Help w/ GPU Upgrade please, recent budget increase

docwatson · Mar 26, 2013

I am looking to upgrade my sapphire vapor x 4870, would like to keep my budget around $200-250 as i am looking to get an ssd as well.

I mostly play Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, BF3, Civ5 and future games

my rig is

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 1GB
ASUS M4A89TD PRO
16 GB (4X4) G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) F3-8500CL7D-8GBRL
Antec TPQ-850 850W
Western Digital WD Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
SAMSUNG 22" 1680 x 1050 main display
SAMSUNG 23" 1920 X 1080 mostly for xbox and watching movies though i do swap them on occasion

well I found a ssd for less than my budget so should i use the extra cash to jump to a 7950 or in that price range

like the XFX Double D FX-795A-TDFC Radeon HD 7950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150588

or should i stick to my original price range and save the money for a different upgrade

also both these cards are currently sold out dont know if they will be when i order

HIS H787F2G2M Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB $225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161411

SAPPHIRE 100354XTL Radeon HD 7870 XT w/Boost 2GB $250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202024

Azn Cracker · Mar 26, 2013

This. Use coupon code PWCHD7870 to make it $209

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131484

it is the same tahiti gpu as the saphire XT, just a little louder

stickmansam · Mar 26, 2013

You should grab the 7870XT then, best choice in your price range

swifty_morgan · Mar 26, 2013

I'd go with the sapphire card. better cooling.

chromic · Mar 26, 2013

Azn Cracker :

how loud is the sapphire one? read somewhere that the powercolor one is <40 db under load

docwatson · Mar 26, 2013

Azn Cracker :

I don't know much about powercolor are how good are they

Azn Cracker · Mar 26, 2013

docwatson :

powercolor is good. Im using one right now. no problems. Also it has mostly positive reviews

swifty_morgan · Mar 26, 2013

chromic :

Azn Cracker :

how loud is the sapphire one? read somewhere that the powercolor one is <40 db under load

balls!

Cyanide Reverse · Mar 26, 2013

chromic :

Don't get a powercolor they're a bad manufacturer according to some reviews and their fans aren't that good.

Azn Cracker · Mar 26, 2013

Cyanide Reverse :

Every manufacturer is bad according to some reviews. Some cards will always be DOA. And saying "their fans aren't good" is pretty ignorant as well. For this model I agree the cooling solution is not the best, but its $40 cheaper than the saphire one. Powercolor makes other cards that are just as good as competitors

Cyanide Reverse · Mar 26, 2013

Azn Cracker :

Cyanide Reverse :

Every manufacturer is bad according to some reviews. Some cards will always be DOA. And saying "their fans aren't good" is pretty ignorant as well. For this model I agree the cooling solution is not the best, but its $40 cheaper than the saphire one. Powercolor makes other cards that are just as good as competitors

Well powercolor doesn't have the best rep for making graphics card and doesn't have the best rep again for cooling whereas more reputable companies like MSI, Gigabyte have a lower failure rates compared to lesser known companies like powercolor and XFX

docwatson · Mar 26, 2013

Azn Cracker :

Cyanide Reverse :

Every manufacturer is bad according to some reviews. Some cards will always be DOA. And saying "their fans aren't good" is pretty ignorant as well. For this model I agree the cooling solution is not the best, but its $40 cheaper than the saphire one. Powercolor makes other cards that are just as good as competitors

well i dont know how long the code will be up for i will probably buying in a week or 2 depending on what i decide for a ssd
Also am also curious about cooling and sound

Cyanide Reverse · Mar 26, 2013

docwatson :

Azn Cracker :

well i dont know how long the code will be up for i will probably buying in a week or 2 depending on what i decide for a ssd
Also am also curious about cooling and sound

Hyper 212 evo is an amazing cooler so that should be your choice, on the terms of sound then your built in sound card on your mobo should be good enough.

Azn Cracker · Mar 26, 2013

Cyanide Reverse :

Azn Cracker :

Well powercolor doesn't have the best rep for making graphics card and doesn't have the best rep again for cooling whereas more reputable companies like MSI, Gigabyte have a lower failure rates compared to lesser known companies like powercolor and XFX

Lol... Really what stats tell that? I think MSI is the crappiest of the ones you mentioned therefore its true. Also XFX has really good warranty. I haven't heard bad things about them.

Cyanide Reverse · Mar 26, 2013

Azn Cracker :

Cyanide Reverse :

Lol... Really what stats tell that? I think MSI is the crappiest of the ones you mentioned therefore its true. Also XFX has really good warranty. I haven't heard bad things about them.

You don't really need stats since reviews cover that and since people have bad experiences with those companies compared to MSI and Gigabyte. MSI is pretty high quality and has a great cooler and great customer support.

Fishwithadeagle · Mar 26, 2013

Get a 7870 hawk. You will not regret it. The most I have oc'ed mine is to 1350 on the core. It comes stock from amd a 1000. I also have a 3d mark of 8930 and get ~35 fps on crysis 3 ultra w/ 8x antialiasing

docwatson · Mar 27, 2013

Cyanide Reverse :

docwatson :

Hyper 212 evo is an amazing cooler so that should be your choice, on the terms of sound then your built in sound card on your mobo should be good enough.

i was referring to the cooling of the card and noise generated by it though i do wish i would've gone with the hyper 212 evo as it was cheaper than my V8 and better cooling but thanks

Cyanide Reverse · Mar 28, 2013

docwatson :

Cyanide Reverse :

i was referring to the cooling of the card and noise generated by it though i do wish i would've gone with the hyper 212 evo as it was cheaper than my V8 and better cooling but thanks

i you're talking about card cooling you shouldn't really get a aftermarket cooler for the GPU just buy a GPU with a good fan like Gigabyte, Sapphire or MSI.

Help w/ GPU Upgrade please, recent budget increase

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