WHICH GRAPHICS CARD HELP ME

[Jizix]

Hey guys so basically I'm building my first computer and I have done a lot of research into what parts will be good and what not. The Specs of the build are:
Intel i5 4690 CPU
H-97 Gaming 3 motherboard
Seagate 1T hard drive

Samsung 850 EVO 120G SSD
Thermaltake V31 Case

G.skill Trident (2x4G) 2400 RAM

Windows 8.1 
Corsair CX750W 80+ Bronze power Supply

 

What I'm stuck with is buying a GPU for this rig. I've had my mind set on either getting a Geforce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 OR the ASUS Strix GeForce GTX 970. Now i know that these cards are FAIRLY similar when it comes to performance overall, how ever I'd love some feed back as to whether i should maybe invest and get a 980 or downgrade ect. I plan on using this setup purely for gaming on 1440P with the hopes of having all the setting on games on ultra and if not on high. 

Any comments and constructive/criticism is HIGHLY appreciated because as I said this is my first build and well....I'm a potato at these things hahah thankyou so much 

[TheSLSAMG]

The GTX 970 or R9 290X would be a fantastic choice. I like my Strix GTX 970 personally, low temps and low noise.

[CharlieR1]

The EVGA one has higher core clocks. I recommend that over Strix, because I've heard of coil whine and bad overclocking. They both are good cards, but if you can find the FTW for the same price, get that no question.

[CydiaDash]

Hey guys so basically I'm building my first computer and I have done a lot of research into what parts will be good and what not. The Specs of the build are:

Intel i5 4690 CPU

H-97 Gaming 3 motherboard

Seagate 1T hard drive

Samsung 850 EVO 120G SSD

Thermaltake V31 Case

G.skill Trident (2x4G) 2400 RAM

Windows 8.1 

Corsair CX750W 80+ Bronze power Supply

 

What I'm stuck with is buying a GPU for this rig. I've had my mind set on either getting a Geforce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 OR the ASUS Strix GeForce GTX 970. Now i know that these cards are FAIRLY similar when it comes to performance overall, how ever I'd love some feed back as to whether i should maybe invest and get a 980 or downgrade ect. I plan on using this setup purely for gaming on 1440P with the hopes of having all the setting on games on ultra and if not on high. 

Any comments and constructive/criticism is HIGHLY appreciated because as I said this is my first build and well....I'm a potato at these things hahah thankyou so much 

You will need to downgrade your ram to kit 1600MHz or upgrade your mobo so that it supports 2400MHz memory. I would say, invest in a 980 if you can afford it or try and get 2 970s.

[Whorax]

I would recommend a Lightning R9 290X. Love mine.

[Drackeo]

If your dead-set on Nividia cards then go with the Strix. But for 1440p+ resolutions i would check out the 290 and 290x. Most of the time they can be found for cheaper then a 970. Some 290x's can be found for about $275USD. Plus at higher resolutions the 290x will do much better.

 

The down side to the 290x it will draw more power, run hotter and a louder. But those are minor trade offs for the increased performance.

 

It all depends on your budget and what you want in a gpu. Raw performance per dollar the id go AMD. If power draw and noise lever is an issue then defiantly go for the Asus Strix.

 

Though if i can make a suggestion... Look at the HIS 290x. Slightly more expensive but the cooler is superamazingballsness. I have a HIS 280x with the same cooler and ive never seen it hit above 60 degrees Celsius under-load.  

[GrimNeo]

Hey guys so basically I'm building my first computer and I have done a lot of research into what parts will be good and what not. The Specs of the build are:

Intel i5 4690 CPU

H-97 Gaming 3 motherboard

Seagate 1T hard drive

Samsung 850 EVO 120G SSD

Thermaltake V31 Case

G.skill Trident (2x4G) 2400 RAM

Windows 8.1 

Corsair CX750W 80+ Bronze power Supply

 

What I'm stuck with is buying a GPU for this rig. I've had my mind set on either getting a Geforce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 OR the ASUS Strix GeForce GTX 970. Now i know that these cards are FAIRLY similar when it comes to performance overall, how ever I'd love some feed back as to whether i should maybe invest and get a 980 or downgrade ect. I plan on using this setup purely for gaming on 1440P with the hopes of having all the setting on games on ultra and if not on high. 

Any comments and constructive/criticism is HIGHLY appreciated because as I said this is my first build and well....I'm a potato at these things hahah thankyou so much 

For 1440p then I suggest AMD r9 290x or 970 sli or 980. Good luck on your choice. I prefer EVGA over other brands for Nvidia and Sapphire for AMD.

[CharlieR1]

He asked for an opinion between two nvidia cards, and the entire forum persists to recommend AMD. 

[Drackeo]

He asked for an opinion between two nvidia cards, and the entire forum persists to recommend AMD. 

 

Well for 1440p gaming yah AMD cards FTW unless he goes 980 or higher lol

[Jizix]

The EVGA one has higher core clocks. I recommend that over Strix, because I've heard of coil whine and bad overclocking. They both are good cards, but if you can find the FTW for the same price, get that no q

 

You will need to downgrade your ram to kit 1600MHz or upgrade your mobo so that it supports 2400MHz memory. I would say, invest in a 980 if you can afford it or try and get 2 970s.

HOLY CRAP hahah thankyou for that, I didn't even realise that, I will be sure to downgrade the memory to 1600MHz

[Jizix]

Well for 1440p gaming yah AMD cards FTW unless he goes 980 or higher lol

I guess I'm Kind of open to all suggestions haha if AMD cards are the better for performance then I'd definately look into that i guess :3

[Drackeo]

I guess I'm Kind of open to all suggestions haha if AMD cards are the better for performance then I'd definitely look into that i guess :3

 

Defiantly look into it. Ultimately your decision shouldn't be dedicated by which brand you go for because AMD is better at somethings and Nivida at others. 

 

What would be your budget for a card? We could try recommending based on your budget over two basically identical cards. Verity is nice lol

[CharlieR1]

I guess I'm Kind of open to all suggestions haha if AMD cards are the better for performance then I'd definately look into that i guess :3

Well do you have a 1080p screen? Then GTX 970 FTW.

AMD may seem better on paper, but that doesn't always translate to better performance. What games will you be playing/ programs will you be running? AMD will perform better in some, while Nvidia in others.

 

DISCLAIMER: Don't kill me anyone, I said "doesn't always", not "never".

[Trik'Stari]

IF you are even considering investing in a 980, it's best to wait and save and go with a 980. It will have a longer lifespan than a 970 because of overall performance and the Vram issue with 970's.

 

And by lifespan, I mean how long it will be able to play AAA titles at 1080p ultra (as a minimum). Eventually the 970 is GOING to be left behind, as all graphics cards eventually are. I am just saying that the 980 will be left behind, after the 970.

[CydiaDash]

 

HOLY CRAP hahah thankyou for that, I didn't even realise that, I will be sure to downgrade the memory to 1600MHz 

No prob man

 

 

Nvidia all the way FTW!

[Jizix]

Defiantly look into it. Ultimately your decision shouldn't be dedicated by which brand you go for because AMD is better at somethings and Nivida at others. 

 

What would be your budget for a card? We could try recommending based on your budget over two basically identical cards. Verity is nice lol

My budget for the card is 500$AU which is around  380$US however that budget can extend to a further 800$AU or 614$US, just depends on which card I end up going with

[Trik'Stari]

I will point out, that the 970 is a little champ, despite Nvidia handicapping it (yes, still butthurt about that). I manage to maintain a decent fps with a resolution of 5720x1080, in battlefield hardline on high (ultra, no dice). According to the frame counter in FRAPS, I haven't seen it drop down below 40fps, usually it's at 57 (my monitor max is 60 so..). Even with that, I have ZERO trouble playing at that resolution (been getting 20+ kills per match, all day, with fewer deaths than kills)

[Jizix]

Well do you have a 1080p screen? Then GTX 970 FTW.

AMD may seem better on paper, but that doesn't always translate to better performance. What games will you be playing/ programs will you be running? AMD will perform better in some, while Nvidia in others.

 

DISCLAIMER: Don't kill me anyone, I said "doesn't always", not "never".

I will be running games such as Shadow of Mordor, Far Cry 3, some COD games, ARMA 3 and some others :3

[CharlieR1]

I will be running games such as Shadow of Mordor, Far Cry 3, some COD games, ARMA 3 and some others :3

Far Cry is optimized specifically for Nvidia. (like the kind of specifically optimized that says: Nvidia "the way it's meat to be played" upon opening it) FC4 runs great on my 750ti, try it on a 970 

COD, if i remember correctly, is just a tad better for Nvidia cards. Not sure about Arma.

[BestBOTEU]

290 (non X) Vapor-X, 290X MSI Lightning or 970 Windforce/G1 Gaming (ive heard the strix version has alot of coil whine)

[Jizix]

Far Cry is optimized specifically for Nvidia. (like the kind of specifically optimized that says: Nvidia "the way it's meat to be played" upon opening it) FC4 runs great on my 750ti, try it on a 970 

COD, if i remember correctly, is just a tad better for Nvidia cards. Not sure about Arma.

Thankyou so much This has helped a lot hahah, I think i MAY end up getting the FTW 970 with its slightly higher base clock of 1165MHz than the STRIX with its 1114MHz (although it will probably make a frame or 2 difference) 

Thanks heaps anyway  

[Whorax]

My budget for the card is 500$AU which is around  380$US however that budget can extend to a further 800$AU or 614$US, just depends on which card I end up going with

For that budget I would definitely recommend a Lightning 290X. It performs amazingly for me, I have never ever heard it and I sit 2-3ft away from my computer, and damn does that Lighting cooler look incredible. Haha

[CharlieR1]

Thankyou so much This has helped a lot hahah, I think i MAY end up getting the FTW 970 with its slightly higher base clock of 1165MHz than the STRIX with its 1114MHz (although it will probably make a frame or 2 difference) 

Thanks heaps anyway

Yeah, it seems like that card will fit you best. and no problem!

[Drackeo]

Far Cry is optimized specifically for Nvidia. (like the kind of specifically optimized that says: Nvidia "the way it's meat to be played" upon opening it) FC4 runs great on my 750ti, try it on a 970

COD, if i remember correctly, is just a tad better for Nvidia cards. Not sure about Arma.

Cod and mordor tend to lean more for AMD and arma is a mess. It's not optimized for anything.

If you end up playing mordor and cod a lot more, and especially at 1440p, go with AMD. the 970 doesn't do great at 1440p and the putting games that are not optimized for it, things get sketchy