cRPG
Off Topic => General Off Topic => Topic started by: Daunt_Flockula on April 14, 2015, 10:48:43 am
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I am stuck between the choices of GTX 970 and R9 290X.
By far, I have read quite a bit about both choices and the 970 is heavier on one hand of the scale. It will consume half the power needed by 290X, although I have a very powerful PSU and that won't even be a problem. I know at 300W, the 290X is going to work like a room heater as well and it is the better choice for a resolution over 1080p. The 290X also comes with double the bus width of 970, yet Nvidia cards seem to perform great even with 256 bit.
(Note: For those who are curious, my current card is a Radeon HD 6950, a good old trusty GPU that has served me well so far but needs to retire and rest.)
I mean I have already kind of decided. Still I want some input on this.
Also, my processor is an AMD Phenom II x6 1100 BE. I think the processor is going to be fine for a very longer while. I would like to gather your opinions on this too nevertheless. Does any of you believe this one requires an upgrade?
Also be informed that my primary concern is probably to play Witcher 3 comfortably once it comes out and be ready for any other big title I might be interested in later.
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Turkey will probably ban computers before Witcher 3 comes out.
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There are numerous threads to run that rant in, Xant. Be gone now and leave this one alone. I need halp!
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Well, I have a R9 270X and can't say anything bad about.
Currently playing GTA V with most high or even very high at 1680x1050 and fixed 60fps (v-sync on).
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Sounds nice. What is your processor, Molly?
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i'm an amd supporter and i have an r9 290, but i'd choose the gtx 970 erryday, especially if you're going to play on 1080p (with higher resolutions the gap is much reduced apparently); better drivers, lower consumptions, newer card too, + you'll get witcher 3 and will be extremely optymized for it. but what i'd do honestly is wait for new r9 to come out, that would be your best choice, lower prices, better drivers shit like that you know.
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I have an EVGA 970 which has been perfect so far. Running at 1080p I'm playing every game I own at maximum except Atilla: Total War which has a few things turned down. Went with Nvidia because of better drivers. Don't want to mess about with that crap.
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Sounds nice. What is your processor, Molly?
E3 1231V3 with 8GB Ram
One advice tho: go for a card with 4GB Vram. Seems that's the new standard.
I mean, I am over the 2GB mine has in GTA V and I don't see any performance drop, so...
Still, 4GB Vram.
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I am solidly anti-nVidia due to past experiences with their sleaziness so I'd never voluntarily purchase a nVidia card myself. That said, I can't recommend the 290X unless you either live in a cool region of the world or have air-conditioning. The reason for this being that the 290-series produce a lot of heat yet do not come with a cooling solution that is adequate for most user environments. In your neck of the world, running a game as resource-intensive as Witcher 3, you will likely experience heat-related throttling issues; unless you're running an AC in your computer room that is. So if you must have your GPU upgrade now and those are two only two cards you are considering...go with the not-290X one.
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I am solidly anti-nVidia due to past experiences with their sleaziness so I'd never voluntarily purchase a nVidia card myself. That said, I can't recommend the 290X unless you either live in a cool region of the world or have air-conditioning. The reason for this being that the 290-series produce a lot of heat yet do not come with a cooling solution that is adequate for most user environments. In your neck of the world, running a game as resource-intensive as Witcher 3, you will likely experience heat-related throttling issues; unless you're running an AC in your computer room that is. So if you must have your GPU upgrade now and those are two only two cards you are considering...go with the not-290X one.
Ended up dumping my 290x on ebay for that reason. Was plenty fast but ran 70c-75c at full load, and this was on one of the aftermarket models (MSI R9 290x LIGHTNING).
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I already have its ancestor. The HD 6950 does the same and turns the entire place into a furnace. Good thing in winter, total pain in the ass in summer. Last time I checked, its rubber fan had its wings partially molten :lol:
Also, what do you people think about my CPU mentioned in the OP? Will it be a fine match with a GTX 970 or does anybody think it requires an upgrade too?
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don't buy reference models for amd that's a sure thing, don't even THINK about it; had to buy an arctic cooler IV (should have bought the III one, this one doesn't allow me to cool vram well enough) but now it stays under 50 degrees in full OC
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German Hardware Site (http://www.pcgameshardware.de/GTA-5-Grand-Theft-Auto-5-PC-219948/Tests/GTA-5-PC-Test-Benchmark-1156215/)
...if you scroll down, you'll find a customizable benchmark for GTA V.
Should help to decide or maybe find alternatives.
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That is a nice benchmark summary Molly. Thanks. It also helped me spark up my rusted German a bit. Too bad the test system has a fineass i7 in it though. Still leaves me with questions about CPU.
Also, point taken darmaster. I already regret having picked a reference design the last time. Nvidia or AMD, this time I am determined to get one with 2-3 efficient fans.
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Always buy a card with aftermarket coolers. Imo get 970, Amd always had problems with drivers/heat/power consumption, nVidia cards seem to be allot more stable in my experience, they are also always bit more expensive.
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Get a mortgage for a Titan X.
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Which is cheaper?
If 970, check out MSI twin frozr.
If R9 290X, check out sapphire tri-x or vapour-x.
The CPU will be plenty fine. It'll limit fps a bit, but it's pretty much all GPU limitation atm.
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Currently, aftermarket and reference options of both cards come at roughly the same price. And tbh, I am already a bit tired of the heating problems of my AMD card. The heating is so bad that it renders the great airflow of my case almost useless. Also when people make the "room heater" joke about them, I can testify that it is no lie. Believe it or not, it actually heats up my room very well.
Also, thanks for the comment about my processor, Senni. I already thought it was fine but I needed someone else to confirm. After all, we are at that next turning point of PC upgrades and I want to make sure I can squeeze more out of my system. I am fearing that the upgrade interval might shrink down to 1 year at a time very soon.
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GTX970 Astrix have a decent cooler, not that pricey either.
Chose 290X if you dont have any heat in your house/room/apartment, cuz it will heat it up without any problems.
On a serious note: Choose 970, its really not that much worse, almost like a potato pot"ah"to kind of difference and alot COOLER (brr, cold. not cool like 8-) ) also, drivers...
On a not so serious note " /thread"
/thread
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If you can afford to wait till june (computex), the next blob of AMD should be out which will hopefully lower prices.
The R9 380(X) looks to be a rebrand of the R9 290(X), though they might have better coolers, who knows.
The difference in TDP is quite insane tbh. If that is a factor for you, then it's really no choice :P.
The GTX 970 should also OC better, R9 290Xs struggle with OCs, usually only a small percent increase is possible.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/R9_290X_Tri-X_OC/27.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_970_Gaming/30.html
(memory OC is more useful at high resolutions, and usually isn't the limiting factor)
I wouldn't want to run a 290X at that kind of OC all the time though :p.
On a side note, if you are willing to go through Ebay or something similar, you can nab people's old cards for a steal if you are lucky.
Like I managed to get a gtx 780 new condition for £140, cheaper than a gtx 960, goes like a 970.
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I would wait for Rx 300 series as they are upgrading from GDDR5 to HBM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Bandwidth_Memory) which should allow stacking memory in crossfire/SLI setups.
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I would wait for Rx 300 series as they are upgrading from GDDR5 to HBM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Bandwidth_Memory) which should allow stacking memory in crossfire/SLI setups.
Pretty sure that's the 390(x) only.
Though we'll only know for sure in june.
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I would wait for Rx 300 series as they are upgrading from GDDR5 to HBM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Bandwidth_Memory) which should allow stacking memory in crossfire/SLI setups.
I think you're confusing SLI/Crossfire memory stacking with stacked memory.
The former means that you can use the sum of the VRAM of all cards, and it will be possible for all SLI/Crossfire cards (even older ones) that support the new graphics APIs (Mantle/DX12/Vulkan).
The latter is just a way to describe the physical placement of memory dies.
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There is a lot of speculation surrounding the R9 300 series that most of them will just be rebranded versions of existing cards. I realize those should be taken with a grain of salt though. If there were a new series of Nvidia gpus coming up, I would consider waiting. Then again, I have never seen Nvidia cards getting noticeable discounts here when a new series was introduced.
As for e-baying, I am one of the few people on earth who is shopping online but still doesn't have a credit card. I like to pay for something only when I can pay it at once. So, shopping there is out of question for me.
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I'm very happy with my 970 that I had to get to use shadowplay for recording the KS. :) Seems a very reasonable price point for the performance.
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I can't say which card is better for sure - but I can tell you NVidia has better software. I've had AMD cards and now have an NVidia, I'm really liking GeForce experience a lot more than Catalyst Control Center. Choosing the GPU you want is tough, with all the dynamics to it... Game devs in the pocket of either side, biased reviewers... Just look at some benchmarks and see which one has better price to performance and go for it, or grab a cheaper card and wait for the next generation. Never be a fanboy.
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When Freesync becomes an argument there'll be few reasons not to buy AMD's 100$ cheaper equivalents. Yes, Physx and drivers, but Nvidia fucks up drivers too.
I can't say which card is better for sure - but I can tell you NVidia has better software. I've had AMD cards and now have an NVidia, I'm really liking GeForce experience a lot more than Catalyst Control Center. Choosing the GPU you want is tough, with all the dynamics to it... Game devs in the pocket of either side, biased reviewers... Just look at some benchmarks and see which one has better price to performance and go for it, or grab a cheaper card and wait for the next generation. Never be a fanboy.
Grabbing a midrange card is not an option if you are into 4K/VR etc. and that will only intensify with upcoming PC games.
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True, freesync and g-sync are a big argument, tho it needs a capable display too.
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I am so swinging in between going for it and giving it time. For the last few days I have almost hit that "complete transaction" button several times for a GTX 970. Then I started overworrying about the gimped memory and coil whine issues. I got over it, went for the purchase again and still couldn't do it.
At this point, I still have to decide whether I should forget about the whole upgrade thing and wait for the next gen DX12 cards to hit the market or still buy one of these thingies.
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I am so swinging in between going for it and giving it time. For the last few days I have almost hit that "complete transaction" button several times for a GTX 970. Then I started overworrying about the gimped memory and coil whine issues. I got over it, went for the purchase again and still couldn't do it.
At this point, I still have to decide whether I should forget about the whole upgrade thing and wait for the next gen DX12 cards to hit the market or still buy one of these thingies.
well I have asus gtx970 and only times I've had coil whine was in Homeworld start menu and Space engineers start menu, both because of some reason game tries to run at over 3000 frames.
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Yeah, I know. And it appears that some people have it while others don't even experience it a single time. As I said, I am over that problem. Probably it wouldn't even bother me if it happened to me as well.
I just can't decide now if I wait for the next gen cards or not sweat it and buy a 970.
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Anyway, I think a poll would be good. Adding a poll and updating.
I know the best answer to any poll is "Give them run" but please resist the temptation and help me decide :mrgreen:
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Yeah, I know. And it appears that some people have it while others don't even experience it a single time. As I said, I am over that problem. Probably it wouldn't even bother me if it happened to me as well.
I just can't decide now if I wait for the next gen cards or not sweat it and buy a 970.
Wait for the next gen if around the corner and still buy the 970 but for 30% less.
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970 is a beast. It consumes very little, doesn't get hotter than 62ºC in full load and makes no noise, at least the MSI version. After trying out a 270x and then another on Crossfire, I am all for NVIDIA now - zero issues with games.
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I understand where you are coming from Pato. Afaik, you have been an AMD supporter just like me but realized that it is purely unrequited love, especially when it comes to GPUs.
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For 3D work, I guess AMD will do, but, for gaming, NVIDIA is one step ahead, and that's why they are more expensive.
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well I have asus gtx970 and only times I've had coil whine was in Homeworld start menu and Space engineers start menu, both because of some reason game tries to run at over 3000 frames.
A lot of games have no limit on frame rate when you're on the main menu right after launching. Luckily most of them can be patched or modded to not freak out your GPU.
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A lot of games have no limit on frame rate when you're on the main menu right after launching. Luckily most of them can be patched or modded to not freak out your GPU.
yeah used gpu tweak to force fps limit to 60 which seems to work most of the time
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I ended up getting the GTX 970. My AMD love has already worn me out. So, this is more than refreshing. My HD 6950 was still a great powerful card and I didn't expect this one to make such a huge difference, but it surely does. Now I know I won't be looking for an upgrade for a long long time. The several games I would definitely like to play without issues are now within my reach. Also, no coil whine issues. This thing runs so damn quietly and performs magnificently.
I did consider waiting for the next-gen. However, given the rapid foreign exchange rate fluctuations lately, I feel like even a GTX 970 might not be as affordable as it is now by the time they appear, let alone getting a brand new next-gen card.
Well, thanks everyone for the input.
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Which one did you get?
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I picked MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G (http://www.msi.com/product/vga/GTX-970-GAMING-4G.html). After days of reading and comparing, it seemed to be the best one for me.
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Good choice, i got the same, came to the same conclusion after doing my research.
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I picked MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G (http://www.msi.com/product/vga/GTX-970-GAMING-4G.html). After days of reading and comparing, it seemed to be the best one for me.
That one and the ASUS STRIX are the best of the 970's
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I was stuck in between these two as well. Still went for this one primarily because of the Twin Frozr fans.
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It's funny that, when the card goes on full load, the noise it makes is like metallic, like an intermitent high-pitched little noise. I had never heard a graphics card do that before.
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I think it is that coil whine issue everyone is talking about. I haven't experienced that yet. When at 100% rpm, the fans only create a mild windy noise, which is far from being annoying. I used to have my fan set at 50% with my HD 6950 and boy that thing still blew like a warplane's propeller. It was ear-piercing. To be honest, I am appalled by how quiet this one manages to remain even at 100%. It is really barely noticeable after having suffered my previous card.
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That's nearly as much money as I paid for my whole new setup :O
I'll never pay that much money for a gfx card.
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Understandable, but prices are never that ideal here. For the price of this card, you are not getting an alright rig here in Turkey. It cost me around the same as a Nexus 5 would cost me, if you are curious about the exact sum.
Could it get me an alright laptop for routine work purposes (no gaming)? Yes, it would. A gaming rig, one that isn't top-notch but can still manage? Hell no, it wouldn't.
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A quick glance at prices (Germany) told me at least 370€ for that specific card...
...paid 180€ for mine and still get GTA V with nearly everything on very high with steady 50+ fps.
I am not criticizing you. Why would I. Merely noting that isn't something I'd be willing to pay. Especially with the "refresh" cycles on this hardware segment.
I congratulate you on your new card tho. I am sure, you'll enjoy it :)
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I understand, don't worry :D
But it is just utopic for me to even imagine getting a good rig for 180€. Not back in the day, not now, not in the future.
Currently, my choices were a) throw away the entire rig and a get a new one (damn expensive + my rig isn't bad at all except for the GPU) or b) wait for the next-gen cards only to see that old cards still don't get a sizeable discount + the new ones are even more expensive.
With the new GPU in place, this rig (which is already over 4 years old) is going to bear with me for a longer while. I only regret having picked a Crosshair Formula IV as my mobo when building it. Should have picked the V version and my upgrading capability would have been far greater.
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Paid 430€ for my rig (w/o card) and I saw prices around 400€ for your card. Made that comparison...
Just for clarification :D
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Lol, I have two 400€ cards in my PC, and my next card is probably going to be even more expensive than that.
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I am really keeping it slow-paced when it comes to upgrades. I'd probably never invest in such a high-end PC right away. My next upgrade is probably going to be in 2-3 years and it will only involve mobo+processor, which is also going to cost me around the same sum I have just spent on a GPU :mrgreen:
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I am happy with the card's performance, but the coil whine is a bit annoying in Battlefield 4. At one point, suddenly an explosion sounded very loud, distorted and wrong through the speakers, so I closed the game scared. I've read that burning in the card with stress tests should reduce it, so I'll leave 3DMark overnight this weekend and see if it helps. When I run Ice Storm test, it sounds like a bird screaming.
You're lucky you don't get that, Flockula.
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Bump, found this funny link (in German though) http://www.tomshardware.de/HD6990-GTX590-Corsair-Obsidian-800D,testberichte-240761-10.html
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Have mercy on my poor soul Kafein. I had my time with German back in the day but I am so rusted that it actually hurts my brain to read it.
And for that exact reason, I don't get why that benchmark is relevant? Do tell (please, not in German).
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Both are enough to satisfy your gaming needs for at least 5 next years in my opinion.
I am happy with the card's performance, but the coil whine is a bit annoying in Battlefield 4. At one point, suddenly an explosion sounded very loud, distorted and wrong through the speakers, so I closed the game scared. I've read that burning in the card with stress tests should reduce it, so I'll leave 3DMark overnight this weekend and see if it helps. When I run Ice Storm test, it sounds like a bird screaming.
You're lucky you don't get that, Flockula.
That is not the issue of hardware though. Recent battlefield games are known for their occasional sound problems.
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Have mercy on my poor soul Kafein. I had my time with German back in the day but I am so rusted that it actually hurts my brain to read it.
And for that exact reason, I don't get why that benchmark is relevant? Do tell (please, not in German).
I don't even German. The images are very funny though.
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Lol, now that you pointed me to the right direction, I actually looked at the pictures. Previously, I jumped right to the conclusions section like I do with all benchmarks.
Legit stuff right there. I have a case with fans on the top. I bet the heat these damnable cards produce would easily eliminate the need for a stove :lol:
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Lol, now that you pointed me to the right direction, I actually looked at the pictures. Previously, I jumped right to the conclusions section like I do with all benchmarks.
Legit stuff right there. I have a case with fans on the top. I bet the heat these damnable cards produce would easily eliminate the need for a stove :lol:
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
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The truth is actually just the opposite Nightmare. At least my experience with Nvidia cards tell me otherwise (had a Geforce 9500 back in the day too, wasn't an AMD fanboy always xD).
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The truth is actually just the opposite Nightmare. At least my experience with Nvidia cards tell me otherwise (had a Geforce 9500 back in the day too, wasn't an AMD fanboy always xD).
Well, it WAS just a joke anyways.
My opinion is that Nvidia has slightly higher quality standart, while amd bets on making their hardware affordable. Either way, you should really be okay with either of them.
Pick by color you like! :D