Need some graphics card upgrade advice

The_Imp_ZA

The_Imp_ZA

New member
I'm thinking of upgrading my graphics card soon, and need some suggestions. My budget is roughly 2-3 grand, the more I can save though the better.

My desired res is 1440x900, I actually prefer it this way. Sitting so close to a 1080p screen makes me feel a little sick, so I stick to the smaller resolution monitors. It also means that my components end up lasting longer because it takes a lot less power to render something at 1440x900 than at 1920×1080.

I'm looking for something that will be able to play The Witcher 3 on medium at the least, I know it's hard to guess at this point what it's requirements will be, but if they're anything similar to Watch_Dogs, they'll be quite high.

Current Specs:

  • Intel i5 2nd Generation Quad Core, clocked at 3 Ghz +-
  • 4 GB RAM [Will be adding another 4 gig stick sometime soon]
  • MSI Geforce GTS450
  • Gigabyte Mobo - too lazy to go find the exact model number :D; it's fairly standard from what you would expect nowadays.
  • Coolermaster Storm Scout Chassis
  • 550 Watt Power Supply
  • 19inch Sammy Monitor - I love this thing; it's one of my oldest components but it's a beast, even when compared to newer models. What a beauty.
  • 1 TB + 2*500 GB HDD's

Some guys have recommended a 7870, which I'm definitely considering because you can find them for quite cheap. On the other hand, AMD's newer cards are coming/just have come out, so I'm not sure what the best course of action would be.

Also, I've never actually owned an AMD card before (blasphemy I know), but their cards are a lot cheaper than nVidia's, and most games lately have actually been better optimized for AMD. I'm obviously more comfortable with nVidia, but definitely won't rule out AMD just because I've never tried it before. If there's better performance and it's cheaper, than I'm all for it. I've heard that they have driver problems often, is there any truth to that or is it all BS?

One last question, would it even be smart to buy an upgrade now? With next gen approaching and what not, I would expect nVidia and AMD to unleashed their new architecture soon, so I don't want to upgrade if in a couple months time I'm left in the dust. I'd rather wait if that's the case.
 
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Well I would def opt for a new AMD gpu.
They bring some new goodies to the table and these are AMD's next gen cards.
Nvidia's new cards will only release sometime next year toward April -June.

I would recommend this seeing as the Scout can't really take long gpu's

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=11122

Unless you remove the hdd cage then you can grab one of these

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=11136

Edit: Should have explained, Yes AMD are def better bang for buck and right now their performance is on par with Nvidia, you really can't go wrong with them. Their driver department has made huge leaps and bounds over the last 18 months or so as well.
 
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Thanks for the help Joker.

I think I've found myself a Christmas present :D. I didn't realize that the new AMD cards were their next gen cards, thought they were just revisions of their existing ones. It's actually scary how much power you can get for your cash, every time I upgrade I'm always amazed at how much more powerful the nextgen tech is.

Anyway, I see that the R9-270X requires 2 6-Pin connectors. My power supply only has one, I know that I could use a molex adapter, but my reasoning is that if it only came with 1 6-pin, it can probably only support 1. Any good power supply's that you could recommend that won't break the bank?
 
The_Imp_ZA said:
Thanks for the help Joker.

I think I've found myself a Christmas present :D. I didn't realize that the new AMD cards were their next gen cards, thought they were just revisions of their existing ones. It's actually scary how much power you can get for your cash, every time I upgrade I'm always amazed at how much more powerful the nextgen tech is.

Anyway, I see that the R9-270X requires 2 6-Pin connectors. My power supply only has one, I know that I could use a molex adapter, but my reasoning is that if it only came with 1 6-pin, it can probably only support 1. Any good power supply's that you could recommend that won't break the bank?
Click to expand...

Adapters are actually fully functional on a card that requires 2 but a power supply only has 1. Ans the 270X is an excellent choice! Which brand you getting for it?
 
The_Imp_ZA said:
Thanks for the help Joker.

I think I've found myself a Christmas present :D. I didn't realize that the new AMD cards were their next gen cards, thought they were just revisions of their existing ones. It's actually scary how much power you can get for your cash, every time I upgrade I'm always amazed at how much more powerful the nextgen tech is.

Anyway, I see that the R9-270X requires 2 6-Pin connectors. My power supply only has one, I know that I could use a molex adapter, but my reasoning is that if it only came with 1 6-pin, it can probably only support 1. Any good power supply's that you could recommend that won't break the bank?
Click to expand...

Always welcome.

As for your question you could always use a molex but I don't normally recommend that.
You could get away with this, decent psu for the money

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=30&products_id=9119
 
The Joker said:
Always welcome.

As for your question you could always use a molex but I don't normally recommend that.
You could get away with this, decent psu for the money

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=30&products_id=9119
Click to expand...

the Joker strikes again!!! That is a very decently priced PSU. I'm using a molex adapter on my Sister's PC that I made for her and it is so far not giving any issues. Then again I don't put her PC through as man rigorous as my own so it is possible [albeit slightly :p ] that Joker is right :D
 
Snare said:
Adapters are actually fully functional on a card that requires 2 but a power supply only has 1. And the 270X is an excellent choice! Which brand you getting for it?
Click to expand...

Probably the Sapphire OC 4GB version, I might go with the Gigabyte if I end up removing the HDD cage. I'm more inclined to go with Sapphire though. I'll look around closer to the time, and make up my mind then.

The Joker said:
Always welcome.

As for your question you could always use a molex but I don't normally recommend that.
You could get away with this, decent psu for the money

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=30&products_id=9119
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help once again, that's exactly what I'm looking for :D Actually, I'm going to order that now while it's still in stock. Just in case, you know ;)

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This will probably be the final question, I'm currently running Windows 7 - when I upgrade - should I install Win8? I have a license key lying around that I can use, but I've just never seen the reason until now. I've heard that there is supposedly a performance increase, but I'm not sure if it's big enough to be worth the hassle.
 
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The_Imp_ZA said:
Probably the Sapphire OC 4GB version, I might go with the Gigabyte if I end up removing the HDD cage. I'm more inclined to go with Sapphire though. I'll look around closer to the time, and make up my mind then.



Thanks for the help once again, that's exactly what I'm looking for :D Actually, I'm going to order that now while it's still in stock. Just in case, you know ;)

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This will probably be the final question, I'm currently running Windows 7 - when I upgrade - should I install Win8? I have a license key lying around that I can use, but I've just never seen the reason until now. I've heard that there is supposedly a performance increase, but I'm not sure if it's big enough to be worth the hassle.
Click to expand...

The performance increase is minimal at best. It really isn't worth the energy to endure such an endeavour.
 
Why did they have to make this card look so sexy!

I'm actually considering saving up a bit more and buying the 280X. It would be better in the long run as well. I'll need to remove the HDD cage from my case, but that shouldn't be a problem. XFX's 270X doesn't look as good. Why couldn't they just use the same design?

On the other hand, MSI's 270X looks and performs well. Some people have apparently been having issues with coil whine. Urgh, too many decisions :D
 
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The_Imp_ZA said:
Why did they have to make this card look so sexy!

I'm actually considering saving up a bit more and buying the 280X. It would be better in the long run as well. I'll need to remove the HDD cage from my case, but that shouldn't be a problem. XFX's 270X doesn't look as good. Why couldn't they just use the same design?

On the other hand, MSI's 270X looks and performs well. Some people have apparently been having issues with coil whine. Urgh, too many decisions :D
Click to expand...

The 280x is basically a 7970 so if you see any of them...get the cheapest, best performing one?
 
I've decided that I'm going to go with the Sapphire Vapour-X R9-270X. (too many X's :p). Anyone happen to know when they'll be in stock locally?

Also, if anyone disagrees with that, let me know. First time AMD buyer here, so any suggestions are definitely taken into consideration by me.

Clearly IT said:
Joker you really have good taste in kit. I am a bit more pushed towards removing the cage and getting one of these bad boys. http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1227&pid=2038&psn=&lid=1&leg=0 its a great card and those colors just do it for me. The MSI crads tend to look the same to me across their model range. Still a very good card. Just my 10c worth.
Click to expand...

The Toxic is amazing, and out performs all of the competition (from the reviews I've seen), but for me it's just too much hassle to remove that HDD cage. Maybe in a couple of years when I switch out my case. I'll be sure to get one that supports much longer cards, like one of those Corsair Obsidian 650D's :D
 
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yes, i am kind of reviving a nearly dead thread here, but it has had some great advice.

is it just me or are all the 280X cards sold out everywhere? i am in need of a 280X in the R4k to R4500 region. any ideas where i can find one?
 
oltman said:
yes, i am kind of reviving a nearly dead thread here, but it has had some great advice.

is it just me or are all the 280X cards sold out everywhere? i am in need of a 280X in the R4k to R4500 region. any ideas where i can find one?
Click to expand...

No stock till next year.
You could however grab a Gigabyte R9 290 BF4 edition from Rebeltech for R6150 :P
 
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