New GPU but witch one

[Sm4shen]

I have my gaming system for about a year now so I need a new Graphics Card. At the moment i have a msi geforce gtx 650 1GB DDR5 OC (afterburner). But with the next gen of games coming up I really need a new one. I have found a few but I can't decide witch one I should pick. So could you guys help me pick one. The choices are a geforce gtx 770 4gb a geforce gtx 970 4gb or a r9 290(x). Please help me chose.

If you have any input for another GPU my budget is around €250/€350.

[ANewFace]

GTX 970, no brainer

[Bonesy]

What PSU do you have? The 970 and 290x are pretty comparable, but the wattage/heat is not...so that may be a factor depending on your components.

[Sm4shen]

I have a 530 watt psu (i don't know what brand)

[KemoKa]

I have a 530 watt psu (i don't know what brand)

970, hands down, then. 970 is far cheaper than the 770, and absolutely tears its throat out in almost every aspect. the 290 is a good option too, as it's way cheaper these days than even the 970, but it's a power guzzler. That's not a problem for most, but...

Your PSU won't necessarily struggle with the 290, but if it's not a PSU from a reputable brand, the power rail might not be enough, or the sudden spike in power draw when you ramp the graphics up might do something. I don't know. Honestly, anything could go wrong with PSUs if you don't know what yours can handle. Check yours to see if it has an 80 Plus power efficiency rating. it should have bronze or higher. if it does, grab the 290 as it's cheaper. If not, go with the 970. Safer that way.

[Frankie]

970, hands down, then. 970 is far cheaper than the 770, and absolutely tears its throat out in almost every aspect. the 290 is a good option too, as it's way cheaper these days than even the 970, but it's a power guzzler. That's not a problem for most, but...

Your PSU won't necessarily struggle with the 290, but if it's not a PSU from a reputable brand, the power rail might not be enough, or the sudden spike in power draw when you ramp the graphics up might do something. I don't know. Honestly, anything could go wrong with PSUs if you don't know what yours can handle. Check yours to see if it has an 80 Plus power efficiency rating. it should have bronze or higher. if it does, grab the 290 as it's cheaper. If not, go with the 970. Safer that way.

 

I second this. I would add that if its some no name brand PSU you should change it for one from a reputable company to protect the investment into a new GPU.

[Tacitus]

As well as echoing the PSU concerns of everyone else, I'll just jump in and say the 970 is a great card, but if you're looking to save a sizable chunk of cash (perhaps for that new PSU!) then the 290 is a really good card for 1080p, and in crossfire they're great for resolutions even higher!

[AlexWJD]

970 EZ.

 

The R9 290 is actually not very close at all to the 970 unlike the popular belief. 

[Fate]

970 EZ.

 

The R9 290 is actually not very close at all to the 970 unlike the popular belief. 

10% behind isn't very close at all?(1080p)

[sgloux3470]

290, imo.

 

 

[Aniallation]

The R9 290 is actually not very close at all to the 970 unlike the popular belief. 

290X keeps up with the 970 and 290 is close behind..... as @Fate said

[sgloux3470]

970 EZ.

 

The R9 290 is actually not very close at all to the 970 unlike the popular belief. 

 

It gets the same framerates at 1440p and better ones at 4K consistently across the board.

 

At 1080p who give a fuck?  They're all way over 60.  That said...

 

It's also anywhere from $50 to $100 cheaper.

[Aniallation]

I have my gaming system for about a year now so I need a new Graphics Card. At the moment i have a msi geforce gtx 650 1GB DDR5 OC (afterburner). But with the next gen of games coming up I really need a new one. I have found a few but I can't decide witch one I should pick. So could you guys help me pick one. The choices are a geforce gtx 770 4gb a geforce gtx 970 4gb or a r9 290(x). Please help me chose.

 

1. What PSU do you have

2. What monitor do you have

3. Do you plan to buy a higher-resolution monitor in the future?

[AlexWJD]

It gets the same framerates at 1440p and better ones at 4K.

 

At 1080p who give a fuck?  They're all way over 60.  That said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVv0at4IdZs&t=555

 

You"d be surprised how many people still use 1080p (like me). Some of us can't afford 980's and 1440p monitors

[sgloux3470]

You"d be surprised how many people still use 1080p (like me). Some of us can't afford 980's and 1440p monitors

 

But unless you're aiming for 120 FPS gaming (which if you are, you're going to want dual GPU's anyway) who cares?  What's the difference between 96 FPS and 116 FPS?  Any of these high end GPU's is way overkill for 1080p.  May as well go for the cheapest one that scales well with resolution and makes for a very cost effective and high performing dual GPU system down the road if you need it.

[AlexWJD]

But unless you're aiming for 120 FPS gaming (which if you are, you're going to want dual GPU's anyway) who cares?  What's the difference between 96 FPS and 116 FPS?  Any of these high end GPU's is way overkill for 1080p.  May as well go for the cheapest one that scales well with resolution and makes for a very cost effective and high performing dual GPU system down the road if you need it.

 

You're right

[Sm4shen]

1. What PSU do you have

2. What monitor do you have

3. Do you plan to buy a higher-resolution monitor in the future?

I probably just want to stay at 1080p for the upcoming 2 years

And at the time i just have a 1080p monitor from samsung

[Tim Drake]

What PSU you have matters a lot.

[IceCold007]

if you need to buy a new card now get the 970 but only if your not playing at 4k rez, 1080p is great, 1440p is ok.

 

If your like myself which I need to upgrade and have the money in bank atm, wait see what happens over the next 12 months or less.

 

I bet within the next 12 months there will be talk about the next &*^*70 series of Nvidia cards coming out, and will properly put the 970 to shame a little.

 

Im playing the waiting game atm buts its hard, I have an itch to upgrade and need someone to slap me before I take that leap.

[MasteRisHoT]

What's your cpu? Make sure it won't bottleneck.

[Guest]

It gets the same framerates at 1440p and better ones at 4K consistently across the board.

 

At 1080p who give a fuck?  They're all way over 60.  That said...

 

It's also anywhere from $50 to $100 cheaper.

Always a laugh to see one of my video's being posted up in these threads lol

[Aniallation]

I probably just want to stay at 1080p for the upcoming 2 years

And at the time i just have a 1080p monitor from samsung

What PSU do you have? There's a lot more PSUs that can run 970 then 290/X so we need to know that as well

[Sm4shen]

What PSU do you have? There's a lot more PSUs that can run 970 then 290/X so we need to know that as well

I have a LC-Power LC500H-12

It's a 500 watt psu

[david cassar]

I have a LC-Power LC500H-12

It's a 500 watt psu

Then definitely get the 970. The 290 is a good card but it has to have at least a good 550w power supply from a reputable brand in order to be run properly. The 970 however is much more flexible and can even run on a cx430 without that much trouble.

[Aniallation]

I have a LC-Power LC500H-12

It's a 500 watt psu

Then definitely get the 970. The 290 is a good card but it has to have at least a good 550w power supply from a reputable brand in order to be run properly. The 970 however is much more flexible and can even run on a cx430 without that much trouble.

 

I wouldn't even run a 970 off that power supply... a CX430 is at least somewhat reputable and can deliver close or equal to it's full 430W rating on 12V which is the most important PSU rail. The "LC-Power" 500W is only rated for 350W total on both of it's 12V rails, and even then it would not be a great idea to pull the sticker rating on generic brand PSUs.