GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

http://www.amazon.com/adapter-details

I guess that’s that, then.

So, following some advice from my buddies, I decided to hold off until the fall to finally pull the trigger on a new graphics card. My current setup is...

So, I was thinking about that old FX 8350 again... you know, that processor? I guess I still have some weird nostalgia for it, though maybe that's just me being crazy. It was such a specific era of hardware. Just one of those things that really defined a certain time in PC building. I don't know, maybe I'm just overthinking it.
So, I was thinking about that old hd7770 again... just sitting there. It’s funny how much time we spend obsessing over specs when, honestly, sometimes you just want something that works without making your desk feel like a NASA control center. I guess it’s just one of those things that stays on my mind. Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, or maybe I'm just getting old. Who knows? Anyway, yeah.
M5A97 r2.0
I guess I was looking at that old Corsair power supply—you know, the one that used to be a staple in budget builds around here—and it got me thinking about how much things change. It’s funny, really. One minute you think you've got a solid setup, then you realize the hardware is basically ancient history. I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old, but seeing these older components pop up makes me wonder where the time went. Anyway, just a random thought drifting through my head while I was messing around with my gear.
8 GB of RAM... I mean, it’s fine, I guess? If you're just doing basic stuff. But man, sometimes it feels like you're running a marathon in flip-flops. You know what I mean? One minute everything is smooth, then you open a couple of tabs in Chrome—which we all know is basically a memory hog—and suddenly the whole system starts chugging along like an old Chevy with a busted transmission. It's enough to make you wonder if we've reached the limit already. Maybe I'm just being dramatic, maybe, but it definitely makes things feel... tight. Tight. That's the word.

So, I was sitting here thinking... is it actually worth it? Like, does it make sense to jump from an old HD 7770 straight over to a GTX 950? I mean, I don't know. Maybe? It’s one of those things where you look at the specs and think, "Yeah, that's an upgrade," but then you realize how much of a headache it might be. I guess it depends on what you're trying to do. If you're just trying to get a little more breathing room in some games, it might be okay. But man, I don't know if it's a huge leap. It feels like one of those marginal gains situations where you spend the money and then kind of wonder if you should have just saved it for something bigger later on. Just a thought, I guess. What do you guys think? Is it a real move or just spinning your wheels? I was just browsing through some specs online—you know how it goes, getting lost in the rabbit hole of hardware listings—and I stumbled upon this one particular item. It’s pretty interesting, though I guess it depends on what you're actually looking for. Maybe it's exactly what someone needs, or maybe it's just overkill, I don't really know. It's one of those things where you look at the details and start wondering if it's actually worth the click, you know? Just one of those random finds while I was killing time.) ?
That one’s actually sitting at the top of my list right now. I mean, looking at the performance numbers, it seems killer, and honestly? The price point is just too good to pass up. Plus—and this is the big one for me—I wouldn't have to go out and swap out my power supply yet. My budget is pretty much tapped out, so if I grab a better card, I'd be forced to buy a new PSU too, and I just can't swing both right now. I guess it's the only move that makes sense.
I'm looking at playing at 1080p, and honestly, I just really want to be able to run games like those big open-world titles on at least some kind of medium or high settings at that resolution. That's pretty much the goal, I guess.

Thanks!

Kenneth Jackson3 said:Based on some advice from my colleagues, I decided to hold off until this fall to pick up a new graphics card. My current setup is...

Intel FX 8350.
N/A
M5A97 r2.0
N/A
8 GB RAM

Is it worth upgrading from an HD7770 to a GTX 950? ) ?
That one is my top pick right now. The performance looks solid, the price is right, and best of all, I won't have to overhaul my power supply just to make it work. My budget definitely can't handle upgrading both the GPU and the PSU at once.
I'm running at 1080p, and my main goal is being able to play those big titles on medium to high settings at that resolution.

Thanks!

I’d definitely go with the R9 280 over that Nvidia card. The 280 is more powerful, and it's only about ten bucks more. I honestly don't see the point of that graphics card at all, especially given how much they charge for them here in the States. $533That spot's already been claimed by the R9 280, which actually outclasses the 950. Maybe they're just labeling it a "gaming card for esports" to bait people in. Jeez... ☕

Kenneth Jackson3 said:Taking some advice from the guys here, I decided to wait until fall to grab a new GPU. My current rig is

Intel 8350
N/A
N/A
N/A
8 GB RAM

Is it worth jumping from my N/A to a N/A ( http://www.bestbuy.com/product_info.php?products_id=17026) ?
It’s the one I’m looking at because the performance looks solid for the price, plus I won't have to swap out my power supply yet. (I can't afford a better card and a new PSU at the same time)
I play at 1080p. I just need to be able to run N/A and N/A on medium or high settings at that resolution.

Thanks!

Solid card. Definitely an upgrade over the N/A. 😁
It’s a little weaker than the N/A, but perfect for 1080p.👍

If you want to stick with Intel, you could look at:
the 270x or 370, but those pull way more power.😳

Adam Moore3 said:I’d definitely grab the R9 280 over that Nvidia card. It’s faster and only costs about five bucks more. Honestly, I don't see the point of that GPU at all, especially here in the States where it's priced at $533. The R9 280 already owns that spot and it outperforms the 950. Maybe they call it a "card for A>" just to bait some suckers. Give me a break... ☕

Where did you even find the 280 listed $567 😳?

Look, it's got 😳

Adam Moore3 said:I’d definitely go with the R9 280 over that Nvidia card. I mean, the 280 is just more powerful, and even if it runs maybe fifty bucks more, it's still worth it. Honestly, I don't really get what the point of that other card even is... especially with how overpriced they are here in the States. Just doesn't make sense. $533That spot was already taken by an R9 280, which honestly blows that 950 out of the water. I guess calling it a "card for competitive gaming" or whatever is just some marketing tactic to lure people in. Jeez... ☕

I was just browsing this product page on an American retail site—it’s one of those deep-dive tech listings—and it got me thinking about how much things change. You look at these specs and you realize how fast everything moves. I guess it's easy to get caught up in the weeds of hardware details, but sometimes you just have to stop and wonder why we even bother chasing the latest thing when the old stuff worked just fine... most of the time, anyway. Maybe I'm just getting old. Anyway, check it out if you have some time to kill.

Wait, what? A 750W power supply... as a minimum? :/

Look, if I’m actually going to go through with getting that CX500, then I guess I'd rather just grab it directly from Amazon or somewhere similar. Just feels easier, I suppose. 🙂

Kenneth Jackson3 said:http://www.bestbuy.com/product_info.php?products_id=15588

This one? Needs at least a 750w PSU :/

EDIT: if I'm stuck using a CX500, I'd rather just grab that one from Best Buy🙂

The rig will probably pull maybe 350W max👍 assuming you aren't overclocking😁.

What do you mean a 750W minimum? The GPU pulls about 180W under full gaming load, and once you factor in the CPU, that’s basically the entire PC's power draw right there. Those "minimum requirements" listed on official manufacturer websites are useless—they just confuse people. I remember linking a guide for an R9 290 once where the "minimum" ranged from 500W all the way up to 750W depending on which vendor made it. It's ridiculous. 🤣

If you want less strain on the system, go with this. If you absolutely have to stay under $533, then this is your best bet. Spending $533 on a GTX 950 makes zero sense when you can get a GTX 960 for $17. The GPU just arrived a couple of days ago; most shops haven't even received their stock yet (and prices should drop slightly soon).

I think you might get slightly better performance out of an Intel card on titles like A>> and A>>, so you could probably feel comfortable picking up that A>>.

N/A is basically a masterpiece from NVIDIA, though I have to say those Kepler cards were a total disaster at least when the game first dropped.

Hey everyone, so I’m finally looking to upgrade my GPU. Since I’ve always used Sapphire and never had a single issue with them, I’ve been eyeing this R9 280 dual x oc 3gb, $633 over at PCMag, which should set me back $667. What do you guys think? Is there something better out there for that kind of cash? The rest of my rig is
fx 8320
asus m5a97 pro
hd 7770 ghz ed
8gb
fortron raider 650w

You’re thinking R9 280. You could, but there isn't anything stronger than two cores here.

Now that I’m taking a closer look, there's also that Sapphire VaporX R9 280X 3G sitting there for a few hundred bucks more. Which one is actually the better move? I'm mostly worried about how they handle things when we get those brutal, sweltering summer heatwaves.

Robert Rodriguez2 (No content provided to rewrite.)
I mean, honestly... I think the rig will pull maybe 350W at most. Or, well, if it even hits that much. Maybe. It’s probably not even going to get close, really. 👍 As long as we aren't talking about overclocking, I guess. 😁

Looks like we're going with the R9 280! 😁 Thanks, guys!

Timothy Kim60 said:Are you serious about a 750W minimum? The GPU pulls maybe 180W at full load during gaming, then you just add the CPU and that’s basically your whole PC's power draw right there. Honestly, you have to ignore those "minimum requirements" on official websites. They're useless! They just confuse everyone. I remember linking to an R9 280 once where they suggested anything from 500W to 750W as a "minimum" depending on which manufacturer made the card. Good grief. 🤣

Maybe they mean an industrial-grade 750W unit? 😁
Otherwise, these crazy numbers don't make any sense to me... but I see the Americans are pushing that wataza hard. You want SLI or Crossfire? Just grab a 1200W unit just to be safe. Better to have it and not need it. ☕

It’s not even worth calling it a "750W" unit—it’s basically a glorified 400W brick 😬 before everything goes south. Those recommended wattage ratings are completely useless. You’re much better off looking for the actual amperage on the +12V rail, especially when it's clearly labeled on a high-quality power supply. That's the only metric that actually matters.

Andrew Fox74 said:Could we be looking at an MSI industrial 750W unit here? 😁
Otherwise, these absurdly high numbers don't make a lick of sense to me... though I do notice Americans are really pushing wataza lately. Do you want SLI or Crossfire? Just throw in a 1200W power supply just to be safe; better to have it and not need it, right? ☕

And honestly, if you actually cram four R9 295X2 cards into a single rig, you shouldn't be surprised when the power draw hits 1600W. 🙏

http://www.amazon.com/s?k=gtx+750+ti

Alright, I'm picking up a new card, but which version is actually worth the headache? Everything listed here in $33 is basically the same thing. Some just have a different fan setup or a slightly different shroud, and a few seem to have minor tweaks in clock speeds or bandwidth, if I'm reading this right.

Look, $367 is my absolute limit. I'm not spending a single cent over that for a gtx 750 ti.

Not much sense to be made here since looking under $0.37, all I see is that Inno3D Geforce GTX750T 2 GB GDDR5 you found downtown... everything else looks like EDigital junk ☕

Basically, MSI GeForce GTX 750 ti GDDR5 2 over at PCMag is the better call because of the 3-year warranty... but yeah, it's probably $0.21 way out of your budget 😬

EDIT: though, you did say you aren't spending another dime, and this is less than a hundred bucks 😬

EDIT2: I don't get it... it's not even in stock at PCMag anymore, it'll be gone 🤷

😁 Man, I guess I’ll pull $0.21 out of the pile. Honestly, I didn't even notice it came with a 3-year warranty.