Time for a new Graphics card...Thoughts?

[kofman13]

hi all.

My Visiontek 290x 4GB is biting the dust, overheating in one minute under load, warranty won't cover it. So i am looking to upgrade in the next month or so perhaps. I game on a ultrawide 2560 x 1080 LG freeesync monitor. (I really couldnt care less about free sync when i compared at home with v sync hence the following options).

I have had my eye on the ASUS GTX 1060 Strix 6GB recently as a possible option because of really impressive benchmarks vs other nvidia cards in same bracket and the rx480, and also it looks awesome and I am super impressed with the temperatures under load. (i am now super focused on cool temps because my last card's demise was that it was 90-92c under load for 2 years), i am reading that it's the coolest 1060? and lastly because it fits my budget.

But then I also heard good things about the EVGA 1060 6GB FTW, which is slightly cheaper but around the same price area ($280-300 at microcenter). But im worried that cooling might not be as good as the Strix since the FTW has two fans vs 3 in the Strix.

I have a lot of asus products like their network adapters, router, etc and always had great experience with the products. but i heard about some bad customer service stories with Asus.

So, Strix 1060 or 1060 FTW? or are there other better cards in that price range? Max. $300-$320ish.

[Starelementpoke]

2 minutes ago, kofman13 said:

hi all.

My Visiontek 290x 4GB is biting the dust, overheating in one minute under load, warranty won't cover it. So i am looking to upgrade in the next month or so perhaps. I game on a ultrawide 2560 x 1080 LG freeesync monitor. (I really couldnt care less about free sync when i compared at home with v sync hence the following options).

I have had my eye on the ASUS GTX 1060 Strix 6GB recently as a possible option because of really impressive benchmarks vs other nvidia cards in same bracket and the rx480, and also it looks awesome and I am super impressed with the temperatures under load. (i am now super focused on cool temps because my last card's demise was that it was 90-92c under load for 2 years), i am reading that it's the coolest 1060? and lastly because it fits my budget.

But then I also heard good things about the EVGA 1060 6GB FTW, which is slightly cheaper but around the same price area ($280-300 at microcenter). But im worried that cooling might not be as good as the Strix since the FTW has two fans vs 3 in the Strix.

I have a lot of asus products like their network adapters, router, etc and always had great experience with the products. but i heard about some bad customer service stories with Asus.

So, Strix 1060 or 1060 FTW? or are there other better cards in that price range? Max. $300-$320ish.

Where do you live that the 1060 costs $300? Go 480.

[Starelementpoke]

4 minutes ago, kofman13 said:

hi all.

My Visiontek 290x 4GB is biting the dust, overheating in one minute under load, warranty won't cover it. So i am looking to upgrade in the next month or so perhaps. I game on a ultrawide 2560 x 1080 LG freeesync monitor. (I really couldnt care less about free sync when i compared at home with v sync hence the following options).

I have had my eye on the ASUS GTX 1060 Strix 6GB recently as a possible option because of really impressive benchmarks vs other nvidia cards in same bracket and the rx480, and also it looks awesome and I am super impressed with the temperatures under load. (i am now super focused on cool temps because my last card's demise was that it was 90-92c under load for 2 years), i am reading that it's the coolest 1060? and lastly because it fits my budget.

But then I also heard good things about the EVGA 1060 6GB FTW, which is slightly cheaper but around the same price area ($280-300 at microcenter). But im worried that cooling might not be as good as the Strix since the FTW has two fans vs 3 in the Strix.

I have a lot of asus products like their network adapters, router, etc and always had great experience with the products. but i heard about some bad customer service stories with Asus.

So, Strix 1060 or 1060 FTW? or are there other better cards in that price range? Max. $300-$320ish.

Also, have you dusted the card out or anything? Reapplied thermal paste, check the fan curve?

[Tieox]

Been using Asus motherboard for a good while, never a problem.  Found their support staff when I've had questions regarding my sound drivers from them to be very fast to reply and not just copy+pasting responses.

 

My pick of the two would be the 480, to be honest also.  But I'm a bit of an AMD lover of GPU's.

[kofman13]

1 minute ago, Starelementpoke said:

Also, have you dusted the card out or anything? Reapplied thermal paste, check the fan curve?

I live in the US, On amazon the 1060 STRIX is $319, like $290 at microcenter, yeah its the more expensive than some other 1060s but good performance and reviews.

[kofman13]

4 minutes ago, Starelementpoke said:

Where do you live that the 1060 costs $300? Go 480.

Strix 480 8 gb? i watched some videos comparing and the 1060 strix is much cooler and has better fps. in most tests. I am not trying to save money i already put aside like $340 for a new card anyway =/.

[Joseph Hartness]

1 minute ago, kofman13 said:

I live in the US, On amazon the 1060 STRIX is $319, like $290 at microcenter, yeah its the more expensive than some other 1060s but good performance and reviews.

3gb 1060 or 6gb 1060?

[kofman13]

2 minutes ago, Kierax said:

Been using Asus motherboard for a good while, never a problem.  Found their support staff when I've had questions regarding my sound drivers from them to be very fast to reply and not just copy+pasting responses.

 

My pick of the two would be the 480, to be honest also.  But I'm a bit of an AMD lover of GPU's.

because of price or performance? I read/watched some reviews and comparisons today comparing the strix 480 8 gb and the strix 1060 6gb, and the 1060 was cooler temps under load and better fps everywhere. 

[Joseph Hartness]

1 minute ago, kofman13 said:

Strix 480 8 gb? i watched some videos comparing and the 1060 strix is much cooler and has better fps. in most tests. I am not trying to save money i already put aside like $340 for a new card anyway =/.

xfx is a good way to go for the rx 480

[Starelementpoke]

1 minute ago, kofman13 said:

I live in the US, On amazon the 1060 STRIX is $319, like $290 at microcenter, yeah its the more expensive than some other 1060s but good performance and reviews.

Bullshit. If you're spending $300 for a 1060, then just get a 1070 at that point. And that's easily a good more $80 than pretty much all the others. Either way, you're probably still better off getting a 480

 

Just now, kofman13 said:

Strix 480 8 gb? i watched some videos comparing and the 1060 strix is much cooler and has better fps. in most tests. I am not trying to save money i already put aside like $340 for a new card anyway =/.

Not a strix, get a 480 from MSI or XFX or someone else. Asus isn't that great for AMD.

[kofman13]

1 minute ago, Joseph Hartness said:

3gb 1060 or 6gb 1060?

I am looking at the asus strix 1060 6 GB

[Joseph Hartness]

1 minute ago, kofman13 said:

I am looking at the asus strix 1060 6 GB

How much does the xfx 480 cost in your country?

[kofman13]

1 minute ago, Starelementpoke said:

Bullshit. If you're spending $300 for a 1060, then just get a 1070 at that point. And that's easily a good more $80 than pretty much all the others. Either way, you're probably still better off getting a 480

 

Not a strix, get a 480 from MSI or XFX or someone else. Asus isn't that great for AMD.

Which brand of 1070 would you get thats kind of close to my budget?  but do i need a 1070 if im only doing 1080p?

[Starelementpoke]

Just now, kofman13 said:

because of price or performance? I read/watched some reviews and comparisons today comparing the strix 480 8 gb and the strix 1060 6gb, and the 1060 was cooler temps under load and better fps everywhere. 

Because A: You have a freesync monitor. B: They're neck and neck now, and have been with new drivers. C: Stop comparing only the strix, it might be the best 1060 one, but that's an extra $80, making it a stupid choice for a 1060. It is far from the best 480 card.

[kofman13]

1 minute ago, Joseph Hartness said:

How much does the xfx 480 cost in your country?

$269 for 480 8 gb XFX

[Starelementpoke]

Just now, kofman13 said:

Which brand of 1070 would you get thats kind of close to my budget?  but do i need a 1070 if im only doing 1080p?

no, but you shouldn't be spending $300 on a 1060 for 1080p either. Either get a cheaper 1060, or get a 480.

[MrPants_]

If you use freesync the performance difference won't really matter. I got a GTX 1060 6GB myself, but personally if i were you i'd go with the RX 480. 

[Starelementpoke]

1 minute ago, MrAwesomepants said:

If you use freesync the performance difference won't really matter. I got a GTX 1060 6GB myself, but personally if i were you i'd go with the RX 480. 

There's not even really one anymore, especially with the new drivers.

[Joseph Hartness]

1 minute ago, kofman13 said:

$269 for 480 8 gb XFX

Go for the xfx rx 480 but get this one the black edition http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814150773

[Edea]

I'd still pair a freesync monitor with AMD card over Nvidia. And no, definitely don't waste money on gtx 1070 for 1080p gaming. RX480 would be a solid choice and good value/performance.

[Starelementpoke]

4 minutes ago, kofman13 said:

$269 for 480 8 gb XFX

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/pvZ2FT/msi-radeon-rx-480-8gb-armor-8g-oc-video-card-rx-480-armor-8g-oc

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/7wgPxr/msi-radeon-rx-480-8gb-gaming-x-video-card-radeon-rx-480-gaming-x-8g

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/YHGj4D/sapphire-radeon-rx-480-8gb-nitro-video-card-11260-07

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/9rvZxr/xfx-radeon-rx-480-8gb-gtr-video-card-rx-480p8dba6

Any of those work, and are a good chunk cheaper. (To the strix 1060)

[Starelementpoke]

4 minutes ago, kofman13 said:

$269 for 480 8 gb XFX

But again, have you tried dusting out your 290 or reapplying the thermal paste? Or double checked the fan curve? Could be that it just needs a small clean out.

[kofman13]

if anyone here has a 480 8 gb, what brand and what temperatures do you get under load?

[kofman13]

1 minute ago, Starelementpoke said:

But again, have you tried dusting out your 290 or reapplying the thermal paste? Or double checked the fan curve? Could be that it just needs a small clean out.

My system was a pre built system and I still have the 3 year warranty so i left it at microcenter for them to check it and hopefully replace with equivalent but current gen card. but i they are kind insinuating they might not cover it because it works basically (just not under heavy load). if they don't want to do anything I will open it up and re apply thermals. I dust and vaccum my desktop every 1-2 weeks, and i have good airflow so its def something with thermal paste or something else inside the card. it was 88-90 c on full load since day one i got it.

[n00bmlg]

31 minutes ago, kofman13 said:

I live in the US, On amazon the 1060 STRIX is $319, like $290 at microcenter, yeah its the more expensive than some other 1060s but good performance and reviews.

Get it on Newegg