Looking to spend ~$200 New/Used.

[Noo]

It's for my HTPC which I also use as a gaming pc 1080p.

Currently it have:

Intel Core i5 3330 w/cooler master EVO 212 HSF
Thermaltake 750watts, SLI/Crossfire ready modular PSU
16gb ddr3
XFX Radeon 7850 1gb.

I'm looking to spend around $200 new/used and I've been looking @ Nvidia GTX 770, Radeon 280x, Radeon 7970. Not sure which is a better option? GTX 960 is inferior to those right?


UPDATE:
I found a deal on the R9 290 so I bought it! I originally was going to get the GTX 970 but this thing is $100 cheaper. Not only that, it's not the reference model R9 290 with the blower design. I hated those.

HTPC in Action

Here's my HTPC next to the NAS that I'm building. The lenovo thinkserver is a behemoth next to them. It currently have 16tb of Hitachi Ultrastars

Here's the whole setup

 

[TXBPNT]

The 280x (7970 Ghz) is the strongest of the 4.In some games like fall out 4,the division,280x jumps 2 tiers to compete equally with the 780ti.

 

[Zodiark1593]

As far as Nvidia goes, the $200 mark is currently no man's land unless you can find a really good 970 deal.

A Tahiti or Tonga variant (7970, 280X, 380, etc) would be just the ticket.

 

[IEC]

If you've got a quality 500W+ power supply you should be able to pick up a used Radeon 290 within your budget.

 

[Magic Carpet]

ASUS STRIX GTX 970 $248.65 W/ jet 1st time code

 

[Phynaz]

For an HTPC get the 960, it has the best video engine of the bunch.

 

[Silverforce11]

For an HTPC get the 960, it has the best video engine of the bunch.

Yes this is true. But it also has the worse performance of the bunch.

So OP, it depends what you value more, gaming performance or 1080p video playback (Intel's iGPU can do that no sweat haha).

 

[Zodiark1593]

For an HTPC get the 960, it has the best video engine of the bunch.

True, though you sacrifice a bit of gaming performance for it. Might be worth looking for sales on this anyway though. If you're lucky, you might snag one for closer to $150.

While the aforementioned Radeon cards are certainly faster, it isn't the run-rings-around type of faster. Still, keeping in ming the 960 at it's base price is more expensive, I'd really lean toward the Radeons.

 

[Shmee]

A 290 used would be a good upgrade if your PSU can handle it.

 

[Phynaz]

Yes this is true. But it also has the worse performance of the bunch.

So OP, it depends what you value more, gaming performance or 1080p video playback (Intel's iGPU can do that no sweat haha).

He's running 1080. Not really a need for a faster card.

OP:
Btw the 960 is also a silent card. Even during some gaming it doesn't even turn on it's fans.

 

[Silverforce11]

He's running 1080. Not really a need for a faster card.

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/50048...rformance-analysis-good-nvidia-amd/index.html

Tomb Raider:

The Division:

You can go back to older ones like Witcher 3, Fallout 4, GTA V etc.

These modern games kill the 960 at 1080p.

380X would be minimum IMO. R290/390/970 class is the target for modern 1080p gaming.

 

[Phynaz]

Oh please, I'm not going to get into a pissing match with the ADF. Get over your brand bias for just once.

The 960 is a perfect htpc card.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Yes the GTX 960 is inferior to the ones you mentionned, actually, it is probably the crappiest card of 2015/2016.

I would just get a R9 290 used.

 

[Zanovar]

Oh please, I'm not going to get into a pissing match with the ADF. Get over your brand bias for just once.

The 960 is a perfect htpc card.

he is also using it for gaming.as for the pissing match,nothing but good advice was given.wind your neck in.catch a deal on a used 290.

 

[Silverforce11]

Oh please, I'm not going to get into a pissing match with the ADF. Get over your brand bias for just once.

The 960 is a perfect htpc card.

There's no pissing match bud. I recommended 290/390/970 class for 1080p gaming.

 

[tential]

I bought a used r9 290. For $200 you can't beat that. I have the hd7950 before hand so I had a faster gpu than you. I upgraded to the 290 because the price/perf is too big to ignore.

A 970 is ok too... But I doubt you'll make it as cheap as a 290.

Ignore the "omg it's not a htpc card" stuff. Mine is on an htpc build,you can put a gtx 980ti lightning in an htpc build, htpc doesn't exclude having a worthwhile gpu.

 

[Insomniator]

960 is a a joke. Anything but that.

 

[littleg]

Oh please, I'm not going to get into a pissing match with the ADF. Get over your brand bias for just once.

The 960 is a perfect htpc card.

It's also going to be a gaming PC though.

 

[happy medium]

Intel Core i5 3330

the gtx 960 overclocked would be more than enough for this slower cpu. If you can find one for around 170$ like I did, its a good gaming/htpc @ 1080p.

I would never use a hot, power hungry, loud AMD gpu in a htpc box.
Some people will say no they run cool....but the heat needs to go some where..........right into your case and in your room.

 

[Silverforce11]

I would never use a hot, power hungry, loud AMD gpu in a htpc box.

Hard to find reference R290s these days.

And 390s are all cool, quiet but yes, power hungry.

 

[Noo]

Thanks guys, i'll keep an eye out for the r9 290 then. The radeon 7850 1gb I have now doesn't make any noise, or anything that i can hear. Besides that, the HTPC is connected to my receiver with 5.1 speakers setup, pc noise is rarely an issue. Whenever I watch movies or play a game, the surround sound system drown everything out. And whenever i'm just watching youtube or browsing the web, the radeon 7850 is silent.

What would you say the 2nd choice should be if I couldn't get the r9 290 @ $200? The r9 280x or GTX 770?

 

[Silverforce11]

What would you say the 2nd choice should be if I couldn't get the r9 290 @ $200? The r9 280x or GTX 770?

380X, 7970 or 280X will be minimum.

Don't touch the 770, it is so gimped these days in modern games. Just look at the recent benches of new releases in the above posts. 2GB and Kepler doesn't mix well.

Again I would recommend going for GTX 970 or AMD 290/390 class though, they have a nice perf gap over the 7970/280X/380X class, which have to drop visuals for 1080p gaming as they lack the performance for modern games. From $200, pay a bit extra for 290/390 to ensure they got the legs for many more years before you need another upgrade. Since you kept the 7850 for so long, I figure u don't like to upgrade very often.

 

[b-mac]

280x over the 770.

 

[IEC]

960 was already borderline obsolete @ 1080P when it launched, and it's the newest card of the bunch!

Step up to the 970 if you prefer nVidia, or purchase a good 7970/280X/380X/used 290 with quiet cooler. The 960 is the absolute worst perf/$ of the options mentioned.

 

[Gikaseixas]

290 like others said, 280x / 7970 as second option

Unfortunately the 960 while power sipping king, lacks punch and will frustate you @ 1080p period.