What GPU should I get? - UPDATE

[MeesterJackson]

Ok so I've got these three cards here, and I'm having the hardest time choosing which one to go with my new build. 

 

I'd like a good measure of price to performance with these. 

 

EVGA GTX 760 SC'd ACX 4GB - $260

EVGA GTX 770 SC'd ACX 2GB - $410

R9 280X 3GB (Non-Reference, OC'd to whatever the max a certain brand is offering for) - $300?

 

I like PhysX but again I'm looking for a price to performance card, and the 770 is a bit over my budget (that I WOULD LIKE to spend), however in my new build I have a FX 8320 in it, so the AMD card could run the PhysX off the CPU which has 8 cores so would that be a major factor? Since PhysX runs ON the Nvidia card making it less power consuming for the entire computer.

 

The reason I picked the 4GB 760 is because If I DID pick this, I'd later SLI it with another getting power similar to a Titan (The only problem with this is that multiple GPU's has always had it's downsides and that's what worries me, I'd like to have less problems as possible). However, If I picked the 760 I wouldn't SLI it for a bit of time (a couple of months) and wouldn't have that extra horsepower right away from the 770 or the 280X....course I may Crossfire the 280X, but that probably wouldn't happen for more than a couple of months due to the 280X being more powerful than the 760 and I can wait it out a bit more. 

 

I'm so confuzzled lol. 

 

UPDATE - People, I am NOT interested in the Standard 7970. It is obviously weaker than the 280X because the 280X is a Rebranded GHz Edition of the 7970, and I am not interested in the original 7970 GHz Edition because the cheapest one on Amazon is like 375 when the 280X is 300 dollars (at tops it will probably be 350 for a non-reference oc'd card for even higher than 1GHz). Why would it be a good Idea to get the standard 7970 when I'm losing performance, and why would I get the 7970 GHz Edition when it's a lot more expensive than it's Rebranded 280X Version!?

[sonarctica]

You should get the one that says "wait for the benchmarks"

 

Oh and go for a single GPU solution rather than SLI/XFire, depends on your budget really but for pure horsepower, SLI 770 trashes the titan.

[nishank93]

Just get a 7970 (which is allegedly the same as the 280X) because they're super cheap now, and CrossfireX it later when/if you need more power.

[MeesterJackson]

You should get the one that says "wait for the benchmarks"

280X = Rebranded 7970GHz....Probably not THAT much of a performance increase to be honest unless you're actually getting the non reference versions....which is what I'm doing lol. Even in that case though, probably still not THAT much of a jump, just a better price. 

[MeesterJackson]

Just get a 7970 (which is allegedly the same as 280X), and CrossfireX it later when you need more power.

It's more expensive if I do that. 7970's are over 300 dollars (a good one is). 280X is 300 dollars (possibly 10 dollars more for a OC'd non ref) 

[MeesterJackson]

You should get the one that says "wait for the benchmarks"

 

Oh and go for a single GPU solution rather than SLI/XFire, depends on your budget really but for pure horsepower, SLI 770 trashes the titan.

If I ever got the 770, I don't think I'd ever SLI it to be honest. 800 dollars ain't worth it, I'd rather just have the same performance as a Titan for roughly 600 dollars from the dual 760s in that case. 

[nishank93]

It's more expensive if I do that. 7970's are over 300 dollars (a good one is). 280X is 300 dollars (possibly 10 dollars more for a OC'd non ref) 

A 7970 is about 10 to 15% slower in some games than a 770, but is 100$ less. I'd say it is better value than the 770. And I only said you could add another card just in case you need more performance.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention, free games (if you're interested in that sort of thing).

[MeesterJackson]

A 7970 is about 10 to 15% slower in some games than a 770, but is 100$ less. I'd say it is better value than the 770. And I only said you could add another card just in case you need more performance.

...Again, the 280X is going to be cheaper than a standard 7970 and it's newer (meaning more driver support and newer updates) for the same performance as the Ghz Ed of the 7970 (which the Ghz Ed is still pretty expensive, last I checked isn't it still 400 dollars roughly?) The 280X is said to be 300 dollars, a OC'd non-reference is STILL going to be cheaper than a original 7970 GHz Ed. 

 

In conclusion....getting a 280X seems like my best bet so far, and If I want more power, then eventually Crossfiring it sounds like a good idea sometime in the future. 

 

-UPDATE: In response to your free games, AMD said they were going to do something similar to "continue" their "Never Settle Forever" Bundle that they have going on currently, meaning that the new cards will probably also have this deal too in a somewhat similar way I guess. 

[JoshM]

A 7970 is about 10 to 15% slower in some games than a 770, but is 100$ less. I'd say it is better value than the 770. And I only said you could add another card just in case you need more performance.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention, free games (if you're interested in that sort of thing).

And the 7970 overlocks well, which smashes a 770

[MeesterJackson]

And the 7970 overlocks well, which smashes a 770

I know this. But that's the standard 7970, and yes I know you can OC it to 1GHz. But again, the 280X IS the GHz edition, meaning it IS already past 1GHz, and you could even OC it further. 

[91wow]

Get a 7970GHZ edition since you will be getting more games with it than a 280X and it will be cheaper for a higher end cooler on the 7970GHZ the $300 is for reference cards and at launch or even a month or two down the line the 280X from asus or HIS will be around $325-$350. The HIS 7970 3Gb is best bang for buck right now really at $330 and radeon gold that has 3 free games whilst the 280X will be at silver level so will only get 2 games. You are saving money and probable getting more performance with the high end 7970GHZ from HIS than with a lower end cooler that would be at the same price at launch! (Also 2 of these at $660 would eat a titan up and spit it out, they are amazing cards!)

[91wow]

...Again, the 280X is going to be cheaper than a standard 7970 and it's newer (meaning more driver support and newer updates) for the same performance as the Ghz Ed of the 7970 (which the Ghz Ed is still pretty expensive, last I checked isn't it still 400 dollars roughly?) The 280X is said to be 300 dollars, a OC'd non-reference is STILL going to be cheaper than a original 7970 GHz Ed. 

 

In conclusion....getting a 280X seems like my best bet so far, and If I want more power, then eventually Crossfiring it sounds like a good idea sometime in the future. 

 

-UPDATE: In response to your free games, AMD said they were going to do something similar to "continue" their "Never Settle Forever" Bundle that they have going on currently, meaning that the new cards will probably also have this deal too in a somewhat similar way I guess. 

The driver thing is wrong, if you are going to have the 280X for 4+ years then it's a little true but not much. The 7000 series will be getting updates for 3-4 years, the 5000 series still gets driver support to help in new games to this day! 

[coen113]

wait until the 11th, more info should come out about the r9 whatever series

[BYOGamingPC]

I'd get the ASUS DirectCU II HD7970-DC2-3GD5.

[MeesterJackson]

I'd get the ASUS DirectCU II HD7970-DC2-3GD5.

That's very expensive, I might as well get the GHz Ed. 

[MeesterJackson]

The driver thing is wrong, if you are going to have the 280X for 4+ years then it's a little true but not much. The 7000 series will be getting updates for 3-4 years, the 5000 series still gets driver support to help in new games to this day! 

I know older GPU's still get support, I'm saying that because the Technology is NEWER in the R9 series, you can see even more performance gains. 

[MeesterJackson]

Get a 7970GHZ edition since you will be getting more games with it than a 280X and it will be cheaper for a higher end cooler on the 7970GHZ the $300 is for reference cards and at launch or even a month or two down the line the 280X from asus or HIS will be around $325-$350. The HIS 7970 3Gb is best bang for buck right now really at $330 and radeon gold that has 3 free games whilst the 280X will be at silver level so will only get 2 games. You are saving money and probable getting more performance with the high end 7970GHZ from HIS than with a lower end cooler that would be at the same price at launch! (Also 2 of these at $660 would eat a titan up and spit it out, they are amazing cards!)

Ok, so dude, I just looked up the GHz Ed. It's over 370 dollars on Amazon for the cheapest one. The R9 280X is 300 dollars and it's a rebranded Ghz Edition. Why spend the extra 70 dollars on the older card when I can buy the newer one? I don't like buying Reference cards usually because most of the time the cooling isn't that great compared to non-reference. I'd rather pay 350 and save money for a newer 7970 Ghz Ed (280X) than buy an older version of the card at like 375. 

[lachyman]

Just get a 7970 for less than $280...

[MeesterJackson]

Just get a 7970 for less than $280...

Ok, like I've been telling the other guys, the R9 280X is a rebranded GHZ EDITION. NOT the STANDARD 7970. It's 300 dollars compared to the cheapest Ghz Edition on Amazon for 375 dollars, and it will obviously out perform a standard 7970 because it's based of the Ghz Edition. For 20 dollars more, that is a steal, I was deciding this, or the Nvidia cards because of PhysX. I am not interested in the 7970. 

[lachyman]

Ok, like I've been telling the other guys, the R9 280X is a rebranded GHZ EDITION. NOT the STANDARD 7970. It's 300 dollars compared to the cheapest Ghz Edition on Amazon for 375 dollars, and it will obviously out perform a standard 7970 because it's based of the Ghz Edition. For 20 dollars more, that is a steal, I was deciding this, or the Nvidia cards because of PhysX. I am not interested in the 7970.

1. Every 7970 can be Ghz in 2 SIMPLE STEPS

2. $300 is the BASIC price for ref. solution, if you want DCU II or TF IV, you can expect $350.

3. Diffirence in a standard 7970 and Ghz ed. is a MARGIN OF ERROR

[Arun46682]

i would advice getting a new R9 280X if it really Perform well (probably have to wait for Benchmarks) + That true Audio technology is worth to see what it offers if it really works good  + u r getting FX8320 in ur build so mantle API support,good for amd tittles. otherwise if u r into physx kind of stuff then get gtx 770 and dont know if that mantle api gonna work with amd current gen gpu and whatsoever, but i dont know Price diff between hd7970 and gtx 770 so cant really say about it.At my place not huge diff in both cards price so people opt for gtx 770  

[MeesterJackson]

i would advice getting a new R9 280X if it really Perform well (probably have to wait for Benchmarks) + That true Audio technology is worth to see what it offers if it really works good  + u r getting FX8320 in ur build so mantle API support,good for amd tittles. otherwise if u r into physx kind of stuff then get gtx 770 and dont know if that mantle api gonna work with amd current gen gpu and whatsoever, but i dont know Price diff between hd7970 and gtx 770 so cant really say about it.At my place not huge diff in both cards price so people opt for gtx 770  

It's a huge difference lol. Bout' 100 dollars or so difference. 

[Arun46682]

It's a huge difference lol. Bout' 100 dollars or so difference. 

yea but i am talking abt my place its all messed up here

 

then i would go for hd7970 becoz Ocing Almost perform like gtx 770.

Edited October 7, 2013 by Arun46682

[MeesterJackson]

yea but i am talking abt my place its all messed up here

 

then i would go for hd7970 becoz Ocing Almost perform like gtx 770.

You mean the R9 280X right? Also that doesn't have true audio on the 260X, 290 and 290X do. 

[mgsstar]

I would get the R9 280X since they are coming out soon.