Need advice choosing a video card for this build

[BooDal]

Hello,

I'm replacing my 7 years old PC with a new one and need help in choosing a video card. I also would like your opinion on the new build I've assembled.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/spscP6
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/spscP6/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.47 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro Rev. 2 36.7 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($9.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($60.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12G 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($74.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($19.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $519.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-25 07:24 EST-0500

Usage: Gaming (Warthunder, GTA V, The witcher 3, Skyrim with mods, CoH2), office apps and programming (Python, Matlab), Internet, movies and music.

I have a 1680x1050 resolution monitor, maybe I'll upgrade to 1920x1050 in the future. Also I'm not a hardcore gamer so I don't aim for ultra+60 FPS.

Budget: 200$ for the GPU

Preferred Website's: amazon.com

Thank you very much.

 

[rockie_]

GTX 960 , only 120W
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/nvidia-geforce-gtx-960,review-33113-4.html

 

[LucoTF]

R9 280

 

[ZeroGravity780]

Id pick either a gtx 960 or an R9 280. Id lean more towards the 280.

 

[LucoTF]

Changed to cheaper power supply and ram

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($192.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($46.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($19.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $696.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-25 07:41 EST-0500

 

[BooDal]

Thanks for the very fast reply 🙂
I was reading about these 2 cards, could you guys be more specific why should I choose one over the other?

 

[rockie_]

R9 280 draws 200-240W but GTX 960 - 120W ! At 1920x1080 they have similar performance . R9 280 has 3GB VRAM but it s not a deal breaker for GTX 960 . Why somebody should get 240W GPU and gold PSU ? Better more power efficient GTX 960 .

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($76.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.96 @ Directron)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($223.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $693.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-25 08:00 EST-0500

 

[BooDal]

Well I did notice that the r9 280 is more power hungry but it also slightly cheaper and have more bandwidth and VRAM. These suppose to matter? or should I go with the gtx just because it is more efficient?

 

[4slime]

Well I did notice that the r9 280 is more power hungry but it also slightly cheaper and have more bandwidth and VRAM. These suppose to matter? or should I go with the gtx just because it is more efficient?

It'd be better to get the GTX card in the long run. Having more VRAM would only be helpful on multi-monitor set-ups or with very high resolutions.

 

[LucoTF]

2gb ram is enough for 1080p... right now. Will it still be enough in 2016?

In tests between the 960 and r9 280 the r9 280 naturally flies when you go above 2gb vram... but this almost never happens in today's games @ 1080p

the 280x beats them both though

 

[blakef223]

The efficiency of the gtx wont make up for what you lose with the 280, but if your looking for a video card dont shop on newegg- check on ebay- r9 280 is $125 although I would suggest the much better r9 280x for $179
r9 280 http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-Radeon-R9-280-Gaming-Video-Card-3GB-GDDR5-/181675979311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a4cbb722f

r9 280x http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIGABYTE-GV-R928XOC-3GD-REV2-Radeon-R9-280X-3GB-384-Bit-GDDR5-PCI-Express-3-0-/151599921986?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234c0f3b42

 

[blakef223]

Like LucoTF said, r9 280x beats them all and will still be below your price limit at $179 and if your one of those people that freaks out at used products heres a new one for $10 over your limit
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Asus-R9-280x-/301538549284?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4635191e24

 

[LucoTF]

I think it's fair to say that you can't go wrong choosing between the gtx 960 and r9 280, both good cards for sure

Amd have some new ones due out this year

 

[BooDal]

Thank you all for the answers. This discussion left me a bit confused, I think I might go with a used r9 280x.