Best Graphics Cards For The Money: October 2014

[adamovera]

We talk about the new GeForce GTX 970 and 980 in this months update, and see how these disruptive products have changed the price landscape. We also talkn about the GeForce GTX 970M, 980M, and discuss rumors of upcoming products.

Best Graphics Cards For The Money: October 2014 : Read more

 

[adamovera]

Archived comments are found here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2630908/graphics-cards-money-october-2014.html

 

[Cryio]

I think it's been proven at this point that a 260X is as fast or usually faster than a 750 Ti.

Also, crossfire of 290X in 4K is faster than SLI of 780 Tis/970s/980s. Why is the article still ignoring this ?

 

[PaulBags]

Why does the performance per dollar chart only have a couple cards on it?

 

[Corgan]

I think it's been proven at this point that a 260X is as fast or usually faster than a 750 Ti.

Also, crossfire of 290X in 4K is faster than SLI of 780 Tis/970s/980s. Why is the article still ignoring this ?

Didn`t You know that Toms was always anti-amd?) Also why do Monthlly Update before reviewing fury x ...

 

[thezooloomaster]

Didn`t You know that Toms was always anti-amd?) Also why do Monthlly Update before reviewing fury x ...

Your argument doesn't make much sense seeing as half the cards on the list are AMD, and the 295X2 still tops the list as the flagship...

 

[tristan huot]

your gpu hierarchy chart is wierd. in reviews : 780 ti under 980, 390x equals 980, 690 equals 980 and the 7990 should be in the same chart as the 980. also titan black should be with 970

 

[Johnnydex1]

How many new big releases will we be seeing within the next 6 months? Answer: None. The timing of this article is totally suspicious and makes zero sense.

 

[darkchazz]

I don't care how much more performance and power efficiency these new cards bring to the table.
I'm not upgrading from my GTX 670 until there is a die shrink.

 

[Gurg]

The AMD fanboys are out early. Bring up these two separate but equal 4K Tweaktown comparison tests in side by side windows to show a slow reference 980s vs 290x with 8g as well as reference 980sli and 390xcf. About the only time the AMD boards are significantly higher is in power consumption. Read the charts and weep. LOL

http://www.tweaktown.com/tweakipedia/74/recap-nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-sli-performance-4k/index.html

http://www.tweaktown.com/tweakipedia/91/amd-radeon-r9-390x-crossfire-4k/index.html

 

[10tacle]

Also, crossfire of 290X in 4K is faster than SLI of 780 TIs/970s/980s. Why is the article still ignoring this ?

Uhm, it doesn't exactly blow away 780Ti SLI...

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59668.png
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59664.png
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59672.png

And at what price, the price of heat and power specifically?

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59712.png
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59709.png

 

[10tacle]

Didn`t You know that Toms was always anti-amd?) Also why do Monthlly Update before reviewing fury x ...

1) Just because you as an AMD user don't like the results of what Tom's comes up with does not make them favorable to Nvidia (and vice versa for Nvidia users). I clearly remember Tom's giving a cool reception to the GTX 770 as nothing but a re-branded 680 with and faster speed (which is what it was, just like the 390x vs. 290x except that unlike AMD's $80 price boost with 8GB VRAM over the current market 4GB 290x pricing, the 2GB 770 had a price drop over the 2GB 680 card at the time of market).

Now let's review their findings of the best card values by US dollar category for this month:

$65 - Nvidia
100 - AMD
115- AMD
150 - Tie
200 - AMD
330 - Tie
650 - Nvidia
Dual GPU - AMD

So removing the ties, we are looking at Tom's picking AMD 2:1 over Nvidia in this month's best GPUs to buy for the money. Any more questions on anti-AMD biases? Sheesh...it's like dealing with children around here sometimes.


2) I would surmise that Tom's has a calendar to adhere to for consistency. Why should they abandon one of their monthly GPU best of list just because a new card has a paper launch and they have to wait until they get drivers for the card, test it, etc. That stuff takes time. That goes for Nvidia as well. They will catch it on next month's review of the card. Deal with it.

Oh wait...it was ALREADY EXPLAINED!

"Even in the face of those price drops, you probably held off on pulling the trigger, knowing full well that AMD’s own ultra-high-end answer was imminent. The company’s launch made it difficult for us to write a Best Graphics Cards for the Money update any sooner. We already delayed for three weeks, and there’s still more excitement coming. But we have to keep moving."

 

[Doug Lord]

Can someone tell me 390x2, vs 980ti vs FuryX in 1440p ultra everything and 4k?

 

[MasterMace]

Theres an issue in the article - the R9 390 is being compared to the 290x, where the 390x is the rebadge of the 290x, according to the previous release article.

 

[Cryio]

Also, crossfire of 290X in 4K is faster than SLI of 780 TIs/970s/980s. Why is the article still ignoring this ?

Uhm, it doesn't exactly blow away 780Ti SLI...

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59668.png
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59664.png
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59672.png

And at what price, the price of heat and power specifically?

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59712.png
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph7492/59709.png

You are using benchmarks from the 290X launch. Since then, 21 months ago, drivers have improved performance a lot. In current games with current drivers, two 290X outperform 780 Tis, 970s and 980s.

 

[Cryio]

Can someone tell me 390x2, vs 980ti vs FuryX in 1440p ultra everything and 4k?

Though we don't know how Fury X performs yet,if it's near 980 Ti level, it's pretty much a given two 390X will be the fastest setup between what you listed.

 

[Tanquen]

We already delayed for three weeks, and there’s still more excitement coming. But we have to keep moving.

They also said they have have Fury reviews in just 3 days. But they could not wait 3 days? So they can ignore the AMD Fury cards for another month. ???

 

[Gurg]

We already delayed for three weeks, and there’s still more excitement coming. But we have to keep moving.

They also said they have have Fury reviews in just 3 days. But they could not wait 3 days? So they can ignore the AMD Fury cards for another month. ???

Toms was taking a lot of flack from a lot of other readers comments about not having a June version out already. There is no pleasing some of you folks. They don't put it out they get flack, they put it out they get flack.

AMD in a massive blunder forbid reviews before the 24th, go complain to them. Had AMD released the reviews ASAP most reviewers would have only had slower reference 980Tis to compare with the FuryX. But it looks like by the 24th, up to 20% higher clocked aftermarket cooled 980Tis will be available for comparison. Tom's reviewer stated he already had a 20% higher clocked Gigabyte 980Ti version.

 

[rayden54]

@Gurg It does seem like they settled on the worst of both worlds. There's isn't much point in delaying the review if you're not going to delay it long enough to include all of this months releases. Delaying for one, but not the other does seem biased (even if it isn't intended).

 

[Tanquen]

We already delayed for three weeks, and there’s still more excitement coming. But we have to keep moving.

They also said they have have Fury reviews in just 3 days. But they could not wait 3 days? So they can ignore the AMD Fury cards for another month. ???

Toms was taking a lot of flack from a lot of other readers comments about not having a June version out already. There is no pleasing some of you folks. They don't put it out they get flack, they put it out they get flack.

AMD in a massive blunder forbid reviews before the 24th, go complain to them. Had AMD released the reviews ASAP most reviewers would have only had slower reference 980Tis to compare with the FuryX. But it looks like by the 24th, up to 20% higher clocked aftermarket cooled 980Tis will be available for comparison. Tom's reviewer stated he already had a 20% higher clocked Gigabyte 980Ti version.

Good grief, it is not an AMD issue. Tom's do what it do as do AMD. They know they can do it in three days but that is too far afield, can't do it. Give me a break. Tom's made a point to say they waited and they knew of the 24th for how long? For what, as well? What’s really new over the last many months? Not much. Everyone that cares knows what the 980ti can do.

 

[10tacle]

You are using benchmarks from the 290X launch. Since then, 21 months ago, drivers have improved performance a lot. In current games with current drivers, two 290X outperform 780 Tis, 970s and 980s.

Okay let's try this again. Note these are single card comparos with RECENT Guru3D charts at 4K on June 1 (I'm assuming they are not using two year old drivers). Let's shake it down:

Hitman Absolution:
290X - 34
980 - 33

Bioshock Infinite:
290X - 30
980 - 43

Tomb Raider:
290X - 42
980 - 46

Metro Last Light:
290X - 26
980 - 31

Thief:
290X - 26
980 - 29

Battlefield Hardline:
290X - 26
980 - 25

GTA V:
290X - 30
980 - 31

Witcher 3:
290X - 24
980 - 28

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/nvidia_geforce_gtx_980_ti_review,25.html
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/nvidia_geforce_gtx_980_ti_review,26.html

Look...I'm all for the rivalry between Team Red and Team Green benefiting us all. But let's not spread FUD around that is easily debunked...okay?

PS: drivers do NOT fix heat and power hog issues in 2013 any more than they do in 2015.

 

[alextheblue]

AMD in a massive blunder forbid reviews before the 24th, go complain to them. Had AMD released the reviews ASAP most reviewers would have only had slower reference 980Tis to compare with the FuryX. But it looks like by the 24th, up to 20% higher clocked aftermarket cooled 980Tis will be available for comparison. Tom's reviewer stated he already had a 20% higher clocked Gigabyte 980Ti version.

Yeah it's too bad the Fury X wasn't watercooled with lots of overclocking headroom- oh wait.

 

[rdc85]

Just noticed..

there is no "Tied" or "honorable mention" in article anymore....
change of writing style ?? ...

Some people may argued why nvi card put first and amd second..
well A is before N right haha...

 

[Cryio]

You are using benchmarks from the 290X launch. Since then, 21 months ago, drivers have improved performance a lot. In current games with current drivers, two 290X outperform 780 Tis, 970s and 980s.

I said crossfire of 290Xs beat SLI of 780 Tis/970s/980s in 4K. *I know* a 290X is slower than a 980 in 1080p-4K by themselves. Crossfire for whatever reason provides better performance.
Okay let's try this again. Note these are single card comparos with RECENT Guru3D charts at 4K on June 1 (I'm assuming they are not using two year old drivers). Let's shake it down:

Hitman Absolution:
290X - 34
980 - 33

Bioshock Infinite:
290X - 30
980 - 43

Tomb Raider:
290X - 42
980 - 46

Metro Last Light:
290X - 26
980 - 31

Thief:
290X - 26
980 - 29

Battlefield Hardline:
290X - 26
980 - 25

GTA V:
290X - 30
980 - 31

Witcher 3:
290X - 24
980 - 28

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/nvidia_geforce_gtx_980_ti_review,25.html
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/nvidia_geforce_gtx_980_ti_review,26.html

Look...I'm all for the rivalry between Team Red and Team Green benefiting us all. But let's not spread FUD around that is easily debunked...okay?

PS: drivers do NOT fix heat and power hog issues in 2013 any more than they do in 2015.

 

[AndrewJacksonZA]

After being overloaded (in a good way with GFX news from AMD, the biggest thing that stood out for me was.... "Iris Pro Graphics 6200"

SURPRISE! I honestly never thought that I'd see Intel with their history of absolutely pathetic and abysmal GFX efforts come through like they did. Really. Well done to them.