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Making the switch - Nvidia > Amd

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  • Switch
  • Graphics
  • AMD
  • Nvidia
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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September 11, 2014 3:23:09 AM


I'm looking for the ultimate Ultra wide screen graphics solution. Cost really isn't a factor, but making a smart purchase is.

I've been reading reviews and benchmarks that illustrate AMD cards have a significant advantage when it come to high res gaming due to their cards having more ROP's and subsequently better fill-rate.

The main reasons I have always chosen Nvidia is that I like cool and quiet components. I don't want to have a component that operates at 95 deg celsius even if it is certified to do so.

So I ask this- Is there really any great real world advantage of running AMD graphics over Nvidia for 4K gaming irrespective of price, Is it worth making the switch ?

My current motherboard supports 4-way SLI and only 2-way CorssfireX. I'm not sure how this will have an impact on things down the track, but I thought I should make mention of it.


Any feedback welcome.

More about : making switch nvidia amd

September 11, 2014 4:10:23 AM

you'll need radeonpro if you'll go the AMD path, without it, radeons are broken.
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September 11, 2014 7:03:11 AM

Unless you get triple 780ti's or a radeon 295x2, you won't be 4k gaming anytime soon. Both dual R9 290Xs and dual 780tis cannot sustain the 60fps even in benchmarks, let alone when things go to hell in a game with everything blowing up on screen at once. The only card that has so far been shown to do this is the 295x2. And even then, you will be getting lowish end performance in 4k for those 60fps.

My advice for 4K gaming? Wait until it becomes the norm and affordable. Unless you have a lot of money and time to burn.

And radeons aren't broken. Don't listen to people that throw those standard lines out there. I have both brands cards in different PCs, and there are small issues with both depending on the game.

If you are happy with Nvidia, stay with Nvidia. If you feel like a change, try AMD. You won't lose either way, honestly. I don't care what I buy (though I tend to buy EVGA for Nvidia and Sapphire for AMD cards), I just buy the best performance I can get for the best price. Simples.
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September 11, 2014 8:43:46 AM

they are broken without radeonpro. unless you fancy screen-tearing or dipping to 30fps with regular VSYNC. i own a 280x at the moment so i know what i'm talking about.
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September 11, 2014 9:14:02 AM

I don't think there's a categorical performance difference between AMD and Nvidia, even at high resolutions, but there's certainly a major value difference. For 4K gaming today, you really can't make a smarter purchase than the R9 295X2. It was already reasonably priced at $1500, and I think its going to be on a promotional sale for $1000 soon. Performance-wise, I don't think comparable Nvidia hardware is too far behind, you'll just pay more for it. And yes, maybe in some games that extra frame buffer will matter, though two 3 GB GTX 780 Ti's seem to do okay at 4K in most games today.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7930/the-amd-radeon-r9-29...

Smartest thing to do would be to wait for the next round of cards from both companies, though. At the least it may drive some price cuts.

wh3resmycar said:
they are broken without radeonpro. unless you fancy screen-tearing or dipping to 30fps with regular VSYNC. i own a 280x at the moment so i know what i'm talking about.


If its so widespread that they're "broken" without it, its funny how thousands of people with AMD cards don't complain about this on every corner of the internet at all times. I'm not questioning that you've had issues, but to suggest everyone does is a silly blanket statement.
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September 11, 2014 10:27:19 AM

Hey, guys,

So I'm a little confused. So I will need 3x 780ti or 2x R9 295x2 to game comfortably at 1440p ?

Should I just get the R9 295x2 since it's only two cards ?
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September 11, 2014 10:31:23 AM

for gaming
at 1080p : gtx 770 or r9 280x for ultra 60fps
1440p: 780/ti r9 290/x for 60fps
4k. r9 295x2 or sli 780ti will do
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September 11, 2014 10:35:34 AM

At 1440p a 290, 290x 780ti or 295x2 will work very well. Depends on what you want to spend.
Non-reference cooled cards (Which is what you will be considering) have no issue of noise or temp between Nvidia and AMD cards. All you need to do is look at reviews of these cards.
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September 11, 2014 10:40:35 AM

Ok, thanks for the info guys.

I was just thinking - if I go with the 780 ti SLI, it will open up[ a window to get a 3rd or fourth card when they drop in price since I am limited to only two AMD cards with my current Mobo ?
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September 11, 2014 10:41:52 AM

yes, or you can sli 980 when it comes out
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September 11, 2014 10:48:53 AM

Man, this upgrade is a real ball-breaker.
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September 11, 2014 10:52:42 AM

You don't have to break the bank for smooth 1440p gaming, a 780 or r9 290/x will do and they're all under $500
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September 11, 2014 11:01:25 AM

legend001523 said:
You don't have to break the bank for smooth 1440p gaming, a 780 or r9 290/x will do and they're all under $500



I wish that were true for me. At 1440p I'd be lucky to get 30fps out of the games I play and thanks to my unfortunately high FFR 30 fps looks like my monitor is stuck in a paint shaker. :S
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September 11, 2014 11:02:34 AM

With a good cpu, a 780 will get over 50fps on games, like bf4, witcher, gta 5 when it comes out probs and crysis methinks so these cards are definitely worth a shot
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September 11, 2014 11:37:04 AM

legend001523 said:
With a good cpu, a 780 will get over 50fps on games, like bf4, witcher, gta 5 when it comes out probs and crysis methinks so these cards are definitely worth a shot


Maybe you missed the part where I said Ultra widescreen gaming, I dunno, but all the benchmarks put a single 780 at around 30fps at this resolution in most demanding games.

The benchmarks would have me believe I need 780ti X 2 to achieve anything over 40fps with 4k.



Thanks, most useful.

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September 11, 2014 11:38:37 AM

Well yes, like i said, for 4k you need sli, i was saying 780 for 1440p
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September 11, 2014 12:09:24 PM

legend001523 said:
Well yes, like i said, for 4k you need sli, i was saying 780 for 1440p



Have you read many benchmarks ? for 1440p a single 780 is not viable, unless you like 30fps on medium-high settings. Hell, even a single 780ti isn't viable at anything over 2560x1440

I just can't take that recommendation seriously. It's clear I'll need a 2 way 780ti or 295x minimum.





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September 11, 2014 12:36:34 PM

sure, go for sli 780ti then, I don't object to it
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September 11, 2014 12:42:03 PM

My question was not whether you object to me buying a 780ti, it was which is more viable 780ti or AMD equivalent for Ultra widescreen gaming.
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September 11, 2014 12:42:46 PM

780ti is better
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September 11, 2014 12:50:35 PM

legend001523 said:
780ti is better



Ok, thank you for your input. I apologize for being blunt about this, I just get a little short of manners when people suggest I get things that don't make sense to me.



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September 11, 2014 12:51:42 PM

^ NP, 780Ti is better than the r9 290x but if you want you can go r9 295x3, best gpu out
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September 11, 2014 12:57:16 PM

Mmm that's tempting lol, but alas my mobo only supports 2 cards in Crossfire, but 4 cards in SLI. Maybe I should just go with the 780ti 2-way and add more cards as they get cheaper.

Thanks again :) 

Edit: lol I read that wrong, thought you meant 295x2 but three of them hah!

There is a x3 ?
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September 11, 2014 1:00:04 PM

no, there isn't :)  go sli 780ti if you want
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September 11, 2014 1:01:30 PM

:o  Now you are just bring cruel. :p 
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September 11, 2014 1:02:53 PM

^ the r9 295x2 is just 2 r9 290x's in one card, it'd be nice if they could fit 3 in, but they can't :/ 
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September 11, 2014 1:41:41 PM

I know aye, I'm personally waiting for the day where they can sandwich 10 cheap GPU's together and make a card that looks like a house brick that needs to be bolted onto your chassis so it doesn't snap off your PCIE slot. :) 
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September 11, 2014 1:42:59 PM

ahahah me too
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September 11, 2014 3:34:08 PM


those "thousands of people" actually are using radeonpro.

"http://www.radeonpro.info/download/" check the stats. nvidia managed to put adaptive vsync in their drivers, AMD wont. now if you've been living with screen tearing all your life and you're happy with it then good for you.

i'm giving actual consumer advise as the OP is looking for a pretty expensive setup. he's looking at 21:9 (ultra wide), and SCREEN EFFING TEARING WOULD BE EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE at that. and i haven't read any news of 21:9 monitors that will do gsync/freesync coming this year.



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September 11, 2014 3:44:53 PM

780ti in sli is a bad mofo!
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