$300 Graphics Solution

[jordan1794]

Hello all!
My friend has a budget gaming rig that's only missing the most important part, a GPU.

His budget for the GPU is $300 or less. Him and I have been talking and we can quite decide what would be best for him.

So does anyone have a suggestion as to the best he can get for his budget? He doesn't want to have to upgrade for at least a year or so.

His specs:
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-D3H
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR32133 Model F3-2133C10D-8GSR
CPU: AMD A8-7600 Kaveri Quad-Core 3.1 (3.8 Turbo Socket) Socket FM2+ slot 65W
PSU: OCZ Fatal1ty 550w PSU
CASE: Cooler Master HAF 922
MONITOR(?): Dynex 24" 1080p LCD HDTV

 

[Toothless]

280x

 

[Jetster]

We would need his specs including all parts in detail

 

[jordan1794]

Ah, sorry, didn't think about it, I'm so used to posting things for myself and having the system specs thing lol
Give me a sec...
Alright, updated.

 

[Jetster]

Monitor? GTX970 on sale or the R9 280X would work too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202143&cm_re=r9_290-_-14-202-143-_-Product

Its a long card. What case?

 

[patrico]

+ R9 280X

 

[jordan1794]

 

[patrico]

 

[jordan1794]

Well they have a Saphire R9 290x on sale at newegg for 299(w/ promo code)
BUT it's "required" to have a 750w power supply.
The 280x Saphire also requires a 750.

In fact, all the 280's I'm looking at need 600 or above...
How "required" is it? lol.

 

[jordan1794]

And then it's like, the 980 only needs a 500w power supply...

 

[newtekie1]

How "required" is it?

Those are more recommendations, and they are always high because they take the entire system into account and the manufacturers always like to error on the side of caution.

Normally this would be a toss up between the 290X and GTX970, depending on which one is on sale at the time. But given the power supply, I'd prefer the GTX970. The GTX970 uses way less power, which is why the PSU recommendations are lower. IMO, a 290X would be pushing it on a 550w. Especially considering this PSU is probably not new, considering OCZ went out of business over a year ago, so I'm guessing the PSU is probably at least 2 years old. And even when it was new it could only output 495w to the 12v.

 

[jordan1794]

Yeah, him and I pretty much agreed the 970 is what he is gonna go with, more out of the power issue than anything.
But I think the 970 might end up being better in the long run...but he will pay for it.

 

[krusha03]

I think for such a system a 300$ gpu would be a waste. A R9 280 for 150$ should be more than enough:
PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg) and a 550W PSU will be able to run it. I have a 7950 (basically same card) with an overclocked FX cpu and my 500W corsair psu runs them no problem.

 

[jordan1794]

Well the 970 should be good for a bit before needing an upgrade, he will most likely build a new computer within the next year or so, and should be able to bring the 970 to it.
But I'll pass it along.
Looking at the manual for his PSU the available 12v power is actually listed as 450 watts.
Do you think the 450w will handle it? His processor is lower power, only 65 watts.

 

[Countryside]

With that cpu there is no point going over 280 In fact with the current APU lineup there is no point to pair them with a gtx 970 or 290.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709 600100181 600489223 &IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=30
Good Luck and Happy gaming to your friend

 

[NC37]

290X is under $300 on the sales right now. In fact Newegg has one for $250 after rebate. Lowest I've seen. As the 300 launch draws closer, look for more deals like this.

 

[Countryside]

290X is under $300 on the sales right now. In fact Newegg has one for $250 after rebate. Lowest I've seen. As the 300 launch draws closer, look for more deals like this.

Really 290X with A8-7600

 

[newtekie1]

With that cpu there is no point going over 280 In fact with the current APU lineup there is no point to pair them with a gtx 970 or 290.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709 600100181 600489223 &IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=30
Good Luck and Happy gaming to your friend

Really 290X with A8-7600
View attachment 64388

It is going to largely depend on the game being played. But in the majority of popular games today, the CPU is not going to be that big of a bottleneck when the graphics are cranked up.

I say, if he's got the money now and wants to spend it on a graphics card so he can absolutely max every graphics setting out, then do it. Then in a short while when he saves up a little cash, drop an x4 860K in the system(they are only ~$75) and overclock it. That will help reduce the CPU bottleneck greatly.

 

[Countryside]

Yeah games like Crysis 3, Arma 3 , Battlefiled 4, Metro, Hitman Absolution, Watchdogs, Total War. These games like to eat cpu.

 

[Jetster]

There is nothing wrong with running a 290 with a A8-7600. Its a quad core 3.1 Hz. I mean a 3570 would be better but it will work. You may loose 10%.

 

[Countryside]

We should recommend components that work without performance loss.

 

[jordan1794]

Well again, his goal is to upgrade his whole rig eventually. He's not too worried about the CPU bottleneck, he wants to get something so that he won't have to upgrade his GPU when he starts changing his system.
He has several games that he literally cannot play, even on the lowest settings.

However the more we look at it, the more he is considering to just off this rig on craigslist and start a new build.
He did find a gtx 970 on craig's list for $200, supposedly in *like new* condition.
If that's a risk he is willing to take then it's on his shoulders...I wouldn't do it, but then again...I'm not in the same financial boat as him.

 

[Batou1986]

280 non x or 290/290x
The 280x's have to many issues with memory failures especially the MSI ones

 

[Countryside]

Well again, his goal is to upgrade his whole rig eventually. He's not too worried about the CPU bottleneck, he wants to get something so that he won't have to upgrade his GPU when he starts changing his system.
He has several games that he literally cannot play, even on the lowest settings.

However the more we look at it, the more he is considering to just off this rig on craigslist and start a new build.
He did find a gtx 970 on craig's list for $200, supposedly in *like new* condition.
If that's a risk he is willing to take then it's on his shoulders...I wouldn't do it, but then again...I'm not in the same financial boat as him.

Let me know the budget i will gladly pick out the parts.

 

[jordan1794]

I told him he really should join the forum, and I think he plans to.
When he does I'll definitely hook him up with PcPartPicker.com and making a thread here.