for a GPU around $100. Mostly just watching movies, but I try to jump into a game once a month... currently playing Alan Wake on the lowest settings with my Asus 3650 Silent 512 mb...
Can I actually find used cards at local computer shops?
2. Any other used upgrades you'd suggest so I don't get stuck in the Stone Age? Or am I looking at a total overhaul? Say I have $267 to spend (not counting the GPU itself).

Dennis Ramirez53 said:Specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo 3.30 GHz, LGA 1366
AsRock N-68-VS3 UCC PCI-E
Kingmax 4 GB DDR3
LC-8400BTX 400W Power Supply
Windows 7 64 bit

1. I need a GPU for about $100. Mostly watching movies, maybe a game once a month (right now I'm playing Alan Wake on the lowest settings using an NVIDIA GeForce GT 220).
Is it possible to buy used cards at computer shops?
2. Any other used upgrades you'd suggest so I don't get left in the Stone Age? Or should I just swap everything out? Let's say I have $267 to work with (not counting the GPU).

Your setup is actually pretty decent. If you aren't planning on heavy gaming, you don't need any other upgrades besides a better GPU and a new power supply, because that current PSU isn't exactly reliable. Out of that total $367, I'd put $300 toward a power supply like THIS ONE, then use the rest to grab a card like THIS ONE and you'll still come out ahead by $33. 🙂 That card is a total steal; for $233 you get a little beast. It’s not worth going cheaper since the 250 series right below it is only about $10 less but noticeably weaker.

P.S. For $100, there aren't really any worthwhile GPUs for actual gaming—it's just not worth the money. And with $267, you honestly don't have anything else to spend it on since the rest of your build is solid. You've got a triple-core processor and 4 GB of RAM. Your only weak link is the power supply I recommended.

Hey, I could use some expert eyes on these two graphics cards.

http://www.xfxforce.com/en-us/produc...n-r9-280a-tdbd

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presenta...n=&lid=1&leg=0

Price-wise, they’re pretty much neck and neck... which one is actually the better bet?

Thanks in advance!

Adam Moore3 said:Your setup is pretty decent. If you aren't planning on playing anything crazy intense, you don't really need any other upgrades besides the GPU and a power supply, since this one isn't super reliable. Out of that total $367, maybe set aside 300 for a PSU like THIS ONE, and with the rest, grab a card like THIS and you'll even have some cash left over $33. 🙂 That card is a total steal; for $233 you get a little beast... honestly, there's no point going cheaper because the 250 model right below it is only about 5 bucks less but noticeably weaker.

P.S. For $100, there aren't any GPUs worth buying for actual gaming, it just doesn't make sense, and with those $267, you really don't have anything else to spend money on since the rest of the rig is solid. You've got a triple-core CPU and 4 GB of RAM. The only weak link is the power supply I suggested.

Thanks man. Actually, I was aiming for a used card with $100. But maybe I'll check out a shop since this one died on me way too fast...

Ronald Bishop58 said:Could some experts weigh in on these two graphics cards for me?

http://www.xfxforce.com/en-us/produc...n-r9-280a-tdbd

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presenta...n=&lid=1&leg=0

They're priced pretty close together... which one is actually better?

Thanks in advance!

Just grab whichever one is cheaper—they're basically the same thing, really.

Dennis Ramirez53 said:Specs:>

Intel Athlon ii X3 455 3.30 GHz, Socket AM3
AsRock N-68-VS3 UCC PCI-E
Kingmax 4 GB DDR3
400W Power Supply
Windows 7 64

1. I'm looking for a GPU within $100. Mostly watching movies, though I might fire up a game once a month (currently playing Alan Wake on the lowest settings using an Asus 3650 Silent 512 mb).
Is it possible to pick up used hardware at local computer shops?
2. Any other used upgrades you'd suggest just so I don't feel stuck in the Stone Age? Or am I looking at a total system overhaul? Let's say I have $267 available (not counting the graphics card).

I would personally suggest going the used route...

Sapphire R7 260 x OC 2 gb $200

It draws about 40 watts more power...
but in terms of performance, it's night and day (DirectX support, etc.)...

+ power supply replacement