GTX 960 vs R9 285

[tomi66]

I´m stuck between these two graphics card, I just can´t choose one. I know that the 285 has bigger bus width, and is is a tiny bit better, but on the other hand the GTX 960 uses less power, can be overclocked better, and It is ready for DirectX 12, and supports MFAA.
Please help me choose, thank you.

 

[sincreator]

Do you have a budget in mind? The r9 290 is far superior to both of these cards and can be found for just a few dollars more lately.

PS: Overclocking the GTX960 really don't make much of a difference. Not like the GTX970 did at all. You may see a few extra FPS, but you will have to clock 300mhz over to get that so that will throw the power savings out the window. Here is an example of overclocked vs stock with the GTX960: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_windforce_2x_review,26.html

 

[rockie_]

i would get GTX 960 .

 

[tomi66]

Do you have a budget in mind? The r9 290 is far superior to both of these cards and can be found for just a few dollars more lately.

PS: Overclocking the GTX960 really don't make much of a difference. Not like the GTX970 did at all. You may see a few extra FPS, but you will have to clock 300mhz over to get that so that will throw the power savings out the window. Here is an example of overclocked vs stock with the GTX960: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_windforce_2x_review,26.html

Yes, I have a budget and the r9 290 does not fit in it. Here where I live the R9 290 costs almost 90 Euros more then these cards.

 

[sincreator]

Do you have a budget in mind? The r9 290 is far superior to both of these cards and can be found for just a few dollars more lately.

PS: Overclocking the GTX960 really don't make much of a difference. Not like the GTX970 did at all. You may see a few extra FPS, but you will have to clock 300mhz over to get that so that will throw the power savings out the window. Here is an example of overclocked vs stock with the GTX960: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_windforce_2x_review,26.html

Yes, I have a budget and the r9 290 does not fit in it.

This is not in your budget? xfx r9 290 249.99 with free shipping: http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Double-947MHz-Graphics-R9290AEDFD/dp/B00HHIPM5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423161566&sr=8-1&keywords=r9+290

EDIT: I thought you were in the US. I'll dig a bit on amazonuk.

 

[sincreator]

Well this one is about 20 more than the gtx960 or r9 285 and has one of the best coolers you can get: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-Technology-290-Tri-X-PCI-Express/dp/B00MBOXBMW/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1423161778&sr=8-14&keywords=r9+290

but if you want to stay in the gtx960 or r9 285 price range, I recommend the r9 280x. The 280x is more powerful than both of those cards and is right around the same price: http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-280X-Graphic-384-Bit-DL-DVI-I/dp/B00FR6XPL8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1423161919&sr=8-5&keywords=r9+280x

 

[tomi66]

Do you have a budget in mind? The r9 290 is far superior to both of these cards and can be found for just a few dollars more lately.

PS: Overclocking the GTX960 really don't make much of a difference. Not like the GTX970 did at all. You may see a few extra FPS, but you will have to clock 300mhz over to get that so that will throw the power savings out the window. Here is an example of overclocked vs stock with the GTX960: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_windforce_2x_review,26.html

Yes, I have a budget and the r9 290 does not fit in it.

This is not in your budget? xfx r9 290 249.99 with free shipping: http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Double-947MHz-Graphics-R9290AEDFD/dp/B00HHIPM5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423161566&sr=8-1&keywords=r9+290

EDIT: I thought you were in the US. I'll dig a bit on amazonuk.

Be aware that I have an 500W PSU! Altough, a good one Seasnic SS-500ET. And I dont have the money right now to upgrade that too.

PS: I really need to choose between those 2 cards. I know that there are a better cards for almost the same price, but I dont want to upgrade my PSU just for that. Im now runnign on a hd 5670, so it would be a big change anyway.

 

[Nextg_Rival]

Do you have a budget in mind? The r9 290 is far superior to both of these cards and can be found for just a few dollars more lately.

PS: Overclocking the GTX960 really don't make much of a difference. Not like the GTX970 did at all. You may see a few extra FPS, but you will have to clock 300mhz over to get that so that will throw the power savings out the window. Here is an example of overclocked vs stock with the GTX960: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_windforce_2x_review,26.html

Yes, I have a budget and the r9 290 does not fit in it.

This is not in your budget? xfx r9 290 249.99 with free shipping: http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Double-947MHz-Graphics-R9290AEDFD/dp/B00HHIPM5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423161566&sr=8-1&keywords=r9+290

EDIT: I thought you were in the US. I'll dig a bit on amazonuk.

Be aware that I have an 500W PSU! Altough, a good one Seasnic SS-500ET. And I dont have the money right now to upgrade that too.

PS: I really need to choose between those 2 cards. I know that there are a better cards for almost the same price, but I dont want to upgrade my PSU just for that. Im now runnign on a hd 5670, so it would be a big change anyway.

Then you might consider the R9 280X if you trust that your CPU is up to the task? Less demanding and still better than the GTX 960.

 

[tomi66]

Do you have a budget in mind? The r9 290 is far superior to both of these cards and can be found for just a few dollars more lately.

PS: Overclocking the GTX960 really don't make much of a difference. Not like the GTX970 did at all. You may see a few extra FPS, but you will have to clock 300mhz over to get that so that will throw the power savings out the window. Here is an example of overclocked vs stock with the GTX960: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_windforce_2x_review,26.html

Yes, I have a budget and the r9 290 does not fit in it.

This is not in your budget? xfx r9 290 249.99 with free shipping: http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Double-947MHz-Graphics-R9290AEDFD/dp/B00HHIPM5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423161566&sr=8-1&keywords=r9+290

EDIT: I thought you were in the US. I'll dig a bit on amazonuk.

Be aware that I have an 500W PSU! Altough, a good one Seasnic SS-500ET. And I dont have the money right now to upgrade that too.

PS: I really need to choose between those 2 cards. I know that there are a better cards for almost the same price, but I dont want to upgrade my PSU just for that. Im now runnign on a hd 5670, so it would be a big change anyway.

Then you might consider the R9 280X if you trust that your CPU is up to the task? Less demanding and still better than the GTX 960.

I´m not sure that this PSU is enough for the 280x 500W is really on the edge with 408W on +12V rail
For the cpu I have a i5 4670k so I think it is enough.

 

[Nextg_Rival]

Do you have a budget in mind? The r9 290 is far superior to both of these cards and can be found for just a few dollars more lately.

PS: Overclocking the GTX960 really don't make much of a difference. Not like the GTX970 did at all. You may see a few extra FPS, but you will have to clock 300mhz over to get that so that will throw the power savings out the window. Here is an example of overclocked vs stock with the GTX960: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_960_windforce_2x_review,26.html

Yes, I have a budget and the r9 290 does not fit in it.

This is not in your budget? xfx r9 290 249.99 with free shipping: http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Double-947MHz-Graphics-R9290AEDFD/dp/B00HHIPM5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423161566&sr=8-1&keywords=r9+290

EDIT: I thought you were in the US. I'll dig a bit on amazonuk.

Be aware that I have an 500W PSU! Altough, a good one Seasnic SS-500ET. And I dont have the money right now to upgrade that too.

PS: I really need to choose between those 2 cards. I know that there are a better cards for almost the same price, but I dont want to upgrade my PSU just for that. Im now runnign on a hd 5670, so it would be a big change anyway.

Then you might consider the R9 280X if you trust that your CPU is up to the task? Less demanding and still better than the GTX 960.

I´m not sure that this PSU is enough for the 280x 500W is really on the edge with 408W on +12V rail
For the cpu I have a i5 4670k so I think it is enough.

I am sorry I meant to say PSU not CPU, my bad.

 

[sincreator]

You may be able to pull off that combo: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_radeon_r9_280x_twinfrozr_gaming_oc_review,8.html

They do recommend a 550w minimum, but they say at the bottom they do not take into account efficiency of a power supply. You have a very good power supply in that Seasonic unit that you have, so I would say it should work no problem. They only hit 350w with the GPU in full load, and that was measured at the wall socket. I think it would work honestly, but it's up to you.

PS: I wouldn't over clock anything until I had a better power supply though.

 

[tomi66]

Alright, so I will go with the 280X then. Thank you

 

[sincreator]

Alright, so I will go with the 280X then. Thank you

At the very worst, you can down clock the card until you get a better power supply as well. 😉

 

[tomi66]

I asked a couple guys and they said that this PSU is all good for the 280X without overclocking, so Im happy