Best Bang-for-Buck Graphics: Xeon x3370 / 20GB RAM / 256B SSD

[newParadigm]

Just finished putting together a system (mostly) from the scrap pile at work. Specs are as follows:

Xeon x3370 (Quad-Core, 12M Cache, 3.0GHz, Socket 775, Core2 era chip)
20GBs DDR3 1600 RAM
256GB Mushkin ECO3 SSD (this was purchased new)
Antec 500w PSU

Basically, I don't want to waste money on a GPU that outpaces the rest of the system due to bottlenecks. I expect the largest of which are PCIe 2.0 and the older CPU platform.

Thoughts? I was considering either a GeForce GTX 760, or a Radeon 290/390... (If it matters, I have about $100 in this system at this point, and would prefer to spend $200 or less for graphics).

 

[NTMBK]

Even a 390 would probably be overkill for that system... it's basically the same as a Q9650, right? An R9 380 would be my recommendation.

 

[poofyhairguy]

4GB 380. Here is one for $170 AR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150730&Tpk=N82E16814150730

 

[newParadigm]

Even a 390 would probably be overkill for that system... it's basically the same as a Q9650, right? An R9 380 would be my recommendation.

Yes, essentially the same chip, they're just cheaper / more available.

Any advantage of R380 vs R280 (if I found a really good deal on a 280 say...) . My understanding is that the 2xx to 3xx transition was just a die-shrink...

 

[MrTeal]

Yes, essentially the same chip, they're just cheaper / more available.

Any advantage of R380 vs R280 (if I found a really good deal on a 280 say...) . My understanding is that the 2xx to 3xx transition was just a die-shrink...

It's not a die shrink; they're both 28nm. The 280X is the same chip as the 7970, and has 3GB vram. The 380X is a newer chip and has several advantages over the 280X, but some other disadvantages as well. At 1080p the 280X is probably a little quicker, while at higher resolution the 380X will be faster. The 380X also uses less power and has more display features.

Either way, the differences between the two will probably be muted a bit by the low performance of your CPU in modern games. You'd never notice a difference in actual games between the two.