Help with new purchase

[Master Disaster]

My 280Xs are both starting to develop a few issues, most notably they both seem to have artifacting problems ever since i tried to do an Xfire OC. One is in warranty and i will send back, the other is out by 2 months so i guess i will sell it on Ebay as possibly broken and get what i can for it.

 

Anyway in May i always planned to upgrade them to something better, the original plan was maybe a 380X but i believe they're now coming in June/July? Either way i saw some release charts for the 300 series and it appears the 380X is just a rebadged 290X so i really don't see why i should pay more for a card i can buy right now?

 

Its unlikely i will be able to afford a 390X so i am hoping the 390 will come in at a price i can afford but i then started thinking about Nvidia and the GTX980,. I want freesync and was planning to buy my GPU and get a new monitor on Credit (pay now pay later deal) but now i am really confuzzled, like maybe i could buy the monitor and get the GPU on Credit so i can get a more expensive GPU.

 

Should i get a GTX980? R380X? R290X?

 

Please only post sensible advice, i don't want no fanboys posting 'AMD SUX' or 'GREEN TEAM IS SHIT' nonsense please.

 

Cheer guys and gals.

[1Scotty1]

Two 970s in SLI deliver 70-80% more performance over a single 980 at just a bit higher cost... I have two 970s also, wouldn't change it in the world

[Tim Drake]

Two 970s in SLI deliver 70-80% more performance over a single 980 at just a bit higher cost... I have two 970s also, wouldn't change it in the world

I don't think it's that high

 

More like 50%

[1Scotty1]

I don't think it's that high

 

More like 50%

Still better then a single 980

[Tim Drake]

Still better then a single 980

Way better

[Fate]

What resolution are you at? If 1080p, I'd just get a 290(x) or a 970 as soon as you can. 

[Master Disaster]

Two 970s in SLI deliver 70-80% more performance over a single 980 at just a bit higher cost... I have two 970s also, wouldn't change it in the world

 

Thanks for the sensible suggestion

 

The cheapest {decent, I refuse to buy Powercolour} 970 I can find is the EVGA which sells for £265 (its £264.76) while i can buy an MSI 980 for £420 (£419.98). That would make it £110 more expensive to buy 2 x 970s over a single 980. Problem then is I'd have to factor in the additional cost of G Sync over Freesync meaning another £100ish at the checkout.

 

Gah this is hard, i really need to see how much the R9 300s are going to launch at but this info won't be available for at least a month yet.

[1Scotty1]

Thanks for the sensible suggestion

 

The cheapest {decent, I refuse to buy Powercolour} 970 I can find is the EVGA which sells for £265 (its £264.76) while i can buy an MSI 980 for £420 (£419.98). That would make it £110 more expensive to buy 2 x 970s over a single 980. Problem then is I'd have to factor in the additional cost of G Sync over Freesync meaning another £100ish at the checkout.

 

Gah this is hard, i really need to see how much the R9 300s are going to launch at but this info won't be available for at least a month yet.

Happy to help I have EVGA also, very good pick, very good support

[Master Disaster]

What resolution are you at? If 1080p, I'd just get a 290(x) or a 970 as soon as you can.

I actually have a Dell SP2309W which does 2048x1152 right now but the plan was to upgrade to 1440p Free/Gsync with DP when I get the new GPU.

[Fate]

I actually have a Dell SP2309W which does 2048x1152 right now but the plan was to upgrade to 1440p Free/Gsync with DP when I get the new GPU.

Do you plan to max out brand new AAA titles at 1440p at 60fps? If so, a single GPU probably won't be good enough. If you're willing to turn the settings down a little bit and/or are ok with ~45fps dips (should be fine with G/Free sync) then a single GPU (290(x)/970/980) will do fine. 

That being said, if you play anything other than the latest AAA titles maxed out 60+fps, a single GPU will definitely be fine.

My recommendation would be 290(x) if free sync is good and actually free/really cheap, and if not, a 970 for that G-Sync. High end 300 series probably won't be here until June or afterwards.

[R_Golden]

Just use the 280x you're getting back until the 300 series comes out, if they're overpriced get your 980.

[alfaomega]

Just use the 280x you're getting back until the 300 series comes out, if they're overpriced get your 980.

This is what I was going to recommend. Like this maybe you don't even need to use your credit and you'll have the cash up front. It's not like we're getting flooded with new releases this time of year. Look through your backlog and knockout some of the older titles you have and once the new cards release, you'll be ready for all the holiday releases.