R9 290x, 780 Ti, or Maxwell?

[erock112233]

So, I built a new computer last month. It has a i7 and a 760 watt power supply. I haven't bought a graphics card yet because of budget, the games I play at the moment (minecraft, simcity, planetside 2, and openttd), and this decision. So right now, I'm using the hd graphics 4600. So, the question is, should I buy the 290x, 780 ti, or should I wait for maxwell to come out? Here's what I know (or at least I think I know) right now:
* The 290x is only $550, and might be the slowest of the bunch (not an AMD hater, its just fact, especially if the 780 ti is a fully enabled gk
110)
* The 780 ti is $700, and comes out this week, on November 7th. It will be the fastest single gpu card, not counting the titan or workstation
cards
* Maxwell is nvidia's new generation of cards, and they're kind of elusive (to me) I dont know the price, possible performance level, etc. They will be released in Q1 2014.
* Amd has the never settle bundle, green team has the holiday bundle (anyone know if it will go past the holidays in some form????)
So, tell me what you think, I dont really have a preference between nvidia and amd, so keep that argument elsewhere.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Maxwell is far far away.

 

[desprado]

Maxwell

 

[AdamK47]

Maxwell is far far away.

Can you quantify "far far"?

 

[akahoovy]

R9 290 then Maxwell.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Can you quantify "far far"?

Around the same time as 20nm GPUs? So about a year away.

 

[AdamK47]

Around the same time as 20nm GPUs? So about a year away.

Then a 780 Ti should last me for about the same time.

 

[MrK6]

If you have no constraints on your budget, the GTX 780Ti is probably going to be the best card. No numbers on performance yet, or even finalized specs, but you can imagine they'll want the card to be tangibly faster than the 290X, especially if they're planning on charging $700. As mentioned, Maxwell is a long ways off, although it might be worth it to look down a tier (280X/770) as an interim card until then. (unless you're looking at really pushing settings or playing more demanding games than you've listed).

 

[The Alias]

Then a 780 Ti should last me for about the same time.

idk why you'd want a 780ti for $700+ when a 780 reg costs $200 less for a little less perf and a r9 290x will provide about the same perf for $150 less

 

[AdamK47]

idk why you'd want a 780ti for $700+ when a 780 reg costs $200 less for a little less perf and a r9 290x will provide about the same perf for $150 less

If you don't know why, you don't know me.

 

[Grooveriding]

When it comes to PC hardware, Adamk47 gives zero xxxs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qSeVKCtprs

Edit for language

 

[Will Robinson]

So, I built a new computer last month. It has a i7 and a 760 watt power supply. I haven't bought a graphics card yet because of budget, the games I play at the moment (minecraft, simcity, planetside 2, and openttd), and this decision. So right now, I'm using the hd graphics 4600. So, the question is, should I buy the 290x, 780 ti, or should I wait for maxwell to come out? Here's what I know (or at least I think I know) right now:
* The 290x is only $550, and might be the slowest of the bunch (not an AMD hater, its just fact, especially if the 780 ti is a fully enabled gk
110)
* The 780 ti is $700, and comes out this week, on November 7th. It will be the fastest single gpu card, not counting the titan or workstation
cards
* Maxwell is nvidia's new generation of cards, and they're kind of elusive (to me) I dont know the price, possible performance level, etc. They will be released in Q1 2014.
* Amd has the never settle bundle, green team has the holiday bundle (anyone know if it will go past the holidays in some form????)
So, tell me what you think, I dont really have a preference between nvidia and amd, so keep that argument elsewhere.

What monitor resolution are you playing at?...no point in a card like either of them if you aren't at least at 1080p.

 

[DigDog]

idk why you'd want a 780ti for $700+ when a 780 reg costs $200 less for a little less perf and a r9 290x will provide about the same perf for $150 less

you could try reading his signature ()
also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQMvX99VO9Q
somewhat nsfw

 

[erock112233]

those are the games i'm playing now, as that's all the integrated graphics can handle. I plan on getting all the crazier games, and I plan on buying a multi-monitor, or 4k setup down the line, but i'm at 1080p right now.

 

[NTMBK]

20nm Maxwell isn't coming any time soon. Don't wait for it.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Maxwell comes in 3-4 months (28nm), but don't expect it to replace any GK110-GPU yet. For that you have to wait about a year (20nm Maxwells).

 

[Subyman]

Unless you want to game on integrated graphics for a year, then I wouldn't wait for Maxwell. It is hard to recommend a card since two out of the three you are considering aren't even out yet. I'd say at least wait for the aftermarket cooling options for the R9 290X and the 780TI release.

 

[tviceman]

Around the same time as 20nm GPUs? So about a year away.

boxleitnerb is saying he has very reliable information mid-range maxwell is coming in Q1 2014 on HPM 28nm. He seems to have some legit sources inside Nvidia so while I would normally agree with you, it's hard not to believe him considering his rep.

 

[tviceman]

Maxwell comes in 3-4 months (28nm), but don't expect it to replace any GK110-GPU yet. For that you have to wait about a year (20nm Maxwells).

Interesting. So again, you don't think a 28nm GM104 die will match GK110 in gaming performance? Or do you *KNOW* it won't match?

 

[NTMBK]

boxleitnerb is saying he has very reliable information mid-range maxwell is coming in Q1 2014 on HPM 28nm. He seems to have some legit sources inside Nvidia so while I would normally agree with you, it's hard not to believe him considering his rep.

28nm Maxwell, yes. But the fully fledged 20nm Maxwell won't be around for a long, long time. The OP is interested in the 290X and 780ti, so I don't think a midrange GPU will interest him.

 

[Subyman]

28nm Maxwell, yes. But the fully fledged 20nm Maxwell won't be around for a long, long time. The OP is interested in the 290X and 780ti, so I don't think a midrange GPU will interest him.

Unless they pull another 680, where the mid-range chip barely beats the top-end of last gen and is touted as the flagship for a year.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Interesting. So again, you don't think a 28nm GM104 die will match GK110 in gaming performance? Or do you *KNOW* it won't match?

I don't think it is possible. It wouldn't make sense too, replacing the 780 GHz or 780 Ti that will be just a few months old by then. Maybe, just maybe it could approach/replace the slowest GK110-product, the GTX 780. That should be in the realm of possibility. But anything above that...meh.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I'd wait a few weeks for non-reference cards (both AMD and Nvidia based).

 

[NTMBK]

Unless they pull another 680, where the mid-range chip barely beats the top-end of last gen and is touted as the flagship for a year.

The 680 was on a new process node, so it could get 580 level performance on a smaller die with lower power consumption. No way they can do that on the same node, unless someone got 28nm SOI working.

 

[tviceman]

I don't think it is possible. It wouldn't make sense too, replacing the 780 GHz or 780 Ti that will be just a few months old by then. Maybe, just maybe it could approach/replace the slowest GK110-product, the GTX 780. That should be in the realm of possibility. But anything above that...meh.

Hmmm I think I disagree here. If Nvidia is still working on 28nm, and making the assumptions like better transistor density with a maxwell architecture and being similar to GK104 in not having all the extra die space devoted to HPC, Nvidia can cram 6 billion transistors (all of which are for graphics performance) into a 400mm^2 package. That would be about 40 more dies per wafer than GK110. Nvidia could cease producing GK110 for Geforce and increase their margins selling 28nm Maxwell dies at the same price. The biggest issue I think would be power consumption.