New GPU

[starwarsguy99]

Hello,

I am planning to purchase parts in the next few weeks for a new computer!

It is mainly for a school project and will involve watercooling.

Here are my options based on local retailers and the price (in Singapore Dollars):

Palit 970 Reference (SG$ 479)

Msi 970 4G (SG$ 580)

Asus 970 Strix (SG$ 580)

Gigabyte G1 970 (SG$ 575)

Msi Gaming R9 390 (SG$ 565)

The thing is, which is the best?

Which waterblock would I use for the R9 390?

Is the Palit Card any good? There must be a reason it costs much less than the others.

I plan to overclock, will the watercooling decrease the temps of the R9 390 well enough?

Thanks for any help!

[don_svetlio]

Reference 970 is best price:performance. R9 390 is the best out of the bunch in terms of power.

[aneil1998]

Agreed with @don_svetlio with the r9 390. Performs better than a 970 in most usage scenarios and it should be more "future proof" as it has 8GB vram compared to the 970's 3.5Gb + 0.5Gb

[starwarsguy99]

Reference 970 is best price:performance. R9 390 is the best out of the bunch in terms of power.

Ok thanks!

The MSI R9 390 4G would use a waterblock from the R9 290/x series right?

[don_svetlio]

Ok thanks!

The MSI R9 390 4G would use a waterblock from the R9 290/x series right?

not sure but why would you even need a waterblock? The card runs at 74*C max. It's barely going to be hotter than a 970 - the reference 970 actually runs at 80-ish *C

[starwarsguy99]

not sure but why would you even need a waterblock? The card runs at 74*C max. It's barely going to be hotter than a 970 - the reference 970 actually runs at 80-ish *C

Well, the reason is in my school I need to complete a MYP Personal Project.

I can essentially do what I want, as long as its approved by my supervisor, and as 1) I like Computers and 2) I want to build a new one, I decided to build one and make a "guide to watercooling" type video series.

Yeah... I'll do almost anything to get a new computer

[don_svetlio]

Well, the reason is in my school I need to complete a MYP Personal Project.

I can essentially do what I want, as long as its approved by my supervisor, and as 1) I like Computers and 2) I want to build a new one, I decided to build one and make a "guide to watercooling" type video series.

Yeah... I'll do almost anything to get a new computer

@Pohernori - ask him. He knows more about the blocks

[starwarsguy99]

@Pohernori - ask him. He knows more about the blocks

Thanks!

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

Thanks!

 

Building a PC for a school project? Wow I wonder which school does that... 

 

I'm not that well versed in watercooling but anyway, most in singapore will opt to go to EK for their watercooling blocks. And many get the blocks online since local shops charge higher in price. Best card to get for a 970 is the G1. While for the 390 its a little more complicated. The "new" 390/x overclock well with less voltage but not so much with more voltage. Where as the old 290/x overclocks better with more voltage. Many 390/x become unstable when going over 1200mhz while the 290/x will still be stable then with enough voltage. 

 

IIRC only reference 390s have  waterblocks so unfortunately, that Msi r9 390 doesn't have one. PowerColor PCS+ cards are reference design so I recommend that if you go 390. If you want to overclock with AMD I'd actually recommend going with a 290x instead. And for the 970 it'll be the G1. 

 

If you have questions about obtaining the parts, asking on the local forums will be more helpful.