GTX 960 (2GB) or Radeon R9 280, help!?

[Jam3zz07]

Im struggling on which GPU to buy for my build, I have around £160/170 (cheaper the better) to spend on it.

 

I will be running this on a 21" screen at 1080p (1900x1080)

 

My processor is an Intel core i3-4160, My case is an Cooler Master N400 (will fit both of these cards, although im hoping to get the Corsair SPEC 03 in a few months) and my motherboard is a Gigabyte Z97P-D3, also my PSU is a Corsair CX600M.

 

The reasons i would like to go for the GTX are lower power consumption, runs cooler, seems better to overclock, and I trust Nvidia slightly more as I have used them before and its new as it came out early this year.
The reasons I would go for the 280 is that my board supports Crossfire, not SLI and it has more memory and a wider memory bus if im correct.
As im planning on slowly, but fully upgrading my build over time, If i was going to upgrade I would probably just buy another of the same card, meaning if i went Nvidia I would have to buy a new board aswell.

For a 960, ive either been thinking of getting a MSI Gaming (http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-Nvidia-960-Gaming-Graphics/dp/B00SKTY6PS/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1431895902&sr=1-1&keywords=gtx+960), ZOTAC (http://www.amazon.co.uk/ZOTAC-ZT-90301-10M-GeForce-Graphics-Card/dp/B00SIOOLS2/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1431895858&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=gtx+960+zotax) or Gigabyte Windforce 2 OC (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-Nvidia-Windforce-PCI-E-Graphics/dp/B00SKTF83W/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1431895936&sr=1-4&keywords=gtx+960).

For a 280 ive been thinking of getting the Gigabyte Windforce 3 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-AMD-280-Graphics-Card/dp/B00IYD0HYO/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1431896131&sr=1-2&keywords=r9+280)

 

I really dont know what to do, or what would be best could anyone help?
Also could you tell me the best make to get out of the ones i have specified and what the best options/settings would be for overclocking.
Thank youuuuu!

[spartaman64]

r9 280

[MountainDrew]

I'd definitely take the 280 for the extra Vram.

[Agazed]

960. Less heat, less power consumption, more eco friendly

[WoodenMarker]

The 960 is better but the 285 isn't far behind and a much better value: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr92852gbd5tdhe

[CoolaxGaming]

R9 280

[Atmos]

280, great value and only marginally slower than the 960, along though with that extra Vram which will give it a bit more longevity @ 1080p, since 2gb is starting to become a bottleneck at higher end games.

 

Or a 285 is also a good deal. Slightly faster than a 280, and a bit cheaper in some cases; it just lacks that extra 1gb.

[Demiqas]

Can the people who just say 280 or 960 add some arguments as to why the 960 or 280 over the other? What you say isn't quite useful when you don't provide the reasons for it.

[Senzelian]

I would definitly take the GTX 960, because I'am an NVidia fanboy and AMD is for poor people.

Now that everyone heard what they wanted to hear, we can talk.

Not only does the GTX 960 deliver higher frame rates in most games, it does that also at a much lower TDP. That means also that the GTX 960 can be much quieter.

One of the advantages of the R9 280 are the 3GB of VRAM. They can be usefull, but only in certain games or if you use a lot of mods. But right now most games don't even use more than 2GB and if they do, neither the 960 nor the R9 280 can actually provide you with playable frame rates at those settings.

So like I said, I would definitly take the GTX 960. Also often the drivers are better and you get a lot of nice software like Shadowplay.

Can the people who just say 280 or 960 add some arguments as to why the 960 or 280 over the other? What you say isn't quite useful when you don't provide the reasons for it.

My fav. comment of the day! I hate those comments that only consist of one word, without any explanation.

[Vozella]

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gtx+960+vs+r9+280

[Jam3zz07]

I would definitly take the GTX 960, because I'am an NVidia fanboy and AMD is for poor people.

Now that everyone heard what they wanted to hear, we can talk.

Not only does the GTX 960 deliver higher frame rates in most games, it does that also at a much lower TDP. That means also that the GTX 960 can be much quieter.

One of the advantages of the R9 280 are the 3GB of VRAM. They can be usefull, but only in certain games or if you use a lot of mods. But right now most games don't even use more than 2GB and if they do, neither the 960 nor the R9 280 can actually provide you with playable frame rates at those settings.

So like I said, I would definitly take the GTX 960. Also often the drivers are better and you get a lot of nice software like Shadowplay.

My fav. comment of the day! I hate those comments that only consist of one word, without any explanation.

 

Do you have any idea on which make to go for?

[Senzelian]

Do you have any idea on which make to go for?

I would either take a Zotac to safe some money or one of the EVGA SC cards. Their cooler is awesome, but you won't need that much cooling performance for a 960 anyways.

Even a nice reference design can work. I had a reference 760 from Gainward in my rig, which worked really nice.

[Embattled]

I would either take a Zotac to safe some money or one of the EVGA SC cards. Their cooler is awesome, but you won't need that much cooling performance for a 960 anyways.

Even a nice reference design can work. I had a reference 760 from Gainward in my rig, which worked really nice.

I would recommand the Gigabyte G1 Gaming version, best cooler imho and I believe they bin the G1 Gaming series too

[han_han08]

I would either take a Zotac to safe some money or one of the EVGA SC cards. Their cooler is awesome, but you won't need that much cooling performance for a 960 anyways.

Even a nice reference design can work. I had a reference 760 from Gainward in my rig, which worked really nice.

 

 

I would recommand the Gigabyte G1 Gaming version, best cooler imho and I believe they bin the G1 Gaming series too

 

 

dont take the gigabyte g1 card!!! just read the review by hardware canucks, and really, the 960 was nothing like the 970 and 980 g1's.

 

i myself am considering the zotac and strix, as these are the only two 960's that will fit my case, and only a 6-pin pcie..(i have a poor psu.lol)

more than likely to get the zotac because it is cheaper and the free game with it (amp version)

[Senzelian]

I would recommand the Gigabyte G1 Gaming version, best cooler imho and I believe they bin the G1 Gaming series too

The G1 is awesome, but the cooler on a 960 is pretty useless.

My next GPUs won't be from Gigabyte again, tho. The overclocking performance on both of my G1s suck and they're waay too heavy. I'll most likey use reference cards and water cool them.

[Jam3zz07]

I would either take a Zotac to safe some money or one of the EVGA SC cards. Their cooler is awesome, but you won't need that much cooling performance for a 960 anyways.

Even a nice reference design can work. I had a reference 760 from Gainward in my rig, which worked really nice.

I think ive decided on the Gigabyte Windforce x2 960, as its around £165 and ive used gigabyte before and head alot about windforce, thanks for the help.

[Demiqas]

I think ive decided on the Gigabyte Windforce x2 960, as its around £165 and ive used gigabyte before and head alot about windforce, thanks for the help.

If it's true that the Gigabyte overclocks poorly you really shouldn't go for it. One great thing about the 960 is apparantly that you can put enourmous overclocks on it to gain quite a bit of performance. I would go for the evga SSC.