GPU Upgrade

[fridgeboy]

Hi everyone, I'm going to be upgrading my PC and I'm thinking that my graphics card is the place to start.

My current specs are:

CPU: AMD FX-6300

Mobo: asus m5a97

Ram: 2x4gb hyperx Blu @1600mhz

Gpu: xfx Radeon hd 7800 series

Psu: corsair 650w

My card now still runs most games fairly well, but I am getting more and more into video editing and game recording and it isn't as smooth an experience as I would like. I was considering buying the sapphire r9 290 vapor-x since it will be able to rock anything I throw at it and the blue would match the rest the motherboard and ram very nicely, imo. Will I experience any bottlenecks? Also, my case is the corsair 200r; will that card even fit? I will most likely be using a single monitor @1080p 60hz but I may get a second one eventually.Thank you all in advance

[Tim Drake]

Either find a 290x on deal or go for a 970.

 

That's my honest pick

 

Also yes you will experience bottlenecks in certain games but it will do you more than well until you could upgrade your CPU to an i5 or such.

[DotoreN]

Either find a 290x on deal or go for a 970.

 

That's my honest pick

 

Also yes you will experience bottlenecks in certain games but it will do you more than well until you could upgrade your CPU to an i5 or such.

 

This^ although I recommend a 970 over 290x as you're gaming on 1080p and 970 just performs better and cost less power + nivida -> amd.

 

You will be bottlenecked bigtime however with any of the 2 cards, so you might consider upgrading your cpu in the near future aswell to an i5 4690(k) and you're good to go.

 

If you don't want to upgrade your cpu (although you should imo) you might look into the r9 3xx series.

[Tim Drake]

This^ although I recommend a 970 over 290x as you're gaming on 1080p and 970 just performs better and cost less power + nivida -> amd.

 

You will be bottlenecked bigtime however with any of the 2 cards, so you might consider upgrading your cpu in the near future aswell to an i5 4690(k) and you're good to go.

 

If you don't want to upgrade your cpu (although you should imo) you might look into the r9 3xx series.

That's why I said 290x on a deal

[DotoreN]

That's why I said 290x on a deal

 

I haven't really looked into the r9 3xx series, but they might be interesting aswell in case he doesn't want to upgrade his cpu, because if he doesn't than the 970 & 290 will be kind of overkill.

[fridgeboy]

Thank you both for your quick replies! I do plan on upgrading my cpu eventually, but I thought the gpu should be the first course of action.

I'll probably wait until the r9 3xx series is released to upgrade, in hopes of a price drop on 290s and 290xs. I'm definitely going with one of those, simply because I'm a bastard for color matching lol

[DotoreN]

Thank you both for your quick replies! I do plan on upgrading my cpu eventually, but I thought the gpu should be the first course of action.

I'll probably wait until the r9 3xx series is released to upgrade, in hopes of a price drop on 290s and 290xs. I'm definitely going with one of those, simply because I'm a bastard for color matching lol

 

The 970 is still a better card than the 290s on 1080p, but it's completely up to you. the 290s are also a lil bit cheaper (but require twice as much power). Some people prefer AMD over nividia and vice versa. Keep in mind that nividia has way better drivers than AMD currently, amd is kinda unstable with all their beta/alpha drivers and geforce experience is really newb/user friendly with a lot of cool features such as shadowplay.

 

They're both good cards but my recommendation will be nividia between these.

 

Do you already know which brand you're going to pick?

[fridgeboy]

The 970 is still a better card than the 290s on 1080p, but it's completely up to you. the 290s are also a lil bit cheaper (but require twice as much power). Some people prefer AMD over nividia and vice versa. Keep in mind that nividia has way better drivers than AMD currently, amd is kinda unstable with all their beta/alpha drivers and geforce experience is really newb/user friendly with a lot of cool features such as shadowplay.

 

They're both good cards but my recommendation will be nividia between these.

 

Do you already know which brand you're going to pick?

I was looking at the sapphire tech r9 290 vapor-x.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202103

I think the blue will match my ram and mobo really nicely

[DotoreN]

I was looking at the sapphire tech r9 290 vapor-x.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202103

I think the blue will match my ram and mobo really nicely

 

I still recommend 290x and 970 over just 290 though.. more value and I personally don't care about color/matching at all haha I just look at performance, specs and cooling. Pick whatever fits your needs.

 

I can't even see it in my own case anyways and it's hidden under my desk

 

the r9 290x vapor-x isn't bad though and sapphire is really good in general.

 

Just keep in mind that if you want to game on ultra and you're going for an i5 soon... you might regret that you didnt went for something a little better, just because it "looks nice".

[fridgeboy]

I still recommend 290x and 970 over just 290 though.. more value and I personally don't care about color/matching at all haha I just look at performance, specs and cooling. Pick whatever fits your needs.

 

I can't even see it in my own case anyways and it's hidden under my desk

 

the r9 290x vapor-x isn't bad though and sapphire is really good in general.

 

Just keep in mind that if you want to game on ultra and you're going for an i5 soon... you might regret that you didnt went for something a little better, just because it "looks nice".

You do make a good point. Thank you for your advice. Do you know what the AMD equivalent of an i5 would be? If I were to get an i5 I'd have to get a new mobo as well.