Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X vs. Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X

[cwb50]

$60 dollar difference, I hear I won't notice a big difference especially for what I am using it for:

Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X vs. Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X


The rig is being designed for this:

Types of games: Minecraft, Sims 4, Elderscrolls (Skyrim, not online elderscrolls), Valve (half-life, portal), Real-Time Strategies (Age of Mythology, Anno, etc), some steam games, etc.


Here are the two rigs:

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/caleb50/saved/2rJtt6

and

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/caleb50/saved/M7rmP6

 

[Andrew Buck]

Well, lets start with core count. The R9 280 has 28 cores, while the R9 280X has 32. For comparison, the R9 290 has 40 and the 290X has 44. The 270X has 20 cores. If you are planning on 1080P gaming, the 280 will easily maintain 60 fps on most games, excluding Crysis 3.

 

[cwb50]

Well, lets start with core count. The R9 280 has 28 cores, while the R9 280X has 32. For comparison, the R9 290 has 40 and the 290X has 44. The 270X has 20 cores. If you are planning on 1080P gaming, the 280 will easily maintain 60 fps on most games, excluding Crysis 3.

Well knowing my plans and what not, it seems plenty good right?

 

[Andrew Buck]

Well, lets start with core count. The R9 280 has 28 cores, while the R9 280X has 32. For comparison, the R9 290 has 40 and the 290X has 44. The 270X has 20 cores. If you are planning on 1080P gaming, the 280 will easily maintain 60 fps on most games, excluding Crysis 3.

Well knowing my plans and what not, it seems plenty good right?

Yes, the 280 is perfect for all of those games.

 

[rhysiam]

Anandtech Bench gives you a good idea of the difference between the two cards: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1033?vs=1041

I know they list a 7950(w boost) rather than an R9 280, but they're basically the same card.

Have a look at the comparison and decide if the difference is worth $60 to you.

 

[Andrew Buck]

In the end, the 280 will be fine, though. The extra $60 for 7 frames extra? That is a little steep.

 

[cwb50]

Anandtech Bench gives you a good idea of the difference between the two cards: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1033?vs=1041

I know they list a 7950(w boost) rather than an R9 280, but they're basically the same card.

Have a look at the comparison and decide if the difference is worth $60 to you.

Seems infinitesimal to me

 

[rhysiam]

Looking at the 1080p results, the difference is usually more than 15%. so it's not nothing. But still, given that there are a bunch of 280s on Newegg at the moment for under $200 after MIR, you're talking a 30% extra investment for 15% more performance... not exactly a bargain!

I'm sitting on a 7950 and am very happy with it. I'd be saving my $60 if it was me. I only linked the charts as I thought it would be worth you checking the comparison to make an informed decision.

 

[Andrew Buck]

Good call with those charts. I do think that the 280 is a much better deal. Look at this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202099 $209.99 before MIR.

 

[cwb50]

Looking at the 1080p results, the difference is usually more than 15%. so it's not nothing. But still, given that there are a bunch of 280s on Newegg at the moment for under $200 after MIR, you're talking a 30% extra investment for 15% more performance... not exactly a bargain!

I'm sitting on a 7950 and am very happy with it. I'd be saving my $60 if it was me. I only linked the charts as I thought it would be worth you checking the comparison to make an informed decision.

Definitely! Thanks. I am learn a ton with this first build

 

[rhysiam]

The other way to look at it, of course, is that when gaming you'll be primarily limited by your graphics card. Say your build costs you $1000, in which case the extra $60 is only 6%, and yet nets you a 15% increase in gaming performance. Then it's not such a bad deal. It just depends how you want to look at it.

I do think though that you should set yourself a budget and get the best you can from your budget. It's so easy to talk yourself into 10 little changes and suddenly be spending $500 more than you wanted. A 280 will serve you well, no doubt about it.

 

[Andrew Buck]

Looking at the 1080p results, the difference is usually more than 15%. so it's not nothing. But still, given that there are a bunch of 280s on Newegg at the moment for under $200 after MIR, you're talking a 30% extra investment for 15% more performance... not exactly a bargain!

I'm sitting on a 7950 and am very happy with it. I'd be saving my $60 if it was me. I only linked the charts as I thought it would be worth you checking the comparison to make an informed decision.

Definitely! Thanks. I am learn a ton with this first build

You will. I ended up upgrading 5 times, and I only built it the first time 5 months ago from today, but I am done for a while (excluding buying better RAM and an SSD soon). You will have a great time with that GPU and I hope you enjoy it! Feel free to ask any questions and I will be glad to help. Good luck!

 

[cwb50]

The other way to look at it, of course, is that when gaming you'll be primarily limited by your graphics card. Say your build costs you $1000, in which case the extra $60 is only 6%, and yet nets you a 15% increase in gaming performance. Then it's not such a bad deal. It just depends how you want to look at it.

I do think though that you should set yourself a budget and get the best you can from your budget. It's so easy to talk yourself into 10 little changes and suddenly be spending $500 more than you wanted. A 280 will serve you well, no doubt about it.

This is great advice... Because when I started I said, I want a gaming PC for under 800 period... Yesterday I was over a thousand.... Just had to reel it back in

 

[Andrew Buck]

The other way to look at it, of course, is that when gaming you'll be primarily limited by your graphics card. Say your build costs you $1000, in which case the extra $60 is only 6%, and yet nets you a 15% increase in gaming performance. Then it's not such a bad deal. It just depends how you want to look at it.

I do think though that you should set yourself a budget and get the best you can from your budget. It's so easy to talk yourself into 10 little changes and suddenly be spending $500 more than you wanted. A 280 will serve you well, no doubt about it.

This is great advice... Because when I started I said, I want a gaming PC for under 800 period... Yesterday I was over a thousand.... Just had to reel it back in

LOL mine started as a $500 build. I will hit $1500 after these upgrades.