Looking for the best single card for 1080p gaming.

starmanwarz · 5 Nov 2013 at 09:53

Looking for a card that will last me many years. Maybe these new high end cards are an overkill for 1080p but I am willing to pay more now and get the best I can instead of buying a cheaper one and having to upgrade sooner.

The 780ti should be good enough but no official specs/pricing yet. If it is overpriced I was thinking something like the 780 Classified or some other cheaper 780 (I don't really like overclocking cards).

Now I am reading that there is also a 780 "Ghz" edition coming out. And there's also the 290/290X. The more I wait the more cards come out and it's getting really crazy

. I'm tired of waiting so I will be ordering a card by next week.

Anyway what would you recommend?

Edit: PSU is a Seasonic G 550w, I believe it's going to be enough for a single card+the rest of my system?

Edit 2:I don't want a 7990 for various reasons <-----

4737Joker · 5 Nov 2013 at 10:18

Just hang on another month for custom cooled 290/290x and 780ti etc and then decide.

Alexcy · 5 Nov 2013 at 10:58

Get a 290 and install a cooler on it. There are some artic cooling vga coolers with 3 fans and they are very good. Its listed in tomshardware review of 290

daveip · 5 Nov 2013 at 11:20

I'd wait for the non-reference cooled 290X to come out.

sadbuttrue · 5 Nov 2013 at 11:20

starmanwarz said:
Edit: PSU is a Seasonic G 550w, I believe it's going to be enough for a single card+the rest of my system?

Your PSU is high-end in terms of 12v output at 540watts. With your cpu overclock and I suspect a gpu overclock you will be pushing ~450watts. So yes, your PSU can happily power the desired setup. It will be running rather hot and possibly loud, but whether that's an issue is for you to decide.

starmanwarz · 5 Nov 2013 at 11:25

Alexcy said:
Get a 290 and install a cooler on it. There are some artic cooling vga coolers with 3 fans and they are very good. Its listed in tomshardware review of 290

The 290 looks like an amazing card but cba installing a cooler tbh.

daveip said:
I'd wait for the non-reference cooled 290X to come out.

That's at least a few months away

sadbuttrue said:
Your PSU is high-end in terms of 12v output at 540watts. With your cpu overclock and I suspect a gpu overclock you will be pushing ~450watts. So yes, your PSU can happily power the desired setup. It will be running rather hot and possibly loud, but whether that's an issue is for you to decide.

Awesome, I have just ordered this PSU to replace my 6 year old Enermax, I could get the 650w version but I was told 550 is more than enough and more efficient for a single card setup.

MrClark · 5 Nov 2013 at 12:30

7990 - I just got one and am blown away by it. I'm running 1440p and I very rarely drop below 55 FPS and I have scalling set to 140% - i have a 2500k clocked to 4.8 and that's the bottleneck.

I do have a 1200w PSU (obviously overkill!) and I'm not sure I would want to use anything less than 800w if you are planning to overclock the CPU and/or GPU.

starmanwarz · 5 Nov 2013 at 12:36

MrClark said:
7990 - I just got one and am blown away by it. I'm running 1440p and I very rarely drop below 55 FPS and I have scalling set to 140% - i have a 2500k clocked to 4.8 and that's the bottleneck.

I do have a 1200w PSU (obviously overkill!) and I'm not sure I would want to use anything less than 800w if you are planning to overclock the CPU and/or GPU.

Why would I need a 800w PSU when a system with an OCed 3960X and a 780 needs like 350W during heavy load?

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_780_sli_review,4.html

gigeorge · 5 Nov 2013 at 12:39

Whats this obsession with 1080p gaming, whats wrong with good old 1900x1200 or 2560x1440 gaming?

starmanwarz · 5 Nov 2013 at 12:45

gigeorge said:
Whats this obsession with 1080p gaming, whats wrong with good old 1900x1200 or 2560x1440 gaming?

Who said I'm obsessed with 1080p? It's my Dell's U2311H res and I am really liking this monitor, I don't plan on changing it any time soon.

MrClark · 5 Nov 2013 at 12:52

starmanwarz said:
Why would I need a 800w PSU when a system with an OCed 3960X and a 780 needs like 350W during heavy load?

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/geforce_gtx_780_sli_review,4.html

You asked for the best single card solution - I think the 7990 is it, not the 780.

It depends what your definition of 'best' is of course - my definition of best is fastest. The obvious drawbacks (to some) of the 7990 are heat, noise and dual CPU.

In terms of power consumption:

http://www.techspot.com/review/663-amd-radeon-hd-7990/page8.html

Total usage was close to 500W with the 7990 with a non-overclocked i7-3960X.

It's a personal preference, but I like to go with a quality high spec PSU and not have to worry about power when upgrading - for example, in a few years time I plan on adding a 7970, this, as I have said is my personal preference.

4737Joker · 5 Nov 2013 at 13:08

i thought custom cooled 290pro was out in december?

starmanwarz · 5 Nov 2013 at 13:23

4737Joker said:
i thought custom cooled 290pro was out in december?

Not sure, either way I can't wait until then because I am sure that when non ref coolers come out, new cards will be released as well and I would have to wait even more, I have to buy a card eventually. My 560ti is not enough and it must be replaced asap

4737Joker · 5 Nov 2013 at 13:28

Well the 290 seems best bang for buck atm, but if your sensitive to noise etc then a 780 is probably more for you as they are already available with aftermarket coolers and come with some nice games.

Personally if was buying today it would be 290pro as i don't hear my computer at all while gaming because like most people i have a headset on and my PC is under my desk. So the noise etc isn't an issue for me.

starmanwarz · 7 Nov 2013 at 19:43

So the 780ti is out and it looks impressive. Is it worth the extra cost over the 780 for 1080p though?

780 classified
780ti superclocked

What do you think guys? I will be ordering one of these tomorrow.

Catanonia · 7 Nov 2013 at 20:32

Single card, easy HD 7990

benjii · 7 Nov 2013 at 21:11

Catanonia said:
Single card, easy HD 7990

Indeed. It's not too expensive anymore either.

starmanwarz · 7 Nov 2013 at 22:12

I don't want a 7990 for various reasons.

Are there any noticeable differences in games between the 780 Classified and the 780ti or is it all about benchmarks scores? Frankly I don't care at all about benchmark scores.

Panos · 7 Nov 2013 at 22:26

How many hz is your monitor? 60 or 120? If 120hz you have Nvidia 3d kit or you plan to buy one? If yes get an EVGA GTX780 Classified and overclock it to ~1300.

However I would add another vote to wait until the custom cooler/factory overclocked 290pro are out. Going to be better investment for the long term with improved drivers, Mantle and DX11.2
(780 is DX11.1).

And I could wait until 12th November at least. After the Mantle is officially launched at the Developers Summit. (and going to see some demos).

starmanwarz · 7 Nov 2013 at 22:40

My monitor is 60Hz with an IPS panel (Dell U2311H) and I won't be changing it any time soon.

Once again, I am TIRED of waiting. This waiting is stupid, I could wait forever and never get a card because there's always something new around the corner.

Anyway, I'll just flip a coin tomorrow morning and hit the order button on either.