MSI Gaming N780 died. what to replace it with?

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,145
10
81
MSI Gaming N780 died on me a few weeks ago. I sent it in to be RMA'd but today i get a email from MSI saying they will give me $420 for the card (paid right under $500 right over a year ago).

so what is something equivalent? what card should i get?

I do play a ton of games. so want something good.
 

n0x1ous

Platinum Member
Sep 9, 2010
2,572
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can you keep the credit for a while and see what happens in a couple months? Otherwise 290x
 

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
3,204
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91
Is it a credit from them towards another MSI card? Or are they just cutting a check and mailing it to you? If you want to stay under that amount and are not abject to AMD an R9 290X would be a good choice. So would a GTX 970 (both stronger than what you had). If you could swing another $100 a GTX 980 is better of course.
 
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Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
86
Get a used 780 again and wait a bit. You weren't really looking to upgrade anyway until the card died. You can get a used 780 for around $250 or so. Even newegg open box has had them for $260 recently. Pocket that ~$160 difference for your troubles.
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
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Option 1: Pay extra to get a GTX980 and get a performance upgrade on the cheap.

Option 2: Get a $315 GTX970 or $250-280 R9 290/290X, use the money saved for whatever you want or set it aside for a future 14nm/16nm GPU upgrade.
 

Majcric

Golden Member
May 3, 2011
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Yup I say wait it out with your upcoming 780rma then reward yourself with a 980ti (once released) since you play a lot of games.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,145
10
81
With talking to a lot of people I think the best option would be get a 980 or so.

I did love the 780. it played everything i threw at it on ultra. I admit i got spoiled with that.
 

xthetenth

Golden Member
Oct 14, 2014
1,800
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970 or 290X should do that just as well if not better, the 980 is not nearly as large an increase in performance as it is in price.
 

swilli89

Golden Member
Mar 23, 2010
1,558
1,181
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Yeah you deciding to buy a 980 suggests that you really didn't need/want advice in the first place. Its price to performance is pretty bad compared to 970/290x.

If its a credit they are giving you, then I guess you are forced to get a 980 as you would lose the rest of the credit if you get anything less. If its an actual check.. then yeah you're wasting money IMO.
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
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290 or 290x from a respectable brand like MSI or Sapphire and put the cash away for 16nm.
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
290 or 290x from a respectable brand like MSI or Sapphire and put the cash away for 16nm.

I agree. Looking at current prices of 290/290X/970, I am going to have to take my recommendation for a 980 back as it's ludicrously overpriced at the moment.

XFX R9 290 = $240
Sapphire Tri-X R9 290X = $280
Gigabyte Windforce GTX970 + The Witcher 3 = $310

Every single one of those cards is faster than the 780 but isn't far behind the 980. An after-market R9 290 = Reference R9 290X, at $240 is a very good deal as a stop-gap card between now and 14nm/16nm GPUs or GM200 6GB/390 series.

9434
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
81
The newer chips seem to have the power consumption/heat issues in check. I have a 295x2 that doesn't exceed 670w at the wall with a 4.2ghz 5820k X99 build. No coil whine and barely cracks above 60c at full load on a push and pull setup. I bought a 1000w PSU for no reason. I recommend the 290 right now. The drivers are stable now too.
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
The newer chips seem to have the power consumption/heat issues in check. I have a 295x2 that doesn't exceed 670w at the wall with a 4.2ghz 5820k X99 build. No coil whine and barely cracks above 60c at full load on a push and pull setup. I bought a 1000w PSU for no reason. I recommend the 290 right now. The drivers are stable now too.

I am surprised you resorted to upgrading to a 1000W PSU with that setup. Maybe the fear mongering on the forums got the best of you. :p

Intel i7 4930K @ 4.7GHz + R9 295X2 use < 700W at the PSU level.

R9295X2-2-78.jpg


IVB-E OC is very similar in power usage to HW-E OC.
http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image//skymtl/GPU/R9295X2-2/R9295X2-2-78.jpg

A lot of people get too nervous about needing a 1000W-1500W PSU for these types of setups.

Luckily in 2015 there are relatively affordable high quality Gold-rated 850W PSUs for sale. At the same time, with a 1000W unit, you are ready for next generation 300W TDP GPUs + OCing and a 140-150W TDP multi-core CPUs.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,145
10
81
I got a email from MSI last night. they up'd the amount to $460. lol
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
81
I am surprised you resorted to upgrading to a 1000W PSU with that setup. Maybe the fear mongering on the forums got the best of you. :p

Intel i7 4930K @ 4.7GHz + R9 295X2 use < 700W at the PSU level.

R9295X2-2-78.jpg


IVB-E OC is very similar in power usage to HW-E OC.
http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image//skymtl/GPU/R9295X2-2/R9295X2-2-78.jpg

A lot of people get too nervous about needing a 1000W-1500W PSU for these types of setups.

Luckily in 2015 there are relatively affordable high quality Gold-rated 850W PSUs for sale. At the same time, with a 1000W unit, you are ready for next generation 300W TDP GPUs + OCing and a 140-150W TDP multi-core CPUs.

Well, there are other reasons.


I went from an 80+ Bronze to Gold to lower my 'at the wall' power consumption. My 1350va UPS is cutting it very close. So far no issues yet.


Wow OP, you can buy a used 980 for $450 now. MSI is really giving you a nice exchange.
 
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Techhog

Platinum Member
Sep 11, 2013
2,834
2
26
I got a email from MSI last night. they up'd the amount to $460. lol

That tears it. You're getting a 980! If I could get that, I'd get greedy and buy the Classified lol. Maybe my 970 should "break" if you catch my drift. ;) (Not really; I had enough of a scare like that this morning...)

I think they're trying to convince you to upgrade to a 980.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,145
10
81
Any particular reason they decided to give you even more money?

I emailed them back and said something like "I enjoyed the card. it ran great and i paid $480 for it. I was hoping for a replacement but i will take the check"

They emailed back with " we can compromise and We will send a check for $460"

I think that's a good deal. had the card a year and getting back almost what i paid!
 

xthetenth

Golden Member
Oct 14, 2014
1,800
529
106
If it's a check I'd try to hit a good price/performance point with the 970, 290 or 290X and save the rest. Going from there to the 980 or Titan is one small step for performance and one giant leap for the checkbook.