General Knowledge about and Choices of New GPU

[sirholmes]

Hello,

OLD desktop gaming PC setup:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-v Pro
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790)
CPU: Intell i5-2500
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073)
PSU: 900w Antec
Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212+
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065)
RAM: Patriot Sector 5 G Series 2x 4GB DDR3-1600MHz (PC3-12800)
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 560
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125383)
Chassis (Case): NZXT H2
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146072)
HDD: [ OS Installed here -Seagate ST2000DL001 (9VT156) 2TB 5900RPM 32MBCache SATA 3.0Gb/s], and 2 [Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s] extra storage
SSD: 64GB OCZ SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD (Intell RST Enabled)
OPTICAL Drive: Samsung SH-B123L (Blue Ray Drive)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64


NEW desktop Gaming PC:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-v Pro
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790)
CPU: Intell i7-3770k
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501)
PSU: Rosewill LIGHTNING 1000W
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182239)
Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212+
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065)
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 1600 (PC3 12800) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231569]

GPU: ?????????????????????????????

Chassis (Case): NZXT H2
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146072)
HDD: [ OS Installed here -Seagate ST2000DL001 (9VT156) 2TB 5900RPM 32MBCache SATA 3.0Gb/s], and 2 [Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s] extra storage
SSD: 64GB OCZ SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD (Intell RST Enabled)
OPTICAL Drive: Samsung SH-B123L (Blue Ray Drive)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64



I am updating/upgrading my rig and I have almost everything set except I am a little lost when it comes to GPUs

I am looking to purchase a new GPU because as you can plainly see my old one is WAY outdated. It can not even handle games like Farcry3 or its counter part Blood Dragon ( only got like 10 fps turning everything down) I do a lot of heavy gaming and am looking to get either 2 gpu or 1 beast. I do not plan/want to have the need to overclock soon. I know how to and my current one is OC but I just want a decent GPU or set where I do not need to and just want to use everything out of the box for now. My budget is about $500 - $600 (prefer closer to the $500 range but can go higher if need be and for either two gpus or 1 beast as I said earlier.)

First things first I basically am just not sure where to start. I am looking to future proof to some degree, as much as budget allows, but I realize that eventually (with in two years) I will need to replace my GPU again as it gets slower and less capable of handling newer games.

I am not looking to start and argument here and know people have their strong opinions but I do not know which maker I should be looking at or who has the better graphics card in general AMD or Nvidia. I do not think I really have a huge preference maybe Nvidia just because I am used to it (and the PhysX) but I am not tied down to one or the other at all. I am not sure if I should be looking at higher bits like 192 (EX: GTX 660 ti) vs 384 (HD 7950). If I should be looking for Higher memory amounts like 3gbs vs 2gbs and so on. I am not even sure if i should even buy 1 monster graphics card now with plans to sli/CrossFire later or if I should buy 2 good graphics cards and sli/CrossFire to start with. Should I even be considering using two or only ever 1 graphics card? I am looking for good performing cards and higher frame rates with less stutter as well as being able to handle rendering. I am looking to max out all current games in the settings. I do not want to purchase a card that is not able to take full advantage of all of its memory.

I wanted to see what the thought the best one price per performance, best to purchase in general,and just general information not limiting to the categories I just said. I am interested in general opinions and thoughts on the subject. Also what price point would be best to shoot for when looking at gpus? I have always had the impression that the $300 and under zone is where to go but i could be wrong. I am just looking for a better depth of knowledge and more well rounded idea about them.

I have done some research and have seen a lot of mention about the AMD Radeon hd 7870, the AMD Radeon HD 7950, the NVidea GeForce GTX 660 Ti and the NVidea GeForce GTX 670 as just all around great graphics cards for a "decent" price. Also is there any preference as to the gpu's manufacture such as gigabyte, xfx, asus, or sapphire? I am just not sure what else to look for. I am open to any suggestions, ideas and tips you have for me.


Thank you so very much.
Appreciatively,
Trent

 

[socialassassin]

Hello,

OLD desktop gaming PC setup:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-v Pro
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790)
CPU: Intell i5-2500
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073)
PSU: 900w Antec
Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212+
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065)
RAM: Patriot Sector 5 G Series 2x 4GB DDR3-1600MHz (PC3-12800)
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 560
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125383)
Chassis (Case): NZXT H2
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146072)
HDD: [ OS Installed here -Seagate ST2000DL001 (9VT156) 2TB 5900RPM 32MBCache SATA 3.0Gb/s], and 2 [Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s] extra storage
SSD: 64GB OCZ SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD (Intell RST Enabled)
OPTICAL Drive: Samsung SH-B123L (Blue Ray Drive)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64


NEW desktop Gaming PC:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-v Pro
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790)
CPU: Intell i7-3770k
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501)
PSU: Rosewill LIGHTNING 1000W
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182239)
Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212+
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065)
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 1600 (PC3 12800) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231569]

GPU: ?????????????????????????????

Chassis (Case): NZXT H2
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146072)
HDD: [ OS Installed here -Seagate ST2000DL001 (9VT156) 2TB 5900RPM 32MBCache SATA 3.0Gb/s], and 2 [Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s] extra storage
SSD: 64GB OCZ SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD (Intell RST Enabled)
OPTICAL Drive: Samsung SH-B123L (Blue Ray Drive)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64



I am updating/upgrading my rig and I have almost everything set except I am a little lost when it comes to GPUs

I am looking to purchase a new GPU because as you can plainly see my old one is WAY outdated. It can not even handle games like Farcry3 or its counter part Blood Dragon ( only got like 10 fps turning everything down) I do a lot of heavy gaming and am looking to get either 2 gpu or 1 beast. I do not plan/want to have the need to overclock soon. I know how to and my current one is OC but I just want a decent GPU or set where I do not need to and just want to use everything out of the box for now. My budget is about $500 - $600 (prefer closer to the $500 range but can go higher if need be and for either two gpus or 1 beast as I said earlier.)

First things first I basically am just not sure where to start. I am looking to future proof to some degree, as much as budget allows, but I realize that eventually (with in two years) I will need to replace my GPU again as it gets slower and less capable of handling newer games.

I am not looking to start and argument here and know people have their strong opinions but I do not know which maker I should be looking at or who has the better graphics card in general AMD or Nvidia. I do not think I really have a huge preference maybe Nvidia just because I am used to it (and the PhysX) but I am not tied down to one or the other at all. I am not sure if I should be looking at higher bits like 192 (EX: GTX 660 ti) vs 384 (HD 7950). If I should be looking for Higher memory amounts like 3gbs vs 2gbs and so on. I am not even sure if i should even buy 1 monster graphics card now with plans to sli/CrossFire later or if I should buy 2 good graphics cards and sli/CrossFire to start with. Should I even be considering using two or only ever 1 graphics card? I am looking for good performing cards and higher frame rates with less stutter as well as being able to handle rendering. I am looking to max out all current games in the settings. I do not want to purchase a card that is not able to take full advantage of all of its memory.

I wanted to see what the thought the best one price per performance, best to purchase in general,and just general information not limiting to the categories I just said. I am interested in general opinions and thoughts on the subject. Also what price point would be best to shoot for when looking at gpus? I have always had the impression that the $300 and under zone is where to go but i could be wrong. I am just looking for a better depth of knowledge and more well rounded idea about them.

I have done some research and have seen a lot of mention about the AMD Radeon hd 7870, the AMD Radeon HD 7950, the NVidea GeForce GTX 660 Ti and the NVidea GeForce GTX 670 as just all around great graphics cards for a "decent" price. Also is there any preference as to the gpu's manufacture such as gigabyte, xfx, asus, or sapphire? I am just not sure what else to look for. I am open to any suggestions, ideas and tips you have for me.


Thank you so very much.
Appreciatively,
Trent

You can get a 7970 for $300, that is a ridiculous deal right now, performs about the same as a 770. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202008
If you want to spend $500, you could get 2 x 760 in SLI which will be significantly faster.
If you're just running games at 1080p, my suggestion would be to get a 7970 or 770 (your choice) and save the money for a second card down the road when you need it.