3D Monitor & Graphics Card Options and Advice?

[jlt08fab]

Hello TH,

I am in need of some advice regarding a 3D monitor and graphics card.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week

BUDGET RANGE: Graphics Card $400.00 & Monitor $600.00

USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming on Battlefield 3, Arma 2, etc.

CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: ASUS ENGTX470/2DI/1280MD5/V2 GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

OTHER RELEVANT SYSTEM SPECS: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon II X4 645 Propus 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX645WFGMBOX

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com and tigerdirect.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: I have been getting tired of having to replace my GeForce cards after a year and a half, so I wanted to go towards ATI this time. However, the monitor I am thinking about going with is made specially for nVidia cards.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 or higher

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I like the free gaming specials from newegg.com ...

Here are the cards I am looking at:

SAPPHIRE 100351SR Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card OC with Boost

EVGA 02G-P4-2678-KR GeForce GTX 670 FTW 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Monitor:

ASUS VG Series VG278H Black 27" 2ms HDMI Swivel & Height Adjustable Widescreen LED Backlight LCD 3D 120Hz Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 50,000,000:1 w/ 3D glasses and speakers


Notes:

Ok, so I am flexible with the card options and the monitor ... I have a total budget of about $900 for the pair. I am looking for a great combo with some free games to boot. Thoughts?

I have read a lot about the 27" monitor and I want something that will last a long time (3-5 years) and a card that'll last at least 2 years. I may go SLI/Crossfire in a year or so.

Thank you for your advice and assistance, TH!

 

[jlt08fab]

Would you guys agree with this combo?

SAPPHIRE 100352-2L Radeon HD 7950 3GB

and

ASUS VG Series VG278H Black 27" 2ms HDMI Swivel & Height Adjustable Widescreen LED Backlight LCD 3D 120Hz Monitor

Thoughts?

Or is this counter intuitive?

 

[jlt08fab]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001537

Or this?

 

[bystander]

Would you guys agree with this combo?

SAPPHIRE 100352-2L Radeon HD 7950 3GB

and

ASUS VG Series VG278H Black 27" 2ms HDMI Swivel & Height Adjustable Widescreen LED Backlight LCD 3D 120Hz Monitor

Thoughts?

Or is this counter intuitive?

NO WAY Jose. The monitor is great for 3D, but it is a 3D Vision 2 monitor, it does not perform well with AMD (you'll be limited to 30hz or 720p in 3D). For AMD you'll want to look at the Samsung 3D monitors, but I wouldn't do that anyways, as Nvidia has better 3D support and is much easier to use.

Switch the graphics card out for an Nvidia 670 if you can. You don't want to go cheap with 3D.

 

[bystander]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001537

Or this?

If you really want to go AMD for your 3D, then that is a better monitor choice, but I'd recommend going Nvidia and the original monitor for 3D.

 

[jlt08fab]

NO WAY Jose. The monitor is great for 3D, but it is a 3D Vision 2 monitor, it does not perform well with AMD (you'll be limited to 30hz or 720p in 3D). For AMD you'll want to look at the Samsung 3D monitors, but I wouldn't do that anyways, as Nvidia has better 3D support and is much easier to use.

Switch the graphics card out for an Nvidia 670 if you can. You don't want to go cheap with 3D.

The reason for going AMD this time was my recent lack of love for Nvidia. I am always replacing dead cards and the RMA with ASUS for fixing my 470 has been a true nightmare.

Any brand you suggest?

 

[bystander]

The reason for going AMD this time was my recent lack of love for Nvidia. I am always replacing dead cards and the RMA with ASUS for fixing my 470 has been a true nightmare.

Any brand you suggest?

Both brands have stories of bad luck and the 470 and 480's were true monstrosities that ran extremely hot. It is unlikely you'll run into that issue with any other series, but bad luck can strike.

EVGA is good with customer service, so that is always a good way to go.

 

[jlt08fab]

Both brands have stories of bad luck and the 470 and 480's were true monstrosities that ran extremely hot. It is unlikely you'll run into that issue with any other series, but bad luck can strike.

EVGA is good with customer service, so that is always a good way to go.

This is what I think I am about to pull the trigger on:

ASUS VG Series VG278H Black 27" 2ms HDMI Swivel & Height Adjustable Widescreen LED Backlight LCD 3D 120Hz Monitor

and

EVGA 04G-P4-3673-KR GeForce GTX 670 FTW+ 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16

Thank you, bystander for your guidance!

 

[jlt08fab]

Best answer selected by jlt08fab.