My ASUS 280x/GTX 770 Dilemma

[Spbach]

To start off, I am as new to computer building as can be, and I'm about to build my first one. The only part I've been having trouble with is the GPU choice. I've been looking at the ASUS 280x for a while, which is what I want, but I've seen tons of people saying it's been DOA, and other things that prevent it from working the way it is supposed to. Along with the limited availability and high prices, I started looking at the GTX 770, but with me buying the card mainly for BF4, I know the 280x is optimized for Battlefield, and the fact that the 280x has 1 more gb of VRAM.

So in conclusion, what do you guys think I should do? Wait for ASUS to fix their problems/chance it? Go with the 770/ or with 4gb?

Part list:

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($198.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($319.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($108.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($20.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VS247H-P 23.6" Monitor ($145.58 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Corsair Vengeance M65 Wired Laser Mouse ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $1529.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-18 10:48 EST-0500)

 

[SethS]

First of all, the 280x is pretty good. I would get the gigabyte version just because of the build quality is better if thats what you are worried about. It is also going to support mantle, which will vastly improve performance, so i would get the r9 280x

 

[buckyalt]

I recently finished a build with a Asus R9 280x and mine arrived in perfect condition and I am running Crysis 2 on Ultra averaging 30 fps. From what I have seen the GTX 770 is a superior card if you are playing at 1080p but is more expensive. The reason I got the 280x was because it was a good deal cheaper at the time. At $300 the R9 280x is a steal imo, however with the current shortage and the new $400 price tag the 770 may be a better option. It really depends on your time schedule because I assume the price will go back down after a little bit. If you need the card now get the 770, if you can wait get the 280x.

 

[Spbach]

I recently finished a build with a Asus R9 280x and mine arrived in perfect condition and I am running Crysis 2 on Ultra averaging 30 fps. From what I have seen the GTX 770 is a superior card if you are playing at 1080p but is more expensive. The reason I got the 280x was because it was a good deal cheaper at the time. At $300 the R9 280x is a steal imo, however with the current shortage and the new $400 price tag the 770 may be a better option. It really depends on your time schedule because I assume the price will go back down after a little bit. If you need the card now get the 770, if you can wait get the 280x.

Yeah when I saw the new prices of the 280x I was baffled, because I really want to build this thing before the 6th of January. If I build before then I would have to go with the 770 AND not have Mantle support

 

[buckyalt]

I recently finished a build with a Asus R9 280x and mine arrived in perfect condition and I am running Crysis 2 on Ultra averaging 30 fps. From what I have seen the GTX 770 is a superior card if you are playing at 1080p but is more expensive. The reason I got the 280x was because it was a good deal cheaper at the time. At $300 the R9 280x is a steal imo, however with the current shortage and the new $400 price tag the 770 may be a better option. It really depends on your time schedule because I assume the price will go back down after a little bit. If you need the card now get the 770, if you can wait get the 280x.

Yeah when I saw the new prices of the 280x I was baffled, because I really want to build this thing before the 6th of January. If I want to build before then I would have to go with the 770 AND not have Mantle support

Its hard to say how long the shortage will last because its the vendors not AMD who drove the prices up so once demand goes down the price will settle quite quickly. What happened is everyone who was going to buy a R9 280x waited until black friday and when there was no sale this huge buildup of buyers sucked the stocks dry and hence the price increase. Luckily I managed to pre-order the last $312 card from Newegg. I imagine around January time the price will be back down but who can tell.

 

[Shneiky]

"get the gigabyte version just because of the build quality is better" - you must be kidding me?

After more than 15 years and 40 video cards later:

Best build quality:
Asus > Sapphire > Gigabyte

Period. All other brands are irrelevant.

 

[SethS]

"get the gigabyte version just because of the build quality is better" - you must be kidding me?

After more than 15 years and 40 video cards later:

Best build quality:
Asus > Sapphire > Gigabyte

Period. All other brands are irrelevant.

sapphire is really not that good :/

 

[geofelt]

The GTX770 and R9-280x are comparable cards.
You will not be able to tell the difference in performance without a synthetic benchmark.
Ignore the FUD about one or the other being optimized for some games.
Also ignore the vram spec, you will get the appropriate amount with any card. performance differences with more vram are negligible. Read this, for example: http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Video-Card-Performance-2GB-vs-4GB-Memory-154/

A GTX770 is a very nice card, I like the EVGA units with the stock direct exhaust blower cooler.
A future plus for Nvidia is g-sync support.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7582/nvidia-gsync-review

 

[buckyalt]

"get the gigabyte version just because of the build quality is better" - you must be kidding me?

After more than 15 years and 40 video cards later:

Best build quality:
Asus > Sapphire > Gigabyte

Period. All other brands are irrelevant.

Agreed Asus all the way

 

[Shneiky]

I have working ATI Radeon 7500 and 9550 from Sapphire (no, not AMD HD Radeon, I mean the old ATI Radeon). From more than 10 cards, only 1 Sapphire has failed on me prematurely (killed by dust). None of the around 15 Asus have died after less than 5 years and 3 out of around 10 Gigabytes did - 2 out of nowhere and 1 after a power surge.

And you? Did you ever had any Sapphire or Asus cards, so that you claim that Gigabytes are better?

 

[SethS]

I have working ATI Radeon 7500 and 9550 from Sapphire (no, not AMD HD Radeon, I mean the old ATI Radeon). From more than 10 cards, only 1 Sapphire has failed on me prematurely (killed by dust). None of the around 15 Asus have died after less than 5 years and 3 out of around 10 Gigabytes did - 2 out of nowhere and 1 after a power surge.

And you? Did you ever had any Sapphire or Asus cards, so that you claim that Gigabytes are better?

have, done tests on them, and the gigabytes are able to acheve higher clocks while maintaining lower temps

 

[azzazel_99]

Asus makes top notch products bar none. I have never ownex sapphire products nor gigabyte but I hear gigabyte makes good mobo. That said if I was to purchase something other than a evga it would be msi or asus for sure.

 

[Spbach]

The GTX770 and R9-280x are comparable cards.
You will not be able to tell the difference in performance without a synthetic benchmark.
Ignore the FUD about one or the other being optimized for some games.
Also ignore the vram spec, you will get the appropriate amount with any card. performance differences with more vram are negligible. Read this, for example: http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Video-Card-Performance-2GB-vs-4GB-Memory-154/

A GTX770 is a very nice card, I like the EVGA units with the stock direct exhaust blower cooler.
A future plus for Nvidia is g-sync support.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7582/nvidia-gsync-review

Geofelt's answer made the most sense to me, and I've also heard that Nvidia's cards have better stability in-game. I will eventually put 2 in SLI as well.