Picking a graphics card for gaming PC

[Craig234]

I'm looking at a graphics card for a new gaming PC. Probably 1080p though I might get a 1440P.

With the timing of the new card next year, it might make sense to get a less expensive card that is just fine until then; or, get a nicer R9 390 now and shop for those in 1-3 years.

Any tips are fine, and also, how are these deals, and which is better:

ASUS Radeon R9 390 DirectX 12 STRIX-R9390-DC3OC-8GD5- $275

SAPPHIRE NITRO Radeon R9 390 DirectX 12 100382NTOC-2L Tri-X OC Version w/ backplate (UEFI) $285

 

[NTMBK]

What CPU are you thinking of getting? What's your total budget?

I'd recommend starting a thread in the General Hardware forum to look at the system as a whole.

 

[Craig234]

Already got the i7-4790k, should have mentioned that. Not so much budget, more just trying to get the right pick, performance/value/what's coming.

 

[RussianSensation]

I'd get the Sapphire Nitro for $10 more.

 

[crisium]

Agreed. Asus Strix is hit and miss depending on GPU, and I think the 390 series is not its highlight.

The Asus Strix in this roundup is a 390X so you cannot directly compare the two, but it doesn't appear to standout among the 390X's (looks like one of the worst actually). Meanwhile the Sapphire Nitro is very quiet for a 390, 70 C temp is more than acceptable for Hawaii/Grenada, and the power consumption is normal for a 390.

http://www.computerbase.de/2015-10/neun-radeon-r9-390-x-partnerkarten-test/4/

 

[Techhog]

Never buy ASUS AMD cards. They do not make good coolers for them outside of the Fury, and that's only because Fiji is a big die.

 

[crisium]

Never buy ASUS AMD cards. They do not make good coolers for them outside of the Fury, and that's only because Fiji is a big die.

You can add the 380X to the list of excellent ASUS Strix cards, I think. If it ever gets its price down to where it makes sense vs 390/970 this will be a very good card.

http://tpucdn.com/reviews/ASUS/R9_380X_Strix/images/power_peak.png
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/ASUS/R9_380X_Strix/images/fannoise_load.png
From: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/R9_380X_Strix/1.html

It's very hit and miss. They made a mistake trying to standardize designs across multiple variuants of Kepler, GCN, and Maxwell. Sometimes it just flat out sucks, other times it is excellent.

 

[kawi6rr]

I'd get the Sapphire Nitro for $10 more.

+1 This!

 

[Craig234]

OK, I've got Sapphire better of the two. Any comment on whether the deal is good enough to get, or 'get something other than an R3 390' etc before I get it?

 

[Craig234]

Just as I'm looking at that deal - $300 - 5% mobile cyber Monday - $25 rebate - $25 AMEX - $25 visa checkout = $220 plus tax:

I check Amazon and they have it for $300 - $30 rebate - 10% Chase cashback = $240.

But with Amazon service and Prime and those two $25 discounts could be used on another Newegg purchase if I get anything else like a motherboard. Sheesh.

Oh wait, I bought a $100 Newegg gift card. But that would prevent the other discounts.

Yay cyber Monday.

Way too much to bother.


Amazon deal:

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-1124...id=1448921097&sr=8-1&keywords=sapphire+r9+390

 

[techrict23]

here is a list of the best graphics cards around http://goo.gl/PjJQC3

 

[Craig234]

I missed the cyber Monday 5% and $25 rebates and sale price and ended up spending $334 - $25 AMEX - $15 rebate I think on a Sapphire R9 390.

Question. do headlines like today's "FreeSync Over HDMI to Hit Retail in Q1’16" make the R9 390 a bad idea instead of waiting?

 

[RussianSensation]

Question. do headlines like today's "FreeSync Over HDMI to Hit Retail in Q1’16" make the R9 390 a bad idea instead of waiting?

Are you planning to purchase a FreeSync monitor? FS-HDMI is likely to apply to more budget monitors since higher end ones should still support FS-DP.

Also, from the article, it seems FS-HDMI is going to work on R9 300 series.

"Meanwhile at this point RTG isn’t talking about GPU compatibility in great detail, however it sounds like FS-HDMI support will be brought over to some of RTG’s current GPUs. Most likely these are the GCN 1.1+ Radeon 300 series cards, with GCN 1.1 also being the minimum requirement for FS-DP."

What is your current CPU+GPU, and what games do you plan on playing in the next 6-9 months? What is your PSU model?

 

[tential]

I don't think it's a big deal if you're gaming on a monitor. Are there any monitors that support freesync and don't have dp?

 

[Craig234]

What is your current CPU+GPU, and what games do you plan on playing in the next 6-9 months? What is your PSU model?

System isn't built yet, but i7-4790K, Sapphire R9 390, Seasonic M12 620W.

Games - not sure but like to be able to play whatever, though main have been like Rift.

 

[RussianSensation]

System isn't built yet, but i7-4790K, Sapphire R9 390, Seasonic M12 620W.

Games - not sure but like to be able to play whatever, though main have been like Rift.

I would get this over the $320 Sapphire R9 390. I think the $285 price you quoted was during the sale period last month.

http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=04G-P4-1980-RX

I'd consider R9 390 for $280 but at $320, I'd rather pay $30 for a 980 and OC her

You could also put this card on Auto Notify if you aren't in a rush. Solid deal for $200. Or a 970 for $240 on Auto Notify.

 

[Craig234]

But current prices on the 980 are over $500, not $350. The 970 was the serious alternative, but the 390 seemed a little better with 8GB, faster if I get higher res, etc.

 

[RussianSensation]

But current prices on the 980 are over $500, not $350. The 970 was the serious alternative, but the 390 seemed a little better with 8GB, faster if I get higher res, etc.

Ya, I linked you a $350 980 from EVGA but it's sold out now. Anyway, if you are aiming for 1440P, then get the 390 if you have to upgrade now. Sapphire 390 is probably the best one. I would not get the Asus Strix 390/390X. I'd much rather pick the PowerColor PCS+ 390, XFX 390 and of course the Sapphire 390.

 

[Craig234]

I'm not actually aiming for 1440p, but I might get the Dell 34" ultrawide 1440p at some point. There is that 'buy a cheaper 970 for 1080p and then get Pascal later' issue nagging.

I *don't* have to upgrade now. It's more sort of 'nice to have some improvement' over the older system, and that parts are piling up, demanding 'use them'.

I could wait until Pascal pretty fine, but some parts have been sitting around years and now it's pretty much just the GPU left to get. The i7-4790K is already previous gen now.

 

[beginner99]

Best performance/$ now are used 290/290x of internet (ebay). These will easily last another 2 years till 14/16nm GPUs will actually be affordable (eg. offer better performance/$).

 

[lehtv]

If you just want a card that can play games without much trouble and that you can upgrade to next gen: Sapphire Nitro R9 380 4GB $175 AR

 

[Seba]

You can upgrade to next gen from any card. I do not understand what you try to say here:

and that you can upgrade to next gen