GTX 960 vs R9 380

[Aruxx]

MSI GTX 960 2GB vs Sapphire Nitro R9 380 4GB

 

So both these cards would work fine in my computer, but I have two different arguments and I don't know which one to go with.  Some people say that 2GB of Vram is the devil (or it seems nowadays ._.), and if that's the case I think the R9 380 makes a better deal.  I would go with the 960 4GB, but it's more expensive than the R9 380!  So where do I go here guys?  Would you recommend the 4GB, or say save the 20 dollars?

 

Thanks

[pomaranc]

Since the "ramgate" people overestimate importance of VRAM.

But R9 380 is still better card.

[Vegetable]

Ok, I'm the biggest Nvidia fanboy. I don't usually look at AMD, but look at the facts. The 380 IS BETTER. It will have higher fps and more graphical capabilities than any 960.

[don_svetlio]

The 960 4GB is absurdly pointless as it cannot, I stress, cannot use the extra 2 gigs unless in SLI. The 380 has much more power (10-20%) and double the usable VRAM.
The 380 will not run too hot as some people would have you believe as it has a lower TDP than my 280 which maxes out at 72*C with fans being barely audible in a low-airflow case.
Power consumption will also not spike by too much and any good 500W PSU will easily handle it. I strongly advise you to go for the 380 or the 970/390 as the 960 is a flat out waste of money.

[Aruxx]

Thanks for the quick response guys!  Seems my question is answered and the GTX 960 is more hyped up than it really should be

 

 

I had seen that the 380 was a bit better but I was wondering if it was worth the extra cost and that seems to be true, thanks!

[PineappleHolidays]

R9 380

[don_svetlio]

Thanks for the quick response guys!  Seems my question is answered and the GTX 960 is more hyped up than it really should be

 

 

I had seen that the 380 was a bit better but I was wondering if it was worth the extra cost and that seems to be true, thanks!

The 960 wasn't Nvidia's best *60 card. I like the 660 and the 760 but the 960 really disappointed me. Sad thing is, people who bought it try to convince others it's "better than the 770 lol"

[Castdeath97]

Can you find a r9 280x or r9 290 for around the same price? If so get them.

[Sovek]

The problem isnt the 2gb of VRAM, its the 128 bit bus. I saw video where someone took the GTX 960 2GB and ran it against the GTX 960 4GB, same speeds. The R7 370 will out perform the 960, the R9 380? yeah, no contest.

[dougdangger]

2-3 fps is barely noticeable.

A slight over clock should fix that.  960s can easily oc from 1100mhz stock to 1500mhz easily.

The 380 requires a minimum of 500 watt power supply.  You'll have to buy one if your's don't meet the requirement.

A GTX 970 will run on as little as 400 watts.  So if it were me, I'd rather get the better card and continue to use my current PSU than to buy a weaker card and spend money where I didn't have to in the first place.

[don_svetlio]

2-3 fps is barely noticeable

-snip-

The 380 requires a minimum of 500 watt power supply.  You'll have to buy one if your's don't meet the requirement.

A GTX 970 will run on as little as 400 watts.  So if it were me, I'd rather get the better card and continue to use my current PSU than to buy a weaker card and spend money where I didn't have to in the first place.

That's only 1 benchmark in an Nvidia title. Trust the bulk of us and ignore the 960.

EDIT: In what world does the 960 with 2 gigs play games as good as the 380 with 4 at 1440p >.> I call BS.

[pomaranc]

2-3 fps is barely noticeable

 

The 380 requires a minimum of 500 watt power supply.  You'll have to buy one if your's don't meet the requirement.

A GTX 970 will run on as little as 400 watts.  So if it were me, I'd rather get the better card and continue to use my current PSU than to buy a weaker card and spend money where I didn't have to in the first place.

But that is just crysis

[Atmos]

Thanks for the quick response guys!  Seems my question is answered and the GTX 960 is more hyped up than it really should be

 

 

I had seen that the 380 was a bit better but I was wondering if it was worth the extra cost and that seems to be true, thanks!

 

Ohh yea, the 960 was hyped to all hell, then it came out and fanboys were happy, but everyone else saw it land flat on it's face. It launched at an absurd price, and the performance was significantly lower than that of a 280X which cost almot 50$ less than the cheapest 960. It lead infact, to one of the fastest price drops nvidia has made in the last 5 years, we're talking, less than a month after release they dropped prices by like $40, but it still just isn't worth it. The 280X and 380 sitll cost roughly the same and purely outperform it.

[Atmos]

2-3 fps is barely noticeable

 

The 380 requires a minimum of 500 watt power supply.  You'll have to buy one if your's don't meet the requirement.

A GTX 970 will run on as little as 400 watts.  So if it were me, I'd rather get the better card and continue to use my current PSU than to buy a weaker card and spend money where I didn't have to in the first place.

 

Hes comparing a 960 to a 380, not a 970 to a 380, and the 380 he's looking at is a 4gb variant, only furthering the gap between the 2gb 960. And that's one game mate, a game that is very, very hard to run, and tends to marginalize differences quite heavily. Comparing benchmarks across a large amount of titles the gap between a 960 and 4gb 380 is quite apparent.

[dougdangger]

But that is just crysis

AMD fanboys rave about the 960 choking on 1440p.  Guess what, the 380 only does 3 frames better.

[pomaranc]

AMD fanboys rave about the 960 choking on 1440p.  Guess what, the 380 only does 3 frames better.

3 is pretty big difference when FPS is that low, and yes I am AMD fanboy and I have 970, makes sense.

[dougdangger]

Ohh yea, the 960 was hyped to all hell, then it came out and fanboys were happy, but everyone else saw it land flat on it's face. It launched at an absurd price, and the performance was significantly lower than that of a 280X which cost almot 50$ less than the cheapest 960. It lead infact, to one of the fastest price drops nvidia has made in the last 5 years, we're talking, less than a month after release they dropped prices by like $40, but it still just isn't worth it. The 280X and 380 sitll cost roughly the same and purely outperform it.

You're talking straight out of your ass.  The 960 came out at $200 and today it's still $200.

The 280X is NOT $50 cheaper.  In fact it's $40 MORE as of right now.  AMD needs the 280, 280x, 285 and now the 380 to combat the 960.  Wow, so you need 4 guys to take on one?  LOL!

 

By the way, how's AMD's $1.82 per share stock price?

[Sovek]

2-3 fps is barely noticeable.

A slight over clock should fix that.  960s can easily oc from 1100mhz stock to 1500mhz easily.

The 380 requires a minimum of 500 watt power supply.  You'll have to buy one if your's don't meet the requirement.

A GTX 970 will run on as little as 400 watts.  So if it were me, I'd rather get the better card and continue to use my current PSU than to buy a weaker card and spend money where I didn't have to in the first place.

I call BS on that bench. I've looked up benchmarks on cards considering I'm upgrading and I've never seen the 960 compete with an R9, in fact, a quick google gives me this one, 4K resolution,

 

The 280 is beating the snot out of a 960 in just about every title, save for one. Granted its in 4K, but still.

[dougdangger]

3 is pretty big difference when FPS is that low, and yes I am AMD fanboy and I have 970, makes sense.

Anything under 30 is horrible.  It's inexcusable for AMD since it's their "new" card that they've been boasting about.

[dougdangger]

Hes comparing a 960 to a 380, not a 970 to a 380, and the 380 he's looking at is a 4gb variant, only furthering the gap between the 2gb 960. And that's one game mate, a game that is very, very hard to run, and tends to marginalize differences quite heavily. Comparing benchmarks across a large amount of titles the gap between a 960 and 4gb 380 is quite apparent.

In the gaming world, money is everything.  If I have to buy a new power supply for a mediocre AMD card, I'd rather put that money on a better Nvidia card and keep everything else on my current set up.  $330 on a 380 + 600 psu?  No thanks.  I'd rather keep my current capable PSU and put the $330 on a 970.

 

Discussion over.

[pomaranc]

Anything under 30 is horrible.  It's excusable for AMD since it's their "new" card that they've been boasting about.

Come on, 380 beats 960 in almost everything so why is it better? So what if it is only 3FPS it is better, why would someone choose 3FPS less?

[dougdangger]

I call BS on that bench. I've looked up benchmarks on cards considering I'm upgrading and I've never seen the 960 compete with an R9, in fact, a quick google gives me this one, 4K resolution,

 

The 280 is beating the snot out of a 960 in just about every title, save for one. Granted its in 4K, but still.

Your benchmark is hogwash.  I've seen Hyundais from the 1980s worth more.

Relative performance to what?  Tom's hardware's comparison is in black and white and was conceived with common sense.

You're seriously going to do a 4K comparison between both cards?  Neither can barely push 30fps on 1440 and you're going to look into 4K?

 

You're sniffing glue my boy.

[SteveGrabowski0]

[dougdangger]

Come on, 380 beats 960 in almost everything so why is it better? So what if it is only 3FPS it is better, why would someone choose 3FPS less?

Anyone with a brain will tell you that 3 fps is really moot.

 

So why would you:

consume more power

higher tdp

shitty drivers

pay more for a "new" AMD card when it's hardly any better?

 

It really doesn't make sense why AMD needs 4 video cards to compete with just one from Nvidia?

 

Heck the cheapest I've seen the 960 is $170 at my local Fry's with a free copy of Batman (which will be a great game once WB gets their act together) and it was The Witcher 3 a month ago.

 

AMD is just plain tripping all over itself.

[pomaranc]

Anyone with a brain will tell you that 3 fps is really moot.

 

So why would you:

consume more power

higher tdp

shitty drivers

pay more for a "new" AMD card with it's hardly any better?

 

It really doesn't make sense why AMD needs 4 video cards to compete with just one from Nvidia?

 

Heck the cheapest I've seen the 960 is $170 at my local Fry's with a free copy of Batman (which will be a great game once WB gets their act together) and it was The Witcher 3 a month ago.

 

AMD is just plain tripping all over itself.

"It really doesn't make sense why AMD needs 4 video cards to compete with just one from Nvidia?"

Sorry but that doesn't even make sense.