System Upgrade (GPU Decision)

[burritobob]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the month

Budget Range: $300 - $500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Are you buying a monitor: Yes (The Asus VS247H-P)

Parts to Upgrade: GPU

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg & Amazon

Location: Texas

Parts Preferences: Doesn't matter

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Probably not

Your Monitor Resolution: New monitor is 1080p

Additional Comments: I currently have a 7870 that is going to suffer from the monitor upgrade (my monitor is currently 1600x1050) so I was looking for an upgrade. Current Specs: i5 3570k @ 4.4 Ghz, 120GB ssd, 1TB WD Green, Asrock z77 mobo, Gigabyte 7870GHz, Corsair HX 1000w, 8GB RAM.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: As said above, the budget excludes the monitor, looking for a new GPU. Open to any gpu (both nvidia & intel) Had one question on this as well and that is: Is it wise to wait for AMD's (Hawaiian Islands right?) next generation GPUs. They are coming out relatively soon but the never settle bundle may go away by then. Anyways open to any advice, thanks!

-Bob

 

[sweetcriminal]

I have been on both sides of the fence when it comes to Ati and NVIDIA. I have run sli, crossfire, eyefinity, surround. So a lot gets taken into account with any gpu purchase. Both are excellent cards and will trade blows back and forth when it comes to stats. Quite honestly while amd has stepped up their game with drivers recently the constant support and a pretty rock solid history for drivers has been nvidia. In particular the fact that EVGA will let you overclock the card as much as you can and still keep their warranty. Plus nvidia will have the physx, while yes ati uses the standard physx engine in most games, if physx is offered it looks wayyyyy cooler. My advice is to wait until the next generation, then buy the top of the line single card solution from the generation below that. So in my case i would wait until the 8xx series, then purchase a 780 or even a 790 if the price is right. Especially for single monitor you shouldn't need the newest gen, and with a newer series out prices will drop for the 7xx series by quite a bit. If you can't wait that long jump on board and get a 780 now. If you are an ati guy then like the poll options says, wait until the new cards are released if you can, and then buy the generation below it. 😉 but honestly even after jumping back and forth between ati and nvidia over the years....i think i am going to stick with evga for awhile.