GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

So what if it’s overkill? You already said you’re planning on building a custom rig, which means you'll probably be upgrading the CPU later anyway. Why not just grab the most powerful hardware you can afford right now? That way, when you finally swap out that processor, you’ll actually see the massive performance boost from the GPU and the custom loop. Any setup will run the game, sure, but wouldn't you rather have all that power actually working for you instead of just sitting there unused?

Lawrence Phillips said:Is the 7790 a massive overkill for an E8400? And would there be any actual benefit if I pushed the clock speed up to 3.6 GHz?

My goal here is to squeeze a little more life out of my current setup, while perhaps planning a future build that supports CrossFire and includes another 7790 for later.

I am aware that the AMD Radeon HD 7770 would pair well with the E8400, but I cannot ignore that slight price difference of about twenty dollars for what looks like a significant leap in performance with the 7790.

When discussing "overkill," let us set aside modern titles that demand quad-core processors entirely.

Thanks.

Just a few $67 differences—I was looking at that same card (around $467) myself, but it is highly unlikely that CrossFire would even work using an AMD Radeon HD 7770 paired with an AMD Radeon HD 7790.🤔

The actual gap isn't huge (especially since this one features a 256-bit bus), but I have serious doubts about whether they could even be paired for CrossFire!

Andrew Fox74 said:So what if it’s overkill? You already mentioned you’re planning on setting up CrossFire, which means you’ll probably grab a beefier CPU later anyway—so why not just grab the best thing you can afford right now? That way, when you finally upgrade the processor, you'll actually see the jump in performance from the graphics cards in CF. This card will work regardless; it's just that some of its power might sit idle for a bit...

CF is definitely an option, but maybe not tomorrow. Honestly, I'm hoping to stretch out my current setup for as long as possible.

I totally get where you're coming from—like, if my goal is to squeeze every last drop of juice out of this E8400 (plus maybe a little overclocking), I have to think about when I'll eventually swap everything out for a CF rig. It's all about seeing how the card I buy today would actually hold up in a CF setup against whatever new stuff hits the shelves down the road.

If we assume that, in a best-case scenario, you're looking at almost doubling your performance, you can kind of weigh whether it makes sense to invest in a CF-ready platform to reuse your current card, or if it's better to just go for a whole new platform with a completely different card altogether.

Basically, I'm banking on this 7790 lasting me another year or two (assuming the rest of my gear doesn't kick the bucket), since I'm not exactly a hardcore gamer. Then, whenever I decide to ditch this whole rig, I'll just pick up a CF-capable motherboard and a new CPU, and maybe hunt for a used 7790 on Craigslist or eBay to pair with it.

If the 7790 is pretty much the ceiling for an E8400 (say, clocked at 3.6 GHz), then the 7790 is definitely the move for me. 🙂

Lawrence Phillips said:Considering the possibility of an upgrade is certainly on the table, but I am in no hurry to pull the trigger tomorrow. To be perfectly honest, my sincere hope is to stretch the lifespan of my current setup for as long as humanly possible.

I believe I follow the underlying logic here. Suppose my primary objective is to squeeze every bit of performance possible out of this E8400—perhaps even pushing the clock speeds to their limit. My broader strategy involves projecting exactly when I might need to overhaul the entire configuration or consider a complete system upgrade. In doing so, I want to evaluate how the graphics card I am purchasing today will actually stack up against whatever hardware happens to be dominating the market at that future point in time.

If we assume that, even under the most optimistic scenarios, we are looking at nearly doubling the performance of a graphics card, how can one realistically determine whether it is more prudent to invest in a current platform where the existing card can still be utilized, or if it would be wiser to simply pivot toward an entirely different platform paired with a completely new GPU?

I am personally hoping that my current setup can limp along for at least another year—assuming the rest of the components don't decide to give up the ghost entirely—given that I wouldn't call myself a demanding gamer. My ultimate plan involves waiting until tomorrow or the day after, when I finally overhaul this entire rig, to pick up a new motherboard and processor, and then perhaps hunt down a used Radeon R9 7790 on Craigslist to plug into the new build.

If we assume that the AMD Radeon HD 7790 represents the absolute performance ceiling for an E8400—say, when pushed to 3.6 GHz—then the 7790 becomes my definitive choice. 🙂

I am currently running an Intel Core i5-2320 Processor, which features a 6M Cache and clocks up to 3.10 GHz. Given this specific setup, I have absolutely no intention of wasting money on a graphics card priced upwards of $350. Why would I invest in such hardware when it would only result in a massive bottleneck, preventing my processor from ever performing at its true potential alongside the GPU?

I find myself sitting here in anticipation, yet it seems no one is willing to provide a straight answer to my inquiry. Is it actually possible to run an HD7790 alongside an AMD Radeon HD 7770 in CrossFire? To complicate matters further, we are looking at mismatched memory interfaces—one card utilizes a 128-bit bus while the other operates on a 256-bit bus. Can such a configuration even function?🤔

Those two won't work... but that i5 should be able to handle a GTX 660Ti, an Nvidia GTX 760, or even a GTX 670.

@Brian Campbell36/">@@Brian Campbell36
Vapor X offers better cooling, but honestly, there's no point in paying $400 for an HD7770 when you can find $300 at that retailer (check the options listed under $267); you'll get the exact same 7770 with much more appropriate cooling for a card in that class

@Lawrence Phillips/">@@Lawrence Phillips - I don't think an HD7790 will fully max out your system in games optimized for 4 cores (which is becoming the standard—basically every game nowadays). That said, it doesn't mean you shouldn't grab it. You might regret not stepping up to something more powerful once you eventually upgrade your platform. Price-wise, it isn't much higher than the HD7770, so it's a smart move. Two 7790s will definitely hold their own in the future too.

Timothy Kim60 said:@Brian Campbell36/">@@Brian Campbell36
While Vapor X certainly offers superior cooling, does it truly make sense to shell out $400 for an HD7770 when $300 at that particular retailer (or even looking through the options listed under $267) you can find an identical 7770 equipped with perfectly adequate cooling for a card in this class?

Why are these graphics cards—specifically the HD7770—priced so incredibly low?

In that case, I shall opt for the HD7770 priced at $300, though I must wonder: if I were to invest in the Vapor model, would I be making a mistake? It would certainly perform well in Counter-Strike, unlike that 7790 which wouldn't even be compatible with the 7770 (assuming they aren't from the exact same production run)

A Vapor X model would work just fine too. The main thing is that it’s an AMD Radeon HD 7770.
They're cheap because the price keeps dropping as the tech gets older.

Timothy Kim60 said:A Vapor-X model would also serve you well. At the end of the day, the crucial factor is that it is an AMD Radeon HD 7770
. They are quite affordable now, given how prices continuously plummet as technology inevitably ages
.

I am currently contemplating whether to pick up this one:

However, wouldn't adding a second AMD Radeon HD 7770 in a CrossFire configuration yield a higher frame rate?

In this current market, can one even make a rational decision anymore? 🤔

Brian Campbell36 said:Now I'm kind of thinking about grabbing this

But hey, if I just added another AMD Radeon HD 7770 into a CrossFire setup, I'd probably get even more FPS!

Honestly, you can't really be any smarter than that right now, haha.🤔

Just sell 7770 and add maybe around $667 to get a Nvidia GTX 760. They already told you above that your CPU should be able to keep up with it.
If money isn't an issue, that is.

Here is my current setup:
An Nvidia GeForce 6200 with TurboCache, which honestly means I can barely even play basic titles at this point.🙂
An Intel Pentium dual-core e6300
paired with 2GB of RAM
running on a Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3LR motherboard.

I am now looking to upgrade my graphics card to an Nvidia GTX 460, and I find myself wondering—will this specific card actually work with my existing motherboard, the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3LR?

That processor is probably a bit too weak to keep up with an Nvidia GTX 460... you're probably better off grabbing another 2GB of RAM and this one instead:

Are you looking at a used Nvidia GTX 460? I guess that only makes sense if you can snag it for a really solid price.

Do you have a specific budget in mind? Maybe you're planning on picking up some other new parts too?

Generally speaking, there shouldn't be any compatibility issues between the graphics card and the motherboard—you just need to make sure you have the right slot (which is a PCI-e slot in 99% of cases).

Naming the new AMD / ATI GPU series

In my opinion, they should have stuck with the 8 and 9 series branding before making any changes.

Lawrence Phillips said:Just sell 7770 and add about $667 more to get a Nvidia GTX 760. They already told you that your processor can handle it.
If money isn't an issue.

Your intentions are noble, truly—kudos to you! 🙏

The price sits right around $667, though one really ought to consider upgrading the power supply as well (something in the 1000W range for a card like that), but in the end, I decided to go with the HD7770 Vapor-X.

Pairing it with my existing one in CrossFire allows for a perfectly smooth experience at 1920x1080 resolution on ultra settings.

Timothy Kim60 said:Naming conventions for the new AMD / ATI GPU series

In my opinion—just a thought here—they really should have stuck with the old numbering scheme for the 8 and 9 series before making a switch like this.

It would have just forced people to wait too long—another whole year is a massive ask—and honestly, it just ends up frustrating everyone🤣 especially since those 78xx cards are still going to be perfectly relevant by the time the next generation actually hits the shelves.

edit: @Brian Campbell36/">@@Brian Campbell36, a Silencer MK III 500W or a Corsair CX 500W will handle that card just fine regardless of which processor you're running—I mean, why even worry about a 1000W power supply?

@Brian Campbell36/">@@Brian Campbell36, are you kidding me? 1000W is absolutely overkill 😲
The Nvidia GTX 760 doesn't pull that much power, so even a CX430 could probably handle it

@Jeffrey Fisher61/">@@Jeffrey Fisher61

I don't get it, though. The rumors floating around earlier suggested we were moving straight to the 9 series... who in their right mind would just skip over number 8? It makes zero sense...
People are going to need some serious convincing for this new one. I can already hear them obsessing over it: "Oh, the AMD Radeon R8 270 is basically the same as a 7950, right?" 🤔 🤣

Alright, this is my motherboard and I’ve got a question. Is this board actually compatible with the graphics card I'm looking to pick up? Please, guys, help me out—someone please explain how this works.
My motherboard: Intel Socket 1155
Supports Intel 32 nm CPU
Supports Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
* Note that Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the specific CPU type.
* Check www.asus.com for the CPU support list
Chipset
Intel H61
Memory
2 x DIMM, Max. 16GB, DDR3 1333/1066 MHz Non-ECC, Unbuffered Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* You can hit that 16GB max if you use 8GB sticks or larger. ASUS Memory QVL Update happens once those DIMMs hit the market.
* Head over to www.asus.com or grab the user manual to find the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendor Lists).
* Just a heads up, due to OS limits, if you put in 4GB or more, a 32-bit Windows setup might only see less than 3GB. If you're running 4GB+, definitely install a 64-bit Windows OS.
Graphics
Integrated Graphics Processor
VGA output support: RGB port
- Supports RGB with max. resolution 2048 x 1536 @ 75 Hz
Supports DirectX 10.1
Expansion Slots
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16
3 x PCIe 2.0 x1
Storage
Intel H61 Chipset:
4 x SATA 3Gb/s ports, blue
LAN
Realtek 8111E, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
Audio
Realtek ALC 887 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC *1
USB Ports
Intel H61 Chipset:
10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 on the back panel, black, 6 on the mid-board)
ROG Exclusive Features
Overclocking Protection:
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
Special Features
ASUS EPU:
- EPU
ASUS Exclusive Features:
- AI Suite II
- Ai Charger
- Anti-Surge
- Low EMI Solution
- ESD Guards
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution:
- Stylish Fanless Design Heat-sink solution
- ASUS Fan Xpert
ASUS EZ DIY:
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
- ASUS MyLogo 2
Back I/O Ports
1 x PS/2 keyboard (purple)
1 x PS/2 mouse (green)
1 x D-Sub
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
4 x USB 2.0
1 x COM port(s)
1 x Parallel port(s)
3 x Audio jack(s)
Internal I/O Ports
3 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 6 USB 2.0 port(s)
4 x SATA 3Gb/s connector(s)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
1 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x S/PDIF out header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x Internal speaker connector(s)
1 x System panel(s)
Accessories
User's manual
I/O Shield
2 x SATA 3Gb/s cable(s)
BIOS
32 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI BIOS, PnP, DMI v2.0, WfM2.0, SMBIOS v2.6, ACPI v2.0a, Multi-language BIOS
Support Disc
Drivers
ASUS Utilities
ASUS Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
Form Factor
OEM uATX Form Factor
9.6 inch x 7.6 inch ( 24.4 cm x 19.3 cm )
Note
*1: Use a case with an HD audio module on the front panel to support 8-channel audio output.
My power supply is an MSGW 400W-A, and the GPU pulls 75W.
My "new" graphics card: Nvidia GT 640

Yeah, you should be able to run an Nvidia GT 640 on your motherboard without any issues.

The Nvidia GT 640 just isn't worth it; you can grab an HD 7750 for that same price which would probably smoke it.

That's true.