1080p Upgrade - Which Card ?

Goody_GTI · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:37

Hi guys,

I'm in the process of upgrading a friends PC so he's able to play games at a decent frame rate at decent settings in 1080p - somewhere near Ultra would be nice but not a must!

He's currently using an AMD A8-5500 APU, so I'm looking at getting him a standalone GPU.

The budget is £150 - £200, although this budget may need to include an SSD so I'm trying to keep the GPU as close to £150 as possible.

My shortlist so far is:

GTX 750ti

GTX 760

GTX 960 (Price/spec dependant!)

R9 270X

R9 280

What do people think would be the best choice? Not fussed about brand, MSI just appeared to have the best balance of warranty and clock speeds.

I'm not overly up to speed with AMD so would any of these bottleneck because of the CPU? The CPU isn't overclocked but I'm going to give it a slight tweak if the temps remain safe.

One other thing (unlike my own PC), this must be a brand new card so the MM is out of the question.

Thanks,
Goody

opethdisciple · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:41

Second hand might be better a 290 for example.

Geeman1979 · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:45

Either a used 780/290 if you're not fussy about going 2nd hand.

Goody_GTI · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:53

Sorry guys it has to be brand new - if it was mine it would defo be the MM

meldarthx · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:57

I'd wait until 960 price comes out; *though its not looking great from previews for performance and price*

Dust settles after that; there should be some great deals on 280, 285, possibly 760 Ti; but that's EOL now with the 960 out....

Right now; 270X - *depending on the deal* 280 rule the 150 mark....just too much performance for the money

I'd say its going to be more of the same....check prices in the next few days and go from there.

Geeman1979 · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:59

Goody_GTI said:
Sorry guys it has to be brand new - if it was mine it would defo be the MM

No need to apologise, some people just don't do used.

Top end of your budget.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-225-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

Or, if you can raise the budget a touch. Have the room & can power it. Could sell the game to recuperate a little of the cost back.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-166-PC&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

varkanoid · 21 Jan 2015 at 13:11

R9 280X here for £179 brand new would stand it in fine stead. Sell the game coupon and price will be even lower.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-323-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

faster than all the cards you listed.

Need to def overclock the CPU though even if its a small amount.

Geeman1979 · 21 Jan 2015 at 13:12

Good call, didn't see that one

meldarthx · 21 Jan 2015 at 13:17

Nice find Vark;

I was trying to stay at his 150 mark...well lets take a look at the 150 mark

*that's a rocking card for the price and gives you more for ssd*
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-328-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1982

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-251-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

*same price but 4 gb card* you can get the 2 gb card for 129.99......
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-327-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1982

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-358-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1983

*yes I put the 285; I still think that price its still alittle high, but oc fast as 280X; but with newer features; better tess; and color compression*.....

Yea I went over.....but still trying to keep it cheap.....its tough decision between 155-179......there is a lot of performance in that space.

David Bisset · 21 Jan 2015 at 13:25

Might be worth checking what PSU he's got as well

Goody_GTI · 21 Jan 2015 at 13:57

Geeman1979 said:
No need to apologise, some people just don't do used.

Top end of your budget.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-225-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

Or, if you can raise the budget a touch. Have the room & can power it. Could sell the game to recuperate a little of the cost back.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-166-PC&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

Thanks - I was hoping to spend less, but as meldarthx says below, there's a big leap for an extra 20/30 quid!

varkanoid said:
R9 280X here for £179 brand new would stand it in fine stead. Sell the game coupon and price will be even lower.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-323-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

faster than all the cards you listed.

Need to def overclock the CPU though even if its a small amount.

Thanks buddy - good spot!

meldarthx said:
Nice find Vark;

I was trying to stay at his 150 mark...well lets take a look at the 150 mark

*that's a rocking card for the price and gives you more for ssd*
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-328-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1982

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-251-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1842

*same price but 4 gb card* you can get the 2 gb card for 129.99......
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-327-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1982

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-358-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1983

*yes I put the 285; I still think that price its still alittle high, but oc fast as 280X; but with newer features; better tess; and color compression*.....

Yea I went over.....but still trying to keep it cheap.....its tough decision between 155-179......there is a lot of performance in that space.

Thanks for the input - from this it looks like a 285 or a 280x and shelve the SSD for now, as you say the performance difference is noticeable for not a lot more

David Bisset said:
Might be worth checking what PSU he's got as well

Will do - I only picked up the PC last night so will be checking it all out later, I also need to bear in mind card dimensions!

So.... so far it looks like a 270X, 280X, or a 285

How important is DX12 support the 285 provides? This could be an important factor in the name of future proofing

Goody_GTI · 21 Jan 2015 at 23:22

Haha this is good - had chance to look at the pc tonight and the power supply is.... A mighty 300w zoostorm !!!!

So yes the budget will need to include a new PSU

Space won't be an issue though

McGraw · 22 Jan 2015 at 00:00

Some 750ti's run off the pci-e slot and use 60w.

Saves a new psu and price/perf is much better but you won't be getting ultra.

Goody_GTI · 22 Jan 2015 at 17:47

McGraw said:
Some 750ti's run off the pci-e slot and use 60w.

Saves a new psu and price/perf is much better but you won't be getting ultra.

Thanks for the input but I was hoping for more than a 750ti (although it WAS an option for additional SSD funds)

I've made my mind up, I've got a good/reliable spare PSU I'm going to sell him for £20 and then put £160/170 into a card. He can get an SSD later, for now a fresh install of Windows will do

So the question following the launch.... GTX 960 or R9 285 ???

McGraw · 22 Jan 2015 at 18:15

960 for the lower power consumption depending on your PSU but I think the 285 is quicker.

Goody_GTI · 22 Jan 2015 at 18:26

The PSU is 450w, I'll post a pic soon but I think it's half decent

bru · 22 Jan 2015 at 19:36

With that CPU he will probably bottleneck most of the cards mentioned.

Goody_GTI · 22 Jan 2015 at 19:58

bru said:
With that CPU he will probably bottleneck most of the cards mentioned.

This was my first worry, but will it really?

I did some digging before posting and the CPU seems to be on par with my old i5 750 - which I use a gtx 770 with and that doesn't bottleneck

So surely a 285 or a 960 will be fine?

McGraw · 22 Jan 2015 at 23:21

Depends on the games I guess. Most of the stuff I enjoy is cpu bottlenecked for me: fsx/arma/assetto corsa

shadow_boxer · 22 Jan 2015 at 23:57

nvidia for fsx. second hand gtx 670 (£70-80) or gtx 770 would be perfect.