For around $350, is the GTX970 or R9 290x my better option?

[davie jambo]

The AMD version will always be, next month. IMHO.
Why is he happy with his current monitor? He isn't happy with his current GPU. Obviously. Why do you keep speaking for the OP as if you can read his mind?

He's asking what card is best value for $350 nothing about monitors

r9 290x is the best value at the moment

 

[iiiankiii]

This is a really tough choice b/c the 290x is generally cheaper than the 970. It trade blows. However, most non reference cards for the 290x is quieter and consume less power than the reference counter part. Plus, most 290x are clocked at 1050 mhz out of the box. That will put the 290x ahead against most of the 970 out there. If power is not too much of a concern, the 290x is a great alternative to the 970. However, if the price is within $40 of each other, I'll pay extra for a newer arch in the 970. The 970 will offer a cooler and newer tech.

Then you have to consider if you want to use 4k and multiple gpus. That complicate things because that would put the 290x on top. Maxwell is having frame pacing issues with SLI at 4k right now. XDMA is the better solution at this point. That just make it more difficult to decide.

 

[Keysplayr]

He's asking what card is best value for $350 nothing about monitors

r9 290x is the best value at the moment

I only mentioned the monitor because you did.
No, I don't believe the 290X is the best value right now.
Cheapest is 319.00 after rebate plus two games for the 290X on the Egg.
Other sales are around for it I'd imagine.
I just linked two 970s for under 340.00 one has a choice of games.
So, the 290X is still priced too high. It needs to be around 299.00 or lower, plus game ( s ) to be a viable temptation from the 970.

 

[davie jambo]

I only mentioned the monitor because you did.
No, I don't believe the 290X is the best value right now.
Cheapest is 319.00 after rebate plus two games for the 290X on the Egg.
Other sales are around for it I'd imagine.
I just linked two 970s for under 340.00 one has a choice of games.
So, the 290X is still priced too high. It needs to be around 299.00 plus games to be a viable temptation from the 970.

I only mentioned it because the boy that posted above me did

290x is a better card , but I don't suppose someone that is a member of a Nvida focus group would say that

 

[iiiankiii]

I only mentioned it because the boy that posted above me did

290x is a better card , but I don't suppose someone that is a member of a Nvida focus group would say that

I think it really is a tough choice. You have a card that is newer that is cooler (less tdp) against a card (290x) that will trade blows with it. If you're not planning on doing 4k SLI, I don't see the 290x as the better choice. The 290x is only better than a 970 at 4k Crossfire.

In fact, the 290x trades blows with the 980 @4k in SLI/XF. If your goal is to game at 4k, I would pick the 290x over the 980. I know that 2x 290x will consume more power; but, I would take the hit on power if it means a smoother, consistent gameplay. Plus, the price delta between 2x 980x and 2x 290x makes the 2x 290x a no brainer.

 

[Sulaco]

Just an update from the OP, guys...I hope I'm not starting a war here...

I will actually be buying a new monitor as well: Likely a 27" 1440p in the ~$500 range.

Right now, that looks like either the Asus PB278Q (current front runner), or the Dell U2713HM.



Like I said in my previous post, right now the front runners are a $310 Asus GeForce GTX970 at my local Microcenter.

Or an XFX 290x for ~$300 (+games) at the Egg.

 

[Sulaco]

Oh, and not to wander off-topic, but a quick question:

Do you guys think a Corsair HX 750Watt PSU would be sufficient for EITHER card? This is the one I'm planning on atm:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-010-_-Product

 

[Keysplayr]

I only mentioned it because the boy that posted above me did

290x is a better card , but I don't suppose someone that is a member of a Nvida focus group would say that

Because no. The 290X is most definitely not the better card. At best, these cards perform equally. At worst, well you know the sharp contrast in differences.

 

[Keysplayr]

Oh, and not to wander off-topic, but a quick question:

Do you guys think a Corsair HX 750Watt PSU would be sufficient for EITHER card? This is the one I'm planning on atm:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-010-_-Product

Go to each manufacturers website to look up power supply requirements for each GPU you are interested in.

500W minimum for GTX970
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-970/specifications
A 750W Corsair PSU would be enough for GTX 970 SLI.
Make sure your PSU has at least two 6 pin PCI-e power connectors for one GTX 970. or 4 6-pin PCI-e power connectors for GTX 970 SLI.

 

[raghu78]

Oh, and not to wander off-topic, but a quick question:

Do you guys think a Corsair HX 750Watt PSU would be sufficient for EITHER card? This is the one I'm planning on atm:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-010-_-Product

more than sufficient.

 

[iiiankiii]

Oh, and not to wander off-topic, but a quick question:

Do you guys think a Corsair HX 750Watt PSU would be sufficient for EITHER card? This is the one I'm planning on atm:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-010-_-Product

750 WATT is plenty. You can almost do 2x GPU with that PSU. The Corsair HX 750watt is a fine psu. No need to worry at all. You can have an fully overclocked system (with moderate voltage bump) with that PSU.

I have an overclocked system with 2x 290x with an overclocked i7-3770k @ 4.2Ghz. The max pull at the wall was around 700 watts while gaming/benchmarks.

 

[Sulaco]

750 WATT is plenty. You can almost do 2x GPU with that PSU. The Corsair HX 750watt is a fine psu. No need to worry at all. You can have an fully overclocked system (with moderate voltage bump) with that PSU.

I have an overclocked system with 2x 290x with an overclocked i7-3770k @ 4.2Ghz. The max pull at the wall was around 700 watts while gaming/benchmarks.

Thanks for the replies on that, guys!

However, I went ahead with the HX 850, simply because right now on Newegg it's exactly the same price as the 750...so why not?

 

[raghu78]

Thanks for the replies on that, guys!

However, I went ahead with the HX 850, simply because right now on Newegg it's exactly the same price as the 750...so why not?

good decision. you have a PSU which can handle SLI and CF on the highest cards.

 

[Keysplayr]

Thanks for the replies on that, guys!

However, I went ahead with the HX 850, simply because right now on Newegg it's exactly the same price as the 750...so why not?

Nice. I would have done the same.

 

[Sulaco]

Well I appreciate everyone's input! I had been out of the loop really since my last build 5 years ago at this time.

Anyway, after weeks of debating and pricing and piecing together all of the other components, I finally settled on this in my local Microcenter:

..for $309. Also included the FC4 incentive, a game I was planning on buying anyway, so that was a plus.

Anyway, it will be a few days before all the parts get here to finally begin assembly, but it's nice to finally have it off my mind.

 

[digitaldurandal]

309 for a 970 at Microcenter. ARGH I am jealous. We have no good stores here, only a TigerDirect.

 

[XiandreX]

309 for a 970 at Microcenter. ARGH I am jealous. We have no good stores here, only a TigerDirect.

That looks like $389 ..... if referring to the picture above your post.

 

[Sulaco]

That looks like $389 ..... if referring to the picture above your post.

$389 was the sticker on the box (MSRP?), but not what I paid.

 

[werepossum]

290. Don't spend another 30% dollars for 5% performance.

Ordinarily I think the same, but it seems like developers are jumping to 4GB VRAM to easily port from the consoles so we may need every bit of power.

Well I appreciate everyone's input! I had been out of the loop really since my last build 5 years ago at this time.

Anyway, after weeks of debating and pricing and piecing together all of the other components, I finally settled on this in my local Microcenter:

..for $309. Also included the FC4 incentive, a game I was planning on buying anyway, so that was a plus.

Anyway, it will be a few days before all the parts get here to finally begin assembly, but it's nice to finally have it off my mind.

Dang, I may have to drive to Atlanta!

 

[3DVagabond]

Ordinarily I think the same, but it seems like developers are jumping to 4GB VRAM to easily port from the consoles so we may need every bit of power.


Dang, I may have to drive to Atlanta!

290 has 4gig also.

 

[steve wilson]

Damn I'm so jealous of you Americans. In England the same card is £300, which works out to about $480.

 

[guskline]

Great purchase for that price Sulaco. Not only did you get a GREAT price deal, you picked up a game you wanted. ENJOY the gpu.

 

[davie jambo]

Civ Beyond Earth added to the R9 290 and x package

So you get 3 games AND Civ BE

I am going to buy one shortly - fantastic deal. It's better at higher resolutions than the 970 and I play everything 1440p these days so it's the card for me

 

[Keysplayr]

Damn I'm so jealous of you Americans. In England the same card is £300, which works out to about $480.

You enjoying that free medical and education?

Believe me, what we don't pay in VAT like you, we pay with the skin off our backs with the sheer amount of tax and we still have to pay for the rest of our natural lives for our educations and medical coverage.
Sorry for the side note. It was just funny you said you were jealous of us. Don't be..

 

[XiandreX]

$389 was the sticker on the box (MSRP?), but not what I paid.

Then all I can say is wow. $309 is just insane, and an Asus on top of that.