The age old question.

[evoLPC]

Current Build:

AMD FX 6100 Cpu 4.1ghz

AMD 7870XT w Boost

ASUS M5A97 MB

G.SKILL ARES RAM 16GB

RAIDMAX 850 WATT 80PLUS GOLD

ZALMAN 320 LIQUID CPU COOLER

120GB SSD BOOT

320GB TOSHIBA 7200RPM

1TB TOSHIBA 7200RPM

COOLER MASTER CM STORM STRYKER

Im posting today to get opinions on my planned upgrade around the beginning of the year. Im more concerned about performance and "future proofing" then money but am also not Donald Trump. This has presented me with the same ol problem, AMD vs. Intel/Nvidia. While most agree Intel has the edge over AMD in CPU performance I never saw the need to pay the "Intel tax" for a sometimes minor bump in performance. I have read articles and reviews online however stating that running an AMD CPU and Nvidia GPU together can cause compatibility/performance issues. Phsyx alone also never really persuaded me to spend more on a Nvidia GPU but now with G-sync technology my curiosity has spiked. However then we have the great unknown that is Mantle which is why im waiting to upgrade until Q1 2014. Im anxious to see what AMD has in store for us with Mantle especially having seen how the R9 290x stacks up against the twice as expensive Titan. I have as I see it 3 paths in front of me....

1. Upgrade CPU/MB either FX8350/i7 4770k and crossfire another 7870xt

2. Upgrade CPU/MB either FX8350/i7 4770k Upgrade GPU either R9 290/290x

3. Upgrade CPU/MB i7 4770k Upgrade GPU Nvidia 780ti then have to buy a G-sync capable monitor. (And eventually a Shield too)

I would eventually like to ditch the closed loop CPU cooler and do a full CPU/GPU custom loop and the 7870xt doesnt have a fitted water block on the market.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Please no fanboy fighting. Just trying to get the most bang for my buck without having to upgrade every month and without missing out on some great technologies whether it be AMDs new api or Nvidias smoother gameplay. We all remember when HD DVD was gonna beat blu ray right?

Thanks

[miyabwah]

3.

[Sarcasm]

4770K and 780Ti, no contest.

[SlaughterSmurf]

3

[helping]

3, but instead of the Gsync monitor, get a different (better) PSU. They will be reasonably cheap on black friday. 

[ACatWithThumbs]

If you want the R-9 290/X you should wait till they release aftermarket coolers.
If you don't mind not getting G-sync/Shield/shadowplay then go with AMD.

 

[KONA]

3 is the easy answer So much more awesome than the rest

[whatthe_fuzz]

3. By far

 

But get a high res monitor

[Hans Christian | Teri]

3, no doubt.

[Hammerhead]

3

[NohbdyKnows]

If you want the R-9 290/X you should wait till they release aftermarket coolers.

If you don't mind not getting G-sync/Shield/shadowplay then go with AMD.

 

He is going to watercool

 

So reference would be the way to go

[TheGhostVII]

3.

Easily.

[Ryan Leech]

I would go with an 8350 and the 780 Ti

[Najuno]

I am going with 3 and it's amazing!

 

Ok I run with watercooling buy even with air cooling this is die hard!

[aithos]

I just built #3 last night except I went with two reference graphics cards in sli.  Powering up tonight and doing software install, I'll have pics up in the build section hopefully later today!