Best video card for $250?

soldier5637 · May 8, 2015

Hey there. Just built my new rig, im pretty proud of it. But i carried over my old and struggling nVidia GTX 650. With the new system (MSI 970 Gaming Mobo, AMD FX 6300 CPU) my GPU is now my bottle neck. I want to be able to play things like Arma 3, Rome 2 and Metro Last Light on the highest settings possible. From the bit of research ive done, the GTX 960 appears it may be the best bang for $250? If im not wrong, whats the best 960 to get? MSI? Asus? Evga? PNY? $250 is my limit without tax. Live in canada if that helps any, so im shopping on newegg.ca.
thanks guys

Soul slayero · May 8, 2015

id save for the gtx 970 its the best 1080p card you can get for the price

i7Baby · May 8, 2015

MSI Gaming GTX960 - http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-gtx960gaming4g As long as it fits in your case and you've got a 430W or more power supply.

There are R9 290's a bit cheaper. But not good ones.

Soul slayero · May 8, 2015

if your going to stay at 1080p that card can play everthing on max i got one

Soul slayero · May 8, 2015

but the gtx 960 might do good for 1080p but u cant max everthing out

i7Baby · May 8, 2015

The FX6300 will hold the gtx960 back a touch. The 960 will be a good match.

The card runs great - http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_g1_gaming_4gb_review,18.html

Guest · May 8, 2015

I like newegg. I look at the recertified cards, get an idea of what not to get. I would get the asus, as that model had many recerts from gigabyte, evga, and msi. I use this as a guide, then research what remains.

Shamar Holtz · May 8, 2015

960 is a beast as well as the 970

This is my personal favorite and will max out games at 1080p as well
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V4HY522/?tag=pcpapi-20

If you could stretch your budget a bit this would do you a lot better
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NN0GIA0/?tag=pcpapi-20

geriimyers9 · May 8, 2015

EVGA I think is good to, with cheaper price
http://allcomputerhardware.tk/vga/evga-geforce-gtx-960-supersc-acx-2-0-2gb-gddr5-128bit-pci-e-3-0-dual-link-dvi-i-3-x-dp-hdmi-sli-hdcp-g-sync-ready-graphics-cards-02g-p4-2966-kr/

soldier5637 · May 8, 2015

Thanks for all the answers guys. Yes i do actually have exactly a 430 watt corsair PSU. As per the GTX 970, I wish i could but for two reasons. They average out at at just over $400 for one (on newegg.ca atleast), and two, i couldnt justify that. Dont play it enough, however when i do play it i want it to be great quality. I guess the bottom line is having never used one, will the GTX 960 awe me? I just want to be able to look at my screen in Crysis 3 and just say wow over how real it all looks on ultra. As for room in the case its not a problem i dont think. Theres a heatsink right where the GPU would be that protrudes a bit that concerns me a bit, but we'll see. Is there any actual difference in the brands of the card? Between MSI, Evga and Asus, theyre all 960s really right? No one better than the other? appreciate it.

soldier5637 · May 8, 2015

hmm alright. Yeah i have my eye especially on Evga, it seams theyre a top seller.

geriimyers9 · May 8, 2015

Anytime, buddy..

disturbed force · May 8, 2015

For $250 you 290 is the only way to go if you want performance, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150697&cm_re=290-_-14-150-697-_-Product it's $10 over budget but he 960 is in no way even competition http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gta_v_pc_graphics_performance_review,5.html in GTA V a 290 is 2fps less then the 970 and 24fps faster then the 960.

For something under budget the 280x is a good option http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150678&cm_re=280x-_-14-150-678-_-Product , the 960 is good for a small form factor build or one that has a small power limit but the 2gb vram is starting to hold it back at 1080p and you can get much more powerful cards in the same price range, can't recommend the 285 for the same reason.

Edit: missed you live in canada, sorry. Wow are prices ever different up here, a 960 is likely your best best, but this 280 is a good price http://www.ncix.com/detail/gigabyte-radeon-r9-280-oc-0b-98788-1334.htm?affiliateid=7474144 .

i7Baby · May 8, 2015

I don't like XFX.

Canada? Must of missed it

Try http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-gtx960gaming2g - the 2gb version

disturbed force · May 8, 2015

i7Baby :

Myself I have had 2 7950 xfx that are still in use with friends computers, and I still run a xfx 290 and it's been great for the last year and a half, mined for half the time and never had a issue with it. I have 2 290 MSI gaming 4g's and they have been nothing but trouble, sapphire and gigabyte have been good brands. I guess it just comes down to personal experiance. I also like the lifetime warranty you get with xfx. Anyway AMD are not the same price to performance in Canada.

i7Baby · May 8, 2015

Yeah - I'd be happy to recommend Sapphire for radeon GPUs. And Gigabyte - the 3xWF cooler ones anyway. But I've heard and seen here people with dead XFX GPUs. So I don't recommend them.

soldier5637 · May 9, 2015

Hey, Yes prices a craaazy different up here, i know. I sometimes accidentally go to the american version of newegg and get excited over the prices before my hopes are crushed by that american flag in the corner. haha. The 280 has my attention that you posted. That is hands down better than the 960? If i get a few people confirming this, i'll do it. Im an nVidia guy, but id try it. Just concerned whether it will fit in my case or not, thats a huge card.

i7Baby · May 9, 2015

The R9 280 performs better on most games - http://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-960-radeon-r9-280-4k-benchmarks/ - with a good CPU.

With a FX6300, there's not as much difference.

Shamar Holtz · May 9, 2015

I hope you have the proper power supply to support the 280. Do you guys really think a 280 will run on a 430w CX?

OP, I think your best bet is to buy a card from Ebay.com...Since you only have a 430w I'd say a R9 270 or R9 270x will work nicely for you here.

Or a HD 7870, GTX 660

i7Baby · May 9, 2015

You need 500W for a R9 270x and 550W for a R9 280

And a 430W for a gtx 960

soldier5637 · May 9, 2015

^ I'll just stick with the 960 then. I7, you seem knowledgeable. If thats what my CPU and PSU will allow for and it will deliver great performance, then thats settled. Leaves me in my nvidia comfort zone anyways. thank you all.

Shamar Holtz · May 9, 2015

bruh, did you just shit on my/and everyone elses intelligence just now? "i7, you seem knowledgeable". Bruh that's cold...

soldier5637 · May 9, 2015

No, i didnt. Wouldnt have asked the whole community if i didnt think the vast majority of you knows what you are talking about. Im sure you are right in whatever you had to say, I just see i7's points a little more clearly. I have a CPU that is better matched with the 960 and my power source is just right for it as well. the 290 wouldnt work for me because of my 430 watt PSU. I appreciate all input.

Shamar Holtz · May 9, 2015

I was just messin with you a little bit man. i7 is a good dude.

Good luck with you build mate

Best video card for $250?

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