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Buying a GPU for a friend in need $200-$250 budget please help.

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  • GPUs
  • Graphics
  • HIS
  • Gaming
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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April 19, 2014 9:05:42 AM

Hello again boys.
Back story: A friend and I have decided to make the transision over to P.C. gaming and he has run into a bit of a set back, he has run out of money. His whole rig is set up already save the GPU.
I know a few specs such as i know he is running a 4770k and he has an avermedia card in there for recording and stuff so he will probably be starting a youtube channel, streaming, or anything else equally as stupid. My question to you is, what would be my best option as far as GPU for my boys build. Im willing to concider something just outside my budget but im not spending 300$ for his PC. I dont have a preference so either amd or invidia will do, the only thing i ask is that he be able to expand in the future as far as adding a card (sli/crossfire) so no turds please. He has been a good friend to me and i want to help the dude out but im not stretching things thin because he bit off more then he could chew, let alone swallow. Give me a solid option and ill make him a happy boy.

More about : buying gpu friend 200 250 budget

a b 4 Gaming
April 19, 2014 9:14:24 AM

Around the $250 price range, the GTX 760 by NVIDIA, and for around $220, the AMD Radeon R9 270X.
Those are the best cards for that price range.
They'll be a bottleneck for a 4770k though. It's a very powerful processor.
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April 19, 2014 9:21:29 AM

cst1992 said:
Around the $250 price range, the GTX 760 by NVIDIA, and for around $220, the AMD Radeon R9 270X.
Those are the best cards for that price range.
They'll be a bottleneck for a 4770k though. It's a very powerful processor.

So what kind of a pricetag would i be looking at for a appropriate card for that processor to run unrestricted?

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a b 4 Gaming
April 19, 2014 11:32:08 AM

That processor can even handle a triple 780 Ti SLI setup, which is the fastest card in the world.

In other words, the fastest card your budget allows. If it's around $250-260, go for the 760, which is the best bang-for-the-buck card.
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a b 4 Gaming
April 19, 2014 12:35:19 PM

With SLI as a possible future upgrade I'd suggest one of the reference cooled cards, it'll be easier to keep two of them cool than two with larger coolers which tend to block the top card, causing it to run either hot of, in extreme cases overheat.
If you're in the US, EVGA have a good warranty and top tier service so this looks good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
This one has a factory overclock for the same price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
The extra speed will generate a little more heat, making it a little nosier, or hotter.
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a b 4 Gaming
April 19, 2014 1:37:39 PM

Quote:
it'll be easier to keep two of them cool than two with larger coolers which tend to block the top card, causing it to run either hot of, in extreme cases overheat.

Is that true? I thought both have dual slot coolers, so they should be the same in width?
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a b 4 Gaming
April 19, 2014 3:12:40 PM

Both cards I linked use identical reference coolers, they're a little thinner than some 'board partner' dual slot coolers and have the additional advantage of exhausting their hot air out of the case, hence my suggestion.
It can also depend on the placing of the motherboard slots, quite a few put them close together, so the lower card blocks the upper cards' airflow, a common problem with multi card systems, again, the thinner reference cooler should help there...Assuming a SLI setup, for a single card there's no problem.
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