Where videocard to get?

[zluffy]

Okay so alot of people are telling me to get the geforce gtx 960. But which one? Like there's different ones with 1 fan, others with 2 fans... I'm not a huge expert on video cards, so I would like to get as much feedback as I can from you professionals~ Here's my build: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/zLuffy/saved/xpmWGX
So I bought everything, except for my video card. Also I would like to stay below the $270 range (CAD.)
I'm a fan of the geforce gtx 960(I dont know which is the best brand), but I would like to purchase the best one within my budget.
PS: Also, should I purchase the optical drive in my part list? will it fit? Or should i buy a different one? Thanks guys, appreciate it~

 

[RussianSensation]

At $270 CDN the 960 is an absolute horrible buy.

XFX 290 is 45% faster, has double the VRAM and lifetime warranty if you register within 30 days of purchase. It sells for $330-30 rebate at NCIX:
http://m.ncix.com/products/sku/93750/1229

If that mobile link doesn't work for you, just go to ncix.com and search for R9 290.

Do not spend $250 CDN+ on a 2GB card that is already stuttering in Shadow of Mordor and Evolve:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2420461

http://www.techpowerup.com/mobile/reviews/Gigabyte/GTX_960_G1_Gaming/21.html

 

[flash-gordon]

280X 3GB or 290 4GB

 

[raghu78]

At $270 CDN the 960 is an absolute horrible buy.

well said. OP spend your money wisely than on a 2GB piece of trash. Even at 1080p 2GB is a bottleneck in the latest games like Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor, AC Unity and Evolve.

XFX 290 is 45% faster, has double the VRAM and lifetime warranty if you register within 30 days of purchase. It sells for $330-30 rebate at NCIX:
http://m.ncix.com/products/sku/93750/1229

If that mobile link doesn't work for you, just go to ncix.com and search for R9 290.

Do not spend $250 CDN+ on a 2GB card that is already stuttering in Shadow of Mordor and Evolve:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2420461

http://www.techpowerup.com/mobile/reviews/Gigabyte/GTX_960_G1_Gaming/21.html

agreed R9 290 or R9 280 (if you cannot stretch a bit).

http://www.ncix.com/detail/xfx-radeon-r9-290-double-99-93750-1229.htm

http://www.ncix.com/detail/xfx-radeon-r9-280-933mhz-cd-95214-1229.htm

the R9 290 is roughly 50% faster than GTX 960. with twice the RAM.

http://www.sweclockers.com/recension/19976-gigabyte-geforce-gtx-960-g1-gaming/6#pagehead

In VRAM hungry games like Shadow of Mordor, Evolve, AC unity you are likely to get close to twice the performance of GTX 960 with a R9 290

Evolve

http://www.sweclockers.com/artikel/20031-snabbtest-grafikprestanda-i-evolve/3#pagehead

https://translate.google.com/transl...ich/#diagramm-frametimes-2560-1600&edit-text=

Shadow of Mordor

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GTX_960_G1_Gaming/21.html

http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/79978-kfa2-geforce-gtx-960-exoc/?page=7

AC Unity

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GTX_960_G1_Gaming/7.html

http://www.purepc.pl/karty_graficzn...est_kart_graficznych_za_1000_zlotych?page=0,7

 

[tweakboy]

Grab the 970 GTX. or wait for Titan prices to drop... thx

 

[RussianSensation]

well said. OP spend your money wisely than on a 2GB piece of trash. Even at 1080p 2GB is a bottleneck in the latest games like Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor, AC Unity and Evolve.

Also, Wolfenstein NWO, Dead Rising 3, Titanfall.

It's shocking to me that most reviewers who praised the GTX960 did not point this out as if everyone upgrades their card every 6 months.

Even if we ignore VRAM, R9 290/290X trade blows with a 970, leaving 960 completely in the dust by 45-50% for what $30-70 CDN more?

If you are OK to do a big rebate, there is even an R9 290X MSI Gaming for $340 CDN. Although the $300 XFX R9 290 is much closer to your budget and that one has lifetime warranty with registration.