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Best video card(s) with a great price to performance ratio?

ColdThief
By ColdThief
in Graphics Cards
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Hey everyone!

 

I'm coming into some money before the end of the year and I'm looking to upgrade my computer.

 

I'll start by saying I've been using AMD for as long as I can remember, and I like their cards.  I'm open to honest pros and cons regarding current AMD and Nvdia cards on the market.

 

I'm open to Crossfire or SLI if it will get me better performance.

 

I'm also going to be picking up a Korean 1440p monitor.

 

I also plan on recording videos and/or streaming.

 

I'm pretty set on the other parts I'm going to be getting for my PC, I just don't want to get a lackluster video card that is over priced.

 

Thanks in advance!

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Posted

I'm coming into some money before the end of the year and I'm looking to upgrade my computer.

 

I'll start by saying I've been using AMD for as long as I can remember, and I like their cards.  I'm open to honest pros and cons regarding current AMD and Nvdia cards on the market.

This would definitely depend on what budget you have in mind. I'd recommend at least an R9 280 for 1440p.

 

Canadian prices:

$200-300 - R9 280

$300-400 - R9 290

$400-450 - GTX 970

$450-600 - R9 290 crossfire

$600+ - GTX 970 SLI

"Rawr XD"

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Posted

Hey everyone!

 

I'm coming into some money before the end of the year and I'm looking to upgrade my computer.

 

I'll start by saying I've been using AMD for as long as I can remember, and I like their cards.  I'm open to honest pros and cons regarding current AMD and Nvdia cards on the market.

 

I'm open to Crossfire or SLI if it will get me better performance.

 

I'm also going to be picking up a Korean 1440p monitor.

 

I also plan on recording videos and/or streaming.

 

I'm pretty set on the other parts I'm going to be getting for my PC, I just don't want to get a lackluster video card that is over priced.

 

Thanks in advance!

970 and r9 290

Please follow your topics guys, it's very important! CoC F.A.Q  Please use the corresponding PC part picker link for your country USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, Italy, New Zealand and Germany

also if you find anyone with this handle in games its most likely me so say hi

 

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Posted

Hey everyone!

 

I'm coming into some money before the end of the year and I'm looking to upgrade my computer.

 

I'll start by saying I've been using AMD for as long as I can remember, and I like their cards.  I'm open to honest pros and cons regarding current AMD and Nvdia cards on the market.

 

I'm open to Crossfire or SLI if it will get me better performance.

 

I'm also going to be picking up a Korean 1440p monitor.

 

I also plan on recording videos and/or streaming.

 

I'm pretty set on the other parts I'm going to be getting for my PC, I just don't want to get a lackluster video card that is over priced.

 

Thanks in advance!

second hand 290. about $200 on amazon. 250 for new one. 

雪月花(Setsugetsuka)

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Considering you're planning on 1440p, I'll assume you have a fairly good budget, so I would say the GTX 970 for sure.

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This would definitely depend on what budget you have in mind.

 

Money really won't be an issue. I was experimenting with a build a few days ago, and it came to around CDN$1700. That's actually more than the computer I build last year. Hah.

 

That seems like an okay range to get with the features I want in the upgrades and keeping it relatively future proof.

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So far 970 seems like the general consensus here.  Would it be worth it to get two for SLI? 

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So far 270 seems like the general consensus here.  Would it be worth it to get two for SLI? 

Not for 1440p. You'll want at least 3GB of VRAM if you're playing the latest titles. 

"Rawr XD"

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This would definitely depend on what budget you have in mind. I'd recommend at least an R9 280 for 1440p.

 

Canadian prices:

$200-300 - R9 280

$300-400 - R9 290

$400-450 - GTX 970

$450-600 - R9 290 crossfire

$600+ - GTX 970 SLI

 

Okay, that's good info. I think I'm pretty set on two cards, I think the next question for me is the toss up between two 290s or two 970s. I really like AMD, but I haven't used Nvidia in years. So I don't really know what they are like now.

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Not for 1440p. You'll want at least 3GB of VRAM if you're playing the latest titles. 

That was a typo. :/ Meant to say 970.

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Money really won't be an issue. I was experimenting with a build a few days ago, and it came to around CDN$1700. That's actually more than the computer I build last year. Hah.

 

That seems like an okay range to get with the features I want in the upgrades and keeping it relatively future proof.

This build just happened to be in my PCPP list, so give it a look. Seems to go well with your budget.

 

 
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.89 @ DirectCanada) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.95 @ Vuugo) 
Memory: Team Zeus Red 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($94.98 @ Newegg Canada) 
Storage: A-Data Premier SP610 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($68.65 @ DirectCanada) 
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($369.00 @ Canada Computers) 
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($369.00 @ Canada Computers) 
Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($124.99 @ Canada Computers) 
Total: $1535.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-22 18:49 EST-0500

"Rawr XD"

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So far 270 seems like the general consensus here.  Would it be worth it to get two for SLI?

Not all games support SLI/Crossfire x. He'll be better off if he buys a 970 or a 290.
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This build just happened to be in my PCPP list, so give it a look. Seems to go well with your budget.

 

 
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.89 @ DirectCanada) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($129.95 @ Vuugo) 
Memory: Team Zeus Red 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($94.98 @ Newegg Canada) 
Storage: A-Data Premier SP610 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($68.65 @ DirectCanada) 
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($369.00 @ Canada Computers) 
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($369.00 @ Canada Computers) 
Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($124.99 @ Canada Computers) 
Total: $1535.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-22 18:49 EST-0500

 

That looks pretty good. I'm thinking of getting the Cooler Master cooler with the build in closed loop water cooler thing. Worth it?

I also like G.Skills ram (its what I have now), and I'm probably gonna get some 1866mhz sticks.

 

Is Zotac a good brand? They seem on the cheap end.

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Not all games support SLI/Crossfire x. He'll be better off if he buys a 970 or a 290.

Yeah, that was a typo. Meant to say the 970.  If the 290 is comparable, I will probably go that route. Might still get two, as its strong enough to hold its own for games that don't support XFire. The ones that do would be even better.

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As long as your mobo supports sli two 970s are a very tempting choice.   if this is for future plans though.....  ask again right before your ready to buy.

remember it takes 2 seconds to google it yourself......

my rig (close anyway, couldnt find my qnix 1440p moniter or my msi z77 g45a matx mobo)   http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LzzqwP

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As long as your mobo supports sli two 970s are a very tempting choice.   if this is for future plans though.....  ask again right before your ready to buy.

It will hopefully be before the end of the year, so I don't see any new cards coming out before then. If I can catch some of them when they're on sale, even better!

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That looks pretty good. I'm thinking of getting the Cooler Master cooler with the build in closed loop water cooler thing. Worth it?

I also like G.Skills ram (its what I have now), and I'm probably gonna get some 1866mhz sticks.

 

Is Zotac a good brand? They seem on the cheap end.

Nah I'd definitely go for the Cryorig R1. It's a beast of a cooler and you don't have to worry about things like pumps failing or leaks like you get with CLCs. 

 

RAM brand doesn't really matter, and 1866 will pretty much bring no performance benefit over 1600 in any situation unless you're using integrated graphics, which in this build you're not.

 

Zotac is a good brand. Their cards look a bit uglier, but they're cheaper and work well.

"Rawr XD"

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It will hopefully be before the end of the year, so I don't see any new cards coming out before then. If I can catch some of them when they're on sale, even better!

You could wait until the R9 300 series comes.

"Rawr XD"

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You could wait until the R9 300 series comes.

 

Is there predictions on how long that will be?

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~February 

Eh. I'm not sure if I'd want to wait that long. I may just go with two 970s. 

 

I've got a lot to think about now. Thanks for all the tips everyone!

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Nah I'd definitely go for the Cryorig R1. It's a beast of a cooler and you don't have to worry about things like pumps failing or leaks like you get with CLCs. 

 

RAM brand doesn't really matter, and 1866 will pretty much bring no performance benefit over 1600 in any situation unless you're using integrated graphics, which in this build you're not.

 

Zotac is a good brand. Their cards look a bit uglier, but they're cheaper and work well.

 

How many CLC's have you owned before that the pump failed or you got leaks that you can make such a statement like that?

 

Ram isn't really expensive, no point in going with a 1600MHz kit when the price difference between a 1600MHz kit and a 2400MHz is minimal. Here's a kit of 2133MHz Cas 9 Memory for the same price as the $90 kit of 1600MHz ram you suggested: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231518&

 

 

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1381504-community-standards/

 

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How many CLC's have you owned before that the pump failed or you got leaks that you can make such a statement like that?

Not personally (my Water 2.0 is still working... for now), but I personally know three friends who had CLCs break. 

 

A guy with an H100i had the pump fail after a year, was RMA'd for another H100i which had the Corsair Link function stop working after two months.

Another guy had a Seidon 120M that leaked at the joints on the block, causing damage to his graphics card. Luckily EVGA covered that under warranty.

"Rawr XD"

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