Please Help With GPU Decision - Votes Wanted!

[Callum Rafferty]

Hi, this is my first build so I don't have any experience but... Which one do you guys think is best for a mid range gaming build. I have $260 budget for GPU - here's the build im looking at.
-[PCPartPicker part list](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/J6qzWZ) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/J6qzWZ/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6300wmhkbox) | $135.00 @ PCCaseGear
**Motherboard** | [MSI 970 GAMING ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-970gaming) | $129.00 @ PCCaseGear
**Memory** | [Kingston Fury Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-hx318c10frk28) | $105.00 @ PCCaseGear
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $67.00 @ PCCaseGear
**Case** | [Corsair Graphite Series 230T Black ATX Mid Tower Case](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-cc9011042ww) | Purchased For $105.00
**Power Supply** | [Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg620) | $99.00 @ PCCaseGear
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-fqc04649) | $45.00
**Case Fan** | [Cooler Master SickleFlow 69.7 CFM 120mm Fan](http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-fan-r4l2r20arr1) | $9.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $694.00
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-09 10:58 EST+1100 |

But I can't decide on a GPU so... Which one??

1)ASUS Radeon R9 270x
2) Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X
3)MSI Radeon R9 270X
4)Sapphire Radeon R9 270X
5)XFX Radeon R9 280
6)Gigabyte Radeon R9 280
7)Sapphire Radeon R9 280

I was trying to go for a red and black theme but if it's grey and black that's also fine.

 

[coolcole01]

either the sapphire or xfx 280 they are the better cards

 

[littleleo]

I'd get one of the 280s.

 

[Callum Rafferty]

either the sapphire or xfx 280 they are the better cards

Mmm yes I thought so... But I like the look (not appearance kinda look) of the ASUS and MSI 270X cards.

 

[coolcole01]

ahhh looks vs performance its your choice

 

[smeezekitty]

I also vote for the Sapphire 280. More powerful GPU is always better with games getting heavier all the time

 

[Callum Rafferty]

ahhh looks vs performance its your choice

I didn't mean appearance kind of look I meant they look like they are good card and seem popular. Appearance doesn't really matter.

 

[smeezekitty]

I am personally leery of MSI. Sapphire has a good reputation but Gigabyte and Asus are very good too.
XFX has had issues with VRM overheating although I haven't heard it in a while so it may well be fixed

I still say you should choose a 280 if you can.

 

[coolcole01]

then the 280 is by far your choice and sapphire is the best of them

 

[Callum Rafferty]

I also vote for the Sapphire 280. More powerful GPU is always better with games getting heavier all the time

I am personally leery of MSI. Sapphire has a good reputation but Gigabyte and Asus are very good too.
XFX has had issues with VRM overheating although I haven't heard it in a while so it may well be fixed

I still say you should choose a 280 if you can.

then the 280 is by far your choice and sapphire is the best of them

Ok... so you all think the Sapphire is the better card. I personally can't see why. When you look at the features of the XFX compared with Sapphire the XFX looks better. It has a faster Memory clock (5000mhz vs 5200mhz) and... it just seems to have better features... is it just better marketing... or am i missing something??? Do you think you guys could explain to me why the Sapphire is better?? That would be great

Thanks

Callum

 

[smeezekitty]

Sapphire is high quality and generally very effective coolers

 

[Callum Rafferty]

Sapphire is high quality and generally very effective coolers

The clock speed of the Sapphire is only 850 but on the XFX its 950.... does this make a difference??

 

[smeezekitty]

It does. But that doesn't mean that can't overclock it to that.

 

[Callum Rafferty]

It does. But that doesn't mean that can't overclock it to that.

I don't know how to overclock...

is it hard???

 

[coolcole01]

From experience I have owned lots of both and while xfx comes with a lifetime warranty they need it the sapphire is just built better.