Looking for Video Card on New Build

[ground_guru]

Building a new PC based around i-4790K and Gigabite GA-Z97X-UD5H for my kid who like FPS games and in particular BF4 on a 19-inch LED 1920 x 1080 display.

I am overwhelmed by all the choices as I look around with very conflicting information. I don't want to spend a fortune. Some sites are recommending very expensive GPU's in the $300+ range like GTX Titan while others say cheap like a GTX 550. My gut tells me a Radeon R9-290 should work but pricy at $300 to $350.

What should I be looking for to take advantage of the CPU and MB?

 

[-Lone-]

Since you say building, I assume you don't have the parts yet, that i7 is unnecessary unless you or your son is planning to do some editing of some sort, so you can save $100 on that and get an i5 4690k instead just for gaming. Then you can put that $100 to good use and get a gtx 970 and you'll be gaming 1080p ultra settings no problem.

 

[LightSwordM]

If you can take the r9 290 at 70$ less the GTX 970, go for it. Actually, the best r9 290 is the Club 3d R9 290 RoyalAce, since it's the cheapest(265$ in CA), best performing one and has very good cooling solutions. One tip tip: don't take the reference models, as they have thermal throttling problems because they run at 92C on load.

If you want a really good GPU for less. you could get r9 280x. It can run all games at maximum graphical settings without filters and more than half the games with filters on. However, if you really want to get the r9 290, you can play all games at 1080p with all AA filters up.

One last thing(actually two): 1. The GTX Titan is obsolete compared to the newer flagships, and cost way too much. 2. If you can get a GTX 970, you can get a bit more performance at 1080p than the r9 290, for less electrical consumption. But it is very hard to find of these babies at the same price of the r9 290.

Resume: Best 1080p choice for money: r9 280x(230$)
Best MAX 1080p r9 290(280$ usually)
Best bang for the buck: r9 280(190$) and very good performance at 1080p

 

[bob2004]

I was about to reply to this but Light beat me to it about the 280x, its way better bang for the buck then a 970 for 1080p. If you don't mind getting used 280x they go for around $150 on ebay.

Also if you have 20-30 extra dollars got with the 290x over 290.

 

[ground_guru]

Since you say building, I assume you don't have the parts yet

Correct assumption. Only thing I have on hand right now is:

• 
  ATX Case
  800 watt PSU
  16 GB of 2133 RAM
  2TB HDD
  

all salvaged from another PC

 

[-Lone-]

Since you say building, I assume you don't have the parts yet

Correct assumption. Only thing I have on hand right now is:

• 
  ATX Case
  800 watt PSU
  16 GB of 2133 RAM
  2TB HDD
  

all salvaged from another PC

Well, I'm not sure why you'd need an i7 then, unless you are planning to do some photo/video editing, it really isn't necessary. I got an i7 just for fun, so unless that's what you are doing too, you can save $100 and get the i5 4690k instead.

 

[AlmightySofa]

Get an i5 4960k, get a compatible motherboard, and get a gtx 970 or an r9 290x, sure your games might not need them now, but games later on will give the 280x a hard time. The 970 is king when it comes to performance for price and the 290x is also good. So whichever you can get for cheaper go for it.

 

[-Lone-]

Yeah, if you play on 1080p or 1440p, gtx 970 wins for now and future games.

 

[ground_guru]

Well, I'm not sure why you'd need an i7 then, unless you are planning to do some photo/video editing, it really isn't necessary. I got an i7 just for fun, so unless that's what you are doing too, you can save $100 and get the i5 4690k instead.

Get an i5 4960k, get a compatible motherboard, and get a gtx 970 or an r9 290x, sure your games might not need them now, but games later on will give the 280x a hard time. The 970 is king when it comes to performance for price and the 290x is also good. So whichever you can get for cheaper go for it.

I have no problem downgrading to i5, as my MB will work with either I believe.

 

[-Lone-]

Well, I'm not sure why you'd need an i7 then, unless you are planning to do some photo/video editing, it really isn't necessary. I got an i7 just for fun, so unless that's what you are doing too, you can save $100 and get the i5 4690k instead.

Get an i5 4960k, get a compatible motherboard, and get a gtx 970 or an r9 290x, sure your games might not need them now, but games later on will give the 280x a hard time. The 970 is king when it comes to performance for price and the 290x is also good. So whichever you can get for cheaper go for it.

I have no problem downgrading to i5, as my MB will work with either I believe.

Then I'd say just go with that and get the gtx 970 and your son will have no problems with 1080p ultra fun