Need help picking a gpu

[richie12346]

Hi.

 

I am wondering what is the best card between the r9 390 and the gtx 970.

I am going to be gaming whilst streaming,video editing and rendering, photo editing and just general browsing on the net.

Games I will be playing are GTA V, CS:GO, League Of Legends, Witcher 3, Star Wars Battlefront, Assasins creed and many other games since steam exists 

I have heard and read that the Sapphire r9 390 nitro or the msi r9 390 is the best amd card and the zotac gtx 970 extreme core edition or the msi gtx 970 is the best gtx card. What is the better card? 

 

Thank you in advance!

[blackmalicious]

1080p Gaming?

[don_svetlio]

I'd say 390 - 5-10% more performance and more than double the VRAM - that frame buffer is very neat for multi monitor (when streaming usually) and can also prove invaluable in some games that require more than 3.5 (usable VRAM on the 970).

All Nvidia features have AMD counterparts so don't worry about that, you're not losing anything, if nothing else, you're gaining as Free-Sync is cheaper than G-sync all while doing the same thing.

Temps and power are also a non-issue really. the AiB designed coolers will keep the card nice and cool under load and as long as you have some form of airflow you don't have to worry.

[richie12346]

1080p Gaming?

I am going to be playing on the BenQ XL2420Z which is a 1080p 144hz refresh rate but I plan on upgrading in the future.

[richie12346]

I'd say 390 - 5-10% more performance and more than double the VRAM - that frame buffer is very neat for multi monitor (when streaming usually) and can also prove invaluable in some games that require more than 3.5 (usable VRAM on the 970).

All Nvidia features have AMD counterparts so don't worry about that, you're not losing anything, if nothing else, you're gaining as Free-Sync is cheaper than G-sync all while doing the same thing.

Temps and power are also a non-issue really. the AiB designed coolers will keep the card nice and cool under load and as long as you have some form of airflow you don't have to worry.

Which r9 390 would you recommend?

[xTrekStorex]

depends on the price you get. I'd go 970 just because I prefer it from experiences with both AMD and Nvidia but that is up to you. If you game higher than 1080p the 390 is more likely to fit your needs.

just btw I don't know about the Zotac but the MSI is not really handled as "the best 970", the Gigabyte G1 Gaming is

[richie12346]

depends on the price you get. I'd go 970 just because I prefer it from experiences with both AMD and Nvidia but that is up to you. If you game higher than 1080p the 390 is more likely to fit your needs.

just btw I don't know about the Zotac but the MSI is not really handled as "the best 970", the Gigabyte G1 Gaming is

I meant fastest, not the best. Sorry. I didn't realize I wrote that.  I am going to upgrade my monitor to a 1440p monitor in the future.

[Sorfex0]

I'd say 390 - 5-10% more performance and more than double the VRAM - that frame buffer is very neat for multi monitor (when streaming usually) and can also prove invaluable in some games that require more than 3.5 (usable VRAM on the 970).

All Nvidia features have AMD counterparts so don't worry about that, you're not losing anything, if nothing else, you're gaining as Free-Sync is cheaper than G-sync all while doing the same thing.

Temps and power are also a non-issue really. the AiB designed coolers will keep the card nice and cool under load and as long as you have some form of airflow you don't have to worry.

Somehow i get da feeling that u dont like nvidia. But like he wrote gtx 970 has 4gb vram runs at lower temps and eats less power while 390 has 8gb with a little bit more performance. If you are planning to play at higher res 390 may be a better choise.

[richie12346]

Somehow i get da feeling that u dont like nvidia. But like he wrote gtx 970 has 4gb vram runs at lower temps and eats less power while 390 has 8gb with a little bit more performance. If you are planning to play at higher res 390 may be a better choise.

I like both companies. I am going to be playing at 1080p in the start but after a while I will be upgrading my monitor and then I might have bought a sli/crossfire setup.

[don_svetlio]

Somehow i get da feeling that u dont like nvidia. But like he wrote gtx 970 has 4gb vram runs at lower temps and eats less power while 390 has 8gb with a little bit more performance. If you are planning to play at higher res 390 may be a better choise.

Temps depend largely on the cooler - my 280's core runs 10*C cooler than a friend's 760 - depends on the cooling solution chosen by the AiB.

the 3.5GB of usable VRAM runs fine, until you use the other 0.5, then all hell breaks loose - stuttering, crashing and so on.

Power consumption is as big of an issue as you make it out to be mate, remember thermi?

[don_svetlio]

I like both companies. I am going to be playing at 1080p in the start but after a while I will be upgrading my monitor and then I might have bought a sli/crossfire setup.

Then go for the 390 - CF scales better usually and the 8GB of VRAM will really come in handy @ 1440p or dual GPU.

[richie12346]

Temps depend largely on the cooler - my 280's core runs 10*C cooler than a friend's 760 - depends on the cooling solution chosen by the AiB.

the 3.5GB of usable VRAM runs fine, until you use the other 0.5, then all hell breaks loose - stuttering, crashing and so on.

Power consumption is as big of an issue as you make it out to be mate, remember thermi?

I feel so dumb for asking but what does aib mean?

[Sorfex0]

Temps depend largely on the cooler - my 280's core runs 10*C cooler than a friend's 760 - depends on the cooling solution chosen by the AiB.

the 3.5GB of usable VRAM runs fine, until you use the other 0.5, then all hell breaks loose - stuttering, crashing and so on.

Power consumption is as big of an issue as you make it out to be mate, remember thermi?

Ok sir now take some time and check those videos that i made using my gtx 970 and getting above 3,5gb vram and tell me when u will see all hell breaks loose - stuttering, crashing and so on.  After that stop giving false information thx.

[xTrekStorex]

Then go for the 390 - CF scales better usually and the 8GB of VRAM will really come in handy @ 1440p or dual GPU.

nope CF doesnt scale better. in general you could say CF scales 70% in most games while SLI is always close to 99-100%.

My CF is barely getting used at all which is really pissing me off.. also my CPU is bottlenecking it but that still doesnt mean 2nd GPU has to get 0% load in most casaul games like Dota2. CSGO works but you really feel the microstutter in fast gameplay

 

My previous SLI setup ran better but even there I had some issues so I personally dont recommend bothering with multi-GPU-systems.

[don_svetlio]

Ok sir now take some time and check those videos that i made using my gtx 970 and getting above 3,5gb vram and tell me when u will see all hell breaks loose - stuttering, crashing and so on.  After that stop giving false information thx.

You are staying almost within parameter - the usable ram is not 3.500 flat - it's 3586 MB - you are within that.

People have already proven that stuttering occurs and also coil whine from the 970.

AiB means Add in Board partner OP

[don_svetlio]

nope CF doesnt scale better. in general you could say CF scales 70% in most games while SLI is always close to 99-100%.

My CF is barely getting used at all which is really pissing me off.. also my CPU is bottlenecking it but that still doesnt mean 2nd GPU has to get 0% load in most casaul games like Dota2. CSGO works but you really feel the microstutter in fast gameplay

 

My previous SLI setup ran better but even there I had some issues so I personally dont recommend bothering with multi-GPU-systems.

100% scaling defaq? That's almost unheard of >.>

Only Tomb Raider scales that well with SLI OR CF and it usually does it by 50% at most. Who the F told you SLI scales 100%? That is complete hogwash.

[xTrekStorex]

Ok sir now take some time and check those videos that i made using my gtx 970 and getting above 3,5gb vram and tell me when u will see all hell breaks loose - stuttering, crashing and so on.  After that stop giving false information thx.

 

it comes down to your luck of the draw. 3 friends of mine have bought the 970 and 2 of them returned them due to having this issue. the 3rd one doesnt. one them even bought 2 and ran SLI - microstutter was a bitch - shared memory with DX12 might help.

[richie12346]

You are staying almost within parameter - the usable ram is not 3.500 flat - it's 3586 MB - you are within that.

People have already proven that stuttering occurs and also coil whine from the 970.

AiB means Add in Board partner OP

Thank you for telling me that  

[richie12346]

it comes down to your luck of the draw. 3 have friends that bought the 970 and 2 of them returned them due to having this issue. the 3rd one doesnt. one them even bought 2 and ran SLI - microstutter was a bitch - shared memory with DX12 might help.

What would you recommend? I am new with this and I need all the help I can get.

[xTrekStorex]

100% scaling defaq? That's almost unheard of >.>

Only Tomb Raider scales that well with SLI OR CF and it usually does it by 50% at most. Who the F told you SLI scales 100%? That is complete hogwash.

well sorry my 560Tis and the 970s of a friend did in BF3, BF4 and some other games so that is just my personal experience.

Ofc it doesnt have to for everyone in every game - but from what I experienced and hear SLI scales way better than CF and I have used both setups often enough..

[Sorfex0]

it comes down to your luck of the draw. 3 have friends that bought the 970 and 2 of them returned them due to having this issue. the 3rd one doesnt. one them even bought 2 and ran SLI - microstutter was a bitch - shared memory with DX12 might help.

I would believe that but most of the ppl made issues of nothing. Sometimes other parts are at fault or they are just scared of 3.5gb vram nont existing issue. I dont really believe 3.5gb non existing issue is luck. If its architecture design every1 should have this problem and not "oh its working for me, but doesk work for him"

[Sorfex0]

You are staying almost within parameter - the usable ram is not 3.500 flat - it's 3586 MB - you are within that.

People have already proven that stuttering occurs and also coil whine from the 970.

AiB means Add in Board partner OP

There are 2 more videos in those i reach 3.7gb vram and also have reached 3.9gb vram while casually playing.

Also could u link me some of that shuttering prove?

[don_svetlio]

well sorry my 560Tis and the 970s of a friend did in BF3, BF4 and some other games so that is just my personal experience.

Ofc it doesnt have to for everyone in every game - but from what I experienced and hear SLI scales way better than CF and I have used both setups often enough..

Eh, sorry for reacting slightly sharply

Well, there are exceptions to everything but for the most part CF is easier to pull off since you don't have to buy the exact same thing and they both usually run around 25-50% scaling, some games like Tomb Raider make good use of 2 GPUs.

[Shoob]

R9 390 is more futureproof imo. They trade blows in most games and sometimes R9 390 pulls ahead. Only get the 970 if you are concerned about power consumption, otherwise go for R9 390. Brands I'd suggest - Sapphire, Powercolor and MSI.

[don_svetlio]

There are 2 more videos in those i reach 3.7gb vram and also have reached 3.9gb vram while casually playing.

You do realize that it's highly unlikely you actually used that much - it simply has a design flat that prevents the 512Mb of VRAM left run decently. It cannot be avoided unless running Windows 10 and using shared memory but at that point the 390 can boast a frame buffer of over 10 GB so yeah.