Sapphire madness

[SJBijzitter]

Hey Linus and fans,

I need a new GPU (as I currently rock a 2GB HD 5570) and I want to get a new R9-series GPU. Now I am on a budget, as I don't really want to spend more than (around) 250 USD, so I was leaning towards the 270X.

There's a lot of variants, though, and I was wondering what the differences really mean in terms of usage and actual performance. I have seen a 2GB Toxic 270X with the same pricetag as a 4GB Dual-X 270X. The raw performance numbers seem to indicate the Toxic is 10% faster, but how does that weigh against the 100% memory increase the Dual-X brings? Then there's also Tri-X (which to me looks like it's the same as Toxic) and Vapor-X.

Now this is just the range that Sapphire provides, but I'm also quite a huge fan of Asus, how do I choose? I am looking for a card that will last me a good few years. I don't think games like BF4 currently use more than 2GB VRAM, but they might in the future and in that case, would it be better to buy the 4GB card now, or add an additional 2GB card later?

List of my hardware: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2u3Pe

I do not care about noise, so that really is not a factor to me when choosing a card.

Edited January 2, 2014 by SJBijzitter

[91wow]

The card can't use 4GBs of Vram and as such makes it useless. I think the regular 270 is still best bang for buck GPU as it does about as well in games as the 270X, i'd say shoot for the 270 and get something else like a small ssd for just games or a mechanical keyboard from cooler master.

[Jvagle875]

for 250, maybe grab a 760?

[WoodenMarker]

They're all about much the same once your overclock it yourself. Get whichever is cheapest or looks best.

[SJBijzitter]

The card can't use 4GBs of Vram and as such makes it useless. I think the regular 270 is still best bang for buck GPU as it does about as well in games as the 270X, i'd say shoot for the 270 and get something else like a small ssd for just games or a mechanical keyboard from cooler master.

I'll show my build as an edit to my opening post, hang on.

for 250, maybe grab a 760?

whats so special about the 760?

[CwGoh]

The 270X's GPU cannot utilise 4GB of RAM. Just get a good 270 with a competent cooler and overclock it yourself.

[Jvagle875]

270x is a 7870 where as a 760 trades blows with a 7950

[CwGoh]

I'll show my build as an edit to my opening post, hang on.

whats so special about the 760?

It's faster?

[SJBijzitter]

The 270X's GPU cannot utilise 4GB of RAM. Just get a good 270 with a competent cooler and overclock it yourself.

So either that online store is bullshitting me or they just made a typo?

[CwGoh]

270x is a 7870 where as a 760 trades blows with a 7950

But 7950s overclock like mad Loved the 7950. Great card.

[SJBijzitter]

It's faster?

I haven't really been keeping up with the last two-ish years when it comes to hardware so I really wouldn't know

[Guest GRRigger]

midrange became horribly overpriced, 270 / 7870 is very good deal for around 180$ or lower

 

760 is the next step, but its overpriced

this is kinda good deal for 760 after rebate 240$ http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx760dc2oc2gd5

[91wow]

I'll show my build as an edit to my opening post, hang on.

whats so special about the 760?

it's a bit faster, everyone says to buy it do to Gysnx and shadownplay. I'd much rather go AMD and save some money to put somewhere else as Gsynx is to much money and very few are going to use it, Mantle is a more viable product right now as it takes no additional hardware beyond the gpu you want to buy and raptr isn't bad it does the same things as GeForce Experience. Live streaming and recording both are better done by 3rd party software like OBS and DxTory over the built in ones in terms of features.

[CwGoh]

So either that online store is bullshitting me or they just made a typo?

There are 4GB versions of 270Xs but the GPU cannot utilise it. These SKUs are to trick uneducated customers

[91wow]

So either that online store is bullshitting me or they just made a typo?

no not really. They say it's 4GB but the GPU core won't be able to push resolutions or massive AA settings to even fill the 2GB on stock.

[SJBijzitter]

no not really. They say it's 4GB but the GPU core won't be able to push resolutions or massive AA settings to even fill the 2GB on stock.

There are 4GB versions of 270Xs but the GPU cannot utilise it. These SKUs are to trick uneducated customers

Ah well I'm happy I asked in that case.

Looking at this page, what would be your (@everyone reading) three most preferred GPUs?

http://tweakers.net/categorie/49/videokaarten/producten/#filter:PY7LCsIwEEX_5a67SNL0lQ8ouHDVpXQRmkEirS1JEbHk350ouhmYc-5w58AaHIXe0-xgsAV_iyi-cFjDzszGiclmrzT4F8FIIYocnOhsnzBKVb_V32HYRZpp2skNG00nF2EusiuUbvTIjlnv550C8wNK5fmwM4fQlFJwU9XWHcZUQDa6-2tUqqmR6YctuQtK6JYvlvwHZF22GimlNw

it's a bit faster, everyone says to buy it do to Gysnx and shadownplay. I'd much rather go AMD and save some money to put somewhere else as Gsynx is to much money and very few are going to use it, Mantle is a more viable product right now as it takes no additional hardware beyond the gpu you want to buy and raptr isn't bad it does the same things as GeForce Experience. Live streaming and recording both are better done by 3rd party software like OBS and DxTory over the built in ones in terms of features.

Okay thanks, and yeah i dont know why, but im also favouring amd for some reason.

[Guest GRRigger]

Okay thanks, and yeah i dont know why, but im also favouring amd for some reason.

Best reason ever.

 

Mantle is very good reason. Also recording option we will get, similar to shadowplay. Price at low end is very good reason, also overclocking.

[91wow]

Ah well I'm happy I asked in that case.

Looking at this page, what would be your (@everyone reading) three most preferred GPUs?

http://tweakers.net/categorie/49/videokaarten/producten/#filter:PY7LCsIwEEX_5a67SNL0lQ8ouHDVpXQRmkEirS1JEbHk350ouhmYc-5w58AaHIXe0-xgsAV_iyi-cFjDzszGiclmrzT4F8FIIYocnOhsnzBKVb_V32HYRZpp2skNG00nF2EusiuUbvTIjlnv550C8wNK5fmwM4fQlFJwU9XWHcZUQDa6-2tUqqmR6YctuQtK6JYvlvwHZF22GimlNw

Okay thanks, and yeah i dont know why, but im also favouring amd for some reason.

I like HIS my self, HIS, asus, msi, and Sapphire are all good brands you can'y really go wrong with.

[WoodenMarker]

There are 4GB versions of 270Xs but the GPU cannot utilise it. These SKUs are to trick uneducated customers

Not necessarily. For gaming, this may be true but for things like content creation, the extra vram can be used. 

[CwGoh]

Not necessarily. For gaming, this may be true but for things like content creation, the extra vram can be used. 

True, but rather rare IMO.

[CwGoh]

Ah well I'm happy I asked in that case.

Looking at this page, what would be your (@everyone reading) three most preferred GPUs?

http://tweakers.net/categorie/49/videokaarten/producten/#filter:PY7LCsIwEEX_5a67SNL0lQ8ouHDVpXQRmkEirS1JEbHk350ouhmYc-5w58AaHIXe0-xgsAV_iyi-cFjDzszGiclmrzT4F8FIIYocnOhsnzBKVb_V32HYRZpp2skNG00nF2EusiuUbvTIjlnv550C8wNK5fmwM4fQlFJwU9XWHcZUQDa6-2tUqqmR6YctuQtK6JYvlvwHZF22GimlNw

Okay thanks, and yeah i dont know why, but im also favouring amd for some reason.

Just get one with a good aftermarket cooler.

[SJBijzitter]

Just get one with a good aftermarket cooler.

Yeah I think I'm going for the Sapphire R9 270X 2GB GDDR5 TOXIC Boost:

http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/350997/sapphire-r9-270x-2gb-gddr5-toxic-boost.html

After checking some reviews it seems to run really cool and being fully backplated it also makes me feel a bit more comfortable.

[CwGoh]

Yeah I think I'm going for the Sapphire R9 270X 2GB GDDR5 TOXIC Boost:

http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/350997/sapphire-r9-270x-2gb-gddr5-toxic-boost.html

After checking some reviews it seems to run really cool and being fully backplated it also makes me feel a bit more comfortable.

Go for it then.

[jscho]

Get a 2GB 270 or 270X, Battlefield 4 at 1080p doesn't max out my 680s 2GB at Ultra. Probably hits 1.7-1.8 for me.

IMO any game at 1080p will be handled by 2GB comfortably. Only at higher resolutions will the extra RAM come in handy.

[HiTechObsessed]

The card can't use 4GBs of Vram and as such makes it useless. I think the regular 270 is still best bang for buck GPU as it does about as well in games as the 270X, i'd say shoot for the 270 and get something else like a small ssd for just games or a mechanical keyboard from cooler master.

Why is this always the immediate reaction here? The 256 bit bus gpus can use over 3GB of VRAM, so in NO way is a 4gb card worthless.

Especially given the potential crossfire in the future, the use of 3+gob will be much, much better than 2gb