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What is the best graphics card or cards I could buy for under $400?

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  • RAM
  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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April 14, 2014 8:44:34 PM

Hello, I recently bought a self built computer from a friend and although it's pretty decent, i would like to upgrade it... Here are my specs:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 950 @ 3.07 GHz 3.07 GHz

Ram: 4.00 GB

64 bit operating system

Geforce GTX 650, 1 GB video memory

What would be the best graphics card or cards for under $400? I also asked a question here about upgrading the ram to 16 Gb but since I have 4.00 gb of ram, could I combine the 16 gb with it to make it 20 gb of ram??? Also what is the best 16 gb of ram I could buy??? My current ram is Ripjaw I think..

Thanks in advance...

More about : graphics card cards buy 400

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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 9:02:21 PM

You don't need 16GB or 20GB of RAM at all. It's just extra money for no reason that would divert money away from more important upgrades. It's physically impossible for even the newest games to use more than 8GB right now, and really they don't even use that much.

Pick up a 2GB GTX 770 and upgrade to 8GB of RAM.
The 770 will perform slightly better than the R9 280X.
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 9:07:21 PM

20 Gb's of ram is not worth it... 8GB's is still more than enough for a good high end gaming PC.
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April 14, 2014 9:46:21 PM

Really?? How is more than 8 GB unnecessary for gaming?? The xbox one and ps4 use 8 gigs and they seem a little behind gaming pcs... I never understood that..also I see that in recommended requirements for certain high end games such as crysis 3 or others, it says 8 gb ram recommended..but I noticed in games when following or meeting the recommended requirements the fps at max settings is usually good but nothing dominating...could someone inform me on that?? I've been confused by that for years lol.. thanks..
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April 14, 2014 9:48:01 PM

And what's your ultimate recommendation on best graphics card deal and best ram deal for ultimate gaming max graphics/fps performance? thanks..I just don't want to regret any decision is all lol.. ty

Really the 770 is better than the other one you mentioned???
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 9:52:59 PM

Clay54412 said:
Really?? How is more than 8 GB unnecessary for gaming?? The xbox one and ps4 use 8 gigs and they seem a little behind gaming pcs... I never understood that..also I see that in recommended requirements for certain high end games such as crysis 3 or others, it says 8 gb ram recommended..but I noticed in games when following or meeting the recommended requirements the fps at max settings is usually good but nothing dominating...could someone inform me on that?? I've been confused by that for years lol.. thanks..


The PS4 and Xbox One have weird RAM.
The PS4 shares VRAM as if it was RAM, and the X1 shares RAM as if it was VRAM.
Neither of them are as effective as having completely separate pools of RAM and VRAM like PCs.

In addition, games recommend 8GB when they're 64-bit, because technically they can access that much, but they never use it all.
8GB is recommended instead of, for example, 6GB, because 6GB is very rare. The recommended specs are already overkill as far as RAM is concerned, and benchmarks confirm this.

I have 8GB of RAM and it usually doesn't go past 40-45% in games. At most it hits 60%.
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 9:54:06 PM

because presently nothing uses more than 4GB's or even that really with 8 GB's of ram playing BF4 On ultra I see 4GB's used that includes the system tasks and such so really no games is using more that 2GB's presently if they di you still have 4 more GB's of head room. Thus 8 GB's still is and will be for sometime more than enough memory for a high end gaming PC my 16 GB's was merely cause I can....
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 9:54:26 PM

Clay54412 said:
And what's your ultimate recommendation on best graphics card deal and best ram deal for ultimate gaming max graphics/fps performance? thanks..I just don't want to regret any decision is all lol.. ty

Really the 770 is better than the other one you mentioned???


Yes, the 770 is better than the 280X, but the 770 is also usually more expensive.
http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R9-280X-vs-GeForce-GTX-7...
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 9:55:50 PM

Clay54412 said:
And what's your ultimate recommendation on best graphics card deal and best ram deal for ultimate gaming max graphics/fps performance? thanks..I just don't want to regret any decision is all lol.. ty

Really the 770 is better than the other one you mentioned???

Yes it is. The 280X is kinda high due to cryptocurrency mining.
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 9:57:06 PM

The 770 is your best bet. I'd suggest it over and over at that price point its beast of a card.
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April 14, 2014 10:37:09 PM

Ok well now I'm kinda changing my mind and willing to go for a $500 budget maybe no more than $525 for a graphics card..Best recommendation?? Or am I better off settling for a 770? I also still gotta buy ram though..
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 10:39:16 PM

780 at 529 on newegg you can get my GPU a GTX 780 Classified it is well its a powerhouse and its as close as you can get to a 780 Ti's performance without getting a 780 Ti. Overclocked they can beat the Titans and if you go into extreme cooling and the Dual LN2 Bios and really put it to its maximum its one of the top performing-est cards on the current market.
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April 14, 2014 10:58:54 PM

Oh man, decisions decisions.....! Those 3 seem really good, I think I may go with the GTX 780 Classified since it seems to have slightly higher specs... Or what do you think?
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 11:01:31 PM

I agree completely. I have one myself and it is a hell of a card. Forewarning its about 5'' wide so make sure it will fit in your case before you hit that buy button.
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April 14, 2014 11:15:40 PM

Wow scary, alright i'll check that size out..is it much bigger than the gtx 650?
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 11:19:19 PM

Yes lol... by alot all of these cards are. they all average about 11.5'' inches long and about 4.5'' wide the 780 classified is not just an aftermarket cooler but a new pcb housing better higher quality VRM's and a few more odds and ends like a switch for the dual bios
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April 14, 2014 11:23:07 PM

I have another question...Can my motherboard support that graphics card?? Also, can that motherboard support 16 gb of ram???

Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. SABERTOOTH X58 Rev 1.xx
Serial Number: 107686860001513
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 0603 10/29/2010
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a b U Graphics card
April 14, 2014 11:27:06 PM

Yes and Yes
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April 15, 2014 12:22:17 AM

Really???? That's great but weird because I just asked that same question to someone else on this forum and he said it only supports 6 Gb of ram??? I hope not...! :( ( Is that true??? Could you confirm it? Ty
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a b U Graphics card
April 15, 2014 1:18:11 AM

No it supports 24GB's according to the manufacturers website.
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a b U Graphics card
April 15, 2014 1:18:37 AM

it only has 6 Dimm slots.
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April 15, 2014 2:24:21 AM

r9 280X pretty much the best option.
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a b U Graphics card
April 15, 2014 5:04:43 AM

How do you figure?
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a b U Graphics card
April 15, 2014 7:02:03 AM

dknightxs said:
r9 280X pretty much the best option.


For a lower budget, yes. But a 770 still outperforms it, and a 780 is on a whole different level.
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April 15, 2014 11:35:04 PM

280x will out perform a 770 pretty soon as thats wot happened last gen..most of amd's gpus tend to get better with newer drivers.. When i bought a 7970 it was getting beaten by a 670..now 7970 smokes a 670 and even a 680 with ease..so id say 280x seems like a better option given the fact nvidia chuns out new gpus every now and than we end up with buyer's remorse.
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a b U Graphics card
April 16, 2014 4:07:37 AM

dknightxs said:
280x will out perform a 770 pretty soon as thats wot happened last gen..most of amd's gpus tend to get better with newer drivers.. When i bought a 7970 it was getting beaten by a 670..now 7970 smokes a 670 and even a 680 with ease..so id say 280x seems like a better option given the fact nvidia chuns out new gpus every now and than we end up with buyer's remorse.


Those are just BS stats. The 670 costs $100 less than a 7970, they're not even in the same price bracket. It'd be pathetic if the 7970 wasn't far ahead.

Also, the 680 benchmarks generally 10-20 fps faster than a 7970 in most games.
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a b U Graphics card
April 16, 2014 4:14:49 AM

Both compnaies benefit their GPU with better drivers AMD has a terrible past of shitty programming and driver support. I won't begin a fight with you but regardless of what you say the 280x wont beat the 770. You can wish and hope and spout all the fanboyisms there are but it doesn't change the differences between the cards.
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April 16, 2014 10:43:00 PM

I can buy a used 280x asus dc ii-v2 for $250 canadian or a new 290 asus dc ii for $420. hmmm which one to get?
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a b U Graphics card
April 17, 2014 3:56:27 AM

The 290
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a b U Graphics card
April 17, 2014 4:17:52 AM

furyotic said:
I can buy a used 280x asus dc ii-v2 for $250 canadian or a new 290 asus dc ii for $420. hmmm which one to get?


Yep. The 290.

The R9 290 was made to compete with the GTX 780.
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