GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Actually, I was initially thinking about one of those two options I mentioned earlier—the GTX 1030 😁

Hi everyone, I'm looking to do some upgrades on my PC, specifically focusing on the graphics card.

Here is what I'm currently running.

I'm a bit unsure whether I should be looking at an AGP or a PCI-e card.

1) 500 W power supply
2) Intel Core i5 3350P CPU @ 3.1 GHz
3) ASRock P67 Pro3 SE Motherboard
4) 8 GB DDR3 RAM
5) An ancient hard drive—it's pretty obvious I need to pick up an SSD soon.
6) My current GPU is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti.

For most things, I play at 1080p resolution. Regarding where to shop, I'm considering basically anywhere, though I'll likely stick to Amazon.com, eBay, or maybe just checking local classifieds.

Budget isn't really a major concern for me. I've been thinking about jumping up to newer cards like the GTX 1070, 1080, or even a 1080Ti, but I'm worried about how much of a bottleneck my current CPU and setup will create. The long-term plan is to gradually upgrade my monitor, motherboard, and other components, but I first need to know if those cards are even compatible with my current board.

One last thing: since my current card is out of warranty (bought about 3 years ago), is it worth trying to sell it on a local marketplace for a few bucks, or should I just toss it in the trash?🙂?

If you’re planning to tackle the heavy hitters—titles like Assassin's Creed Origins, for instance—I wouldn't recommend going any higher than a GTX 1060 6GB or an RX 580 8GB. Your motherboard is compatible with all GPU options. Ideally, look for a dual-fan model that comes with a three-year warranty.
You just need to provide us with the full model name of your power supply. You'll have to check your receipt, look at the box, or simply open up the case and read the label on the unit itself.

You should be able to get anywhere from $300 to $133 for yours without any trouble at all.

The power supply I'm using is an EVGA 500 W.

As far as gaming goes, I wouldn't say I'm particularly demanding. I did pick up Andromeda a while back, but honestly, this current card struggled just to run everything on the lowest settings. My thinking was that if I bought something more powerful now, I could have some peace of mind during future upgrades, but if my current setup can actually handle the newer titles, maybe it makes more sense to stick with it and sell the better one later. 🙂

Which specific model should I go for—the 1060? And generally speaking, when it comes to graphics cards, there seem to be a hundred different names out there. Are they all pretty much the same, or is there a real difference between them?

The power supply should be fine. As far as I can see, I'd go with this over this one
.
Look, you could always grab a GTX 1070Ti (the GTX 1070 is priced too close right now, plus those models come with a 2-year warranty) if you're planning to upgrade the CPU (maybe an Intel Core i7 2600K with some overclocking or an Intel Core i7 3770K with OC) or just swap out the entire platform (CPU, motherboard, RAM). Otherwise, you're going to run into a bit of a bottleneck with a GTX 1070 in more demanding titles, though it won't be anything crazy—it doesn't mean games won't still run smoothly, for example, this one
.

Thanks! Just one more question before I pull the trigger: in your opinion, roughly what kind of percentage increase in speed or overall performance am I looking at if I go with the GTX 1070 compared to my current setup?

Also, which retailer offers the best deal... is it the one in the link you shared?

You can find all that data in the reviews click (check out those game benchmarks). I’m specifically referring to this exact model click, click. My point is, I'm questioning whether you could actually squeeze out the full potential of an NVIDIA GTX 1070 Ti in every single new release.

I always make sure to link the best deals from reputable retailers.

Thanks! I'll likely grab that 1070 Ti and just upgrade the rest of my components as I go. I'm just hoping it actually fits on my current motherboard and inside my case 🙂.

Look, I'm telling you, the motherboard isn't the issue here. PCIe has been the industry standard for years, regardless of which version you're running. While a tiny handful of people might run into compatibility hiccups, it’s incredibly rare and certainly isn't a flaw in the standard itself.

What kind of case are you using? Just grab a ruler and measure the internal clearance. You can easily find the exact GPU dimensions online.

Hey there
I've got a chance to snag an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 turbo OC 11GB for $1667..
I'm a little worried about the temps since it uses a blower style cooler
So if anyone wants to either talk me out of it or convince me this is a solid buy, I'm all ears
Thanks 😁

Bryan Taylor6 said:

That's just a standard NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080, not the Ti version..

Thomas Diaz7 said:Hey guys
I might be able to snag an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 turbo OC 11GB for $1667..
I'm a little worried about the temps since it's a blower style card
So if anyone can talk me out of it or convince me to pull the trigger on this thing
thanks 😁

Newegg--->reviews

Some people say they're loud, some say the cooling is hit or miss. Personally, if you have a decent case with good airflow, you should be fine.

I wouldn't touch a cheap plastic blower card if I were you, especially for a GPU with this kind of power draw and heat output. Besides, the current price isn't even a steal; it's hardly a bargain at all.

Timothy Kim60 said:I wouldn't touch that cheap plastic blower card if I were you, especially for a GPU with that kind of power draw and heat output. Plus, the price isn't even a steal right now, so there's really no reason to jump on it.

Thanks, I think I'll pass on this one.

Hi,

I've been keeping an eye on GPU prices since the crypto craze started earlier this year, and now that things have finally settled down, I think I'm ready to pull the trigger. My only real headache before buying is deciding which one to go with between these two competitors:

and

Basically, I'm looking to see which one is slightly better in terms of raw performance, but I also care about being future-proof. Since most newer games will probably run on DirectX 12, I guess AMD might have the edge there. I'm not entirely sure, though. I'd really appreciate it if some experts could help me decide before I commit. Each card seems to have its own pros and cons, so I'm hoping to get a useful answer. Thanks!

Where on earth are they finding these criminal prices?

It could be much better. I’ll filter for models with a 3-year warranty and dual fans, specifically looking at the AMD Radeon RX 580 option:

Personally, I’d go with the Sapphire Pulse first, followed by an AORUS model.

NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB:

Out of these, I’d pick the last one, the G1.

You can't really go wrong regardless of what you choose. The AMD Radeon RX 580 has a bit more raw power under the hood, whereas the NVIDIA GTX 1060 is more efficient. In terms of actual performance, they are practically identical across an average of about 20 different games.

Timothy Kim60 said:Where on earth are you finding those criminal prices?

It could definitely be better. I guess I'll filter by models with a 3-year warranty and dual fans; here's an RX 580 option:

Personally, I’d go with the Sapphire Pulse, maybe an Aorus if that's not available.

GTX 1060 6gb:

Of these, I think the last one, the G1, might be best.

Whichever you pick, you probably won't regret it. The RX 580 is maybe a bit more powerful, while the GTX 1060 is more efficient. Their performance is pretty much identical across about 20 different games.

The thing is, I don't live in Washington, D.C.—well, actually I'm out in Iowa—so getting transport is a bit tough. As for buying things online on a payment plan, I'm still a little skeptical since I haven't really tried it before, though there's probably no reason to worry. Those two links I sent are for stores in Savannah, which is the closest I can physically get to, but looking at those prices now, it feels like highway robbery to buy them there. It's mostly down to preference, I suppose. Also, it looks like AMD might be more future-proof, considering most games will likely run on DX12 soon enough.

To be honest, this RX 580 Pulse caught my eye the most. It has some RGB, but since I have a closed case, that doesn't really matter to me. I just want it to handle most games from 2017 onwards.

I'm currently using an FX 6300, and I know there might be some bottlenecking, but I'm planning to upgrade that later too... a Ryzen 3 2200 seems like a solid choice. I'll probably need a new motherboard as well, since I'm on an AM3+ socket right now.

quietstag2 said:Look, I don't live in Washington, D.C.—well, specifically Iowa—so getting transport sorted is a pain. Plus, I'm still pretty skeptical about those online installment plans; I just haven't dealt with them yet, though maybe there's no actual reason to worry. Those two links I posted are for branches in Savannah, which is the closest I can physically get to, but looking at those prices? Buying them there would be highway robbery.

With that price gap, you might as well just "jump" over to Washington, D.C. for a weekend trip and grab the card there on your way through. 🤣🤣🤣

quietstag2 said:The issue is that I'm not from Washington, D.C.—specifically Iowa—so transportation is a hassle for me. As for buying things online using installment plans, I'm still a bit skeptical; mostly because I haven't actually done it yet, though there probably isn't much reason to worry. These two links I posted are for the branches in Savannah, which is the closest I can physically get to, but seeing those prices, it would be highway robbery to buy them there. It really comes down to preference, and from what I see, AMD is quite future-proof considering most games will eventually rely on DX12.

To be honest, this RX 580 Pulse caught my eye the most. Sure, it has RGB, but since I have a closed case, I don't care about that at all. My main priority is ensuring it can handle most games from 2017 onwards.

I'm currently running an FX 6300, and while I know there's a chance of bottlenecking, I'm keeping in mind that I'll eventually need to upgrade that too... the Ryzen 3 2200 seems like a solid choice. I'll obviously have to pick up a new motherboard as well since I'm on an AM3+ socket.

Well, if you had the cash on hand, you'd get free shipping and the option to pay COD when it hits your doorstep. If you have the option to buy online, go for it; there’s no reason to be afraid. But if what analogtiger19 said is true, it might actually be worth driving out there given such a huge price difference. 😁

Wait, you can find it at both Best Buy and Staples.

The Sapphire model at Best Buy (you'd have to order it) somehow has a 2-year warranty for about $400, and you also have the Gigabyte Windforce as an option.

At that price point, the Nvidia options come with a 2-year warranty, and if you decide on one of those...

Looking at location, price, and availability, the easiest move is to grab that MSI Armor. You can get the web price just by doing a quick registration on the site (like we do on the forum), then select the in-store pickup option (and pay at the shop), and boom—you've got the "web price."

Regarding the platform, you'll need to pick up some DDR4 RAM as well.