New GPU, advise please

[DrunkAssassin]

It has been a rough day today, as one of my graphics cards just died this morning, and I would like some help picking a new card(s) which will give me 60 FPS at 1080p whilst maxing out all the latest games. Now I really do not have a preference as for AMD/Nvidia, but I do want the cards colour scheme to be either black/Orange if possible. I have been looking into the Nvidia cards purely because of the awesome things I have heard from EVGA and would like to go with them if I choose to go with Nvidia. Now the budget is around $500-$600 AUD, and even though it may seem weird/stupid I would really like it if I went with a dual card solution, however if you believe that a certain single card will perform astronomically better and outweighs the aesthetic look of SLI/CF then go for it .I also may be cooling both of them with NZXT G10's so If you can't get the colour scheme that is fine.

[AlwaysFSX]

For $600 you're better off going with a single card because to fit two cards in that budget you'd have to go with mid-range cards which is never a good idea. You can save your money and get a great 1080p card with this, and eventually grap a second down the road if you actually need it.

[DrunkAssassin]

For $600 you're better off going with a single card because to fit two cards in that budget you'd have to go with mid-range cards which is never a good idea. You can save your money and get a great 1080p card with this, and eventually grap a second down the road if you actually need it.

I should of mentioned, that I have a burning desire not to go with XFX, and the R9 290 doesn't appeal to me compared to Nvidia's options

[Bagmup]

With your budget wanting sli and EVGA, the closest you'll get is a gtx 760 and even then you'll be over budget.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1511&products_id=24727

[AlwaysFSX]

I should of mentioned, the I have a burning desire not to go with XFX, and the R9 290 doesn't appeal to me compared to Nvidia's options

If that's the case then I'd go with this.

 

 

With your budget wanting sli and EVGA, the closest you'll get is a gtx 760 and even then you'll be over budget.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1511&products_id=24727

Gotta love the SLI 760 suggestion. I don't even know why it comes up..

[DrunkAssassin]

With your budget wanting sli and EVGA, the closest you'll get is a gtx 760 and even then you'll be over budget.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1511&products_id=24727

That is what I was thinking possibly but since I will more then likely watercooling the NZXT g10's I could go with the stock 760 from EVGA

 

EDIT: @AlwaysFSX that card looks good but please use AU PC part picker also what is wrong with SLI 760

[AlwaysFSX]

That is what I was thinking possibly but since I will more then likely watercooling the NZXT g10's I could go with the stock 760 from EVGA

 

EDIT: @AlwaysFSX that card looks good but please use AU PC part picker also what is wrong with SLI 760

Whoops, though I did use the AU site.

 

I really don't want to re-list all the reasons why but can "they're slow and SLI doesn't always work" suffice?

[droidxd00d]

I would never choose SLI if I had any other choice. Get a 780 now then get another one when you need more performance. Then it will last longer instead of buying dual 760s then replacing them both in a few years

[Bagmup]

If that's the case then I'd go with this.

 

 

Gotta love the SLI 760 suggestion. I don't even know why it comes up..

Wanting sli was in the OP

[TechFan@ic]

and the R9 290 doesn't appeal to me compared to Nvidia's options

Well that's bizzare, The 290 beats the 780 from Nvidia & is significantly less expensive. It's the highest end card that I would recommend as everything else at the high end is just not worth the money. You pay twice as much for the 780 Ti for a 13% performance advantage, you pay $150 more for a 290X for a 8% performance advantage and you pay $100 more for a 780 for less/equal performance & less memory.

 

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7601/sapphire-radeon-r9-290-review-our-first-custom-cooled-290/5

The best R9 290 out there also happens to fit your color scheme exactly, black & orange.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=26373&cPath=877

 

[AlwaysFSX]

Wanting sli was in the OP

I may want to shoot myself in the foot but that doesn't mean it's a good idea, does it?

[Bagmup]

I may want to shoot myself in the foot but that doesn't mean it's a good idea, does it?

No, it's not and I don't agree with it but the problem is, the OP wants nvidia and EVGA, with $500-600, unfortunately that won't get him a 780 in Australia.

It'll get him a 290 and that would be my preference.

[GRJohn]

I should of mentioned, that I have a burning desire not to go with XFX, and the R9 290 doesn't appeal to me compared to Nvidia's options

Nothing's wrong with XFX, they have the best warranty of all the AIBs.

[Bagmup]

Actually, my mistake, I just noticed the Asus 780 is $599, that would be my choice.

[AlwaysFSX]

No, it's not and I don't agree with it but the problem is, the OP wants nvidia and EVGA, with $500-600, unfortunately that won't get him a 780 in Australia.

It'll get him a 290 and that would be my preference.

Well it's not wrong and not my opinion only either? Doesn't want a 290, fine. 780 then. Want's dual gpu? Terrible idea at that budget because you're getting mid-ranged cards which is not a good idea. Believe me if you want, but I'm trying to save people money and not give them future headaches. 760 SLI is a sketchy setup and doesn't always work. Not every game supports it. So why limit yourself to one 'meh' card when you can have one 'f*ck yeah' card?

[EmmaLong]

SLI/XFire is really a bad idea at this budget you'll be better served by one more powerful card like a 290 rather than two weaker cards like 2 760s.
The best choice is an R9 290, you have multiple good options from Gigabyte, Sapphire, Asus, MSI & PowerColor. My vote goes to the Sapphire 290 or the windforce from Gigabyte

[Bagmup]

Well it's not wrong and not my opinion only either? Doesn't want a 290, fine. 780 then. Want's dual gpu? Terrible idea at that budget because you're getting mid-ranged cards which is not a good idea. Believe me if you want, but I'm trying to save people money and not give them future headaches. 760 SLI is a sketchy setup and doesn't always work. Not every game supports it. So why limit yourself to one 'meh' card when you can have one 'f*ck yeah' card?

Agree, see post above yours

[AlwaysFSX]

Agree, see post above yours

I blame this laptops, sorries D:

[EmmaLong]

It's funny, if 780s & 290s were priced the same I'd still pick a 290. Reasons have been already posted above by @TechFan

[GPUXPert]

It's funny, if 780s & 290s were priced the same I'd still pick a 290. Reasons have been already posted above by @TechFan

I'm an Nvidia fan but I have to say Nvidia really screwed up pricing on the high end and in the mid-range they're far too stingy with the VRAM. 2GB on a 770 is just sad. 4GB should've been the standard especially sense they want to charge you a 30$ premium over the 280X. T_T sad.

[DrunkAssassin]

@AlwaysFSX @Bagmup @EmmaLong

 

I may have to go with the 290, you both have given fair reason as to why not to go with SLI 760's even though I love the look. I just wanted to try something new and give the green team a chance as I believe EVGA has the best warranty for me and what I will be doing with my card(s), in regards of voiding warranty and returns. However I may still go with an EVGA 780, it will just depend on the timing and the big factor of how extensive the warranty is.

[EmmaLong]

@AlwaysFSX @Bagmup @EmmaLong

 

I may have to go with the 290, you both have given fair reason as to why not to go with SLI 760's even though I love the look. I just wanted to try something new and give the green team a chance as I believe EVGA has the best warranty for me and what I will be doing with my card(s), in regards of voiding warranty and returns. However I may still go with an EVGA 780, it will just depend on the timing and the big factor of how extensive the warranty is.

If warranty & customer service is a priority for you XFX is the best.

They have the absolute best customer service I've ever dealt with, my friend had an XFX 5870 that died on him and they gave him a brand new R9 280, which has 2X the performance of the 5870 & if his 280 dies in a few years time they'll give him a new card. Essentially he'll never have to upgrade again.

 

 

Which products are eligible for a limited lifetime hardware warranty?

The following Graphics Cards are eligible for an extension of the standard two-year limited hardware warranty:

1. XFX Radeon R-Series Double Dissipation Edition and HD 7000 Series Double Dissipation Edition Graphics Cards.
2. XFX Radeon R-Series and HD 7000 Series Graphics Cards with 10-digit model numbers ending in “R” (example: “FX-797A-TDFR”)
3. XFX Radeon HD 6000, HD 5000, and HD 4000 Series Graphics Cards
4. XFX GeForce GT 640, GT 630, 520, GT 430, 200, 9000, 8000, 7000, 6000 Series Graphics Cards purchased after April 17, 2007.

If you register any of the specified products noted above online at http://www.xfxforce.com/ within 30 days of purchase, your limited warranty will be EXTENDED for the duration of your life.  Registration within 30 days of the date of purchase is a condition precedent to receiving the lifetime warranty.*** 

The limited hardware warranty on all XFX-branded products begins on the date of the packing slip, invoice, or receipt. A copy of the dated original invoice/receipt must be submitted to verify warranty repair or replacement. In circumstances where the transaction record is not available or reasonably verifiable (based on date of manufacture), the warranty period shall begin on the date of manufacture of the product.

- See more at: http://xfxforce.com/en-us/support/xfx-warranty#sthash.5stujgmp.dpuf