GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

crimsonstag84, look, it’s not exactly a power hog, but it pulls about 60% more than the older 750 and 750Ti series—though you have to account for the fact that it's significantly faster. It actually draws slightly more juice than an R9 270 or 270X depending on which specific model you grab.

http://www.pcekspert.com/clanak/giga...-oc-test/?pg=5

As performance climbs, power consumption follows suit, so we can't really label this a "budget efficiency" card the way we did with the GTX 750Ti models. That said, it's quite impressive when you compare it to the power draw of the GTX 760 (Striker Platinum); it isn't much slower, but we aren't thrilled that its power footprint is nearly identical to the GTX 960.

Timothy Kim60 said:crimsonstag84, it doesn't exactly burn through power like crazy—it uses about 60% more than its predecessors, the 750 and 750Ti (though it's significantly more powerful), and it actually pulls slightly more juice than an R9 270 or 270X depending on which specific model you get.

http://www.pcekspert.com/clanak/giga...-oc-test/?pg=5

Wait, it draws more power than a GTX 960? Is that even possible? 😲

It’s likely due to some factory overclocking on certain vendor models, assuming it isn't just a glitch. For the most part, though, power consumption stays pretty much in line with the GTX 960, just like the review mentioned.

120W still feels like a joke for a card like this 😬

Hey... I'm stuck on a decision here. Should I grab a used HD 7870 off eBay from some seller in France for 90 bucks including shipping, or go with an R9 270X for $317 with shipping from a guy in Chicago... the thing is, the R9 is basically brand new, bought over in Germany, but there's no receipt or warranty to speak of... though for this R9, I'll get proof it actually works before they ship it out. Thanks in advance....

$317 isn't a steal for a 270x, especially since there's no warranty left. $233 - $110 is about what you'd realistically pay for a 7870 (R9 270) here in the States. So, getting this from overseas with shipping included isn't actually that big of a deal. You just have to keep an eye on the local marketplaces and hunt for deals; they don't pop up every day.

What CPU and specifically which power supply are you running?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/graphics-cards-listing-example

The seller says testing is an option (where are you located?). You might even be able to lowball them and grab it for $50 less$33 if you're feeling bold.

The Cooler Master setup isn't anything special, but then again, it is a more powerful card (Tahiti LE).

Timothy Kim60 said:$317 isn't even a good price for a 270x, plus there's zero warranty. $233 - $100 is more like what you'd pay for a 7870 (R9 270) around here in the States. So this thing from France with shipping included (?) isn't actually anything special. Just, whatever, man, you gotta keep hunting and checking the forum marketplaces, you can't always

What CPU and what exact power supply are you running?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/graphics-cards-listing-example

He says he can even do testing (where are you located?). Maybe you could lowball him and try for $50-$33 lower if you want to go that route.

The Cooler Master setup isn't great, but then again, it's a beefier card (Tahiti LE).

Thanks for getting back to me. I've got a Corsair 550W PSU and a Phenom II X4 965 BE CPU... I already saw that listing and was almost ready to pull the trigger on shipping, but then I read that it runs pretty hot and makes a lot of noise... which means I'd probably have to swap out the cooler, and by the end of it, the total cost would basically match a 270x... I mean, yeah, that Tahiti chip is stronger, but... I don't get, is this price for the 270x $317 including shipping... is that just a standard price or what? The problem is I already sold my old card, so I'm stuck on integrated graphics right now... I don't want to be hunting for a new one forever... honestly, the eBay stuff worries me most, specifically the refund process... can I even trust them? And I just can't find a card like that locally here in the US $300... thanks...

If you’re dead set on that specific GPU, just hang tight and keep an eye out. Back in the day, you could occasionally snag an R9 280x (HD7970) for $333, and you can almost always find an HD7950 (R9 280) if you look hard enough—though they aren't always sitting there waiting for you. I actually saw a 660Ti go for $300 on eBay just the other day...

I'd suggest lowballing the seller on that 270X; the asking price is totally unrealistic, especially since it comes with zero warranty. You also need to keep in mind that pairing a 270X with your CPU is going to cause some serious bottlenecking in certain games.

If you want something brand new for $333, you could pick up a 750Ti 2GB (which performs slightly below an HD7850)—check this link or this one if you're looking at shipping from overseas. Buying through those channels gives you a solid 3-year warranty, so you don't have to worry about getting ripped off by some shady seller.

Timothy Kim60 said:If you're dead set on that specific GPU, just wait and hunt for it. For $333, you could occasionally find an R9 280X (HD7970) back in the day, and you can definitely track down an HD7950 (R9 280) if you look hard enough—though they aren't always around. I saw a 660Ti sell on eBay the other day for $300
Try lowballing him. Also, just a heads up, using a 270X CPU might actually bottleneck you in certain games.

If you're looking at something new for $333, you could grab a 750Ti 2GB (which is a bit weaker than the HD7850) — click or this if you were buying from overseas; then you get a 3-year warranty and don't have to worry about some random guy ripping you off in a parking lot.

Well, if my CPU is gonna bottleneck me with a 270X, then there's really no point waiting for something stronger 🙂... the only option is trying to find a cheaper one... I tried to haggle with him but he wouldn't budge... I mean, he wanted 1000 but offered it for 900 🙂... probably because it's newer, I guess... I don't know... I'm losing my mind here... I'm checking Craigslist ads every single day... I haven't kept up with this stuff for a long time so I have no clue how GPU prices are moving lately... Here's the one I'm talking about, the 270X:http://www.craigslist.org/cs/sss/example-gpu-ad ...it's not that I'm obsessed with that specific GPU... I'm hunting for a 7870... 7950... R7 265 or an R9 270... with or without the X... and sure, an Nvidia 660 or 760, Ti versions or whatever

Speaking from experience—the 955 (stock) and the GTX 750 Ti have been more than enough for certain titles. That’s the sweet spot for him now (though he could also look at an Nvidia 650Ti Boost or a 750Ti). Naturally, performance is entirely dependent on the specific game you're running. For instance, when I was testing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, I found that even with something stronger than an R9 280X, the GTX 1050 doesn't act as a bottleneck. In some older games, even an HD 7970 (like the R9 280X) isn't a struggle, so it all really comes down to relativity.

Look, about those parts I mentioned... honestly, any of them should get the job done just fine. Even if there’s a tiny bit of a bottleneck here and there, who cares? It ought to run pretty smoothly enough for what you need.

Here’s what I currently have sitting in my rig:
Intel Core i5-4590
8 GB RAM
EVGA 550W

GTX 750 Ti 2GB

Which GPU is actually capable of handling modern titles on Ultra settings?
Ideally looking for a "best buy" if one exists.

Something budget-friendly, obviously, but still able to push new games at High or Ultra.

I assume the rest of the build is still decent enough and doesn't need an upgrade, but if you think otherwise, feel free to suggest alternatives.

Well, you'd need at least an R9 280X($650), though I'm not entirely sure if a jump to 1440p actually offers much of a meaningful upgrade (maybe 60-80%?). Honestly, I'd probably lean toward trying for an RX 580 instead, but then you'd likely need to grab a beefier power supply too.

crimsonstag84 said:At minimum, an R9 280X ($650). Though, is a 60-80% jump actually worth it? I’d personally aim for the RX 580, but you’ll definitely need a beefier power supply for that.

Will it run GTA 5 on High settings? Using an R9 280X—and does that card need a bigger power supply?

It looks like it'll manage about 45-50 FPS at Ultra settings, assuming you have AA/AF enabled at 1080p. The power supply should be fine.

I also noticed the GTX 750 Ti runs it pretty smoothly on High without all those extra filters, though it might struggle a bit?

Setting things to High looks decent, but you have to kill AA just to make it playable. It sits right on that edge where it's barely functional... once you toggle AA back on, the frame rate drops to a stuttering 20-25 fps. Unplayable.

So, thanks for the input. R9 280X is sold.

You can definitely run a GTX 980 with that power supply.
AA (MSAA) is usually the biggest performance killer out there, so I'd suggest not going overboard with it, especially when you're working with a GPU like the $1000
.

Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice. I'm in the middle of putting a new PC together and I'm trying to figure out which of these three graphics cards is actually the best bet for gaming:

Thanks in advance

You're constantly picking up new gear—PCs, GPUs, setting up multi-monitor rigs and all that stuff... 🙂

haha, not even, I haven't actually pulled the trigger on a new rig yet. I'm still waiting on some cash to clear in about two or three weeks, so I'm just kicking the tires on different GPUs for a bit longer. 😁