Yet another GPU picking thread

[Laquer Head]

The time has come for a proper GPU.

Using a 7750 right now and well...yah.

What are some recommendations in a $400 max budget (Canadian Dollars$)

Im not necessarily looking for crossfire or sli, just a good solid card that will hopefully carry me through for a while. I'm not partial to Nvidia or whatnot, so open to recommendations.

Rig is in the sig below!

 

[voyagerfan99]

If you can spring a little over that, I'd get a GTX 970
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487136&cm_re=gtx_970-_-14-487-136-_-Product

Otherwise I'd get a GTX 960. Even just this card will be leaps and bounds better than a 7750.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125777&cm_re=gtx_960-_-14-125-777-_-Product

 

[Laquer Head]

Ok sweet.

Any feelings on the 300-series of amd cards

 

[voyagerfan99]

I'm an nVidia person myself, so maybe someone like @spirit can give an opinion on that

 

[beers]

They're all rebrands of the 200 series cards with slightly higher clock speeds. The 290/390 trades with the base 980 and 970 depending on the game.

 

[C4C]

300 series does very well. My friend has a 370 and it performs about the same as my 280X.

Really is a personal thing to choose. I lean towards Radeon cards because they cost less. I've built one machine with a 780 and the customer liked it a lot when playing intensive games.

 

[Darren]

300 series does very well. My friend has a 370 and it performs about the same as my 280X.

The R9 380 is still slightly slower than the 280X. Your 280X should walk all over it. How were you comparing them?

AMD cards typically use more power and produce more heat, although that difference isn't as much now as it was a few years ago. In my experience, Nvidia cards actually run hotter from the few I've checked in person. Power consumption is a bit heavier on the AMD side. AMD cards are better at mining, if that matters to you.

Nvidia is considered to have better drivers than AMD, but that again was more of an issue a few years back than now. Both will have good and bad drivers, although I'd still say Nvidia's are slightly more reliable. I've only had a couple drivers over 4+ years of AMD GPU's in my machines that had a problem. The issues were usually fixed within a patch or two though and pretty minor. Nvidia does have some specific technologies like PHYSX, but I wouldn't consider them worth sticking to one brand for them alone.

Price wise, it really just depends on your budget and the market at the time. I'd say find the best performance card at your price point and go with it. I personally prefer AMD cards just due to having used them more and I'd like to see them succeed.

 

[Okedokey]

Second hand 980 or 780Ti

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Evga-gtx-980-/262083335253?hash=item3d05625455

A 780Ti will be faster than a 970 and within your budget second hand.

 

[spirit]

Yeah the above is a good option, a used 780 Ti or something similar wouldn't be a bad idea. If you want new then a GTX 970 or 980 (budget depending) or R9 380X/390, again see what you can get for your money. The Radeons are usually cheaper than the GeForces.