basic 4k card

[w0ss]

I have a rig I built in 2011 that I just bought a 4k screen for.

I do some basic gaming usually playing the following

World of Tanks
warzone 2100
Cities: Skylines
Civ 5
Starcraft II

I currently have a Radeon 6770 video card driving a pair of 1680x1050 monitors. My plan is to add the 4k and run a triple monitor setup.

I am leaning towards the R9 390 but haven't stayed up on video cards so wanted some opinions.

The rest of the machine is a i5-2500k with 16GB ram and a 500GB SSD with a good 1KW PSU(used to run this as a 4x6770 bitcoin miner 24x7).

 

[RussianSensation]

I have a rig I built in 2011 that I just bought a 4k screen for.

I do some basic gaming usually playing the following

World of Tanks
warzone 2100
Cities: Skylines
Civ 5
Starcraft II

I currently have a Radeon 6770 video card driving a pair of 1680x1050 monitors. My plan is to add the 4k and run a triple monitor setup.

I am leaning towards the R9 390 but haven't stayed up on video cards so wanted some opinions.

The rest of the machine is a i5-2500k with 16GB ram and a 500GB SSD with a good 1KW PSU(used to run this as a 4x6770 bitcoin miner 24x7).

R9 390 is more or less the best option you have if $300 is your maximum budget.
http://www.computerbase.de/2015-09/...st/3/#abschnitt_ultrahdtests_in_3840__2160_4k

It's actually impossible to have any games running across 3 non-identical monitors with differing resolutions on an NV card. This limitation doesn't exist with AMD.

Sapphire Nitro 390 seems like a solid card for $295.

If you want the most performance per $, and your motherboard allows for Cross-fire, picking up two R9 290/290Xs (used - for example Sapphire Tri-X 290s for $180-200 a piece if you can find them) is also a good option. However, some games you have listed may not work well with CF. Also, hope you know how demanding 4K is.

Starcraft 2 actually favours NV:

If you are not looking to game across more than 1 monitor and just want to utilize the 4K as the primary for gaming, and use the tri-monitor setup for 2D, be on the lookout for the EVGA B-Stock GTX980 that often goes on sale for $370-380. That would be a great deal too, especially because World of Tanks and SC2 favour NV cards.

 

[w0ss]

I should have made that clear the triple monitor isn't for gaming. The triple monitor is just for productivity or watching a movie/TV. I am looking to game on just the 4k.

Looking at that 390 made me realize I have another issue. I need 2xDVI as the existing monitors do not have HDMI or DP. The 4k monitor can do 4k/60Hz on the DP or HDMI.

I have a week for the monitor to arrive so I will keep an eye out for the GTX980 deal you mentioned. While I was hoping to be in the 200-300$ range with the pace of my last upgrade maybe 400$ isn't unreasonable. Before Sandy Bridge I upgraded almost yearly.

 

[Ken g6]

I need 2xDVI as the existing monitors do not have HDMI or DP.

No worries. All the digital video ports are basically compatible. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812423015

Edit: But with AMD you'll want to save one DP for the 4K monitor because they don't do HDMI 2.0.

 

[RussianSensation]

Looking at that 390 made me realize I have another issue. I need 2xDVI as the existing monitors do not have HDMI or DP. The 4k monitor can do 4k/60Hz on the DP or HDMI.

There are several models of R9 390 that show 2x DL-DVI + DisplayPort.

XFX R9 390 = $305
PowerColor R9 390 = $290
MSI Gaming R9 390 = $330

I do want to bring to your attention that there is 1 major compromise with using AMD's R9 290/390 series with multi-monitors. While many prefer Eyefinity in mixed resolutions over NV's solution, the R9 390 have a huge power consumption penalty in 2D with multi-monitors compared to a card like the GTX970/980.

So that's something for you to think about. As an alternative, Gigabyte G1 Gaming 970 might be something to look into - $300.

BTW, another forum member found this good deal on a $300 XFX R9 290X 8GB card. It has dual-DVI and comes with lifetime warranty too if registered within 30 days of purchase; essentially a card slightly slower than an R9 390X 8GB for $80+ less.

 

[w0ss]

299 with lifetime warranty sounds good. I bout that 290x. Hopefully it OC's well.

 

[RussianSensation]

299 with lifetime warranty sounds good. I bout that 290x. Hopefully it OC's well.

Before overclocking, I hope you share how the card satisfies its use as an Eyefinity product with multiple displays I think that's way more important than an extra 7% in performance.

BTW, make sure to test the card out for a couple days before sending the rebate so that in case something is wrong with it, you can exchange it with Amazon.

Generally speaking R9 290X isn't a stellar overclock. 1100-1150mhz is a realistic overclock. Let us know how you do.

 

[w0ss]

I do not have the 4k display yet but installed the 290x to drive my 2 existing monitors.

At the desktop the card is drawing ~15 watts with both monitors running. Not sure if the third monitor will change things but doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

 

[w0ss]

Found out the 15watt I am seeing is the proc of the GPU only and the Memory/other components add to that.

I will hook up my power meter and see what the power draw went to by changing the 6770 to the 290x. I did a 10% overclock on cpu/mem and am running at ~83C. 1100Mhz CPU/1510Mhz Mem. Not sure if I will bother keeping the OC.

I have a new case coming as the existing case doesn't have the airflow to keep this thing cool. I maxed out at 95C with the case door on.

 

[tential]

Found out the 15watt I am seeing is the proc of the GPU only and the Memory/other components add to that.

I will hook up my power meter and see what the power draw went to by changing the 6770 to the 290x. I did a 10% overclock on cpu/mem and am running at ~83C. 1100Mhz CPU/1510Mhz Mem. Not sure if I will bother keeping the OC.

I have a new case coming as the existing case doesn't have the airflow to keep this thing cool. I maxed out at 95C with the case door on.

What Design? I have seen 70C once on my R9 290 and I was trying to heat up my room to see how my cooling is in my case. I doubt now with my DS-15 installed I can get it that hot. We'll see though.

 

[w0ss]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PCN3I90 is the one I bought.