Gpu For $200

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

280x or a r9 290 if you can. 

Seeing that you have a i3 you won't be having problems running minecraft.

[alphaproject]

For 200 bucks I would look either into a used 7970 or GTX 770.

 

Here is one.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sapphire-Radeon-7970-Dual-X-3GB-GDDR5-HDMI-DVI-DP-Great-Condition-Free-Ship-/151643270034?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234ea4ab92

 

You'll find some more, some less.... but you get the picture.

 

Certainly better than buying a new 960 that isn't as good.  At least... in my opinion.

 

I jumped at a Zotac GTX 770 4 Gb card even though I was going to get a 780 or 780 ti.....   I felt if I'm going to get a used card it should just be fairly cheap and the 780 series is just as much as 970's.  (Well...the ti's)

[Camcognito]

Would something like an r9 270x run Shaders well? btw, my processor is an i3-4130.

[Faceman]

Would something like an r9 270x run Shaders well? btw, my processor is an i3-4130.

This is the card you should get:

 

Sapphire Vapor-X R9 280X - $200

 

Very powerful card with one of the best stock coolers and companies.

[incarnate]

This is the card you should get:

 

Sapphire Vapor-X R9 280X - $200

 

Very powerful card with one of the best stock coolers and companies.

 

+1

 

sapphire has awesome coolers.

[Camcognito]

This is the card you should get:

 

Sapphire Vapor-X R9 280X - $200

 

Very powerful card with one of the best stock coolers and companies.

would it work fine with a 430w psu? Also I'm wondering if a big card like that would sit/work fine with my small motherboard: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOBXPXK/?tag=pcpapi-20

[Faceman]

would it work fine with a 430w psu? Also I'm wondering if a big card like that would sit/work fine with my small motherboard: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOBXPXK/?tag=pcpapi-20

430W would be cutting it super close, but I think it would be just barely doable based on the research I just did.  The 280X would pull at max 275W if heavily OC'd.  Your i3 will only do about 85W.  Rest of system stuff is small, like 60-80W. 

 

I am seeing power consumption benchmarks where the whole system, i7 + SSD + GPU + CPU Cooler + Few Fans doing upper 400s.  An i3 is a lot less than an i7, but you are still right on the precipice of it not working.

 

 

Have you already bought the 430W PSU?

[Camcognito]

430W would be cutting it super close, but I think it would be just barely doable based on the research I just did.  The 280X would pull at max 275W if heavily OC'd.  Your i3 will only do about 85W.  Rest of system stuff is small, like 60-80W.  Have you already bought the 430W PSU?

Yes, I already have the whole system. I've been running on integrated and want to upgrade. 

[Faceman]

Yes, I already have the whole system. I've been running on integrated and want to upgrade. 

This might be one of those rare times when it makes sense to buy a 960.  If you want to play it ultra safe, go with a 960.

 

What I would do, is just buy the R9 280X that I linked above.  It is an incredible card, especially that model, and it is on sale for a very good price.  It should work, and if it doesn't, your PSU will auto shut down, no harm done.  I would not overclock the R9 280X.  If you do run into auto shut down problems, you can also down clock it slightly. Worst case scenario, you can usually find a good 500W+ PSU for $40-$60 if you need to upgrade later on.

 

A Sapphire Vapor-X R9 280X for $190 is just too good of a deal to pass up on, and it will last you much longer than a 960 will.

 

 

Other alternatives include checking out local craigslist for used GPUs.  Often some good deals to be had there.  Also eBay.  Used 7950/7970s can be had for under $100-$200, and are basically the exact same GPU as R9 280/280X.

[Camcognito]

This might be one of those rare times when it makes sense to buy a 960.  If you want to play it ultra safe, go with a 960.

 

What I would do, is just buy the R9 280X that I linked above.  It is an incredible card, especially that model, and it is on sale for a very good price.  It should work, and if it doesn't, your PSU will auto shut down, no harm done.  I would not overclock the R9 280X.  If you do run into auto shut down problems, you can also down clock it slightly. Worst case scenario, you can usually find a good 500W+ PSU for $40-$60 if you need to upgrade later on.

 

A Sapphire Vapor-X R9 280X for $190 is just too good of a deal to pass up on, and it will last you much longer than a 960 will.

 

 

Other alternatives include checking out local craigslist for used GPUs.  Often some good deals to be had there.  Also eBay.  Used 7950/7970s can be had for under $100-$200, and are basically the exact same GPU as R9 280/280X.

Thank you, I will think about it!