R9 380x 4GB vs GTX 960 4GB which is the best choice for the FX 6300 3.5 ghz?

shohan0073 · Apr 20, 2016

hello there I m using this spec..

CPU : FX 6300 (3.5Ghz)
GPU : R7 260x 2GB
Mob : Asrock 960GM VGS3-FX
Ram : G-Skill Ripjaws 1600mhz 4x2
PSU : ThermalTake 550w

I m about to upgrade my gpu.
bt I am seriously afraid about bottenecking...
which gpu is the best choice for my spec plz sudgest...

my budget is FiXED : 300 $

turkey3_scratch · Apr 20, 2016

What PSU model is that? Since I'm assuming it is a poor quality PSU, get the GTX 960.

shohan0073 · Apr 20, 2016

turkey3_scratch :

it is the thermaltake Lite Power 550w

Proofy · Apr 20, 2016

Buy either GTX970 or R9 390

R9 390: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=GA-39WF8G&c=CJ

GTX 970: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-gtx970gaming4g

R9 390 is stronger so I would buy it over GTX 970. As for the bottleneck, you didn't overclock your FX 6300 so to be clear, how much the CPU is a bottleneck varies significantly between games. If you buy a GTX970/R9 390 you will see a large performance in some games with your FX-6300. Also you can always upgrade your cpu+mobo at any time. For example i5 6400 with H170 motherboard would cost around $300 also that you can buy in the future and will work perfectly with R9 390/GTX 970. Either way even if it will bottleneck the gpu a bit you will have huuge increase in terms of fps while gaming

As for PSU, GTX 970 will work with the PSU you already have, for R9 390 it's recommended to have a good quality 550w like seasonic/evga g2-g3/xfx xxx-pro-ts series or 600/650w + just to be sure so if you go for R9 390 make sure to get a bigger psu as well.

R9 380 is best buy choice after these 2 cards

turkey3_scratch · Apr 20, 2016

shohan0073 :

Yeah you'll want to use a GTX 960.

Calculagator · Apr 20, 2016

I'm not sure why you would be so worried about bottlenecking. Both cards have similar performance. Certain games favor either AMD or NVidia.

Proofy · Apr 20, 2016

turkey3_scratch :

Over R9 380? Nope. Take R9 380, much stronger card and will work with your current PSU also and more future proof because of 4GB vram

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-radeon-r9-390x-r9-380-r7-370,4178-6.html?_ga=1.267984649.62127214.1461158201

People telling you get a 960 over a R9 380 are seriously incompetent, the 380 is the clear choice, its not a rebadge 280 or 7970 either, New card, Tonga silicon, Lower power draw, Better memory usage etc. Free sync, TrueAudio. Get the 4GB model if you decide to buy it

turkey3_scratch · Apr 20, 2016

You're not taking into consideration the PSU. R9 380 is about 80W more than a GTX 960. The only reviewed Litepower unit ever was the 450W unit on Hardwaresecrets. It's an older design so it probably has age on it for sure, and it's better to use a GTX 960 with it. And we don't know how the 550W unit is.

Normally I recommend an R9 380, but this time because of the PSU I'm recommending a GTX 960.

Dark Lord of Tech · Apr 20, 2016

shohan0073 :

I would get the 380X over the 960.

Also would upgrade to a reliable PSU.

Proofy · Apr 20, 2016

turkey3_scratch :

550w is more than capable of running R9 380. He should upgrade it that's for sure but by then R9 380 over GTX 960 any time, even with 550w psu

Sakkura · Apr 20, 2016

Proofy :

550W isn't just 550W. That one is a low-quality 550W unit that I wouldn't trust to safely deliver what it promises.

Also, this is not about an R9 380, it's an R9 380X.

turkey3_scratch · Apr 20, 2016

Proofy :

550W is a meaningless value. Labelled wattage means nothing.

As I said, only the 450W unit was reviewed, and with an 85C rated primary capacitor form Taiwan, I wouldn't put much strain on it, especially since it is an older design.

We also have no clue how the PSU handles transient response, which is important when gaming. Transient response at lower loads is usually handled better than transient response at higher loads.

Lastly, I'm assuming it's a group regulated design; if it is, it'll have poor line regulation under a heavier 12V crossload, which is a realistic situation today.

Also, another area of concern could be the rail distribution and the thresholds at which OCP goes off. On these units, there are two 12V rails, one holds the CPU ATX12V cable, the other is all other 12V cables. I'ma fraid an R9 380, especially one with an overclock, and adding in the motherboard power requirements, HDD, fans, etc. could trigger OCP.

Edit: 380X proves my point even more! That's about a 230W GPU, he'll want to upgrade his power supply to a better quality unit if he gets it. That, or get a GTX 960.

Proofy · Apr 20, 2016

Sakkura :

Proofy :

550W isn't just 550W. That one is a low-quality 550W unit that I wouldn't trust to safely deliver what it promises.

Also, this is not about an R9 380, it's an R9 380X.

I never mentioned R9 380x, only R9 380

Dynomite54 · Apr 20, 2016

r9 380x for amd's gaming app also you can over clock the crap out of the 380x so get that.

Proofy · Apr 20, 2016

Dynomite54 :

Difference between R9 380x and R9 390 is about $20 so.. Rather buy R9 380 or R9 390

Anarkie13 · Apr 20, 2016

Proofy,

Calling people incompetent for providing a recommendation is very negative, and not at all helpful. There are other considerations than just benchmarks. Also, both cards in question are 4GB cards.

Sakkura and Turkey3_scratch are both taking into consideration the PSU at hand, which is both lower grade and older. A combination that can endanger the new card, should it draw too much and the protection not properly kick in. Power draw and efficiency are important factors.

Proofy · Apr 20, 2016

Anarkie13 :

Ok to clarify, I didn't call any names just said "people" not refering to anyone in particular. Thermaltake makes more than a few 550w power supplies so we really need exact model of the psu to see what quality that psu really is and to conclude unless you have some specific reason to believe it won't work, it will. If you look on the very spec sheet of the card it says it requires a 500W PSU.

CPU: 95W
GPU: 225W
with case fans and everything it shouldn't go over 420W ever even with a bit OC and his CPU is already on stock since OP never overclocked it.

turkey3_scratch · Apr 20, 2016

Proofy :

He already gave us the model, the Litepower 550W.

Proofy · Apr 20, 2016

turkey3_scratch :

Sorry I did not see that.

MTBF >100,000hrs
max output capacity 500W, psu would be on 84% load when the pc is on max load with r9 380 which happens when your run burn tests

I do agree it's a shitty psu and to be replaced asap, would even replace it first before buying gpu still R9 380 will be able to run with it

Here's my final recommendation for your upgrade:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB NITRO Dual-X OC Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $283.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-20 11:19 EDT-0400

WIth this PSU you have everything including safety protections like:
OPP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OCP and OTP

turkey3_scratch · Apr 20, 2016

There are a lot of factors to PSU quality on why he should upgrade, which I listed some posts above.

maddogfargo · Apr 20, 2016

Since you can't really OC the FX 6300 that far on your current motherboard, I'd say go with the GTX 960. Lower power/heat for the same/similar performance level as the 380. This will keep the electrical and thermal stress on other parts in your system low, such as the PSU and motherboard chipsets.

crisan_tiberiu · Apr 20, 2016

I would get the 380x, your PSU is fine. There is to much "bla bla" in the reply's. So, overall the 380x is a better card than the 960 and you wont stress your PSU unless you run Intel Burn test and Furmark @ the same time...witch is stupid

turkey3_scratch · Apr 20, 2016

crisan_tiberiu :

Running 2 stress test at the same time will be the same load as 1 stress test.

R9 380x 4GB vs GTX 960 4GB which is the best choice for the FX 6300 3.5 ghz?

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