So I'm considering a step backwards...

[Misanthrope]

My 290x appears to be dying: temps normal, performance is normal but as soon as a game stresses it it crashes or freezes and even if I'm back to desktop with nothing open yet still 100% usage until I restart. I was reading that this might be the memory on the fritz and well it was giving me issues anyway.

 

This made me think however that I'm playing more casually now and that I'm not really on board with high end gaming....so I'm considering a downgrade to a lowly 950. I know that it's weird but I thinking I'm ok with just 1080p anyway and most games I'm doing will probably be ok on Medium to high settings and such. I just don't want to fuck around with high end hardware anymore, I just wanna come home, watch youtube and play maybe something like Fallout 4 a bit or even lower end games.

 

What do you guys think? Too much of a nerf? At the end I might just get this temporarily and upgrade again later if it just doesn't cuts it and gets frustratingly limiting.

[thekeemo]

See if you can RMA

[Misanthrope]

See if you can RMA

 

It's been a year and 3 months I can't RMA no more. It's better to just leave it on an "able to boot and surf the web" state for when I need a troubleshooting card or something.

[thekeemo]

It's been a year and 3 months I can't RMA no more. It's better to just leave it on an "able to boot and surf the web" state for when I need a troubleshooting card or something.

Warranty is usually 2+ years

 

Stupid asus

[RollinLower]

a GTX950 should be able to play fallout 4 nicely on medium to high settings. (my 750Ti gets about 45 FPS on medium settings in that game)

tough if i where you i would get maybe a R9 380? it might be a bit more expensive, tough it's a lot less of a performance drop.

ignore that last part, i thought they where more simmilar in price

[QueenDemetria]

I just don't want to fuck around with high end hardware anymore, I just wanna come home, watch youtube and play maybe something like Fallout 4 a bit or even lower end games.

That's my philosophy, I like that I can either save money on hardware or just buy more hardware now that I don't care about the high end stuff.

 

I'm rocking a 750 ti at the moment, plenty of power for me.

[as96]

The 950 is fine if you are ok to play at 1080p @60FPS, the card isn't gonna fuel higher resolutions or 144Hz monitors.

[App4that]

get a 390, profit

[spartaman64]

contact asus support?

[as96]

get a 390, profit

If someone doesn't want to spend too much money on a car you suggest him to buy a BMW?

 

As I said, the 950 is fine for a console-like experience, for anything better you'll need a better card.

[App4that]

If someone doesn't want to spend too much money on a car you suggest him to buy a BMW?

*clear throat* Please read what the OP said.

 

"I know that it's weird but I thinking I'm ok with just 1080p anyway and most games I'm doing will probably be ok on Medium to high settings and such."

 

A 390 is no BMW, it's just enough for high settings right now. In a year it won't be.

[VagabondWraith]

If you don't wanna break the bank, 950/960/380 would be good choices. I would try at least a 960/380 if you're aiming for high.

[as96]

*clear throat* Please read what the OP said.

 

"I know that it's weird but I thinking I'm ok with just 1080p anyway and most games I'm doing will probably be ok on Medium to high settings and such."

 

A 390 is no BMW, it's just enough for high settings right now. In a year it won't be.

I have a 7970 now it's pretty old but I still have to find a game that I can't play on a high settings @1080p so I really don't think a 950 is gonna have too many issues.

 

This guy did a few benchmark videos of a 750Ti 760 based pc against a ps4 and it's handling it fine https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQbCPWtOQp0FoY_-7GwWSErWP2j7--Hh5 definitely the 950 is not for people who always want ultra @60+ but for casual gaming it's perfect imho.

 

EDIT: The videos are of a 760, but it should still be similar.

[App4that]

I have a 7970 now it's pretty old but I still have to find a game that I can't play on a high settings @1080p so I really don't think a 950 is gonna have too many issues.

 

This guy did a few benchmark videos of a 750Ti based pc against a ps4 and it's handling it fine https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQbCPWtOQp0FoY_-7GwWSErWP2j7--Hh5 definitely the 950 is not for people who always want ultra @60+ but for casual gaming it's perfect imho.

The topic is an opened ended topic. As such I have to disagree. People like to throw around the term "casual gaming" but in actuality the settings you're able to use have nothing to do with the amount of time you spend gaming. The setting you can run DO go off of the game you play and your equipment. If you want to pop in a game and play it without having to worry about settings, that's what a console is for. Might not be a bad idea in the OP's case. What's a bad Idea is getting a GPU that will have you adjusting the graphics settings in every game you play if you want the best experience. A 390 make this less irritating as VERY few games have to have the settings adjusted at all. Set them to high and enjoy.

[Grrizz]

A 950 is probably OK but I would really push for a 960/380 because they aren't much more and give a little bump in performance.

[Misanthrope]

The topic is an opened ended topic. As such I have to disagree. People like to throw around the term "casual gaming" but in actuality the settings you're able to use have nothing to do with the amount of time you spend gaming. The setting you can run DO go off of the game you play and your equipment. If you want to pop in a game and play it without having to worry about settings, that's what a console is for. Might not be a bad idea in the OP's case. What's a bad Idea is getting a GPU that will have you adjusting the graphics settings in every game you play if you want the best experience. A 390 make this less irritating as VERY few games have to have the settings adjusted at all. Set them to high and enjoy.

Yeah opinions are fine. 

 

I'll clarify a few things

 

1) I say I am gaming more casually, not that I am using casual games. I mean I have a full time job and like to spend time watching videos so I don't do marathon sessions and don't care if I can't max out a game or not or 1440p or beyond

 

2) I know that's what consoles are for, but you're talking after all to someone who says has a gaming rig already, that means I have a large collection of PC games already. So saying "go to consoles" ins't feasible for me unless they can play my steam collection

 

So back on topic: prices are weird right now and the 380 and 960 are priced stupidly high right now over here, however I might consider a 960 4gb.

[App4that]

The console suggestion wasn't an insult. I have a friend with a gaming rig and they got Fallout 4 on the Xbox One because it saved them the headache of fighting settings. I wouldn't buy a console but it's an alternative, I feel the same as you about my Steam Library.

 

I'd go with the 960 4g, sure it gets some undeserved hate here on the forum but it's a solid card with solid support. The 380 is technically faster, but slower to gain support for some of the new titles being released. But if you're mostly going to be playing the games you have now, the 380 is the better choice.

[Misanthrope]

The console suggestion wasn't an insult. I have a friend with a gaming rig and they got Fallout 4 on the Xbox One because it saved them the headache of fighting settings. I wouldn't buy a console but it's an alternative, I feel the same as you about my Steam Library.

 

I'd go with the 960 4g, sure it gets some undeserved hate here on the forum but it's a solid card with solid support. The 380 is technically faster, but slower to gain support for some of the new titles being released. But if you're mostly going to be playing the games you have now, the 380 is the better choice.

 

Absolutely don't worry: I didn't take it as an insult I took it as practical advise. One that I would actually consider if I was not heavily invested in PC gaming already.

 

And well I've been giving it some thought and I have to take into consideration the cards available right now in local stores (Xmas makes it impossible to get anything shipped in a timely matter and I don't wanna wait until january without nothing) so I think I'll go with the 950 from gigabyte since they also sell the 960 but the 2gb version and with the same cooler, so even though the performance would be better I actually want to try an extremely power efficient card since one of the reasons I struggle so much is that my city is unbereable hot during the summers and in my experience high end cards actually kill themselves faster because of the more aggressive cooling options needed.

So I'll try the 950 as a place holder until I possibly upgrade to a Pascal or Fiji midrange card in late 2016 or 2017.

[App4that]

That's a great card. Should work out really well for you.

[MEC-777]

Did something similar myself, though not quite to this extent. I didn't need to total raw power of crossfire 290's and was getting tired of dealing with the problems that combination brought with it as well as all the water cooling necessary to keep temps in check and went with a single 980 instead. 

 

Nothing wrong with a downgrade if you're not happy with your current setup and as long as what you end up with in the end suites your needs just fine.

[ivan134]

Yeah opinions are fine.

I'll clarify a few things

1) I say I am gaming more casually, not that I am using casual games. I mean I have a full time job and like to spend time watching videos so I don't do marathon sessions and don't care if I can't max out a game or not or 1440p or beyond

2) I know that's what consoles are for, but you're talking after all to someone who says has a gaming rig already, that means I have a large collection of PC games already. So saying "go to consoles" ins't feasible for me unless they can play my steam collection

So back on topic: prices are weird right now and the 380 and 960 are priced stupidly high right now over here, however I might consider a 960 4gb.

I was gonna say 380x until you said prices werr weird over there. I was then gonna say 950 id a solid choice, until i remebered dx 12 is around the corner. 380 gets my vote. You never know what new game might catch your interest in the future, even if you're only playing casualy now.

[MEC-777]

The 960 is pinched by it's narrow memory bus. If you do go for something better than a 950, go for a 380 or 380x. It is better value for your money.

[don_svetlio]

R9 380 4G is a good compromise

[Patrick Bateman]

downgrade is a bad idea... srsly.