Best GPU for under $250

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seakay

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Mar 25, 2015
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Hello all,
Ok, so I've decided on the Intel Xeon E3 1231 for my CPU. I'm the occasional gamer (primarily the Civilization series) looking for a good GPU for under $250?

Please help!!!
 
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ingtar33
MSI got a well deserved poor reputation 4 or 5 years ago for some real garbage they released. That said, their releases since have all be top line stuff. Currently they make the best GTX 970 and 980 on the market, they also make one of the top 2 or 3 r9-290/290x cards and r9-280/280x

i've owned 2 msi gpus (a hd 7770 and a r9-280x) and would gladly buy another. so i don't think you can go wrong with MSI. EVGA only makes nvidia cards, Asus is all over the board, for the r9-280 they make a solid card.

If you're buying MSI make sure it's a "Gaming" version. those are all top end, voltage unlocked, high performance cards.
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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you can get many r9-280x cards for <$250 these days... probably the best use of your $$ right there. it's an older card yet it still holds up VERY well in 1080p.

there are a few r9-290 available for right around $250 too

awesome deals all of them. The best price/performance is definitely on the AMD side of things in the gpu market. As the r9-280x is pretty solidly BETTER then the gtx960 and the r9-290 trades blows with the original titan and new gtx970. That said, both are significantly more power hungry then those nvidia cards.
 
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seakay

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Mar 25, 2015
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Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably go with the R9-280, as it's more so within my budget and allow me to upgrade some other components.

What brand is best, Sapphire is only $180 after rebate. XFX is $200, and Gigabyte $210. Does it matter?
 
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Karadjgne

Karadjgne

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Dec 26, 2012
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Sapphire has about the best AMD gpus overall, as pertains to avg performance, reliability, service and support. Gigabyte is most often at the very top, performance wise, but usually at a cost in price, heat and fan noise, but is usually shadowed closely by both Sapphire and XFX. While XFX cards are generally sound performers, what hurts sales some is the plain-Jane looks when compared to the flashier designs of other brands.

Generally speaking, any of the 3 would be good, I prefer the quietness of the Sapphire and it's support dept, even if XFX return warranty is better (too many hoops to jump through)
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

Glorious
Dec 17, 2012
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many people have a love/hate with sapphire. they definitely make some good amd cards, but they also have some poor quality control so a lot of lemons ship out the doors. That said i'd take a sapphire every day of the week over an xfx or gigabyte r9-280.

 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

Glorious
Dec 17, 2012
9,017
198
45,840
MSI got a well deserved poor reputation 4 or 5 years ago for some real garbage they released. That said, their releases since have all be top line stuff. Currently they make the best GTX 970 and 980 on the market, they also make one of the top 2 or 3 r9-290/290x cards and r9-280/280x

i've owned 2 msi gpus (a hd 7770 and a r9-280x) and would gladly buy another. so i don't think you can go wrong with MSI. EVGA only makes nvidia cards, Asus is all over the board, for the r9-280 they make a solid card.

If you're buying MSI make sure it's a "Gaming" version. those are all top end, voltage unlocked, high performance cards.
 
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