Upgrading a GTX 770 for an R9 290?

[Daveeede]

Hey guys,

 

My current GPU is an EVGA GTX 770 SC 2gb. I saw a guy selling a Gigabyte Windforce R9 290 for 200 bucks (CAD so like 150 USD). Is the upgrade worth it? I feel like I'd be able to sell my current card for the same amount and at the very least I'd be gaining 2 gb of VRAM. I game at 1080p but with more and more memory hog titles this would be able to hold me at least another year. 

 

What do you guys think? My main concern is losing support for PhysX, HBAO+ and other Nvidia tech. Should this even be a concern though?

 

 

[grayblizzard]

Hey guys,

 

My current GPU is an EVGA GTX 770 SC 2gb. I saw a guy selling a Gigabyte Windforce R9 290 for 200 bucks (CAD so like 150 USD). Is the upgrade worth it? I feel like I'd be able to sell my current card for the same amount and at the very least I'd be gaining 2 gb of VRAM. I game at 1080p but with more and more memory hog titles this would be able to hold me at least another year. 

 

What do you guys think? My main concern is losing support for PhysX, HBAO+ and other Nvidia tech. Should this even be a concern though?

yes its worth it but only if you dont want to loose support for the things listed 

[Daveeede]

Also my current card has the back plate on it so it has that going for it 

[Daveeede]

yes its worth it but only if you dont want to loose support for the things listed 

Do you personally think that I'll notice that these things are gone once I switch? 

[007agentHP]

more of a side grade cause av 770 is like 3% faster than a 280x which is right under a 290.  id recommend saving up for a 390 or 970

[grayblizzard]

Do you personally think that I'll notice that these things are gone once I switch? 

i just switched from a r9 280 to a gtx 970

 

and i love nvidias driver support but i dont use alot of featues such as shield technology or physx my biggest complaint with amd is drivers and tdp

[KemoKa]

Do you personally think that I'll notice that these things are gone once I switch? 

I personally don't think you will. The raw performance boost will be far more noticeable than the loss of the 770's technologies. You could sell the 770 for more than the 290 as well. More performance for a profit.

[thekeemo]

nah thats only one step up aka not worth it 390x is a better idea

 

also why peps complaining about amd drivers they are better than nvidias in  experience....

[don_svetlio]

You will definitely notice an increase in performance and don't worry about stuff like physX - Nvidia cards support ADVANCED physX which only a select few games use and the rest of the stuff has AMD equivalents so no need to worry about it.

As for drivers, just make sure you uninstall all Nvidia drivers via DDU or a similar program and install the latest AMD driver. I can personally vouch for this as after more than 5 years I have yet to experience a driver issue going all the way back to 3000 series cards (I'm serious, never had I had a driver-related issue)

EDIT: Forgot to mention Nvidia's recent drivers decreased performance on the 700 and 600 series cards so you are BOUND to notice a performance increase as currently the 280X outperforms the 770 in gameworks titles with the Nvidia specific settings off.

[byalexandr]

Just save more and get a 980 Ti.

[don_svetlio]

Just save more and get a 980 Ti.

That's more than triple the price of the 290 >.>

He'd be better off getting a 390.

[byalexandr]

That's more than triple the price of the 290 >.>

He'd be better off getting a 390.

Well use the money you were going to use as well as the money you can get from selling the card. Combine moneys and buy a 980 or 390X or something.

[don_svetlio]

Well use the money you were going to use as well as the money you can get from selling the card. Combine moneys and buy a 980 or 390X or something.

you realise it could take quite some time before he sells the card and then he'd still have to spend quite a bit of time without a GPU >.<

[byalexandr]

you realise it could take quite some time before he sells the card and then he'd still have to spend quite a bit of time without a GPU >.<

Craigslist is a thing. I have sold GPUs on there before and it only took maybe two days before I had cash in my hand. eBay is even faster.

[brainlessgaming]

Hey guys,

 

My current GPU is an EVGA GTX 770 SC 2gb. I saw a guy selling a Gigabyte Windforce R9 290 for 200 bucks (CAD so like 150 USD). Is the upgrade worth it? I feel like I'd be able to sell my current card for the same amount and at the very least I'd be gaining 2 gb of VRAM. I game at 1080p but with more and more memory hog titles this would be able to hold me at least another year. 

 

What do you guys think? My main concern is losing support for PhysX, HBAO+ and other Nvidia tech. Should this even be a concern though?

R9 290x is $260 at Newegg and comes with Dirt Rally for free. Get it before it's gone! Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202145&cm_re=r9_290x%5c-_-14-202-145-_-Product

[jhonny]

R9 290x is $260 at Newegg and comes with Dirt Rally for free. Get it before it's gone! Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202145&cm_re=r9_290x%5c-_-14-202-145-_-Product

 

Kick ass card but power hungry and long as hell, keep that in mind

[Daveeede]

R9 290x is $260 at Newegg and comes with Dirt Rally for free. Get it before it's gone! Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202145&cm_re=r9_290x%5c-_-14-202-145-_-Product

I acknowledge it's a good deal but it doesn't convert very well to canadian pesos. 290x's are about 350 here.

[Daveeede]

Well use the money you were going to use as well as the money you can get from selling the card. Combine moneys and buy a 980 or 390X or something.

390x's and 980's are about 650$ here. I can get the 290 for 200. Granted those cards are better but it's a hell of a price gap, especially since I'm only gaming at 1080p.

[Daveeede]

You will definitely notice an increase in performance and don't worry about stuff like physX - Nvidia cards support ADVANCED physX which only a select few games use and the rest of the stuff has AMD equivalents so no need to worry about it.

As for drivers, just make sure you uninstall all Nvidia drivers via DDU or a similar program and install the latest AMD driver. I can personally vouch for this as after more than 5 years I have yet to experience a driver issue going all the way back to 3000 series cards (I'm serious, never had I had a driver-related issue)

EDIT: Forgot to mention Nvidia's recent drivers decreased performance on the 700 and 600 series cards so you are BOUND to notice a performance increase as currently the 280X outperforms the 770 in gameworks titles with the Nvidia specific settings off.

I'm hoping to pick up the card tomorrow or Monday. I also saw a guy who was looking to buy a 290 for 250$ on a different site. I figure that if Im not happy with it I can just flip the card to him and make 50 bucks.

[byalexandr]

390x's and 980's are about 650$ here. I can get the 290 for 200. Granted those cards are better but it's a hell of a price gap, especially since I'm only gaming at 1080p.

Still a hell of an improvement. I think you canlfash the BIOS to make the 290 a 390 though.

[Titan_XXX]

I'd just keep the 770 until Pascal comes out. Get yourself a REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD upgrade a year from now.

[Spoonfull]

I have the same card, and id rather wait for new HBM cards to pop up. The 770 is still good for another year or so.

[Guest]

Keep the 770, I used to have one and it's a great card.

[Daveeede]

I'd just keep the 770 until Pascal comes out. Get yourself a REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD upgrade a year from now.

Im just considering the cost of the upgrade. If I can sell my 770, it wouldn't cost me anything. Pascal and its supposed HBM2 memory has my attention, but that won't be until 2016.

[Daveeede]

I have the same card, and id rather wait for new HBM cards to pop up. The 770 is still good for another year or so.

Like I mentioned to somebody before, I'll try out the 290 and if it isn't a worthy upgrade I'll flip it to somebody else and then wait for the next best thing. I know I can keep the 770 for at least another year, but it's just so tempting.