Gigabyte R9 270X is it worth it?

[Jack Barber]

Ive got an Asus Radeon HD 7770 with and AMD Athlon II x4 760K Quad Core at 3.8Ghz and with an MSI FM2 Motherboard. I play warframe which is my favourite game and I can run it maxed out with 60-40 FPS but when in heavy situations it drops to around 30-35 FPS which is frustrating since its becomes unplayable. 30 FPS maybe good but because the FPS is always changing it stutters constantly. I Wonder if the R9 270X should do the trick to solve my FPS drop problems.
Since It comes with BF4 I wonder if I should get another 4GB ram so I then have 8GB so I can smoothly play BF4 at Medium-High Settings. Would this card sort my frame drop problem?

 

[geofelt]

Worth is something only YOU can determine.

A R9-270X would be a nice graphics upgrade.
That assumes you have the 500w psu with 2 6-pin connectors to support it.
I suspect that a graphics upgrade is in order.

No game by itself will use more than 2-3gb by itself. Added ram is good if you have lots of other things active at the same time.

To help clarify your options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.


Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.


You could also experiment with removing one core in the bios. This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

 

[Jack Barber]

Worth is something only YOU can determine.

A R9-270X would be a nice graphics upgrade.
That assumes you have the 500w psu with 2 6-pin connectors to support it.
I suspect that a graphics upgrade is in order.

No game by itself will use more than 2-3gb by itself. Added ram is good if you have lots of other things active at the same time.

To help clarify your options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.


Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.


You could also experiment with removing one core in the bios. This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

ill try this now thanks, btw I tried this yesterday and I get better frames on 1080p for some reason than 720p or 1440x900? its not gonna be my cpu because its a quad core Athlon 760k which is pretty powerful for a low price. im definatly gonna get the R9 270X because a have a six pin connector and a 700w PSU

 

[Jack Barber]

WTF just turned the cores down and that and put the max speeds on 50% and got higher FPS? Before my computer was close to the radiator but ive moved my desk at the other side of the room. Wonder if its running faster because its cooler??