New GPU

ninjabubbles3

Active Member
I'm purchasing a new GPU very soon, and I have a couple of different option.

They will be used for LoL, Warframe(which doesn't run well right now), and TF2, as well as some War Thunder occasionally.

First option :http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr7250x1gbd5he

PowerColor 250X. This card is extremely cheap, but it has no reviews. I'm a bit worried as I've never heard of this brand. Does anyone have experience with them?

Second option: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-r7250x1gd5

Asus 250X. More expensive, but also a 5 star review. I know Asus makes good stuff, but the price is quite a bit more.

Third option: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-1003662l

Sapphire 260X with good reviews. Marginally more expensive than the Asus. Also I'm fairly sure Sapphire is a good brand.

Fourth option: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202113

Sapphire HD 6970. Older cards, but more powerful. Also good reviews and cheap.

Which one do you guys think I should go with? If you have a different suggestion, please let me know and post a link
 
Powercolor is generally considered more of a budget manufacturer, but since you're not buying a 290X or something you'd probably be fine with that. For your uses I'd just got with that. The 6970 seems to have several DOA cards and I'd be a bit leery of an old chip thats being released as "new".

Obviously the 260X will be faster. If the price jump is worth it to you, go for it.

Personally I'd just get the PowerColor and be done with it. 50 bucks for a card like that is pretty good.

Edit: After some digging the 6970 is about on par with a 270X... ish. Not bad and I can vouch for Sapphire as having a good RMA process if the card is bad. Might not be a bad option afterall.
 
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The 6970 is five years old now. You'd probably regret getting that I think so best to stick with the newer cards.

I think you should get a 260X or a 270X.

Edit: I see you went for the 6970.
 
The design of the cooler makes me think they just took some older PCB's laying around and put them with a newer cooler. They'll probably be fine. Not the most efficient card but it will get the job done and for how cheap they are it's a pretty good deal. You'll be happy with the performance out of one of those, especially coming from a 620. After some thinking I would wager you made the right decision, assuming power and heat aren't a concern.

As far is it just being "old" it doesn't really matter if he card itself is not used. The tech might be older but it makes up for it in brute force. The 6970 was no slouch back in the day.
 
Im fairly sure anything is better than a 620.

50 fps on 800 x 600 on warframe with minimal settings isn't fun

Thanks for making me feel better about my purchase

Its getting pretty hot in my room, so maybe a couple more case fans will be required in the future
 
Im fairly sure anything is better than a 620.

50 fps on 800 x 600 on warframe with minimal settings isn't fun

Thanks for making me feel better about my purchase

Its getting pretty hot in my room, so maybe a couple more case fans will be required in the future

That sounds horrendous. Yeah now you'll really see why people like PC gaming. :P

My computer and 2 monitors would heat up my room so bad during the summer that it would be pushing 83 degrees or so inside my room. During the winter it was pretty nice because it kept my room toasty. Even with all the case fans I have the only way I got my room to cool down was just prop the door open and have a fan blowing in during the summer.
 
The 6970 is slightly slower than the R9 270, it generally fell in between the 7870 and 7850. I believe the 270x was a 7870 GHz edition rebrand.

Should still have decent performance in most titles, although things like Battlefield at 1080p you'll have to turn down the settings a bit for.

I have an unlocked 6950 in my HTPC if you wanted to compare any games that might be being bottlenecked by the G3258.
 
The 6970 is slightly slower than the R9 270, it generally fell in between the 7870 and 7850. I believe the 270x was a 7870 GHz edition rebrand.

Should still have decent performance in most titles, although things like Battlefield at 1080p you'll have to turn down the settings a bit for.

I have an unlocked 6950 in my HTPC if you wanted to compare any games that might be being bottlenecked by the G3258.

Not like I play Battlefield though...

And also I don't have many games, 9/10 of my total games are free
 
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