Best budget GPU for gaming and video editing

ragnarok94 · Jan 29, 2016

Ok, so I'm looking at building a PC for both gaming (non-vr) and video editing (1080 up to 4k), probably on a xeon or i7 cpu. Budget of under $400 for the gpu alone, PC itself for no more than $1200 (excluding peripherals). Now, I've been considering gtx 970 (I do NOT plan on any OCing), an R9 390, 290/290x. (I'm gonna leave the quadro out.) I'd like to know how they really stack up against each other as well as against Intel Iris graphics, which is what we use on the macs where I normally do editing.
As far as gaming, I don't plan on any skyrim-type modding, 3d or VR. I just want to be able to run decent graphics for games like Mad Max, Sniper Elite 3, Witcher III, stuff like that.
Probably gonna run dual monitors.
So, thoughts?

superninja12 · Jan 29, 2016

if you stick with 1080p get a gtx970 if u want to upgrade to 2k get a r9 390.
last option is play on med for a few months with a 750 ti/ gtx 950 and buy a new pascal gpu in the summer.

ragnarok94 · Jan 29, 2016

@superninja
Have anymore info on the pascal you mentioned?

superninja12 · Jan 29, 2016

its the new generation gpu series from nvidia launching this year somewhere in summer( no exact date).
they will be more powerful and consume less energy than this gen gpus.
however for 1080p gaming you're fine for the next 5 years with a gtx 970

ragnarok94 · Jan 29, 2016

superninja12 :

Cool, good to know, Im sure it'll probably be out of my price range. although, I think so far Im leaning more towards the R9 390
I have a feeling it'll better suite my rendering needs, despite more power consumption.
then again, I have been looking at a DIY kit that comes with a 970 that fits my budget perfectly, since the setup I was going for (970 and 390)
would've cost around $1150, whereas this one is right at $1000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.2483318

superninja12 · Jan 29, 2016

i highly recommand you this build https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbvbSfyCx2E ( upgrade the cpu to a 6600k ) AND BUY AN AFTERMARKT COOLERthis is the best build for the budget. if i undertsand u want to move on to 2k later. this r9 390 is better for 2k.

ragnarok94 · Jan 29, 2016

superninja12 :

damn i hadn't even really looked at that cpu before...I'd only looked at the xeon e3 and the i7-4790k. sweet!

for reference these were what I had come up with myself
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JLcc23 (970 gtx vers/ i7)
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3W9Wxr (r9 390/i7)

kwa-e · Jan 30, 2016

Compared to the i7 the i5 in the positron build doesn't achieve rendering speeds as fast, and the fact that he chooses to use the CX600 over the superior, similarly priced 620W SS unit puts me off.

How are you getting the i7 for 285USD, OP? :O

ragnarok94 · Jan 30, 2016

well, I was about to post a link to the i7 seller but looks like its not available anymore :/ back to the drawing board

Although, the non-k version goes for $290
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i74790

update
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/H826YJ
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QFn93C

kwa-e · Jan 31, 2016

If you're rendering video I honestly think you're better off going with a HT Xeon for around the same price as the 6600K as it renders a lot faster, also made some improvements.

>Better SSD
>Better PSU
>Better case for less
>An R9 390, has 8GB of ram helps in rendering large sample sizes.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($244.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Trion 100 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($65.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint M8 1TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.76 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 390 8GB Video Card ($298.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($40.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 OEM (64-bit) ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1073.46
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-31 01:20 EST-0500

okcnaline · Jan 31, 2016

Eyy! It's kwa-e.

Don't listen to superninja. Recommending an i5 for a workstation build is out of the mind, especially since you have enough budget to get Xeons and crap.
Here's what I'll do for $1200, with OS and wireless card. Oh, and this is guaranteed to have OpenCL acceleration in Adobe applications.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAPPHIRE-Radeon-HD-7970-3GB-384-bit-GDDR5-PCI-Express-3-0-x16-HDCP-CrossFireX-/262256169312?hash=item3d0faf9160:g:c~EAAOSwa-dWo8uv

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2620 V3 2.4GHz 6-Core Processor ($399.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master GeminII M4 58.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($35.51 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($184.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Silencio 652S ATX Mid Tower Case ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX Core Edition 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1007.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-31 01:47 EST-0500

Total comes out to be $1182.17.

kwa-e · Jan 31, 2016

okcnaline :

Eyy! It's kwa-e.

Don't listen to superninja. Recommending an i5 for a workstation build is out of the mind, especially since you have enough budget to get Xeons and crap.
Here's what I'll do for $1200, with OS and wireless card. Oh, and this is guaranteed to have OpenCL acceleration in Adobe applications.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAPPHIRE-Radeon-HD-7970-3GB-384-bit-GDDR5-PCI-Express-3-0-x16-HDCP-CrossFireX-/262256169312?hash=item3d0faf9160:g:c~EAAOSwa-dWo8uv

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2620 V3 2.4GHz 6-Core Processor ($399.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master GeminII M4 58.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($35.51 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($184.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Silencio 652S ATX Mid Tower Case ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX Core Edition 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1007.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-31 01:47 EST-0500

Pretty good rendering build! +1

ragnarok94 · Jan 31, 2016

okcnaline :

nice setup, but i was really wanting a more powerful gpu with a newer cpu, plus im really trying to keep it under 1100 usd. I also know nothing about that card...could you provide me some specs?

I really like the setups kwa-e provided, and made a couple of changes to the 390 setup he made
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cqWKYJ

note: the primary video program I use is adobe premiere pro (latest CC version), which works best with a gpu
especially when 1080 or bigger is involved...even intel iris bottlenecks in rendering and playback

kwa-e · Jan 31, 2016

The 7970 is basically an older 380X, it's slower than the 390 but it's still pretty darn fast, specially for the price

ragnarok94 · Jan 31, 2016

kwa-e :

so, paired with that E5, would it work well for gaming as well?

kwa-e · Jan 31, 2016

Yep, should do High settings pretty easily.

okcnaline · Jan 31, 2016

Yep, high settings. The HD 7970 is the R9 280X. It is slightly faster than a R9 380. And it's one of the best price/performance card you'll find right now.
And yes, with the Xeon it'll do well.

ragnarok94 · Jan 31, 2016

okcnaline :

so this should do nicely then?
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6ghYnQ

okcnaline · Jan 31, 2016

The PSU?!!! No. Not CoolMax. Use the PSU Tier List to help you, and this is the only time you'll catch me say that.

ragnarok94 · Jan 31, 2016

okcnaline :

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3QKkFT better?

update:
I've been looking more and more into this, and I think Im leaning more towards the E3 setup, mainly because while I will do some video, I'll be doing a lot more gaming.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xpJN3C

okcnaline · Jan 31, 2016

For the E5, yep, it's better.
For the E3 one, your choice.

kwa-e · Jan 31, 2016

Well to be honest the e3 setup is much better if it comes to gaming, but the e5 will be approximately 15-40% faster in rendering tasks

ragnarok94 · Feb 1, 2016

kwa-e :

yeah, that's the impression I get after I looked at a few other sites
for what I wanna do, I def. think the E3 + r9-390 is my best bet right now
unless the i7 to comes down

just waiting on that tax refund at this point

kwa-e · Feb 1, 2016

I see, Good luck on the build!

ragnarok94 · Feb 9, 2016

Well, looks like my refund won' be enough this time around.
in the meantime,
if any of you guys know anything on lptop specs and upgrades,
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2966996/laptop-upgrades-asus-p550c-xh51.html

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