Trouble deciding between graphics cards...

[LeviMeredith]

Hi, I have 4 graphics cards I need to choose from, I think that 4GB of memory is a must and these are in my price range. If there is another card with 4GB of memory and is between £100 - £150 then you can comment below. Otherwise could you please take a moment to answer the poll above! Thanks!

[don_svetlio]

R9 380

[Crowes]

GTX 970.

[LeviMeredith]

R9 380

Could you provide details as to why that's better?

[don_svetlio]

Could you provide details as to why that's better?

It's 15% faster than a 960, doesn't get bottlenecked because of low memory bandwidth as the 960 (128-bit bus is too low even for 2GB of VRAM to be used effectively)

[Sam Z Man]

Could you provide details as to why that's better?

Can you provide details on why it isn't?

[Senzelian]

I cannot vote for your question, cause neither GeForce nor Radeon is "the" best.

I think Radeon sounds less gay, but that probably wasn't your question...

I recommend the GTX 950 if you're looking for a affordable option.

If you need something with a bit more punch to it, go for a R9 380 or a R9 380X.

 

It's 15% faster than a 960, doesn't get bottlenecked because of low memory bandwidth as the 960 (128-bit bus is too low even for 2GB of VRAM to be used effectively)

DON! We talked about this. The 128-bit bus isn't the problem ò.ó

[daniellearmouth]

GTX 970.

 

On that budget, no chance.

 

To answer your question, get the R9 380. It's pretty much bang-for-the-buck compared to the 960, and is a little bit cheaper if you know where to look.

[Crowes]

On that budget, no chance.

 

To answer your question, get the R9 380. It's pretty much bang-for-the-buck compared to the 960, and is a little bit cheaper if you know where to look.

 

Ah, missed that. I concur with you, then.

[LeviMeredith]

GTX 970.

That's over my price range.

[LeviMeredith]

R9 380

 

 

On that budget, no chance.

 

To answer your question, get the R9 380. It's pretty much bang-for-the-buck compared to the 960, and is a little bit cheaper if you know where to look.

 

I've added the R9 380 to the poll.

[don_svetlio]

I cannot vote for your question, cause neither GeForce nor Radeon is "the" best.

I think Radeon sounds less gay, but that probably wasn't your question...

I recommend the GTX 950 if you're looking for a affordable option.

If you need something with a bit more punch to it, go for a R9 380 or a R9 380X.

 

DON! We talked about this. The 128-bit bus isn't the problem ò.ó

IT IS - when you OC the RAM and performance scales linearly that means the GPU is bandwidth-starved BECAUSE of, you guessed it, the 128-bit bus. The memory is usable but not optimally

[don_svetlio]

I've added the R9 380 to the poll.

Asus and Gigabyte are terrible

[LeviMeredith]

Asus and Gigabyte are terrible

Well they are reasonably mainsteam and the only reason I want a good graphics cards is to have a better PC than my friends (why else?) so I'm not too botherd...

[Senzelian]

IT IS - when you OC the RAM and performance scales linearly that means the GPU is bandwidth-starved BECAUSE of, you guessed it, the 128-bit bus. The memory is usable but not optimally

Exactly, and that is why the GTX 960 has a more stable minimum frame rate - wait, that didn't make sense. So why is it more stable again?

[don_svetlio]

Exactly, and that is why the GTX 960 has a more stable minimum frame rate - wait, that didn't make sense. So why is it more stable again?

it isn't

[don_svetlio]

Well they are reasonably mainsteam and the only reason I want a good graphics cards is to have a better PC than my friends (why else?) so I'm not too botherd...

Sapphire, XFX, MSI, Power Color - one of those

[App4that]

Exactly, and that is why the GTX 960 has a more stable minimum frame rate - wait, that didn't make sense. So why is it more stable again?

Driver support. Oh, wait, was that rhetorical?

[Senzelian]

it isn't

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sapphire-itx-compact-r9-380,4264.html

Have a look at these benchmarks. The R9 380s dip much more percentage wise. Sometimes they even go below the minimum frame rate of the GTX 960s and that even on higher resolutions, where memory bandwith is much more important.

[App4that]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sapphire-itx-compact-r9-380,4264.html

Have a look at these benchmarks. The R9 380s dip much more percentage wise. Sometimes they even go below the minimum frame rate of the GTX 960s and that even on higher resolutions, where memory bandwith is much more important.

You're also are using a 2g card as comparison. The 4g 380 is the better deal.

[Senzelian]

You're also are using a 2g card as comparison. The 4g 380 is the better deal.

Why should I compare a 4GB 380 to a 2GB 960? Doesn't seem fair to me.

[App4that]

Why should I compare a 4GB 380 to a 2GB 960? Doesn't seem fair to me.

Um, friend, the poll is for the 4g version of both. And between those two cards the 380 is faster, and hopefully will be more reliable once the Crimson drivers start rolling out regularly if Radeon keeps their promise.

[Senzelian]

Um, friend, the poll is for the 4g version of both. And between those two cards the 380 is faster, and hopefully will be more reliable once the Crimson drivers start rolling out regularly if Radeon keeps their promise.

Yes, but I didn't respond to the poll. I responded to Don's post.

[App4that]

Yes, but I didn't respond to the poll. I responded to Don's post.

Yes, but I responded for the topic that talking about 2g cards is off topic :lol:

 

I totally got your back on the minimum fps deal, 390 suffers with that in comparison to the 970. Drivers are sorely needed.

[Senzelian]

Yes, but I responded for the topic that talking about 2g cards is off topic :lol:

 

I totally got your back on the minimum fps deal, 390 suffers with that in comparison to the 970. Drivers are sorely needed.

Now I'm confused.  :wacko: 

Shouldn't the same apply to the 4GB cards? As far as I remember it does.

Anyway, it's good that at least someone still sees the full story behind it. Overall I would also recommend the R9 380 over the 960 at any time, but people are treating the 960 like it is the worst card ever made. I wonder what the 960Ti will be like.