RX 480 w/ 1080p 144Hz Freesync Monitor or GTX 1070 w/ 1080p 60Hz Monitor

[aameghoo]

So I need some help deciding between these 2 options which would cost me roughly the same amount:


Option 1: Get an RX 480 8GB with a new 1080p 144Hz Freesync Monitor


Option 2: Get a GTX 1070 instead and continue using my old 1080p 60Hz Monitor


I'm leaning towards option 1 as I really value having smooth gameplay, especially with first person shooters but also just in general. I get that I wouldn't be able to crank up the graphics as much with option 1 but I think between the 144Hz refresh and freesync everything would be much smoother vs dealing with screen tearing, stuttering, or vsync lag with the 1070 on my 1080p 60Hz monitor. I really value steady FPS over running everything maxed out.


If I go with option 2 there's a potential I might get a new 1080p 144Hz monitor later down the line which would mostly eliminate the screen tearing, stuttering, or vsync lag I would have with a 60Hz refresh. That would be a stretch though as there's other components that would be a higher priority. Don’t have much interest in 1440p and g-sync is way too expensive.


I'm curious to see any thoughts or something I might not be considering. BTW system specs are not up to date.

 

[Kaynar]

I think high fps +freesync/gsync is much more important than high end graphics or resolution. I've had several expensive monitors including 1440p/60Hz IPS in the past but when it comes to gaming, even if its not online shooters, I would put motion clarity (ie 144hz + freesync) over picture quality anyday after seeing the difference IRL (high fps / medium setting VS <60fps / ultra settings). That said, it would be great if you could buy an RX480 and a 1080p/120+hz/freesync monitor with an 8bit IPS panel to improve colours.

 

[ASOT]

1st option is better,Freesync and RX 480 make great deal,allso could upgrade to CF for more performance

Rx 480 is not reach all is power potential,so with DX 12 and Vulkan next games will last u longer and play nice

 

[HD64G]

Freesync all the way as it is an investment for the future also. You can change GPU or add another one later when needed and you don't chance monitor as easy as a GPU imho.

 

[Tallencor]

I vote first choice. Because that's what I have.
Can't use a 60 hz anymore. Freesync is butter smooth as well.

 

[P4-630]

Definitely GTX1070!! It's a more powerful GPU and you can always buy a 1440p later-on.
At the moment I'm still gaming @ 1080p but I will buy a 1440p monitor in May.

 

[ASOT]

Definitely GTX1070!! It's a more powerful GPU and you can always buy a 1440p later-on.
At the moment I'm still gaming @ 1080p but I will buy a 1440p monitor in May.

With the launch of 1080Ti and Vega in corner is not that great deal.

 

[P4-630]

With the launch of 1080Ti and Vega in corner is not that great deal.

Neither is it smart to buy a single RX480 with a 144Hz monitor isn't it! It doesn't even reach 60fps @ 1080p in a variety of games...
You shouldn't be doing crossfire or sli, a single card is the best solution all the time!
Vega won't come cheap either...

 

[Kanan]

Tough decision but I'd go for the RX 480 with a 144 Hz Freesync monitor, solely for one reason over the GTX 1070: high Hz gaming rocks.

 

[EarthDog]

Kind of a messed up situation honestly...

I mean, the 480 can't really push much more than 60 FPS consistently at 1080p with Ultra settings and some AA. There are games it reaches 100 FPS and games where its below 60. So, kind of pointless to have such a high Hz monitor, depending on the titles you play. On the other hand, the 1070 is a lot faster and at least tends to average well more than 60 FPS across most titles its tested in at 1080p with those same settings and then you are limited by the monitor.

 

[Fluffmeister]

Slow card, fast monitor. Fast card, slow monitor.

 

[aameghoo]

Haha thanks for the input everyone. So after giving this some thought all day, I think I've decided on option 1. The way I see it, I'll now have 2 1080p monitors, much smoother gameplay, I'll have the option of turning down details vs running ultra if I want >60 FPS and whenever vega comes around and I save up enough I can sell the RX 480 and get whatever AMD comes with, then I'll be able to have fast card AND fast monitor and freesync. And if anyone is wondering, since there's some good prices right now.

The 1070 I was considering was a MSI GTX 1070 Quick Silver:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137046

RX 480 I went with was a MSI GAMING X 8G:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K1JTT8S/?tag=tec06d-20

And the 1080p 144Hz freesync monitor is a Acer XF240H:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009910&ignorebbr=1

Slow card, fast monitor. Fast card, slow monitor.

This made gave me a good laugh lol, oh the struggle

 

[Totally]

Neither is it smart to buy a single RX480 with a 144Hz monitor isn't it! It doesn't even reach 60fps @ 1080p in a variety of games...
You shouldn't be doing crossfire or sli, a single card is the best solution all the time!
Vega won't come cheap either...

Much easier to dump a cheaper card than a pricier one, he won't lose much if anything if he picks up a 480 and sells it when vega arrives versus the 1070 that's guaranteed to lose value.

 

[RejZoR]

144Hz monitor. The whole point of 144Hz isn't to have 144fps exactly. It's preferable, but not necessary. Having 144Hz screen means your image will be sharper during fast motion and if you never reach the exact limit of it, you won't have image tearing without V-Sync either. 60Hz is just a no-no. Besides, you buy monitor for like 5 years minimum. No graphic card will ever last this long and you'll replace it anyway.

 

[Kaynar]

Your choices of RX480 from MSI and the Acer screen seem great, for their prices. You should go for them!

 

[RejZoR]

Well, on the other hand, if you find your current monitor adequate, then getting GTX 1070 would make more sense. I mean, while 144Hz is amazing to have, so is dramatically elevated framerate with GTX 1070. And it also comes with Adaptive V-Sync so you'll have great performing tear free games as well. I think you'll appreciate better framerate a bit more than just raw refresh rate of the monitor...

 

[Kanan]

Haha thanks for the input everyone. So after giving this some thought all day, I think I've decided on option 1. The way I see it, I'll now have 2 1080p monitors, much smoother gameplay, I'll have the option of turning down details vs running ultra if I want >60 FPS and whenever vega comes around and I save up enough I can sell the RX 480 and get whatever AMD comes with, then I'll be able to have fast card AND fast monitor and freesync. And if anyone is wondering, since there's some good prices right now.

The 1070 I was considering was a MSI GTX 1070 Quick Silver:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137046

RX 480 I went with was a MSI GAMING X 8G:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K1JTT8S/?tag=tec06d-20

And the 1080p 144Hz freesync monitor is a Acer XF240H:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009910&ignorebbr=1


This made gave me a good laugh lol, oh the struggle

Wise decision.

 

[P4-630]

Kind of a messed up situation honestly...

I mean, the 480 can't really push much more than 60 FPS consistently at 1080p with Ultra settings and some AA.

This^

And all the above aren't even ULTRA(with eye-candy+AA) settings!!!

It has no use to invest in a more expensive 144Hz monitor for a single RX480....

Wise decision.

Why would this be a wise decision? NOT being able to run many games at a steady 60fps on a 144Hz monitor.....

 

[Cvrk]

Freesync all the way as it is an investment for the future also. You can change GPU or add another one later when needed and you don't chance monitor as easy as a GPU imho.

good luck with that mate!

 

[newtekie1]

With your current CPU I don't think you're going to see anywhere near 144FPS. My vote is neither.

IMO, it is time for a CPU/Motherboard upgrade.

 

[EarthDog]

Wow.. a phenom. Yeah.. dude needs to save money for a more complete upgrade...

 

[P4-630]

 

[kruk]

Why would this be a wise decision? NOT being able to run many games at a steady 60fps on a 144Hz monitor.....

You make it sound like only ultra settings exist. You can turn down the quality with barely any visual sacrifice and have butter smooth gameplay.

The 1070 is an overkill for a Phenom and the FPS it could push will be limited by the monitor refresh rate (unless you like tearing). A RX 480 + Freesync monitor is much wiser decision in OPs scenario.

 

[Papahyooie]

I think the 144hz monitor is a better idea honestly. Sure, the RX480 won't get high frames with all the bells and whistle, but let's be honest... You don't upgrade your monitor nearly as often as your graphics card. If he's looking to the future, with the idea to upgrade graphics card later on anyway, it's better to have a monitor that can handle the high framerate that a new card will produce.

Plus, 144hz is awesome.

 

[aameghoo]

Wow.. a phenom. Yeah.. dude needs to save money for a more complete upgrade...

Sigh. See OP, systems specs aren't current. I currently have a i5-2500K at 4.5GHz with a custom water loop and 16GB of DDR3 1600 RAM. I plan on doing a mini-ITX upgrade though with a new case, i5-7600k, MB, RAM and HD. Hence why getting a 1070 AND then a new 144Hz monitor isn't much of an option anytime soon since I'd like to do that upgrade first.

You make it sound like only ultra settings exist. You can turn down the quality with barely any visual sacrifice and have butter smooth gameplay.

The 1070 is an overkill for a Phenom and the FPS it could push will be limited by the monitor refresh rate (unless you like tearing). A RX 480 + Freesync monitor is much wiser decision in OPs scenario.

Honestly I still play a few older titles and even most of the current titles I play, the RX 480 gets +70 FPS on ultra looking at benches. This will actually be the second time I'm getting a RX 480, my GF got one for me for christmas but we ended up returning it for a watch instead. I tried it before we returned it and while I got a solid 60 FPS with most of the games I play completely maxed out, I still had either screen tearing with no vsync, or input lag and stuttering with vsync on, which I imagine would probably be somewhat the same if I went with just the 1070.

But a great point many have made, even if I struggle to get 60 FPS with all settings maxed out with the RX 480, that's still pretty much the same I would get with option 2 since the monitor would have me capped at 60 FPS anyway and I imagine option 1 should still yield me a smoother experience at that framerate due to freesync. And on top of that I do still have the option of barely turning down the quality to start getting >>60 FPS

I imagine I'll probably upgrade the RX 480 in about a years time, which vega should have something to show by then