Which brand of RX 480 do you like best?

[GaiaHunter]

Best cards IMHO XFX GTR then MSI/Asus, HIS is based on XFX design so another good choice, btw Red devil has terrible components ie mosfets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nEbpn6NKPQ . Sapphire 480 is decent.

"Terrible components" if you plan to do a really really crazy overclock.
Otherwise just fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkG5JOneYxY
Overengineering a product isn't exactly a good thing.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Thanks for the advice guys. I cancelled the deal.

Now I need to decide what card to get. My options are basically Powercolor, Sapphire or HIS. All of them have custom coolers. I'm thinking of going with Powercolor. But now I need to decide between 4GB and 8GB.

Use: mostly gaming, but I will use it for mining when not gaming, to try bring some income in. My decision will not be based around mining though.

 

[zinfamous]

Thanks for the advice guys. I cancelled the deal.

Now I need to decide what card to get. My options are basically Powercolor, Sapphire or HIS. All of them have custom coolers. I'm thinking of going with Powercolor. But now I need to decide between 4GB and 8GB.

Use: mostly gaming, but I will use it for mining when not gaming, to try bring some income in. My decision will not be based around mining though.

Always go with more VRAM, always. And, especially because it is so much cheaper to do that today compared to only 2 years ago.

Also consider that 4GB VRAM is pretty much EoL today if you are talking about very high/ultra settings in new games. Even at 1080p in some cases.

 

[Mem]

Thanks for the advice guys. I cancelled the deal.

Now I need to decide what card to get. My options are basically Powercolor, Sapphire or HIS. All of them have custom coolers. I'm thinking of going with Powercolor. But now I need to decide between 4GB and 8GB.

Use: mostly gaming, but I will use it for mining when not gaming, to try bring some income in. My decision will not be based around mining though.

I would go with HIS RX480 IceQ X2 8gb then Sapphire, the Powercolor would be bottom of my list IMHO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBWs_7vRWkA

 

[Mem]

"Terrible components" if you plan to do a really really crazy overclock.
Otherwise just fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkG5JOneYxY
Overengineering a product isn't exactly a good thing.

Regardless how you look at it ,you can get better cards then the Powercolor for same or less money, why pay more for inferior 480 card?

 

[GaiaHunter]

Regardless how you look at it ,you can get better cards then the Powercolor for same or less money, why pay more for inferior 480 card?

It was the cheapest when I bought it (but prices fluctuate) and the big cooler makes it a very very quiet card.

And inferior in what?
When you decide to get a watercooler and/or add a couple volts to try to get 1600 MHz OCs?

So, if the OP plan is doing that sure.
Otherwise you can just flash the "unlock bios" and have a very very quiet card that sits at 1360 MHz core out of the box once you start playing.

 

[Mem]

It was the cheapest when I bought it (but prices fluctuate) and the big cooler makes it a very very quiet card.

And inferior in what?
When you decide to get a watercooler and/or add a couple volts to try to get 1600 MHz OCs?

So, if the OP plan is doing that sure.
Otherwise you can just flash the "unlock bios" and have a very very quiet card that sits at 1360 MHz core out of the box once you start playing.

Don't get me wrong, end of the day it's his decision.

I still think there are better cards out there, but when I see this statement about Powercolor 480 it does not fill me and I bet a lot of users with confidence.

The components used in the PCB are really cheap. The VRM is rated at 46 amps (25 degrees Celsius) and 34 amps (80 degrees Celsius). For comparison, the reference RX 480 is rated at 66 amps (25 degrees Celsius) and 50 amps (80 degrees Celsius), which is significantly better. PowerColor has stated to not run Furmark on this card, because it just can't handle it without breaking. For full details, [this YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nEbpn6NKPQ) by Actually Hardware Overclocking breaks down the problem.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Thanks for the advice guys. I cancelled the deal.

Now I need to decide what card to get. My options are basically Powercolor, Sapphire or HIS. All of them have custom coolers. I'm thinking of going with Powercolor. But now I need to decide between 4GB and 8GB.

Use: mostly gaming, but I will use it for mining when not gaming, to try bring some income in. My decision will not be based around mining though.

Go with MSI if you can. I've had both PowerColor and MSI and MSI has better/quieter cooler. Sapphire RX480 has been reviewed as running hot and loud. No idea on HIS, might be a pleasant surprise but if you don't want to gamble go with MSI.

 

[Mem]

I have installed my XFX RX480 GTR Black edition today, very impressed with cooling, did full hour gaming and temps at 50c with fans at 0 RPM, fans don't turn on until 60c.

As to the MSI that's another very good option, but watch out for loose heatsink (yours probably be fine since this is not normal) one guy posted his was moving around on his MSI, https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18760699 .

 

[SlickR12345]

If you want pure performance and overclocking than the Nitro+ and GTR, otherwise overall I like MSI the best. Just all round great card and looks amazing as well.

 

[Ancalagon44]

I'm quite budget sensitive, so while I want an aftermarket card, my budget limits me to HIS or Powercolor.

But, now I need to decide on what card to get. These are my options, converted from local currency to USD, including tax but not shipping.

HIS 470 4GB IceQ X2 Oc - $229
Powercolor 480 4GB - $257
HIS 480 4GB IceQ X2 Oc - $268
HIS 480 8GB IceQ X2 OC - $300

And these are the cheapest options available to me. Did I mention that we get raped when it comes to computer components in South Africa?

 

[Mem]

I'm quite budget sensitive, so while I want an aftermarket card, my budget limits me to HIS or Powercolor.

But, now I need to decide on what card to get. These are my options, converted from local currency to USD, including tax but not shipping.

HIS 470 4GB IceQ X2 Oc - $229
Powercolor 480 4GB - $257
HIS 480 4GB IceQ X2 Oc - $268
HIS 480 8GB IceQ X2 OC - $300

And these are the cheapest options available to me. Did I mention that we get raped when it comes to computer components in South Africa?

The HIS use same design has XFX (not sure if HIS makes XFX or other way round or just a copy design job since internally PCBs are the same, also with same quality components),

HIS earned our respect with superior engineering, 6 phase power, VRM cooling pads, all copper heat pipes, the IceQ 2 cooling solution and great overclocking. If you want the king of the jungle roaring in your chassis, the HIS RX 480 IceQ X2 Roaring Turbo 8GB is a good choice for 1440p and rules the jungle at 1080p, earning it the Bjorn3D Golden Bear Award.

https://www.bjorn3d.com/2016/09/rx-480-iceq-x2-roaring-turbo-8gb-review/8/

Another review here http://videocardz.com/review/his-radeon-rx-480-iceq-x2-roaring-turbo-8gb-review

I would go with HIS 8GB in your list above.

One last point do make sure it'll fit inside your case (whatever you buy), since my XFX just about fitted (very tight fit) with no room to spare unless I removed my dvd/HD cage.