Need advice choosing a GPU

[Psycosis86]

So I have been doing some research for a build I'm hoping to start soon. I have narrowed it down to two cards, the Sapphire Nitro R9 380X (R9 380X) and the EVGA GTX 960 FTW+ (GTX 960). My budget is $250 so I have been looking at cards in the $200-$250 range. From the research I have done, I am leaning towards the 380X. It appears to be a slightly better card for the same price. I will use it for 1080p gaming. I do not leave my computer on all the time, nor do I game everyday on it. So the extra power draw and heat from the 380X is really not a big concern for me. What I am looking for really, is a card that will hold its own for about 4-5 years before I need to replace it again. 

 

Please let me know what your thoughts are. If you have a better option in that price range let me know as well.

 

Future build specs:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TQ62gs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TQ62gs/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($219.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170 PRO GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($154.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: Corsair Gaming 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $616.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-18 19:46 EDT-0400

 

 

 

 

[Starelementpoke]

1 minute ago, Psycosis86 said:

So I have been doing some research for a build I'm hoping to start soon. I have narrowed it down to two cards, the Sapphire Nitro R9 380X (R9 380X) and the EVGA GTX 960 FTW+ (GTX 960). My budget is $250 so I have been looking at cards in the $200-$250 range. From the research I have done, I am leaning towards the 380X. It appears to be a slightly better card for the same price. I will use it for 1080p gaming. I do not leave my computer on all the time, nor do I game everyday on it. So the extra power draw and heat from the 380X is really not a big concern for me. What I am looking for really, is a card that will hold its own for about 4-5 years before I need to replace it again. 

 

Please let me know what your thoughts are. If you have a better option in that price range let me know as well.

 

Future build specs:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TQ62gs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TQ62gs/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($219.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170 PRO GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($154.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: Corsair Gaming 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $616.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-18 19:46 EDT-0400

 

 

 

 

380x stomps the 960. Little concerned about that psu though, it wouldn't happen to be the cx 600 would it?

[Moonzy]

3 minutes ago, Psycosis86 said:

 

neither the 960 or 380x can run games at 1080p with ultra settings smoothly, even today

it depends on your expectations, but both cards will be able to play games at 1080p for a long time

i recommend the 280x over 960, more performance

 

comments on build:

Spoiler

1) get 2x8gb sticks instead of 4x4gb, so u can expand in the future, if you dont plan to expand then its fine

2) 2tb hard disk gives better value per gb, i recommend that if you're fine with the extra cost

3) that psu seems sktchy... i recommend getting the EVGA Supernova G2 550W

 

[Psycosis86]

33 minutes ago, Starelementpoke said:

380x stomps the 960. Little concerned about that psu though, it wouldn't happen to be the cx 600 would it?

It is model gs 600. http://www.corsair.com/en-us/gs600w

31 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

neither the 960 or 380x can run games at 1080p with ultra settings smoothly, even today

it depends on your expectations, but both cards will be able to play games at 1080p for a long time

i recommend the 280x over 960, more performance

 

comments on build:

  Hide contents

1) get 2x8gb sticks instead of 4x4gb, so u can expand in the future, if you dont plan to expand then its fine

2) 2tb hard disk gives better value per gb, i recommend that if you're fine with the extra cost

3) that psu seems sktchy... i recommend getting the EVGA Supernova G2 550W

 

I forgot to mention it in my original post, but I do not expect to be gaming at ultra, but at the very least medium for demanding games and high for less demanding.

Also I would prefer 2x8gb but the QVL for that motherboard is not very long unfortunantly, and the price is good. Plus, I feel 16gb would last me quite a while anyways.  

[Citadelen]

A 380 easily beats a 960, a 380X even more so, it sometimes even close to a 970. Also, swap out your PSU with from SeaSonic or EVGA.

[Psycosis86]

Well it seems I was leaning in the right direction to begin with.

 

I will look into changing my PSU though. I want to go modular at some point to help with cable management, because my case really wasn't designed with cable management in mind.

[rose.thashton]

55 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

neither the 960 or 380x can run games at 1080p with ultra settings smoothly, even today

it depends on your expectations, but both cards will be able to play games at 1080p for a long time

i recommend the 280x over 960, more performance

 

comments on build:

  Reveal hidden contents

1) get 2x8gb sticks instead of 4x4gb, so u can expand in the future, if you dont plan to expand then its fine

2) 2tb hard disk gives better value per gb, i recommend that if you're fine with the extra cost

3) that psu seems sktchy... i recommend getting the EVGA Supernova G2 550W

 

Well that's strange because I happen to own a 380x and can run every game I throw at it in 1080p at ultra settings, minus very few.

[Moonzy]

7 minutes ago, rose.thashton said:

Well that's strange because I happen to own a 380x and can run every game I throw at it in 1080p at ultra settings, minus very few.

well i should mention that avg fps is above 60 = smooth, smooth can vary from person to person lol

well dont expect that card to do it for 4-5 years like the op wanted anyway

[Psycosis86]

I fully expect having to lower the quality as time goes on. But, I would be happy with a couple years of higher settings at least. I have a Radeon 5750 right now, so anything is going to give me a seriously improved gaming experience, lol.  

[rose.thashton]

50 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

well i should mention that avg fps is above 60 = smooth, smooth can vary from person to person lol

well dont expect that card to do it for 4-5 years like the op wanted anyway

didn't include it

but every game i try to run at 1080p with my 380x is over 60 fps always

[Moonzy]

47 minutes ago, Psycosis86 said:

I fully expect having to lower the quality as time goes on. But, I would be happy with a couple years of higher settings at least. I have a Radeon 5750 right now, so anything is going to give me a seriously improved gaming experience, lol.  

well go with the 380x

 

pro tip: quote the person when you reply them, or when you want their attention, that will send them a notification

 

2 minutes ago, rose.thashton said:

didn't include it

but every game i try to run at 1080p with my 380x is over 60 fps always

good for you then lol

my 970 ran some games with min fps below 60 in ultra settings, so im just assuming the 380x would fare slightly worse

depends on the games you play too i guess

[Lethal Seraph]

Why not Cryorig H7 for the CPU cooler? It's definitely better than EVO 212 if you can afford an extra $10

[rose.thashton]

12 minutes ago, rose.thashton said:

didn't include it

but every game i try to run at 1080p with my 380x is over 60 fps

 

9 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

well go with the 380x

 

pro tip: quote the person when you reply them, or when you want their attention, that will send them a notification

 

good for you then lol

my 970 ran some games with min fps below 60 in ultra settings, so im just assuming the 380x would fare slightly worse

depends on the games you play too i guess

I play pretty much everything. Minimum FPS hardly matters as long as there is an average, and the minimum FPS doesn't dip too far below that average. Also sounds like you may have just gotten a bad 970 or I got a good one.

[Moonzy]

1 minute ago, rose.thashton said:

Minimum FPS hardly matters

it dictates how stuttery the game is

 

and my 970 is fine, it does 1516 mhz lol

 

maybe im just being picky about fps

[rose.thashton]

2 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

it dictates how stuttery the game is

 

and my 970 is fine, it does 1516 mhz lol

 

maybe im just being picky about fps

Did you read more than a few words into my first sentence? wtf?

Quote

and the minimum FPS doesn't dip too far below that average.

 

You know what an average is, right? Matters a lot more than the minimum FPS unless the minimum FPS is super low.

[Moonzy]

3 minutes ago, rose.thashton said:

Did you read more than a few words into my first sentence? wtf?

 

You know what an average is, right? Matters a lot more than the minimum FPS unless the minimum FPS is super low.

i did

and most cases, with similarly performing dual gpu vs single gpu

the dual gpu's minimum framerates are lower thus becoming more stuttery

9 minutes ago, rose.thashton said:

minimum FPS doesn't dip too far below that average

refer to what i mentioned above

 

also, if i didnt finish reading it, how did i know you're blaming my 970 lol

[rose.thashton]

Just now, Moonzy said:

i did

and most cases, with similarly performing dual gpu vs single gpu

the dual gpu's minimum framerates are lower thus becoming more stuttery

refer to what i mentioned above

 

also, if i didnt finish reading it, how did i know you're blaming my 970 lol

Hmm, figure you were the type to skip over some words. I'm blaming your 970 because mine performs perfectly fine. In any case, I didn't think you read it completely/correctly because what you said was made entirely irrelevant due to what I said.

[Moonzy]

1 minute ago, rose.thashton said:

Hmm, figure you were the type to skip over some words. I'm blaming your 970 because mine performs perfectly fine. In any case, I didn't think you read it completely/correctly because what you said was made entirely irrelevant due to what I said.

well perhaps its my fault too because its 10am and im still awake  

anyway we're going off topic here so ima just stop

point gotten across anyway