Best GPU for gaming under $450

[wolf3]

I am fairly new to gaming on PC, I have always gamed on consoles and own the next gen console myself, but I want to switch over to PC. I have a PNY GTX 650 but it can only handle next gen games at a medium to low res. I am very new to graphics cards in general. I have done some research and I'm looking at the R9 280X, GTX 760 2GB or 4GB or GTX 770 2GB or 4GB. I have heard of SLI and CrossFire but never owned more than one card. I have always owned an nVidia and therefore very new to AMD HD and R9 series. My current rig is fairly nice but more on the budget side. I have the following. Power Is not a factor here as I will upgrade to as much as I need if I have to. I also plan to upgrade to an LGA 1150 series motherboard and an i7, but not right away.

CPU: Intel i5 3570k 3.4GHz
GPU: PNY GTX 650 2GB
Motherboard: Biostar H61 series LGA 1155
RAM: 8GB G.Skill
PSU: 600W
OP: Windows 8.1 64bit

 

[Jacob McIntosh]

Here is the best card that I can find for under $450. I'd save a few more bucks though, because with $500 you can get a GTX 780.

 

[Jacob McIntosh]

Here are the links for direct comparison of the three different chipsets. Please note that the stats are for a STOCK card, not anything upgraded, like a Super Clocked (SC) card.
http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R9-280X-vs-GeForce-GTX-770
http://gpuboss.com/gpus/GeForce-GTX-770-vs-GeForce-GTX-760
http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R9-280X-vs-GeForce-GTX-760

 

[huilun02]

That's totally not the way to compare graphics cards. Sites like gpuboss should be shut down for their over-simplified, misleading comparisons.

Anyway $450 is in an awkward spot in the graphics card price range. For about $330+ you can get a GTX 770, 4GB versions at $380, and then a jump to $500 for the GTX 780. AMD cards in the range are all severely overpriced and mostly out of stock thanks to Litecoin mining.

I suggest a GTX 770 4GB.

 

[wolf3]

Yeah I have considered the 770 4GB, but I have been told that the 770 and 760 can't sustain the 4GB memory and would run out of power before they could use all of the memory. The 780 is an option but being $500+ I wont be able to upgrade as often. I'm only playing on 1920x1080 and would like to run at the minimum 40fps average without dipping below 30fps on Next gen games like BF4 AC4 and Ghosts

 

[huilun02]

Then get a GTX 770 2GB, it will do very well over 60fps in Battlefield 4 Ultra. Unfortunately AC4 and Ghosts run like crap on the PC even if you have a good card.

 

[Jacob McIntosh]

If you want a 780, check you these 2 options. The EVGA on Newegg is a bit more expensive, at $525 ish after shipping and a mail in rebate, and it comes with Batman Arkham Origins. If you buy it on SuperBiiz, however, it's only $509, but no free game,.

 

[wolf3]

I will probably choose the 770 2GB version for now, now I havent been picky about brand but should I get the Gigabyte Windforce or MSI Gaming or ASUS Direct CU II

 

[huilun02]

Avoid the Gigabyte Windfarce if you can. I don't trust Gigabyte for graphics cards. I prefer EVGA or Asus.

 

[Znoxz]

I would get the 280x toxic it alittle overprice because of litecoin but it a fast card
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8573333&SRCCODE=WEBGOOPA&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCV1-CjCE&gclid=CNHv-eiS67sCFeJF7AodhXgAOg
Other then that the 770 is a fast card.

 

[Archie Griffs]

That's totally not the way to compare graphics cards. Sites like gpuboss should be shut down for their over-simplified, misleading comparisons.

Anyway $450 is in an awkward spot in the graphics card price range. For about $330+ you can get a GTX 770, 4GB versions at $380, and then a jump to $500 for the GTX 780. AMD cards in the range are all severely overpriced and mostly out of stock thanks to Litecoin mining.

I suggest a GTX 770 4GB.

On the contrary, 450$ is the MSRP of non reference 290s, the best card he/she can possibly buy for that price.
If he/she is willing to wait, or knows where to look, I would absolutely recommend a non reference R9 290 over a 770, or 280x, heck even a 780 if the 290 can be gotten at 450$.
If any of these cards drop down into the 450$ range before you purchase your card, grab them, it's a steal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127774
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202080
Also keep these two cards under your radar as they're going to be released in stores soon:
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_radeon_r9_290x_directcuii_oc_review,1.html
http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/xfx_launches_radeon_r9_290_series_double_dissipation_cards.html

See how expensive the first two cards I listed were? that's over 100$ more than what they were supposed to be listed at at the beginning. I'm incredibly disappointed in Newegg for still keeping up the absurd premium for at least reference 290s, as there has been plenty of stock, and plenty of time for the demand to rise, they're just waiting for people to squeal and fork out the extra cash. So far there are very few non reference cards on the market, and as time goes by the supply will increase and the demand will lower, so so will the price. Those are the only ones worth buying for gaming, otherwise right now I think the 280x and 770 to be better simply because the reference 290s are absurdly loud and hot.
Here's where you go to not get overpriced 280xs:
http://www.shopblt.com/search/order_id=%2521ORDERID%2521&s_max=25&t_all=1&s_all=RADEON+R9+280x

@ the OP, if you're specifically gaming, moving up to an i7 won't really give you much of a performance boost. You're much better off waiting for the next generation CPUs that are coming out towards the end of the year that are significantly faster.

 

[Archie Griffs]

Avoid the Gigabyte Windfarce if you can. I don't trust Gigabyte for graphics cards. I prefer EVGA or Asus.

With the recent recall/flaw in the non reference 290s/290xs, I agree with you, they haven't been doing too good recently, try not to get a card by them until they rebound.

 

[wolf3]

The 290 and 290x are comparison cards for the GTX 780 and 780ti which I hear are the best gaming cards on the market. I will wait until AMD launches Mantle and then make my chouse weather to stick with the Nvidia cards or to switch over to AMD