Buying a gpu for my first build, looking for advice

[ZEBuckeye81]

Looking too buy a gpu for my first build, I've pretty well decided on 970 GTX for efficiency and budget reasons.

Two I'm currently looking at, on sale at Newegg are:

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 4GB G1 GAMING OC EDITION
http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16814125684

EVGA GeForce GTX 970 04G-P4-3975-KR 4GB SSC GAMING w/ACX 2.0+
http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16814487088

Both are right about $300, which is honestly the most I want to spend on a gpu. The EVGA comes with Division game code, which is neither here nor there, frankly I would possibly sell the code.

My build is a i5-6600k on a Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD5 mobo, running 8gb DDR4 3200 GSkill

Open to other suggestions as well, I'm not biased red or green, however I do have more appeal for an efficient card, and within budget

 

[Platinum_Gamer]

I haven't heard this expression being used before in this context, what do you mean? "which is neither here nor there"

 

[BadActor]

You didn't mention your PSU, but I'm currently leaning towards an R9 390 if it can support it. Initial benchmarks on DX12 games look promising for AMD cards. If you only have a 500 - 550 watt PSU, then stick with the 970. Both of the cards you listed are very good, but I think I would go for the Gigabyte because of better cooling and it's said to be a better overclocker.

 

[ZEBuckeye81]

Neither here nor there fwiw is doesn't really matter

Yes, that's part of why, I got a deal on a 550g2, and I figured that would be plenty because originally I was figuring on a lower tier sub $200 card.

 

[RTW970]

If you're going for a 970 also consider strix edition from ASUS and if you go with EVGA try and look towards the FTW Edition or the Gigabyte Windforce. All three of those cards are really good 970s and some of them come overclocked out of the box. If you have a good PSU and willing to spend max an extra $20-30 (only estimating because I'm not from the US) then get an msi r9 390 because they are better than 970s in most benchmarks. At the end of the day it's your money so choose what you want as all cards are awesome 1080p as single cards and can do some 1440p.

 

[NC320_]

If i were you, i would get the asus strix 970 because it has very good performance and effiency, and it is VERY quiet

 

[RTW970]

I agree with NC320. EVGA FTW and Gigabyte WF are excellent options too but most of the recommendations I've seen lately have been the ASUS STRIX so I think it might edge out over the other two.

 

[ZEBuckeye81]

I'll have to check those out, and look at current pricing.

Another question would be should I just wait? Just deal with the Intel 530 graphics (not sure what I'd really be able to play, but...) and see what prices are like when next gen cards get released in the coming months?

 

[BadActor]

I'll have to check those out, and look at current pricing.

Another question would be should I just wait? Just deal with the Intel 530 graphics (not sure what I'd really be able to play, but...) and see what prices are like when next gen cards get released in the coming months?

That's definitely an option. You can play just about every game fairly well at lower settings and resolutions.

 

[ZEBuckeye81]

Hey platinum, BTW, I didn't mean to down vote your post, I have no idea what happened and it wouldn't let me change it

 

[RTW970]

Yeah, you could definitely wait for Pascal to arrive but just consider that:
a) a graphics card at $300-350 might not drop as much in price as a card that's let's say $600 meaning of that if you waited you might possibly get a GTX 980 or a 980Ti. I can't confirm any of that but that's just how I feel things will unfold.
b) As I said the price drop might not be so big for a card that's $300-350 so it might not be worth the wait but then again maybe it might drop a good bit, who knows?

 

[ZEBuckeye81]

Yeah I've thought about that. I honestly don't see prices dropping enough to put a higher tier card into my price range. Although I suppose I could see what the offerings are in the mid tiers? Idk, I may just snag one when I see a good deal. Just have to decide which direction to go, Radeon or Nvidia.

 

[kairaz]

If you choose the 970 I'd go with the gigabyte as it has 6+8 pin power connectors. The more power you can supply to the card the more overclocking potential you have.

As to whether you go with an R9 or 970 that's really personal preference.

I recently just bought a GV-N970WF3OC-4GD, which is exactly the same card as the G1 except the clocks are little lower from the factory and it doesn't have a backplate. Considering that all the necessary tools to dump and flash your bios are out the only difference between these cards is the backplate.

Nice card, I'm quite happy with it. One word of warning though it is a ridiculously long card, longest video card I've ever seen so make sure it will fit in your case. I have a mid tower and it's like 10mm away from my hdd rack.

Peace.