GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Thank you for the response! That graphics card seems like a solid choice. Out of curiosity, which GeForce model would you say sits in the same performance tier as that AMD card?

The GTX 660 Ti is basically equal to the R9 270X—maybe just a tiny bit stronger—while the GTX 760 sits slightly behind the R9 270X.

Thank you very much!

Nathan Cox16 said:Thanks for the input. That card looks solid, but which GeForce model would actually sit in the same tier as that AMD one?

this is definitely worth picking up at this price point. Even compared to the 270X, it’s a steal—you won't find a GTX 760 that's significantly better anyway.

In certain titles, it even outperforms the 270X.

click - check out these benchmarks comparing the ASUS GTX 660Ti DCU II TOP against the 270X DCU II TOP.

We still have to see how much of a boost that Mantle tech from ATI actually delivers.

Andrew Fox74 said:Do you really think that's necessary? 🤷

Timothy Kim60 said:It runs just as loud and hot as the 290X
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQhqOKKAq7o
😬

Your only options are waiting for third-party models, grabbing an aftermarket cooler, or going with liquid cooling.
Honestly, if you can afford a GPU at that level, you should have enough to cover the cooling too. 🤷
Anyway, what kind of CPU and PSU are you running?

In my opinion, those ultra-expensive GPUs aren't worth it—you could grab a 280X or a GTX 770 for around $2,100+ and they're more than good enough.

People who try to overclock cards that powerful have no idea what they're missing.

I was thinking about getting a liquid cooling system, but even that seems way too noisy (35 dba), so I’d probably have to swap out the fans for some much quieter ones.
Theoretically, I might have enough left over for a Titan if I'm careful, but just thinking about the price makes me want to cry haha.

My CPU would be this one:
http://www.newegg.com/p/Intel-Core-i7-4790K/

I'm trying to build a custom PC right now, so I'm looking for parts that play well together.

Like I mentioned, I'm looking at the H110 liquid cooling system
http://www.newegg.com/Corsair-Hydro-Series-H110/

EDIT: Power supply http://www.newegg.com/EVGA-SuperNova/

Please, just don't ask me how much everything will cost including the motherboard, RAM, and all that. Just the thought of the total price is exhausting.

Honestly, what would you even use that for gaming? 🤷 It's just a total waste money.

But hey, since we're talking high-end gear, the GTX 780 ti just dropped—it actually outperforms the Titan. It's the most powerful single-GPU out there right now, and it should be significantly cheaper than the Titan, too. If I remember correctly, it hits about 83 degrees Celsius at peak, which is actually pretty solid for overclocking.

Timothy Kim60 said:but what do you even need that for gaming? 🤷 It's just a way to waste money.

But hey, since we're talking high-end, the GTX 780 ti just dropped—it's actually more powerful than the Titan and stands as the strongest single-GPU out there, though it should be noticeably cheaper than the Titan too. If I remember correctly, it peaks at 83 Celsius, which is great for overclocking.

Yeah, I actually heard it came out today, but I haven't been able to find any info on it anywhere.
If I buy all this stuff, I won't need anything else for the next 50 years.😁

i7 3770K paired with a Noctua NH-D12... Asrock Z77 Extreme6... 8GB of RAM... some decent 600-700W modular power supply... maybe a GTX 780 Ti with a custom cooler once those arrive... case and HDD/SSD up to you😛

Susan Anderson77 said:I’m buying all of this right now, and honestly, I won't need to touch a single thing for the next 50 years. 😁

That’s just not how it works—you end up overpaying for way too much junk in the high-end market.
Look at the timeline over this past year. You’ve got the Titan dropping for $8,000, then just two or three months later, a nearly identical GTX 780 hits the market for $1,000 less. Fast forward to today, and we're seeing a 290 priced at $3,000—all within a single year. By the time the next generation rolls around, you'll likely see something like a 290x for maybe $2,000. It's a wild ride.$833

What's the point of dropping over $600 on that i7? It’s a total waste of money when absolutely no game can even handle a standard i7 from a couple of years ago.$833 Use it properly—there won't be any better options coming along anytime soon. You're just going to waste money.

It’s what I always tell people: if you have the budget, don't hesitate to upgrade more frequently. If you've got the cash, go ahead and grab that high-end case in the $600 to $800 range right now. Everything will run smoothly, and if you eventually decide it's not quite what you wanted, you can just sell it for whatever you can get and pick out a different one.

I just stumbled upon a video about the GTX 780 ti. WOW.

I need this for gaming, rendering, uploading, and everything else—not just something to let sit there and collect dust.

Timothy Kim60 said:Actually, I wouldn't say that’s quite right—you end up overpaying massively in the high-end segment.
If you look at just the last year, a Titan comes out for $1,500, then two or three months later, you get a nearly identical GTX 780 for $500 less. Today, we see a 290 hitting the market for $550—all within a single year. By the next generation, you'll be looking at something like a 290x for roughly $2--$833

For instance, what is the point of an i7 costing over $750 when no game can even properly utilize a standard i7 priced at $350--$833? It won't happen anytime soon, either. You're just going to waste money.

My philosophy is always the same: it's better to upgrade more frequently. If you have the cash, invest it in a high-quality case worth $150 instead; everything will run smoothly, and if you aren't happy with it later, you can just sell it and grab something else.

That’s pretty much it. You shouldn't view buying components like you're buying a car. You need to look at it through one vital lens: time. Essentially, aim to spend as little as possible over a long period while maintaining stable components. For gamers, I always measure value by cost per FPS...

Susan Anderson77 said:I just stumbled upon a video for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti. WOW.

I need something for gaming, rendering, uploading, and all that—not just something meant to sit there collecting dust.

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages..._review,1.html
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphi...780-ti/?page=4
SLI - http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages..._review,1.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1JOhT015ww

David Sanders4 said:Exactly. You shouldn't approach buying components like you're buying a car. You have to look at it through one vital lens: time. Essentially, how little money can you spend over a long period while maintaining stable components? For gamers, I calculate that via FPS per dollar...

true that

crimsonstag84 said:An i7 3770K paired with a Noctua NH-D12... an ASUS ROG Maximus Z77... 8GB of RAM total... some decent 600-700W modular PSU... maybe an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti with a custom cooler once they drop... just pick whatever case and HDD/SSD you want.😛

Honestly, leaving ASRock out of this build would be a crime.😁

So, what exactly is wrong with ASRock?

the reputation of a Gigabyte or ASUS🙂

I mean, I guess ASRock is pretty much on par with Gigabyte and ASUS...

Not really... 🤷

I think it’s just common knowledge at this point that brands like ASUS, Gigabyte, or MSI sit a tier above ASRock or ECS when you're looking at motherboards. Back in the day, I probably would've prioritized a longer warranty over the brand name alone. But honestly? If I were staring down two identical boards from ASRock and Gigabyte at the exact same price point, I wouldn't give it a second thought. It's just a reality of the market—ASRock tends to be the more budget-friendly option on average, so you end up getting more bang for your buck.

Yeah, that was back when ASRock was basically just ASUS's budget wing. Things have changed quite a bit since then, I guess.

Maybe you're right, but I'll always feel a little bad for ASRock when compared to ASUS(vw)😁

Andrew Fox74 said:Well, I wouldn't say that's strictly true... 🤷

It seems like the general consensus is that brands like Dell, Gigabyte, or HP sit a step above Asrock or ECS when you're looking at motherboards. Back in the day, I would have prioritized a longer warranty over brand name every single time. But honestly, if I were standing in a store looking at an Asrock board and a Gigabyte board at the exact same price point, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. It’s just a reality that Asrock tends to be more budget-friendly, so you're essentially getting more bang for your buck.

I can wrap my head around calling Dell "prestigious," but I don't see how Gigabyte or HP hold any more prestige over Asrock. 🤷

That Asrock Extreme series is top-tier, though—especially the 3 and 4 models, which are more than enough for most people.