Which Is best ?

[Nosmada09]

I've been looking and I want to know what would be the best option for a gaming, media, and all around computer to start with. What's the better deal dual gtx 960 ($400ish), a single gtx 970 ($350ish), or a single r9 290x (also $350ish). Please no fan boy answers I would really like an honest answer with as little biase S possible.

[dizmo]

Hmmm. I'd say 290x.

970 is a close second.

2 960's isn't great value.

[Guest]

Ok don't get 2 960. It only has 2gb and has a 128bit bus. It is not future proofed. I'd say get a 290x because it trades blows with a 970 and if u plan to game at 1600p, it would be better cause of it 512bit bus compared to the 970. U have to make sure ur psi can handle it tho. Get a 970 if ur pay can't handle a 290x.

[XxDeadpool67xX]

Look at benchmarks dual 960 as many people say suck. At 1440p and 1080p. GTX 970 performs the same if not better on top of you able to overclock it farther. Also without the AMD cons. More heat power noise. 

[XxDeadpool67xX]

Ok don't get 2 960. It only has 2gb and has a 128bit bus. It is not future proofed. I'd say get a 290x because it trades blows with a 970 and if u plan to game at 1600p, it would be better cause of it 512bit bus compared to the 970. U have to make sure ur psi can handle it tho. Get a 970 if ur pay can't handle a 290x.

What 1600p psi pay?

[TheSLSAMG]

Ok don't get 2 960. It only has 2gb and has a 128bit bus. It is not future proofed. I'd say get a 290x because it trades blows with a 970 and if u plan to game at 1600p, it would be better cause of it 512bit bus compared to the 970. U have to make sure ur psi can handle it tho. Get a 970 if ur pay can't handle a 290x.

Bus size isn't really relevant. The reason a 290X beats a GTX 970 at higher resolutions has little to do with the bus width, and more to do with the segmented memory bus issue. As for the GTX 960s, they are available in a 4GB variant but I'm not sure how scaling is.

[Nosmada09]

OK so if I do go with a 290x any suggestions on the best bang for buck version? I'm told the blower sucks so not to get a stock version. If I do the 970 I would do the strix. Are there any 290x comparable to a strix?

[Aniallation]

OK so if I do go with a 290x any suggestions on the best bang for buck version? I'm told the blower sucks so not to get a stock version. If I do the 970 I would do the strix. Are there any 290x comparable to a strix?

Honestly save your money and go for the 290 and OC it yourself to stock 290X speeds. The best 290/X's for the money are the PowerColor PCS+ and Sapphire Tri-X.

 

Also, don't get the Strix 970. If you go that route get the Gigabyte G1.

[Guest]

What 1600p psi pay?

I meant psu. Stupid autocorrect

[Nosmada09]

Ok so I'm getting a lot of good input so let me through this into the mix. Eventually I would prob go dual gpus which would preform better? Dual 970s or dual 290/x

[XxDeadpool67xX]

Ok so I'm getting a lot of good input so let me through this into the mix. Eventually I would prob go dual gpus which would preform better? Dual 970s or dual 290/x

Dual 970 would be the better option MUCH LESS POWER AND HEAT. Also you can overclock the 970 to outperform most r9 290x.

 

Just by reading a 750w minimum or 850w would be reccomended for dual r9 290x

 

650w and 750w for dual gtx 970

Edited May 6, 2015 by XxDeadpool67xX

[Nosmada09]

Well power isn't that big an issue for me I live in a state where power is incridably cheap. And end game plan is to liquid cool the hole system but that's a while away.

[vembutech]

single r9 290x

[Nosmada09]

Can you overclock a 970 to out preform an over clocked 290x though?

[XxDeadpool67xX]

Well power isn't that big an issue for me I live in a state where power is incridably cheap. And end game plan is to liquid cool the hole system but that's a while away.

Yeah though you'll need a bigger PSU.

[XxDeadpool67xX]

Can you overclock a 970 to out preform an over clocked 290x though?

I'm pretty sure they said maxwell can reach 1450 mhz on air 1500 on water. On jays 2 cents review on the r9 290x he even said that AMD cars suck on overclocking. Not trying to be a fanboy or anything but you also get wither 3 and batman arkam knight for free. While AMD side well... you get this. I mean Lego Batman 3 pretty good. Also in Jays video he said AMD cards aren't as optimised as he was getting lots of crashes trying to play GTA V.. Not a fanboy just pointing out what he said.

[Nosmada09]

I'm pretty sure they said maxwell can reach 1450 mhz on air 1500 on water. On jays 2 cents review on the r9 290x he even said that AMD cars suck on overclocking. Not trying to be a fanboy or anything but you also get wither 3 and batman arkam knight for free. While AMD side well... you get this. I mean Lego Batman 3 pretty good. Also in Jays video he said AMD cards aren't as optimised as he was getting lots of crashes trying to play GTA V.. Not a fanboy just pointing out what he said.

Don't worry your fine and I understand.

[XxDeadpool67xX]

Don't worry your fine and I understand.

lol sorry TL:DR you can overclock to outperform r9 290x, you get better gamse for free, and NVIDA card are more optimised.

[AfroLedgend]

Look at benchmarks dual 960 as many people say suck. At 1440p and 1080p. GTX 970 performs the same if not better on top of you able to overclock it farther. Also without the AMD cons. More heat power noise. 

Heat, power consumption and noise are not factors when you buy a card with aftermarket coolers.

 

I wish people could understand this and stop using it to fuel unfounded hate for AMD.

[XxDeadpool67xX]

Heat, power consumption and noise are not factors when you buy a card with aftermarket coolers.

 

I wish people could understand this and stop using it to fuel unfounded hate for AMD.

Actually it is still going to consume the same amount of power and there still louder than Nvida cards.

[Whorax]

OK so if I do go with a 290x any suggestions on the best bang for buck version? I'm told the blower sucks so not to get a stock version. If I do the 970 I would do the strix. Are there any 290x comparable to a strix?

Idk about the best value, but the Lightning 290X is the most bad ass of them all.

[AsGoodAsAHacker]

The 290x is better. These people saying how it sucks cause jay said they don't oc are dumb. (Mine oc just fine btw. ) Jays job is to stress these things and that's what he did. Gtav is a crappy game, so don't base a 300$ purchase on a title worth 60$. Here is how I would go about this.

1080p = 970

>1080p get a 290

I have no heat issues with mine. They run at no more than 78c on bf4 playing on 4k on a 64p map. Noise? Okay they can be a tad noisy but I bet your CPU cooler is louder. In fact I guarantee it. Also crossfire is much better than sli, better scaling and even frame pacing is on par with nvidia.