gpu+psu upgrade

[Essence_of_War]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming on windows side, I play games like Heroes of the Storm, Civ5, SC2, skyrim, fallout 3/NV/4, witcher 2, batman arkham asylum/city, AC3, 4, rogue. Plan to use the GPU upgrade for Witcher3, Tomb Raider(s), Batman Arkham Knight, etc.

I run linux, currently ubuntu 16.04, for work stuff (scientific computing w/ python, octave and typesetting w/ LaTeX) and I'd like hardware acceleration for graphics.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

400 +/- 20% or so, so about ~300-500 USD.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.

Prefer Newegg, but will also buy from Amazon, B&H, and I have a Microcenter fairly close to me.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Preference for AMD GPUs.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Only upgrading the psu and gpu. Everything else (ATX case, mobo, cpu, etc) is staying.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I don't plan to OC the GPU. I have a mild CPU OC.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

1920x1200 or 1920x1080 depending on the game. This will not change for at least 1 year.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.

Next two weeks.

10. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

No.

I'm handing down my current GPU a 7870 LE and PSU (a seasonic bronze unit) to my brother who's playing on the A10-7700K igpu and needs a better power supply for a discrete card.

I was looking at this for the GPU:
Sapphire 8GB 480 ~ 285 shipped
or
EVGA ACX 6GB 1060 ~ 250 shipped
but I'm not committed to either the 1060 or the 480, much less particular brands thereof at this point.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202223
and one of these two for the PSU (I'd really like a fully modular and platinum+ efficiency)

Seasonic Titanium 650W ~ 140 w/ promo code
EVGA Platinum 650W ~ 100 w/ promo code

Recommendations?

 

[whm1974]

I would go with the 1060 since that has the best support for Linux. Do you really need a platinum or titanium PSU? You could drop down to gold, save some money and still be good.

 

[UsandThem]

You don't want the EVGA card you linked to. You want this one (out of stock at Newegg):

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1267099-REG/evga_06g_p4_6163_kr_geforce_gtx_1060_sc.html

Of course it is higher clocked, but if you look closely, this one has a much 'beefier' looking heatsink design on it.

Another unit to look at with better and quieter cooling is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127963&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-Veeralava LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=6202798&SID=

The fans shut off when not needed.


As far as the PSU goes, I am a big fan of the EVGA SuperNova G2 and P2 Super Flower Leadex-based units. The P2 line comes with a 10 year warranty, so for $100 I think it is a great choice.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Thanks for the EVGA link! So basically for that variant I'm looking for the SC-Gaming version?

Any thoughts on the 480? Is that sapphire one probably a good representative?

As far as the PSU goes, I am a big fan of the EVGA SuperNova G2 and P2 Super Flower Leadex-based units. The P2 line comes with a 10 year warranty, so for $100 I think it is a great choice.

Same here, tbh I was mostly looking at the seasonic titanium for the novelty, but the EVGA link I had was one of those fantastic P2 SF models, and it doesn't seem like you get much more than the novelty for the $30 from plat to Ti.

 

[UsandThem]

Thanks for the EVGA link! So basically for that variant I'm looking for the SC-Gaming version?

Any thoughts on the 480? Is that sapphire one probably a good representative?

Same here, tbh I was mostly looking at the seasonic titanium for the novelty, but the EVGA link I had was one of those fantastic P2 SF models, and it doesn't seem like you get much more than the novelty for the $30 from plat to Ti.

Yeah, the SC-Gaming (06G-P4-6163-KR) variant is the one you want if you EVGA. If you read the user reviews on the Gaming version, the fan runs louder because there is just not as good heatsink on that version. As far as the RX 480 cards go, I think they are a good budget card, although typically a little slower than the GTX 1060 in benchmarks from what I have seen. The problem the RX 480 due to their low availability from all the miners snatching them up, is the price. I just personally feel $285 is too high for them, but that's just a personal opinion if I were deciding between a GTX 1060 and RX 480.

As far as the PSU, I think the EVGA P2 is a great unit. I own a G2 (gold) and a P2, and they are quiet and efficient, and the most stable power rails I have ever personally seen on a PSU. Seasonic is a great brand as well, but I wouldn't pay an extra $40 to go from platinum to titanium efficiency........just not enough difference (usually 2% at most power loads) to recoup the money. JonnyGuru loved the P2 and gave it a 9.8 out of 10, and the .2 he deducted off was the value consideration when the unit was $120, and for one cable's style.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=446

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

That Prime is a GREAT unit, just read the review on the 750w, 10/10 review at JohnnyGuru

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=481

 

[redzo]

Sapphire 8GB 480 ~ 285 shipped
or
EVGA ACX 6GB 1060 ~ 250 shipped
but I'm not committed to either the 1060 or the 480, much less particular brands thereof at this point.
Recommendations?

That EVGA looks way more expensive now.

stock nvidia FE 1060 6GB == cheap non-factory OC aib 1060 GB

1. Stock 1060 6GB is faster than stock 480 8GB overall. At the same price, the 1060 6GB is a no-brainer.
2. If you can find cheaper custom aib 8GB 480, grab them. Otherwise, just get a aib 6GB 1060.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131694 280$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125901 270$

 

[Lyfer]

The Evga supernovas are great psu's. But the seasonic M12 series are as good and cheaper. The SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W For $65 is my go to for most of all of my builds. The 520w version can be found for under $50 during specials and can power most non SLI rigs.

Only you think you don't get is any fancy gold or titanium branding. I really don't understand spending more than $50-70 now a days for most gaming builds. That extra $$$ can be relocated elsewhere.

 

[UsandThem]

The Evga supernovas are great psu's. But the seasonic M12 series are as good and cheaper. The SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W For $65 is my go to for most of all of my builds. The 520w version can be found for under $50 during specials and can power most non SLI rigs.

Have you had any issues with the 620w M12II with Haswell and above CPUs?

The last I saw, they weren't Haswell certified, and could cause issues with C7 sleep state. I was going to buy a few of them a while back when they were on sale, but cancelled them for the above mentioned concern.

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2013/05/14/seasonic-confirms-list-of-haswell-compatibl/1

 

[Lyfer]

I have not had any sleep issues. But then again the only chips I have used are skylake based chips.

 

[UsandThem]

I have not had any sleep issues. But then again the only chips I have used are skylake based chips.

Maybe they quietly updated the PSU then, because if I remember correctly, Skylake are like Haswell with the requirement for the C7 sleep states. So if you didn't experience any issues, or go into the BIOS and disable C6/C7 sleep states, maybe they are good to go.

They were available for a great price at the time, but I didn't want to chance the systems crashing coming out of sleep.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Thanks for weighing in everybody.

I ended up picking up a different 480 after I saw some marginal reviews of Sapphire's cooler for the Nitro. I picked up an Asus ROG that popped into stock w/ a promo code!

I know I overspent on it, but I also picked up that PSU after seeing jonnyguru's fantastic review of the 750W version, and tom's review of the 650W that confirmed that yes, this was an excellent piece of engineering.

I even ended up right in the middle of my budget, $430 for everything, shipped. Thanks for helping me navigate this!

 

[lehtv]

I have not had any sleep issues. But then again the only chips I have used are skylake based chips.

Maybe they quietly updated the PSU then, because if I remember correctly, Skylake are like Haswell with the requirement for the C7 sleep states. So if you didn't experience any issues, or go into the BIOS and disable C6/C7 sleep states, maybe they are good to go.

M12II isn't Haswell/Skylake-compatible because it's a group regulated design, but it can and will still work due to many reasons:

1. The motherboard may have C7 disabled by default to ensure full compatibility. After all, C7 doesn't really matter since desktop PC's don't rely on battery power.
2. A +12V load from things like PSU-connected fans or a graphics card requiring external power will ensure that +12V stays in spec even if the CPU drops to C7 sleep
3. Even if C7 is on and there are no additional parts creating a +12V load, the +12V rail may still be within spec and the PSU will turn on normally. +12V will only potentially go out of spec on a group regulated PSU when the +12V load is extremely small and there is a substantial load on the minor +3.3V and +5V rails.

Here's some insight into what Haswell compatibility is about: http://techreport.com/review/24897/the-big-haswell-psu-compatibility-list

Corsair described the problem more elaborately in an e-mail to us, which reads:

According to Intel's presentation at IDF, the new Haswell processors enter a sleep state called C7 that can drop processor power usage as low as 0.05A. Even if the sleeping CPU is the only load on the +12V rail, most power supplies can handle a load this low. The potential problem comes up when there is still a substantial load on the power supply's non-primary rails (the +3.3V and +5V). If the load on these non-primary rails are above a certain threshold (which varies by PSU), the +12V can go out of spec (voltages greater than +12.6V). If the +12V is out of spec when the motherboard comes out of the sleep state, the PSU's protection may prevent the PSU from running and will cause the power supply to "latch off". This will require the user to cycle the power on their power supply using the power switch on the back of the unit.