I asked for and received a 4GB 960 for xmas. Low power and quiet. Runs Fallout 4 on ultra. Uses less power than my 660.
Ya I mean if you're happy with the performance of a gtx 960 that's great.
I had an hd7950. I could spent $200 and have a gtx 960 which is literally the same performance of the 7950. Or, I could get an r9 290 and ratchet up every setting.
I guess I can see how coming from your scenario you're happy with your purchase. But you could have jumped up a full tier of graphics card for the same price. That's a fact.
But hey, you're happy with your gift! That's what counts.
Just different priorities.
It's why I recommend the gtx 960 to op. I just don't think the performance is what matters to him, where as for me, I play games for visuals. I'm only excited to play ac unity for the visuals at 4k nothing else.
Considering the used 290 can't be around 220 now as the 290s are actually going up in value (290x can actually be found at 290 prices quite a bit though making those a steal on eBay used). That can put a 50 dollar difference between the gtx 960 and the 290.
That's 50 more he can put to something else he will actually care about where pushing an extra setting in an arena shooter where killing people is all that matters I doubt will improve his life much at all. That's just me though.