Need to replace a dead 7950

[WackyWRZ]

Well this weekend my trusty 7950 decided it was done at what I consider bad timing. So now I am trying to determine what my best course of action will be for a new card. I play SCII, GTAV, BF4, and other FPS games mostly at 1440p 60Hz. The 7950 was doing ok at med-high settings, with a pretty good OC (1160/1500).

Right now I am leaning toward a GTX980 for $350 (http://www.msi.com/product/graphics-card/GTX-980-4GD5-OCV1.html#hero-specification) which seems like it should do everything I need right now, and give me some future room.

970 and 390 seem to be hovering around the $280-$300 range so for ~$50 more it seems like the 980 is a better buy... Unless I'm missing something here. I haven't had a "green" card since the GeForce 2 GTS days, but as of lately I haven't been too impressed with AMD. That said I am open to either brand.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Ug, that 980 is a blower design. Any 980 is a good deal at $350 but that blower...

 

[WackyWRZ]

That's what I was thinking - and what puts me in such a predicament. I've heard that the blower design is not desirable, but that price tag is sweet right about now.

I've got a Swiftech H220x in my system so I could put it on water at some point... What is the big deal about the blower style?

 

[RussianSensation]

Right now I am leaning toward a GTX980 for $350 (http://www.msi.com/product/graphics-card/GTX-980-4GD5-OCV1.html#hero-specification) which seems like it should do everything I need right now, and give me some future room.

That's a good deal for sure if you can find a GTX980 for $350 and don't mind the extra noise of a blower but if you are talking about this specific MSI 980, it's actually almost $400 US due to $40 shipping, and it's a refurbished unit. If that's the card you are looking at, then I'd rather buy a $280 R9 390 or MSI Gaming GTX970 for $280, and put aside $120 towards a next gen upgrade.

IMO, a refurbished 980 is not worth $120 over a $280 390/970.

R9 390 ~ R9 290X.

If you can actually get a new 980 for $350, then I would recommend it. Otherwise, a $280 GTX970 with AC Syndicate or Rainbox 6 Seige or 390 seem like better deals than a $390 refurbished 980.

 

[WackyWRZ]

Yep that Newegg one is the 980 I was looking at - and I can get free shipping on it so it's still $350 for me.

So on the 970/390 it looks like they're pretty much equal. Is the whole 4GB(3.5GB)/8GB RAM thing REALLY as big a deal as people make it out to be??? Also how about overclocking? Lets say the 970 is slower at stock - but overclocked it can beat the 390 also OCed, i'd be more apt to lean to the 970.

 

[Headfoot]

970 and 390 are a few points in 390s favor a stock and about even overclocked. Its a few percent either way depending on which games the review site runs.

IMO given that they're pretty much identical performance wise, and 390 has over double the VRAM, I lean 390.

At the same time the 970 has a better game bundle right now so if you were going to buy either of those games then the 970 is probably a better deal.

After Kepler's optimization woes, I personally wouldnt get the 970 all else being equal knowing you are relying on their driver team to continue to optimize the 3.5->4gb management code. I can only imagine that will fall to the wayside once Pascal comes out like with Kepler and Maxwell.

 

[RussianSensation]

Yep that Newegg one is the 980 I was looking at - and I can get free shipping on it so it's still $350 for me.

Try that 980 then. Worst case if you don't like that card or it's faulty, you can return it for Newegg credit and get a 970/390. Maybe try to purchase it with AMEX to get extra warranty on the card?

 

[Techhog]

That's a good deal for sure if you can find a GTX980 for $350 and don't mind the extra noise of a blower but if you are talking about this specific MSI 980, it's actually almost $400 US due to $40 shipping, and it's a refurbished unit. If that's the card you are looking at, then I'd rather buy a $280 R9 390 or MSI Gaming GTX970 for $280, and put aside $120 towards a next gen upgrade.

The crazy thing is that Newegg premier still gives free shipping with that, so you could pay $400 total for the card and Newegg Premier for a year, $380 for the card and 6 months of Premier, or $390 for just the card... And you can get a year of Premier free if you have a valid college email address.

 

[WackyWRZ]

The crazy thing is that Newegg premier still gives free shipping with that, so you could pay $400 total for the card and Newegg Premier for a year, $380 for the card and 6 months of Premier, or $390 for just the card... And you can get a year of Premier free if you have a valid college email address.

OR if you have an AMEX like Russian suggested above for $350 you get free ShopRunner 2-day and an extended warranty.

 

[tweakboy]

Take it out of the case and RMA .. gl

 

[msbytes]

If your going to get a GTX 970. Newegg has this MSI on eBay for $270 shipped
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-GeForce...857366?hash=item43e2619f16:g:LGcAAOSwgNRV8Ya6

 

[Leyawiin]

If your going to get a GTX 970. Newegg has this MSI on eBay for $270 shipped
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-GeForce...857366?hash=item43e2619f16:g:LGcAAOSwgNRV8Ya6

Very good deal. Even has a backplate.

 

[Techhog]

OR if you have an AMEX like Russian suggested above for $350 you get free ShopRunner 2-day and an extended warranty.

Even better

 

[RussianSensation]

OR if you have an AMEX like Russian suggested above for $350 you get free ShopRunner 2-day and an extended warranty.

Did you get the MSI 980 card? If so, how is it running (noise levels, temps, overclocking) and your overall upgrade satisfaction?