Just sold my Radeon 6870. Now... in search for a new GPU

[Formhault]

Hey guys!

 

So, I started a topic on this matter a while back, but I said to myself I'd better create a new thread rather than resurrect an old one, since the main idea now is a bit different than the one from that initial topic. By the way, this is the topic I am talking about.

 

I just sold my Gigabyte Radeon 6870 for about 80 USD - I bought it in February for 72 USD (lol). I sold it because I hate the driver support (or lack thereof), plus it doesn't really drive Unreal Tournament 3 with everything on ultra on 1080p (am no longer on 1440x900, yay - yeah, no 2K for me, hold your tomatoes). Now... I'm not sure what I should buy.

 

Bear in mind that I have an AMD FX-6300 CPU (stock clock for now) and a Super Flower SF-550P14XE 550W (gold certificate). I'd go for a R9 280X - found one for a good price, I'd say (about 190 USD), but I'm not sure if my PSU would be able to handle it? It is a gold certified power supply, afterall, but still...

 

If not that, something from NVIDIA - which I'd rather go for, since I know their drivers are much better, and besides, the newer versions (960, 970? rather 960 for my budget) are smart and don't ramp up the fans if the temps are alright...

 

What do you guys say?

 

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In the mean time, I'm probably going to get a GTX 960 STRIX from the store, see how everything goes and... wait for you guys to chime in. I'll return it in about 2~3 weeks, until then I think we'll have reached a conclusion here

[The Official Czex]

A 280X would be a great choice.

 

And, yes, your PSU can handle it. It's a SuperFlower unit, one of the best OEM' s around (up there with SeaSonic and Delta).

[don_svetlio]

R9 380(X)

[Jamdude]

Nvidia drivers aren't that much better.  Your PSU can handle the 280X, go for that over the 960.

 

EDIT: @Formhault, please follow your topics.

[don_svetlio]

Your PSU is fine, it can handle any single GPU on the market.

From using my 860M and it's drivers, I can sort of say Nvidia's drivers have been a headache.

[Formhault]

Ookay, wasn't expecting that. So, team red, hurray

 

Okay. Scatching that GTX 960 order.

 

Is the R9 280X just a rebranded 7970? Found one for about 25 USD cheaper than a R9 280X. I mean that 280X must have some aces up its sleeve...

[don_svetlio]

Ookay, wasn't expecting that. So, team red, hurray

 

Okay. Scatching that GTX 960 order.

 

Is the R9 280X just a rebranded 7970? Found one for about 25 USD cheaper than a R9 280X. I mean that 280X must have some aces up its sleeve...

7970 is a 280X core yes

280X usually has higher clocks and most of the times OCs further but not by much. A R9 380X beats it by a bit, uses way less power and has VASTLY superior Tess performance

[Formhault]

Powercolor R9 280X for 850 RON (~205 USD). Or ASUS Radeon R9 280X DirectCU II for about the same price, with warranty? I've heard some pretty good things about Powercolor - like... they're top notch but nobody cares about them.

 

I'd rather go for the ASUS one, as it also packs warranty until 2017, right?

[Formhault]

7970 is a 280X core yes

280X usually has higher clocks and most of the times OCs further but not by much. A R9 380X beats it by a bit, uses way less power and has VASTLY superior Tess performance

 

There are no R9 380X'es to be found on OLX (that Craigslist like website). Only in store - these two. They're 380, actually.

 

Is any of those two 380's worth 255 USD, or that R9 280X DirectCU II for 205 USD?

[don_svetlio]

There are no R9 380X'es to be found on OLX (that Craigslist like website). Only in store - these two. They're 380, actually.

 

Is any of those two 380's worth 255 USD, or that R9 280X DirectCU II for 205 USD?

Personally, I'd go for a 380 since it's cooler, quieter and performs Tessellation vastly better (something Nvidia use to cripple AMD cards in Nvidia Gayworks titles) but the 280X will be a solid 15% faster.

Avoid Asus and Gigabyte

[Nena Trinity]

380 to 380X or above is a good idea!

[Formhault]

Personally, I'd go for a 380 since it's cooler, quieter and performs Tessellation vastly better (something Nvidia use to cripple AMD cards in Nvidia Gayworks titles) but the 280X will be a solid 15% faster.

Avoid Asus and Gigabyte

 

So... 280X is 15% faster than a 380, and 55 USD cheaper.

 

But... a 380 is cooler than a 280X.

 

Okay. How does a 280X compare to Gigabyte Radeon 6870 (OC Edition) in terms of cooling & such? I mean my 6870 was idling at about 46 C, and wouldn't exceed 60 C in Unreal Tournament 3.

[don_svetlio]

So... 280X is 15% faster than a 380, and 55 USD cheaper.

 

But... a 380 is cooler than a 280X.

 

Okay. How does a 280X compare to Gigabyte Radeon 6870 (OC Edition) in terms of cooling & such? I mean my 6870 was idling at about 46 C, and wouldn't exceed 60 C in Unreal Tournament 3.

280X performs better only when you don't have Tessellation. in Witcher 3 a 380 would be the same or better.

A R9 380 from Sapphire stay around 62*C whereas a 280X from Asus around 75*C (Asus are bad when it comes to AMD hardware)

[Formhault]

380 to 380X or above is a good idea!

 

This is the cheapest 380X I can find. About 300 USD. Compared to 255 USD (380) and 205 USD (280X).

[Formhault]

280X performs better only when you don't have Tessellation. in Witcher 3 a 380 would be the same or better.

A R9 380 from Sapphire stay around 62*C whereas a 280X from Asus around 75*C (Asus are bad when it comes to AMD hardware)

 

75 C... that's pretty high temp. My case doesn't have good cooling (I tried my best, but still), so a GPU that hot would make my CPU run hotter and, eventually, the temp in my whole case would be higher.

 

Okay. What about that 380X I linked in the above post?

[Nena Trinity]

This is the cheapest 380X I can find. About 300 USD. Compared to 255 USD (380) and 205 USD (280X).

Well 280X that cheap is awesome! o3o (280X > 380 but 280X < 380X)

[don_svetlio]

75 C... that's pretty high temp. My case doesn't have good cooling (I tried my best, but still), so a GPU that hot would make my CPU run hotter and, eventually, the temp in my whole case would be higher.

 

Okay. What about that 380X I linked in the above post?

Gigabyte AMD cards are utter tosh

[Formhault]

Well 280X that cheap is awesome! o3o (280X > 380 but 280X < 380X)

 

So, I'd rather squeeze an extra hundred bucks for a 380X and be done for a few years to come

 

I don't game that much. All I care for is smooth UT3 and eventually UT4 (when that **** comes out...), I'm not gonna be playing the triple A titles like I used to.

[Formhault]

Gigabyte AMD cards are utter tosh

 

Utter tosh? You mean crap?! :\

 

Well, if Gigabyte is as bad as you say it is, then the next one on the list is this 380X, by Asus. Which is 30 USD more expensive than the Gigabyte 380X one... so right now we're talking 330 USD.

[don_svetlio]

Utter tosh? You mean crap?! :\

 

Well, if Gigabyte is as bad as you say it is, then the next one on the list is this 380X, by Asus. Which is 30 USD more expensive than the Gigabyte 380X one... so right now we're talking 330 USD.

Go for a 380. Sapphire, MSI, XFX, Power Color, Club3D are all good

[Formhault]

Go for a 380. Sapphire, MSI, XFX, Power Color, Club3D are all good

So the 380X isn't worth 50 extra bucks huh?

Pick one from here? http://www.pcgarage.ro/placi-video/filtre/model-model-radeon-r9-380/

I'm from mobile otherwise I'd make hyperlinks for two of them lol.

I see that 380 and 380X both have a TDP of 190W. So there is no difference temperature wise?

Edit : nevermind. Better this : Https://www.price.ro/index.php?action=q&text=R9%20380&orderby=pret&asc=1

Shows much more stores. There are a few 380's almost as cheap as 2nd hand 280X's lol

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Is this MSI any good? It is pretty darn cheap also https://www.vexio.ro/placi-video/msi/78675-radeon-r9-380-2gd5t-oc/

[Nena Trinity]

So, I'd rather squeeze an extra hundred bucks for a 380X and be done for a few years to come

 

I don't game that much. All I care for is smooth UT3 and eventually UT4 (when that **** comes out...), I'm not gonna be playing the triple A titles like I used to.

Then I bet the 280X or 380 should do? The 280X has a nice thing called 3GBs of VRAM! 

[don_svetlio]

So the 380X isn't worth 50 extra bucks huh?

Pick one from here? http://www.pcgarage.ro/placi-video/filtre/model-model-radeon-r9-380/

I'm from mobile otherwise I'd make hyperlinks for two of them lol.

I see that 380 and 380X both have a TDP of 190W. So there is no difference temperature wise?

Edit : nevermind. Better this : Https://www.price.ro/index.php?action=q&text=R9%20380&orderby=pret&asc=1

Shows much more stores. There are a few 380's almost as cheap as 2nd hand 280X's lol

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Is this MSI any good? It is pretty darn cheap also https://www.vexio.ro/placi-video/msi/78675-radeon-r9-380-2gd5t-oc/

It's good but only has 2GB of VRAM. Go for 4GB if possible

[Formhault]

Then I bet the 280X or 380 should do? The 280X has a nice thing called 3GBs of VRAM!

Well then, go for a 4GB 380/380X? I wouldn't want the 280X, if it gets hot... If a 380(X) runs cooler, I'd rather go for that.

[Formhault]

It's good but only has 2GB of VRAM. Go for 4GB if possible

This one? It is about 50 USD more over the 2 GB one.

https://www.vexio.ro/placi-video/asus/81728-vga-asus-r9-380-4gb-strix-gaming-oc/?ref=pricero&utm_source=price-ro&utm_medium=pricegrabbers&utm_campaign=Placi+video&utm_content=Asus&utm_term=Strix+OC+AMD+Radeon+R9+380%2C+4GB+GDDR5%2C+256-bit

I assume a 380X is just a bit faster than the 380? A tiny bit - a bit I don't really need...