Graphics Card or Motherboard?

[zsmaniac]

Hello,

I am performing my first build of a gaming pc and I have hit a snag. I cannot decide if I should get a better graphics card or a better motherboard?

For example: Should I get a GTX 660 3GB with an ASUS Z87-A or a GTX 650 ti Boost 2GB with an ASUS Z87- Pro? Or maybe a ASUS Maximus Hero with an GTX 650 1GB?

I don't want to OC now but maybe in 8-12 months I will.

My specs so far:
i5-4670k
60 GB SSD for OS
120 GB SSD for games
1 TB HHD for media
Samsung DVD combo drive
8 GB Corsair 1600 (12800) RAM
Carbide 500r
4 120mm case fans

Thanks

 

[hybird9012]

If you are building a gaming PC then without question upgrading your video card is the first upgrade to perform. If I were you, I'd just allocate more or all of your money you have placed aside for a very good video card (look for ones better than Nvidia 660 and AMD 7790). I'd recommend at least a 660 Ti / 670 / 770 or an AMD 7870 / 7950.

I'm assuming your current motherboard has PCI-e slots? If so, you will not notice any real difference at all in upgrading your motherboard, even to a very high end motherboard. Your video card does most of the work in gaming. Then later down the road you can upgrade your motherboard when it makes sense.

 

[smorizio]

With mb if you look at toms roundup you see that all the mb tested ran in a dead heat. I would be looking at features you may want..ie wifi or soundblaster chipset. Myself on a gaming rig I would use one of the new ac wifi cards for there faster speeds then. I would then see what the 770-760 nvidia cards priced..test out. With a gaming rig you want spend good money on the gpu. I would go with the 660.

 

[zsmaniac]

If you are building a gaming PC then without question upgrading your video card is the first upgrade to perform. If I were you, I'd just allocate more or all of your money you have placed aside for a very good video card (look for ones better than Nvidia 660 and AMD 7790). I'd recommend at least a 660 Ti / 670 or an AMD 7870 / 7950.

I'm assuming your current motherboard has PCI-e slots? If so, you will not notice any real difference at all in upgrading your motherboard, even to a very high end motherboard. Your video card does most of the work in gaming. Then later down the road you can upgrade your motherboard when it makes sense.

Ok. Great! So would the ASUS z87-A be a good enough mobo then? For those cards you mentioned?

 

[hybird9012]

With mb if you look at toms roundup you see that all the mb tested ran in a dead heat. I would be looking at features you may want..ie wifi or soundblaster chipset. Myself on a gaming rig I would use one of the new ac wifi cards for there faster speeds then. I would then see what the 770-760 nvidia cards priced..test out. With a gaming rig you want spend good money on the gpu. I would go with the 660.

Smorizio made a good point. It really comes down to what technologies or features you want out of a new board. It doesn't make much sense to buy a high end board if you don't want to do SLI/crossfire or heavily overclock. If you're just using one GPU and don't really want to heavily overclock then the bare minimum would suffice. But take into consideration what smoizio said.

 

[hybird9012]

If you are building a gaming PC then without question upgrading your video card is the first upgrade to perform. If I were you, I'd just allocate more or all of your money you have placed aside for a very good video card (look for ones better than Nvidia 660 and AMD 7790). I'd recommend at least a 660 Ti / 670 or an AMD 7870 / 7950.

I'm assuming your current motherboard has PCI-e slots? If so, you will not notice any real difference at all in upgrading your motherboard, even to a very high end motherboard. Your video card does most of the work in gaming. Then later down the road you can upgrade your motherboard when it makes sense.

Ok. Great! So would the ASUS z87-A be a good enough mobo then? For those cards you mentioned?

Definitely!! It will be more than enough! You can even go cheaper if you want. Just don't throw down $200 for a video card when you could spend an extra $40 or $60 and get an even drastically better video card. Because if you throw down $200 for a video card that you plan on immediately upgrading then that is just a waste of $200. Know what I mean? Your focus at this point should be a video card for gaming without question, then you can see where your budget fits for a board. If you plan on just using one graphics card then you will be fine with even the $80 motherboards, etc..

 

[zsmaniac]

If you are building a gaming PC then without question upgrading your video card is the first upgrade to perform. If I were you, I'd just allocate more or all of your money you have placed aside for a very good video card (look for ones better than Nvidia 660 and AMD 7790). I'd recommend at least a 660 Ti / 670 or an AMD 7870 / 7950.

I'm assuming your current motherboard has PCI-e slots? If so, you will not notice any real difference at all in upgrading your motherboard, even to a very high end motherboard. Your video card does most of the work in gaming. Then later down the road you can upgrade your motherboard when it makes sense.

Ok. Great! So would the ASUS z87-A be a good enough mobo then? For those cards you mentioned?

Definitely!! It will be more than enough! You can even go cheaper if you want. Just don't throw down $200 for a video card when you could spend an extra $40 or $60 and get an even drastically better video card. Because if you throw down $200 for a video card that you plan on immediately upgrading then that is just a waste of $200. Know what I mean? Your focus at this point should be a video card for gaming without question, then you can see where your budget fits for a board. If you plan on just using one graphics card then you will be fine with even the $80 motherboards, etc..

Awesome thanks for the replies guys.