Deals, Discounts, and Best PC Component Buys & Builds

We've known this for at least a month now—which is exactly why the hype died down. Once they looked at the architecture, it became obvious the performance would barely top a GTX 760.

Based on that page David Sanders4 posted yesterday, it looked like it was about 40% more powerful than a GTX 660...

That’s just some Nvidia marketing fluff

You also had this—which holds its own—it goes toe-to-toe with the R9 280

If they only release the TI versions, we’re likely looking at a much higher price tag and increased power draw... At that point, it really boils down to how much of a discount we're getting compared to a GTX 970. Ultimately, the value will have to justify the cost; the lower power consumption is probably their only real selling point here.

Expect something around ~$567 for the GTX 960, though honestly, they really ought to drop a 960 Ti to fill that gap. It feels like Nvidia still doesn't have a card that can truly go toe-to-toe with AMD in the mid-range—or even the lower end, for that matter.

EDIT:

Maybe we'll at least see some decent price cuts on the GTX 660 and 760 soon...

David Sanders4 said:If they only release the TI versions, we’re looking at much higher price tags and significantly more power draw. At that point, it all boils down to one question: how much cheaper would they actually be compared to a GTX 970? Ultimately, the value proposition will depend entirely on the MSRP. In my view, the only real selling point here would be the lower power consumption.

There are two models currently under consideration that could potentially become the GTX 960 Ti—they just haven't pulled the trigger on which specific one will actually hit the market yet.

I suspect the weaker one will actually come out on top. If this version really averages out to be just a hair stronger than a GTX 780—or even equal to it—then there’s zero point in getting a GTX 970. It would be way too close to call.

Quote: The New Guy

crimsonstag84 said:Stay tuned.$567 Regarding the GTX 960.They really ought to drop a GTX 960 Ti version just to plug that gap in the lineup. It feels like Nvidia is still struggling to find a card that can actually go toe-to-toe with AMD in the mid-range—and honestly, they’re still falling behind in the entry-level tier, too.

I think that's a realistic estimate, but knowing how things tend to play out here in the States, I wouldn't be surprised if it actually climbed even higher—maybe hitting the 1800 mark.$633At least for the first few weeks, it’s going to be tough for it to undercut the R9 285 or the GTX 760. In a best-case scenario, we’re looking at them being priced exactly the same.

Timothy Kim60 said:They have two models that could potentially be the GTX 960 Ti, but they've only decided to release one so far (they haven't made the final call yet).

I suspect the weaker version will hit the market first. If this thing actually ends up being slightly better than a GTX 780 on average—or even just equal to it—then there’s hardly any point in having a GTX 970. It would be way too close for comfort.

It’ll likely feature those 1280 CUDA cores, but over the last few years, we haven't seen the price-to-performance ratio between ATI and Nvidia get this closely aligned. That said, Nvidia definitely still holds the edge when it comes to power efficiency...
From what I've observed, Nvidia has always commanded a 20-30% premium. Back then, their main selling point was PhysX, which unfortunately never really took off, even if it did hold its own in hybrid setups. Honestly, if I recall correctly, the ATI cards actually seemed faster when playing Borderlands....

Why is it that so few games actually use PhysX? Is there any chance we'll see more of them down the road?
For instance, I ended up grabbing a GTX 760 instead of the Sapphire HD 7950 Vapor X specifically because of PhysX, yet so far, the only game where I've actually gotten to mess around with it is Metro: Last Light.
It honestly feels like a waste that the software gets so little love; those effects are actually pretty cool, and everything just looks way more immersive and alive when you have it turned on.

Nobody can really give you a straight answer—it all depends on the game itself and who they’re teaming up with. Whether it's the red team or the green team? You'd have to ask Bog.

About those upcoming AMD GPU http://www.techpowerup.com/209719/ra...ed-hawaii.html

Hey everyone! Quick question... where's the best place to build a PC right now? I noticed Micro Center offers free shipping and assembly services, which sounds pretty sweet. But I've also seen people mentioning futur and a few other spots... wondering which one actually gives you the most bang for your buck.

You can find free assembly and shipping at places like Best Buy or Micro Center, whereas if you go through someone like Newegg, you're basically just paying for the delivery service alone...

Anyone looking for a monitor? Check this out:

24", AH-IPS, pivot, $0.37 🙏

It’s currently only available at Best Buy for $467, but you can find similar specs over at $500+
.

Timothy Kim60 said:Anyone looking for a decent monitor?

24", AH-IPS, pivot, $0.37 🙏

It's only left at Best Buy for $467, otherwise, specs like these are usually found at $500+

Damn, just lend me $400 indefinitely so I can grab it🙂

What do you guys think about this build?

https://www.alzashop.com/asrock-h61mv-itx-d522022.htm
https://www.alzashop.com/cooler-mast...ck-d470467.htm
https://www.alzashop.com/kingston-4g...s-d1147457.htm
https://www.alzashop.com/eurocase-450w-pfc-d47899.htm
https://www.alzashop.com/gigabyte-n7...i-d1774601.htm
https://www.alzashop.com/intel-penti...30-d380191.htm
https://www.alzashop.com/western-dig...he-d428085.htm

Robert Rodriguez2 said:Man, just lend me your $400 indefinitely so I can finally go out and buy my own 🙂.

Let's just split the cost... Or you take the stand and cables, and I'll take the monitor.

wearyfalcon28

It’s a weird setup (laptop HDD, an overpriced GPU, etc.). Honestly, you should just start a new thread—list your budget, what you need it for, and if you're strictly set on an ITX build.

I'm looking to upgrade my RAM and wanted to see if anyone knows where to find the best deals. I've got a single 4GB stick of Kingmax DDR3 1600 FLGF currently in there.
I can't seem to find anything cheaper than $93 🤷
.
Also, I'm running an AsRock FM2A75-DGS motherboard with that 4GB stick already installed. Does the new RAM strictly have to be Kingmax, or can I mix in a different brand?

Here’s what I found regarding prices—you probably won't find anything cheaper than this:

http://www.nabava.net/search.php?tp=...max+1x4GB+DDR3

I'd suggest just grabbing the exact same memory stick. It'll probably minimize the chances of stability issues or them refusing to run together. Since you're in a big city like Chicago, you should be able to find them at most local retailers without much trouble.

fadedorca66 said:Look, those prices are pretty much set in stone—you aren't finding anything cheaper than that:

http://www.nabava.net/search.php?tp=...max+1x4GB+DDR3

My advice? Stick to the exact same memory kit. It’ll save you the headache of compatibility issues or them failing to run together. Since you're in a big city like Chicago, you should be able to find them at most local tech shops easily.

Yeah, true, everything is hovering around that 10-$$6.75 difference🙄

Seriously though, why did RAM prices spike so hard all of a sudden?
I remember building my rig just two years ago and paid maybe $130$47 total. Back then, I actually debated grabbing 8GB right away, but I figured I'd just upgrade later when I needed it. Man, seeing these prices now... I really should have just pulled the trigger back then. 😲

Honestly, those figures look great compared to how bad things used to be...
Not long ago, you could pick up 8GB for under $100, but once prices spiked, there was a period where you couldn't even find anything under $200, let alone slightly above it.

"There are a variety of factors contributing to the overall trend of price increases in memory. First, we are in a chip shortage situation. The number of semiconductor companies producing DRAM has shrunken to three major players (Intel, Micron and Samsung). Some of these [suppliers] have switched their focus to produce more NAND Flash and mobile DRAM (e.g., eMMC and multi-chip packing) as demand has exploded for mobile phones and tablets.

DRAM is also in a transitional period as it switches to 25nm wafers and the move to smaller dies always takes time. When all these factors combine, it creates a perfect storm for rising commodity prices."