Budget GPU

[mbryant]

So my GF's brothers got a gaming PC that the family got from a friend of theirs who used to game. I think it's an AMD system, not sure. I also don't really know what they play or if they care to max out settings. Their mom wants to get them a new GPU and honestly they ONLY thing I know about the system is that the DVD player in it was IDE. I'm not sure if there was a SATA to IDE adapter or not. I was going to suggest the GTX 950 I mean a 2GB card for $200 sounded good. It seems like a pretty good choice for "all around" 1080P gaming 

[don_svetlio]

200$ is beyond overpriced for a 950

For that kind of cash, R9 380 4G (it's around 170$)

[mbryant]

200$ is beyond overpriced for a 950

For that kind of cash, R9 380 4G (it's around 170$)

what's the down side of a sub $200 4GB card? I mean seeing as the 970 is $300 and "4GB". I don't know a whole lot about GPUS other than more gigs = good 

[PCBjon]

200$ is beyond overpriced for a 950

For that kind of cash, R9 380 4G (it's around 170$)

 

Wow wish I could pick up an R9 380 4g for $170 In Ireland its €256 which is $280

[don_svetlio]

what's the down side of a sub $200 4GB card? I mean seeing as the 970 is $300 and "4GB". I don't know a whole lot about GPUS other than more gigs = good 

970 is a 3.5GB card - the specs on it are falsified.

R9 380 is about 40% faster than a 950 and 15% faster than a 960

[NinjaJc01]

970 is a 3.5GB card - the specs on it are falsified.

R9 380 is about 40% faster than a 950 and 15% faster than a 960

970 has 4GB, it's just the other 0.5GB are far too slow to count as useful VRAM.

[mbryant]

Let's say the choices are a 960, 950 and 380 based only or performance alone, no NVIDIA or AMD preferences

[NinjaJc01]

Let's say the choices are a 960, 950 and 380 based only or performance alone, no NVIDIA or AMD preferences

R9 380.

[GreekPhantom]

Wow wish I could pick up an R9 380 4g for $170 In Ireland its €256 which is $280

in Greece a 380 costs 250 Euros  and the 970 350

[GreekPhantom]

R9 380.

The 4 gig model

[KemoKa]

970 has 4GB, it's just the other 0.5GB are far too slow to count as useful VRAM.

For all intents and purposes it has 3.5GB of VRAM, simply because once you hit 3.6GB, you framerate goes to hell because that last 512MB is slower than christmas.

[Overkilled]

970 is a 3.5GB card - the specs on it are falsified.

R9 380 is about 40% faster than a 950 and 15% faster than a 960

970 has 4GB, it's just the other 0.5GB are far

too slow to count as useful VRAM.

Pisses me off when people falsely say the 970 only has 3.5 gb

[KemoKa]

OP, you could always pick up a 7970, I know it only has a measly 3GB (because even 6GB isn't enough these days, apparently, UBISOFT.) but it tears through everything I've ever thrown at it. Even at 1440p!

[don_svetlio]

Let's say the choices are a 960, 950 and 380 based only or performance alone, no NVIDIA or AMD preferences

R9 380

[afyeung]

what's the down side of a sub $200 4GB card? I mean seeing as the 970 is $300 and "4GB". I don't know a whole lot about GPUS other than more gigs = good 

 

For all intents and purposes it has 3.5GB of VRAM, simply because once you hit 3.6GB, you framerate goes to hell because that last 512MB is slower than christmas.

You guys are giving him the 3.5 vram talk when he doesn't even know how a GPU WORKS smh. Basically, more expensive GPU's have more more cores/stream processors, ROPs, Texture Units, etc. which actually makes them faster. RAM doesn't increase performance

[KemoKa]

Pisses me off when people falsely say the 970 only has 3.5 gb

"It has 4GB, 3.5GB for ultra gaming, and another 512MB for Super-Backup VRAM! Just In Case You Need It! :D"

 

You can use that last bit of RAM to buffer a powerpoint presentation, I guess...?

[WangKe]

970 has 4GB, it's just the other 0.5GB are far too slow to count as useful VRAM.

Doesn't it also have a portion of its memory bit-bus thats also too slow to count as useful?

And yeah, for $200, a 950 is overpriced. Go with the r9 380.

[WangKe]

"It has 4GB, 3.5GB for ultra gaming, and another 512MB for Super-Backup VRAM! Just In Case You Need It! :D"

 

You can use that last bit of RAM to buffer a powerpoint presentation, I guess...?

That last bit of RAM prolly can't buffer the shit thats coming out of my ass.

[Overkilled]

"It has 4GB, 3.5GB for ultra gaming, and another 512MB for Super-Backup VRAM! Just In Case You Need It! :D"

 

You can use that last bit of RAM to buffer a powerpoint presentation, I guess...?

Yeah I'm fully aware so it's still 4gb regardless and that's why I hate when people say it only has 3.5

[NinjaJc01]

That last bit of RAM prolly can't buffer the shit thats coming out of my ass.

Hey, be nice, and polite...

[PCBjon]

in Greece a 380 costs 250 Euros  and the 970 350

Id pick the 380.

[mbryant]

Sorry didn't read all replies, they have a gtx 460 right now

[mbryant]

970 is a 3.5GB card - the specs on it are falsified.

R9 380 is about 40% faster than a 950 and 15% faster than a 960

Yeah I remember the whole 970 scandal lol, I thought it was stupid to sell a card with .5 gigs clocked slower than the rest

[mbryant]

I've told their mom to get either a 960 950 or 280 (4gb). Anything is an improvement from a 460

[don_svetlio]

I've told their mom to get either a 960 950 or 280 (4gb). Anything is an improvement from a 460

A 950 isn't that m much faster than a 460 really