Graphics cards that won't break the bank

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austinl93

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Feb 1, 2015
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I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card but don't want to break the bank I was also going to upgrade my processor and motherboard to the 8350 and the m5a99fx but since i'm spending a bit on that I was wanting a card for under $300 that will play games on ultra with great fps. I've been looking at the r9 280x or maybe the xfx r9 290 4gb card. But i'm not sure if they will perform or should I go with an nvidia card because I play games that are suppose to run better on them like battlefield and cod. I was wanting to spend under $300 because if I get a much better card i probably should get a better psu as well because mines only a 500 watt evga.
 
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Jordsk
Well the 280x is like the sweetspot atm i think, but if you're wanting better ultra performance you'd want a 290/290x but that means you'd have to get a new power supply. Because i use an evga 500b and its enough for an r9 280 (non x) but it would be pushing it running anything higher from amd.

Note: anything above the r9 280 = buy new power supply
(You won't need to upgrade your power supply for a while with the 970)


Consider the 970, i don't know what the price differences are like where you live but you might be able to get one for around $300-$325

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125685&cm_re=gtx_970-_-14-125-685-_-Product
Gigabyte 970 with free witcher 3 for $325 after rebate

Damn these prices in...
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Jordsk

Jordsk

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Jan 30, 2015
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Well the 280x is like the sweetspot atm i think, but if you're wanting better ultra performance you'd want a 290/290x but that means you'd have to get a new power supply. Because i use an evga 500b and its enough for an r9 280 (non x) but it would be pushing it running anything higher from amd.

Note: anything above the r9 280 = buy new power supply
(You won't need to upgrade your power supply for a while with the 970)


Consider the 970, i don't know what the price differences are like where you live but you might be able to get one for around $300-$325

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125685&cm_re=gtx_970-_-14-125-685-_-Product
Gigabyte 970 with free witcher 3 for $325 after rebate

Damn these prices in america are great, here in aus the 970's are $500-550 without and games included.
 
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offtheroad

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Sep 21, 2012
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Same concern. I have an early 2009 Mac Pro 2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon and NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 I bought a new NEC MultiSyne P242W display and getting a snowy screen sometimes on start up If it is the care whats the next one up for a Mac. I'm on a budget. I'm a graphic designer Fine Art Photographer.
 
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offtheroad

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Sep 21, 2012
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Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro4,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (Per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 8 MB
Memory: 12 GB
Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s
Boot ROM Version: MP41.0081.B08
SMC Version (system): 1.39f5
SMC Version (Processor tray): 1.39f5
Hardware UUID: DC14077C-E476-5BA6-A9CC-2C1F425C1DA2
I don't know what over clocked is, I'm not a gamer but a Graphic design,I live in Photoshop and do a little Logic Pro Audio editing
 
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Snookslayer

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May 10, 2012
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Most powerful card currently listed for less than $300 on Newegg is probably the ASUS R9 290X for $280 after rebate.

However, it requires a powerful/quality psu. In addition, the ASUS version of the 290's has gotten some of the worst reviews I've seen for that card - really poor cooling apparently. Maybe that's partly why the price has dropped $80 in just two weeks.
 
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Snookslayer

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May 10, 2012
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I understand.

This thread makes realize I owe gratitude to posters here 4 years ago who talked me into buying a $90 650 watt high quality psu rather than the $40 450 watt low quality psu I was going to buy. At the time I didn't realize it would effect my gpu upgrade options years later, not to mention extend the life of my computer and provide piece of mind that my house wouldn't burn down. : )

God bless Tom's experts.
 
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loki1944

loki1944

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Oct 31, 2013
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I'd recommend getting a PSU with a nice, long, warranty. I have two EVGA 1300W G2s with 10 year warranties. If it helps, the worst PSUs I've had were Corsair HX850s, I had two bad ones in a row. I had a CX750M which worked fine.
 
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offtheroad

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Sep 21, 2012
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Where did you find you icon? Do you have a vector image of it you could share?
jbechdel@comcast.net
 
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loki1944

loki1944

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here's the image: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8d/77/ae/8d77ae45ae0498e6b51dd2eac224d8af.jpg
 
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