Which GPU? NVidia vs AMD

[b_real90]

I wanted to buy a XFX 7870. (XFX because this card looks just awesome)

But now as the new R-Series was released I thought about getting a R9 270X like the one from ASUS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121802&Tpk=asus%20270x

 

A friend said, I should go Nvidia for features like PhysX, CUDA, etc.

 

A equivalent card to the R9 270X is the GTX760 from ASUS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121775

( the card is so small )

 

Now, which card is the better one? Or do you have other suggestions?

The card should have a black/red color scheme to fit in my build.

 

 

 

[wng_kingsley7]

I want to say if you can spend a bit more because..... if you know you can buy the best card at this present moment can last you a while longer TBH

[Vitalius]

"The card should have a black/red color scheme" then AMD no question.

AMD is better for multi-GPU solutions and preventing intermittent lag in gameplay. Nvidia is better for single GPU solutions and high average FPS gameplay. 

CUDA means nothing to you if you aren't going to be using things that involve it (that aren't gaming). PhysX is meh and can be emulated on your CPU at a performance hit along with less complexity. 

I'm going AMD because I'm going Crossfire. I would go Nvidia if I weren't planning on SLI/Crossfire. 

You get a wider selection of games from AMD too.

[piplupgao]

Well PhysX is not that big a deal and cuda's only useful for heavy editing

[xAcid9]

What is your budget? Under $300?

[wng_kingsley7]

Okay from what I can personally tell you if you go with Nvidia solution you in the future can grab a G-Sync compatible monitor but thats not the point right now

If you can find someone selling a 7970 from the red team it will be worth while over a 7870

[b_real90]

Yeah about 300$

[D3MON]

get a cheap 7950 and enjoy the games

[UnknownEngineer]

Going Nvidia just for the Physx is not good, depending on your CPU you can run Physx of that (i can run physx on high in Borderlands 2, I5 3570K @4.2Ghz). The CUDA should mean nothing unless you are using software that specifically benefits from it (rare). My recommendation is to go for the R9 series, or the 7870. Might not be as important of a question but what is the rest of your system like. 

[b_real90]

My other components are:

Gigabyte Z87 UD4H

Intel i5 4670K

and 8GB of RAM

[Meladath]

Get a cheap 7950 or a 7870 XT.

[Bonsai99]

The Club3d 7950 is red and black, don't know if you can get one in your area.

[b_real90]

The XFX 7950 costs a bit more than the R9 270X but is nearly at the same price level.

What do you recommend?

 

EDIT: I heard the 7950 is an OC-Beast?

[Wolfur]

AMD is better for multi-GPU solutions and preventing intermittent lag in gameplay.

 

Say what?

[Wolfur]

The XFX 7950 costs a bit more than the R9 270X but is nearly at the same price level.

What do you recommend?

 

EDIT: I heard the 7950 is an OC-Beast?

 

7950 > 7870XT > r9 270x (it's just rebadged 7870)

[juretrn]

"The card should have a black/red color scheme" then AMD no question.

 

Well, ASUS cards are also black/red. 

[b_real90]

Okay, thanks guys.

I'll get a XFX 7950 I think

[maazster]

Okay, thanks guys.

I'll get a XFX 7950 I think

Good choice!

[Vitalius]

Say what?

 

To oversimplify it, AMD GPU's have higher minimum FPS's but lower Average FPS's than equivalent tiered Nvidia GPU's who have lower minimum FPS's but higher average FPS's. 

What that means is that, when your FPS drops, AMD's handle it better than Nvidia GPU's do. This information is taken from a graph comparing the 7970 GHz edition to the Titan/780 in regards to frame timing. Which translates into FPS if you know how to do it.

Specifically this one:

Which basically says "AMD GPU's spend less time at their minimum FPS than equivalent tiered Nvidia GPU's do, even when comparing the 7970 GHz edition to a Titan."

And this one:

 

Which basically says "Nvidia GPUs spend more time at high FPS than equivalent tiered AMD GPUs do."

Which is why I said what I did.

Well, ASUS cards are also black/red. 

True, but AMD would offer more options in general.

[BYOGamingPC]

The XFX Double D Radeon HD 7950 Black Edition is a good choice. I have a GTX 760 and it's not worth paying more for less. Unless you're doing rendering or editing, you generally don't need CUDA cores.