Help me pick a 970

[Lazz45]

My Computer: 
Cpu: AMD Fx-8350 (4.2GHz)
Gpu: MSI R9 270x 
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA 
Ram: G-Skill 16 GB 
Monitor: 2x Acer 21.5" Widescreen LCD
 

So i currently am helping a buddy build his very own gaming PC, and i will be selling him my 270x.  He only plans to play games like League and some low demand games.  So I am going to use this money to purchase a GTX 970, and i am truly stumped which brand I should purchase.  So my options are:

 

1.Msi Gaming 

2.Gigabyte Gaming

3.EVGA

4.Asus Strix

[SkywardKkalox]

Gigabyte G1 Gaming.

But with your specs the card is going to be held back quite a lot.

[REX.exe]

Um, an 8350 will bottleneck a 970. 

[Rayhaan Jiwani]

A Windforce or STRIX.

[xnoobftw]

I would say pair the 8350 with a 280x at most

[AlanTheEmu]

Gigabyte G1 Gaming.

But with your specs the card is going to be held back quite a lot.

I agree Gigabyte is the one to get.

[Lazz45]

A lot of people say the Windforce but some people are saying the MSI card performs slightly better? I feel like the G1 would be better because of the overclocking headroom

[REX.exe]

A lot of people say the Windforce but some people are saying the MSI card performs slightly better? I feel like the G1 would be better because of the overclocking headroom

Hey! Please don't disregard my post like that. You're 8350 will bottleneck a 970 quite badly. Maybe a 290 would be a better option to avoid bottlenecking.

[Lazz45]

Where does a lot of the bottleneck come in? because i do hope to play at 5760 x 1080 in the next few years (because im going off to college and  idk if my dorm could hold that) and i hear that in higher res the cpu is much less of a bottleneck.  sorry for not responding to your post btw

[Interfectorem]

Hey! Please don't disregard my post like that. You're 8350 will bottleneck a 970 quite badly. Maybe a 290 would be a better option to avoid bottlenecking.

It depends on the situation, also if he's going to be playing 5760x1080, the bottleneck will decrease. The R9 290 is only slightly less powerful than the GTX 970, so it will still bottleneck. Even then, the bottleneck will still deliver a playable experience. A bottleneck is not the end of the world.

[REX.exe]

Where does a lot of the bottleneck come in? because i do hope to play at 5760 x 1080 in the next few years (because im going off to college and  idk if my dorm could hold that) and i hear that in higher res the cpu is much less of a bottleneck.  sorry for not responding to your post btw

The bottleneck will be less, but still present. You may notice it, you may not.

 

What's your budget for upgrades? You could always get a CPU (and motherboard) that won't bottleneck and get a 290 or 970 if money allows.

 

It depends on the situation, also if he's going to be playing 5760x1080, the bottleneck will decrease. The R9 290 is only slightly less powerful than the GTX 970, so it will still bottleneck. Even then, the bottleneck will still deliver a playable experience. A bottleneck is not the end of the world.

I know a bottleneck isn't the end  of the world. But there is no point in getting an expensive 970 when your CPU will probably hold it down to the performance of a 280X. (maybe not as bad)

[Interfectorem]

The bottleneck will be less, but still present. You may notice it, you may not.

 

What's your budget for upgrades? You could always get a CPU (and motherboard) that won't bottleneck and get a 290 or 970 if money allows.

 

I know a bottleneck isn't the end  of the world. But there is no point in getting an expensive 970 when your CPU will probably hold it down to the performance of a 280X. (maybe not as bad)

You never know if he's going to upgrade later down the road.

[Lazz45]

well i have plans to get an i7 down the road but i just gotta wait for a lot more money and stuff cuz im about to be the broke college kid, but if i put my 8350 balls to the wall (cuz its water cooled) will i see that bottleneck diminish? (and i plan to overclock my cpu anyway just havent had the time).  

 

and interfectorem, have you really noticed any issues in FPS. where do you normally perform?

 

and honestly guys i could be missing the mark here. Maybe i shouldnt be putting my money into a 970.  I just wanna get a card that can let me max games for the next 2-3 years and run well.  If you guys have better suggestions please let me know

[REX.exe]

well i have plans to get an i7 down the road but i just gotta wait for a lot more money and stuff cuz im about to be the broke college kid, but if i put my 8350 balls to the wall (cuz its water cooled) will i see that bottleneck diminish? (and i plan to overclock my cpu anyway just havent had the time).  

 

and interfectorem, have you really noticed any issues in FPS. where do you normally perform?

As I said before. The bottleneck would be less, but still present.

 

Do keep in mind you will need a new motherboard for an i7 (something k) that needs to have a Z97 chipset to overclock.

 

But yeah, skylake (new intel CPUs) will be out soon so you should just wait until then for a CPU upgrade. They'll use a LGA1551 socket and a Z5901 chipset (I think).

 

So heres what you should do. Get a 970, G1 Gaming is the best one in my opinion. When money is in your favor get a i7 4790k or one of the other skylake ones. Or an i5 4690K (or skylake) if you just want to game.

[Pool]

 I just wanna get a card that can let me max games for the next 2-3 years 

 

The problem is that if your processor can't be upgraded it's meaningless. 

[turaven]

All of them should be fine. I haven't used any 970's myself, but I helped a friend build a computer recently with an ASUS Strix 970, and it's pretty slick looking and comes with a backplate. EVGA makes some fine hardware, but I know their 980's don't come with backplates. They're not a huge deal, but if all the prices are the same (or very similar) then may as well get more prodcut for the money.

 

I'd personally avoid Gigabyte. Myself, and some people I know, have had many problems with them in the past, but maybe they're better these days or we all just had very bad luck. It's mostly been with their motherboards though.

[Nena Trinity]

I would first invest in a 24" screen but if you want a 970 go for a ASUS or MSI one? =)

Turbo is all white+red but STRIX is all black+red like the MSI ones. =D

[Monarch]

Gigabyte G1 Gaming is the best if you get Samsung memory.

[fank]

I am personally looking at Gainward GeForce GTX 970 Phantom 4GB and am suprised it isn't mentioned

 

Any thoughts on this card my friends?

[Lazz45]

So get the 970, and plan to upgrade later? is that the consensus 

[rjfaber91]

So get the 970, and plan to upgrade later? is that the consensus 

 

I thought about upgrading my CPU as well until quite recently, but people kept telling me I would be better off just waiting for next year's Skylake and Zen CPUs to come along rather than pick one from the current stock, and having done a bit of research since, I'd agree with that. Just wait...

[REX.exe]

I am personally looking at Gainward GeForce GTX 970 Phantom 4GB and am suprised it isn't mentioned

 

Any thoughts on this card my friends?

It's great if you like an f-6 taking off in your PC 24/7.

 

It is LOUD!

[Lazz45]

How do you guys feel about me just picking up this? Its an r9 290

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100362vxsr

 

Or maybe this one?

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-1003623l