Choosing a Graphics Card

Slumy__57 · Aug 3, 2016

I'm getting ready to upgrade the graphics card in my build, I am running a really outdated card, and I recently upgraded everything else on the system, so it's past time to get a new GPU. Here are my current specs:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($43.53 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Z87-Pro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.18 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card
Case: Ultra Gladiator ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: EVGA 700W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($70.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VN247H-P 23.6" Monitor
Total: $262.67
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-03 13:13 EDT-0400

I am mainly interested in 1080p gaming, however I am planning on getting a 1440p monitor in the near(ish) future, and would like to get something that could handle that too. Ideally, I'd like to be able to run everything at highest settings in 1080 and get 60fps, and I would be okay with toning it down a bit to get 60 in 1440.

I would like to keep it under $300, but I'll go above it if the general consensus is that I need to spend more. I am also completely okay with waiting this out a bit, I know Nvidia prices are a little screwy right now with all the new paschal releases. That being said, I would ideally like to buy the card by the end of the month, but if not that, the end of September is the absolute latest.

Thanks in advance everyone!

geofelt · Aug 3, 2016

GTX1060 will be good for 1080P gaming and will meet your budget.

at 1440P a GTX1070 will do the job, but will bust your budget.

You might want to look for benchmarks of YOUR games.

Slumy__57 · Aug 3, 2016

I've given a lot of thought to the 1060, and it does benchmark well in the few demanding games that I play, but I have looked at a lot of different options and just wanted to get a little input on here before I pull the trigger on anything.

If the 1070 can drop to its MSRP by the time I'm looking to buy, I could probably extend my budget to get that, but at its current price, I can't really afford it.

Tradesman1 · Aug 3, 2016

Yeah, I don't see the 1070 dropping that much anytime soon

Bem-xxx · Aug 3, 2016

Nvidia's GPUs join legacy too early. Nvidia will be unveiling Volta at next year’s Graphics Technology Conference.
https://tech4gamers.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-900-series-is-obsolete-say-hello-to-legacy-drivers/
If you want some future proof GPUs, better pick up the 390 or the 480.

Tradesman1 · Aug 3, 2016

Bem-xxx :

_____________________

Future proof?

frank_hnd · Aug 3, 2016

are you gaming a lot lately? what kind of games?
if you are thinking about 1440p in the future, you better prepare that wallet. otherwise I would stick with RX480/GTX1060 or waiting (depends what you are doing at the moment)

Slumy__57 · Aug 4, 2016

I game roughly an hour or two a day, the most taxing games I play are Just Cause 3, Battlefront, Battlefield, and I'm getting GTA V next time it goes on sale. I'm okay with shelling out a little extra cash if the 1070 is going to be hugely better for my purposes than the 1060.

I imagine I won't be getting a good 1440p monitor until the holidays, considering I'll be only working part time during the upcoming semester, but when I get the 1440p, I don't want to also need a new GPU. I prefer to leave things open in regards to upgrading in the future rather than just focusing on only my current needs.

Is 1070 in SLI something I should be keeping in the back of my head during my planning? I would think that would probably be the best way to future-proof my system in the long run. However I also know that a lot of games aren't really optimized for SLI, and that Nvidia is trying to encourage people to just move up a model instead of going SLI.

frank_hnd · Aug 4, 2016

buy the GTX1070.
- enjoy ultra 1million frames 1080p
- purchase 1440p monitor when you have the budget
- enjoy 60+ FPS on 1440p with the GTX 1070
- consider SLI until you feel you are not getting enough frames which will take a while. and for the looks of it you will be set for quite some time. I cannot say the same for the 1060 which barely gets you 60+FPS on 1080p and it is not a 1440p card.

Slumy__57 · Aug 5, 2016

Alright, I'm leaning towards the 1070 at this point, I do think that will give me the best path for upgrades in the future. I'll probably just watch the prices on them for a while and try to find the best deal.

I haven't really been following prices on the 1070, what would be a good price right now?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291816375263?customid=b9cf70165b0711e68299964bf99121d90INT&pub=5574652453&campid=5335869999&afepn=5335869999&afepn=5335869999&rmvSB=true

Is that a good price?

Tradesman1 · Aug 5, 2016

Yes most are going about $30 more

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