GPU recommendations [Canada | 250-350$]

[Kamzook]

Hello,

 

I am looking for a new GPU.

 

Here are my specs : 

 

PSU - Seasonic 620 S12II Bronze

CPU - Intel i4-4770k

Motherboard - ASUS Z87-A

RAM - 16GB DDR3

GPU - EVGA GTX 780 3GB

Monitors - 25" 1080p

 

I mainly play simulator games that aren't as demanding as some AAA titles. The only AAA game that I play is GTA V, and my GTX780 is running it fine, I'm happy with the settings. The 780 is almost good enough to keep for a while longer but it's showing some signs of old age and starting to make some whining noises. I'd like to get something more recent that will last me for another 2-3 years.

 

My budget is anywhere from 250-350$, and I live in Canada.

 

I was consdering getting the 1060 6GB, I might upgrade to 4K later down the road and it seems to me like 3GB in 2017 is not a lot, I might regret not getting the 6GB version later on.

 

Are there better options for my price range? I really haven't kept up with GPUs. I'd prefer a NVIDIA one since a few games that I play seem to run much better on it.

 

Thanks for the help!

[owluitar]

Honestly, I'm a sucker for NVIDIA, so I would go for the 1060 6GB, and don't go for the 3GB, because you definitely will regret it eventually if you ever want to upgrade to 4K.

[Cyracus]

even if you don't upgrade to 4k some of the prettier games of late will go over 3gb vram at higher settings in 1080p, so I'd definitely say get a 1060 6gb or look for like a 980(ti) or used 1070 if you're fine with used parts

[Daniel Z.]

Used 980Ti or 580. The 580 is better/the same as the 1060 6GB with a lower price. Also, you could flip it to a miner if he/she is really dumb. 

[NotTheRelaxngEnd]

1 minute ago, Daniel Z. said:

Used 980Ti or 580. The 580 is better/the same as the 1060 6GB with a lower price. Also, you could flip it to a miner if he/she is really dumb. 

no, thaks to cryptominers the rx 580 is slighly more expensive than the 1060, but either way

[Daniel Z.]

Just now, NotTheRelaxngEnd said:

no, thaks to cryptominers the rx 580 is slighly more expensive than the 1060, but either way

Are you sure?

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/zwbkcf/msi-radeon-rx-580-4gb-armor-oc-video-card-rx-580-armor-4g-oc

 

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/pbL7YJ/evga-geforce-gtx-1060-6gb-gaming-video-card-06g-p4-6161-kr

 

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/sF648d/sapphire-radeon-rx-580-8gb-nitro-video-card-11265-01

 

Those are the cheapest 580 4g, 1060 6g, and 580 8g. Keep in mind the evga gaming single fan is a way worse cooler than the Armor or Nitro

[Cyracus]

3 minutes ago, Daniel Z. said:

The 580 is better/the same as the 1060 6GB with a lower price

the 4gb one, the cheapest 8gb one is $30 more in Canada

[Daniel Z.]

Just now, Cyracus said:

the 4gb one, the cheapest 8gb one is $30 more in Canada

$30 more for better performance, compute, and the possibility to flip the card is worth $30.

[Cyracus]

1 minute ago, Daniel Z. said:

Keep in mind the evga gaming single fan is a way worse cooler than the Armor or Nitro

temps aren't really an issue with the 1060, the single fan evga unit is perfectly adequate.

3 minutes ago, Daniel Z. said:

better performance... and the possibility to flip the card

they trade blows in games so not really. And a 1060 6gb is quite flippable

[Daniel Z.]

Just now, Cyracus said:

temps aren't really an issue with the 1060, the single fan evga unit is perfectly adequate.

they trade blows in games so not really. And a 1060 6gb is quite flippable

A good cooler is worth investing in, my GTX 960 runs at 1527mhz stable.

[Cyracus]

Just now, Daniel Z. said:

A good cooler is worth investing in, my GTX 960 runs at 1527mhz stable.

but... that cooler is fine for the 1060 as long as it has fresh air to draw in, but those 580s will fall on their face without fresh air as well. That evga cooler will allow the 1060 to hit 2000+ mhz on the core (silicon lottery willing) just as well as a dual or triple fan cooler.

[Daniel Z.]

Just now, Cyracus said:

but... that cooler is fine for the 1060 as long as it has fresh air to draw in, but those 580s will fall on their face without fresh air as well. That evga cooler will allow the 1060 to hit 2000+ mhz on the core (silicon lottery willing) just as well as a dual or triple fan cooler.

I wonder what you have against AMD. They have slightly better gaming performance with significantly better compute while being 30 snow rupees more. Also, it has an extra 8gb vram which will help it last longer.

[Cyracus]

12 minutes ago, Daniel Z. said:

I wonder what you have against AMD. They have slightly better gaming performance with significantly better compute while being 30 snow rupees more. Also, it has an extra 8gb vram which will help it last longer.

it has an extra 2gb vram, and nothing against AMD, except it's outside OPs preferred budget, and like I said it trades with the 1060 6gb depending on the game so you can't say the 580 is better, they're more or less equal. Also OP only expressed interest in gaming so compute doesn't matter (doesn't really matter in a lot of use cases outside of mining and folding@home and a few other compute specific things anyway, ie not gaming) So back to you, what do you have against nvidia?

[blitzilla]

The 3gb vs 6gb debate is out of proportion a 1060 6gb for 4k gaming? Hell no not enough power youll meed at minimum a 1070 and some game youll jave to drop it to medium low

The 1060 3gb doesnt run out of vram for what its intented to do. Tbe 1060 6gb jas a nice vram buffer but insufficiant power to run a game that requires  more than 3gb vram

 

That beeing said by an rx 580 4gb tehy are at 289$ atm on memory express/ newegg etc

[blitzilla]

The 3gb vs 6gb debate is out of proportion a 1060 6gb for 4k gaming? Hell no not enough power youll meed at minimum a 1070 and some game youll jave to drop it to medium low

The 1060 3gb doesnt run out of vram for what its intented to do. Tbe 1060 6gb jas a nice vram buffer but insufficiant power to run a game that requires  more than 3gb vram

 

That beeing said by an rx 580 4gb tehy are at 289$ atm on memory express/ newegg etc

Also i dont see the reasoning for a 300$video card on a 450+ monitor, 4k gaming is for enthusiast not cost effective.  

[Daniel Z.]

22 hours ago, Cyracus said:

it has an extra 2gb vram, and nothing against AMD, except it's outside OPs preferred budget, and like I said it trades with the 1060 6gb depending on the game so you can't say the 580 is better, they're more or less equal. Also OP only expressed interest in gaming so compute doesn't matter (doesn't really matter in a lot of use cases outside of mining and folding@home and a few other compute specific things anyway, ie not gaming) So back to you, what do you have against nvidia?

Nothing, I chose the 960 over the 280 cards for nvenc and some other stuff that I liked. For most people, the 580 will be better due to its VRAM and slightly better gaming performance.