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Looking to upgrade from a 7950

Baconnaise

Baconnaise

Junior Member
Operating System
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1

CPU
Intel Core i5 4690K @ 3.50GHz: 38 °C
Haswell 22nm Technology

RAM
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 951MHz (9-9-9-27)

Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. Z97-PRO (SOCKET 1150): 28 °C

Graphics
HZ281H (1920x1200@60Hz)
DELL 2405FPW (1920x1200@60Hz)
3072MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner): 34 °C

Storage
931GB Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 ATA Device (SATA): 31 °C
931GB Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 ATA Device (SATA): 33 °C
55GB OCZ-VERTEX3 ATA Device (SSD): 30 °C

Optical Drives
No optical disk drives detected

Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

I game in 16:10 @ 1920x1200. Games that are played generally are space sims, RTS, grand strategy (paradox games), MMO's like Tera/BDO, and some others. I typically don't bother with games that are console ports or found on console like AC series/Batman/Battlefield/CoD etc. FPS are limited to something like Quake Tribes Insurgency and maybe CS. I'm looking to possibly upgrade to a newer card. Currently using a Sapphire HD 7950 w/ Boost. I've been looking at the 380's and used market 290/290x. Generally cards priced in the 150-200 range including new and used.The newer 380(x) cards I've seen on PCpartpicker.com for as low as 164 with rebates. Looks interesting. I'd prefer a Sapphire over a Powercolor generally though and that bumps it up to around 200. I'm unsure of how Nvidia stacks up at the moment.

If anyone can help in zeroing on options I'd appreciate it.
 
In the $150-$200 range you have nowhere to upgrade in the new market. 380 is essentially 7950 Boost performance with newer features making it certainly the better card but you won't get a different gaming result. 380X is the same to 7970, so it's just a step above the 7950 Boost and thus not a worthy upgrade for you.

A used 290 is your only meaningful upgrade option at that range.
 
For what you're willing to pay, the best option is a used 290 non-reference or just wait another 5-6 months for new generation stuff.
 
R290/X is the minimum I would upgrade from, given your 7950 is basically the 380 in performance. The 7950 also is an overclock champ, so there's 35-40% performance untapped there.

Non-reference R290 will be hard to beat on next-gen for value too as the new FF stuff won't likely be cheap.
 
Yeah, I'm going to have to agree that 290/390 or a 970 would be the best option at a minimum, but you're probably best waiting until the summer to see what is available then (hopefully some 14nm cards).
 
Depending on what you are willing to do, you could try your hand at overclocking your current card a little bit. I have had plenty of 7950s, and 7970s, and most if not all of them hit 1050-1100Mhz at stock volts, sometimes less than stock.

The cards that you are currently looking at, may be misleading. The r9 380/380x have a higher # than yours, but they are not much faster. The r9 290/290x (used?) are great cards, but nearing the point where it wouldn't really be worth it for you to make the jump.

I'd try to hold out for another few months, and then the 200$ you are willing to spend more, *SHOULD* net you a better card overall, even if only because the current r9 390/390x will be going out of stock / end of life. The new cards really will be a game changer in terms of both performance, and power consumption (if that matters at all to you).

My .02
 
Is there a reason you're looking to upgrade OP?

The way it reads, you just have the upgrade itch more than anything else since the games you like to play aren't typically very demanding nor do they necessarily require constant 60/120 FPS.

I'm still running a 7950 (slight OC to 1000Mhz on the core) and its turning into one of the best cards I've ever owned with how few sacrifices I have to make to maintain playable framerates on current games (and SSAA in older games thanks to the new VSR functionality in the Crimson Drivers).

If you HAVE TO buy something or you'll go nuts, pick up a used 290/x for as little as you can pay for it. Otherwise, just hang tight and watch the market unfold in the upcoming year.
 
Charlie98 said:
^^^ That, and in the meantime, replace that ticking timebomb of an SSD you have!
Click to expand...

I am. I ordered a couple of Samsung 850 EVO 250GB. Initially I had two of these drives and one died within six months. It's been running for years now though. Windows 10 doesn't like the drive and will not load or sometimes install which isn't surprising.

GodisanAtheist said:
Is there a reason you're looking to upgrade OP?
Click to expand...

I was primarily looking for an upgrade path to pass down my card to my other machines. 2500k/i3/medicore i5 prebuilt/AMD Phenom 955. I need to nab a couple GPU's if possible to get them up to speed since my 460/465's are dead and buried. I was thinking 730/750 or 950 or something like a R7 300 series to give them some legs.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I appreciate it. I'll see about bumping up my 7950 some. I think I saw a used one in my area w/boost like mine for about 100 dollars too so might nab that for my other systems. I'll just have to see what can be scrounged up on the cheap for those others.
 
I would first upgrade win 7 to win 10 and then wait to see how your card will perform in new DX-12 games if you are planing on getting any. OC you HD7950 to 1GHz will also be a first move.
Then in around June-July 2016 you could also see how things will be with the new 14/16nm GPUs.
 
I upgraded from a 7950 to a Sapphire tri-x 290x a few months ago and I'm very happy with the extra performance. If you want to upgrade now I can definitely recommend a 290/290x/390 if you can get it for a reasonable price.
 
it would only make sense to go for 290s OC or higher, 380s don't bring enough improvement,
but considering DX12, new architecture and process are coming this year, I think it makes a lot more sense to wait, unless your 7950 is defective.
 
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