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Upgrading from HD4850

Tags:
  • Gtx
  • GPUs
  • PowerColor
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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March 13, 2014 6:53:04 PM

My current GPU is a Radeon HD4850, an ancient card that desperately needs to be replaced. With the recent price increases in R9-series cards, I was all set to buy a GTX 770, but just recently, some R9-280Xs have become more reasonably priced and competitive with the GTX 770, such as this PowerColor (TurboDuo AXR9 280X 3GBD5-T2DHE/OC). Also, TigerDirect has an R9-290 for $140 more. Which GPU would be the best for current and future 1080p gaming? From all of the benchmarks that I've seen, they are very close to each other, so I guess it comes down to best drivers. What's the general consensus?

I'll be pairing this GPU with either an FX-6300 or FX-8320 if it matters.

More about : upgrading hd4850

March 20, 2014 1:54:35 PM

Well, since no one answered, I answered it myself. I found an R9-280X at NCIX for $340. Now to decide which CPU to buy.
March 20, 2014 2:32:09 PM

Both CPUs are good. If you are and AMD fanboy, which you obviously are.
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March 20, 2014 3:07:36 PM

Nikola Aslanov said:
Both CPUs are good. If you are and AMD fanboy, which you obviously are.


Thanks for the insight. I didn't realize that I was obviously an AMD fanboy just for inquiring about an R9-280X and AMD CPUs. If you didn't have anything of value to say, why'd you even respond.

And just FYI, I have actually decided to get a Xeon E3-1230V3 with a B85 MB to go with my R9-280X.
March 20, 2014 3:17:22 PM

"Both CPUs are good" seems like some value to me. Depends on the personal opinion though.
AMD video + AMD CPU seems like AMD fanboy to me. Depends on the personal opinion though.
If AMD is not a must I'd recommend a quad core i5. B85 is fine if you do not plan to overclock. I use b75 myself.
Server-targeted CPU is rarely used in comsumer configs, pay some attention to compatibility.
And happy gaming.
March 20, 2014 4:06:16 PM

Yeah, I thought about the i5-4670 as well, but the Xeon E3-1230 is basically an i7-4770 without the iGPU for $30 more than the i5 and $60 less than the i7. I saw some benchmarks of the E3-1230V2 vs the i5-3570k and the Xeon beat the 3570k in all the benchmarks except was only a couple percent shy in gaming. For the extra threads that I think will come into play within the next several years, it sounds like a win to me. If, however, you have links to other benchmarks that show a drastic difference in gaming on E3-1230 vs the i5, I'd love to see them. I'm about ready to click the order button.

Also, like yourself, I don't plan on overclocking (can't with the Xeon anyway) nor do I ever intend to run Crossfire, so a B85 board suits me best.
March 21, 2014 12:13:26 PM

Just be sure to get the E3-1230 v3. As there are several versions.
!