What GPU for build?

[franches]

Hello, alright, this is a ton of back 'n forth but that is how pc building is (I assume)

I have the choice between 3 GPU's for just regular 1080p gaming

RX 480 Strix
RX 480 X
RX 480 G1
RX 480 Nitro +
GTX 1060 G1
GTX 1060 FTW
GTX 1060 Windforce

All are open to my budget, and I did search benchmarks, temperatures and power consumption which reduced my list to all the above.

My PSU a corsair CX550m (The grey version)

 

[elbert]

First let me say if your CPU is an old AMD scrape the whole list. I would only suggest 1050, 1050ti, or RX470 at the most. Now if its a fast new Intel dual or quad core get the 1060 G!. If its a bit older slower Intel get the RX480, 1060 3G, or a RX470. In the RX480 line the Nitro would be my pick.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

RX 480 Strix

 

[MRBANG1]

RX 480 Strix, agree with Blackbird. Regardless what CPU you have in there its a great GPU.

 

[mcnumpty23]

i like the GTX 1060 G1

but dont think you can go wrong with either a rx480 or a 6gb gtx1060 at 1080p really

 

[franches]

First let me say if your CPU is an old AMD scrape the whole list. I would only suggest 1050, 1050ti, or RX470 at the most. Now if its a fast new Intel dual or quad core get the 1060 G!. If its a bit older slower Intel get the RX480, 1060 3G, or a RX470. In the RX480 line the Nitro would be my pick.

a 7700 non K, regardless the rx 480 nitro 8gb is only 250$ where I live. While the rest of the cards sit at 310$+

 

[mcnumpty23]

First let me say if your CPU is an old AMD scrape the whole list. I would only suggest 1050, 1050ti, or RX470 at the most. Now if its a fast new Intel dual or quad core get the 1060 G!. If its a bit older slower Intel get the RX480, 1060 3G, or a RX470. In the RX480 line the Nitro would be my pick.

a 7700 non K, regardless the rx 480 nitro 8gb is only 250$ where I live. While the rest of the cards sit at 310$+

if its $60 cheaper then that would probably swing it in the rx480 favour a bit

but you just cant go wrong wwith either at 1080p theres not really a right or wrong answer here both cards have points in their favour and both are great at 1080p

 

[JackNaylorPE]

First the 1060 vs 480 thing

=============================
The correct choice will ultimately depend on what games you play. What we know:

1. Which one - Not all cards are created equal but this is especially true with the RX 480. Techpowerup writes:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/28.html

In my opinion, this is thus far the only RX 480 that looks like it can compete with the GTX 1060 and its custom designs.

2. Out of the Box performance - So let's compare two cards from the same (MSI) manufacturer and model line (Gaming X). From above link:

As a result, the card is 4% faster than the RX 480 reference and 6-7% slower than the [reference] GeForce GTX 980, GTX 1060, and Radeon R9 Fury, which all have roughly the same performance at 1080p.

3. AIB Cards - From the above, we see that the MSI RX 480 id 7% faster overall in TPUs 16 game test suite. From Below, the MSI 1060 Gaming X is 3% faster than the reference 1060 ... so we can can conclude that at the time of testing the MSI 1060 was 10% faster than the MSI 480 in the 16 game test suite

4. Overclocking - We see there that the MSI 480 overclocks 8.6% and the MSI 1060 overclocks 15.1%.. So when the 1060 (10% performance advantage) is overclocked, the relative difference would be:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/26.html
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X/27.html

110% x (115.1 / 108.6) = 116.6% of the 480s speed or 16.6 % faster

As for difference between brands ... the various brands trade wins depending on generation and model line but the EVGA SC is one to avoid as, unlike the competition, they use a reference PCB and cooling.

5. Driver improvements - AMDs driver improvements have improved the performance of the 480 since orginally tested. As we can see from the link here, TPU tested the results from the latest driver improvements and found an increase if 2.1% at 1080 p average across 21 games:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Radeon_Crimson_ReLive_Drivers/6.html

Unfortunately, we have no info on what improvements have resulted from newer nVidia drivers but suffice to sat, those improvements have not erased that 10% gap outta the box (16.6% in both overclocked.

6. Cost - Last I looked (yesterday) the MSI 1060 6GB was about $15 more than the MSI 480 8GB on newegg. But there are other costs worth conbsidering

7. Power - There is a significant difference in power usage between the two cards. One of the reasons for the MSI 480s performance,as stated in the review, is because it is able to use more power than many other 480s. That's 75 watts in typical gaming and 99 watts peak

The MSI 480 draws from 196 - 224 watts
The MSI 1060 draws from 121 - 125 watts

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/21.html

8. Power Costs - While this is something you normally wouldn't consider, when cards are very close in performance, it may be of significance to many users, especially those in Europe and especally in urban / suburban locales.

75 watts x 35 hours per week x 52.14 weeks per year x 3 years usage x $0.131 US average electric cost per kw-hr / (1000 watts per kw=hr x 85% efficiency) = $63.28

9. Case Cooling - The rule of thump for case fans in a relatively quiet system is one (1) case fan per 75 watts for power. So for comparable interior case temps, you might want to include the cost of an extra case fan.

10. Noise - The 480 is 3 dbA louder than the 1060

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/22.html
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X/23.html

So ... that's the data ... it's up to you to look at what you want to do with it ...

- If you don't use MSI Afterburner, then the OC advantage will be of no interest to you
- If you wear headphones, then the noise advantage will be of no interest to you
- If you already have an oversized PSU then the power advantage is of no interest to yuo
- If you don't pay for electricity cause it's included in rent, then the power advantage is of no interest to you
- But most of all, if those 16 - 21 games that TOU uses for testing ar not ones you play, then you need to pay specific attention to how each performs in games you do play... so start here and see how each performs in th games you are interested in.

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/6.html
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X/6.html

How each individual arrives at their choice will be different for everyone, there is no "wrong choice" here.
==========================================

As for the listed cards:L

RX 480 Strix (0.0 TPU Rating) - Not abad card but has been way way overpriced since release.
The correct choice will ultimately depend on what games you play. What we know:

1. Which one - Not all cards are created equal but this is especially true with the RX 480. Techpowerup writes:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/28.html

In my opinion, this is thus far the only RX 480 that looks like it can compete with the GTX 1060 and its custom designs.

2. Out of the Box performance - So let's compare two cards from the same (MSI) manufacturer and model line (Gaming X). From above link:

As a result, the card is 4% faster than the RX 480 reference and 6-7% slower than the [reference] GeForce GTX 980, GTX 1060, and Radeon R9 Fury, which all have roughly the same performance at 1080p.

3. AIB Cards - From the above, we see that the MSI RX 480 id 7% faster overall in TPUs 16 game test suite. From Below, the MSI 1060 Gaming X is 3% faster than the reference 1060 ... so we can can conclude that at the time of testing the MSI 1060 was 10% faster than the MSI 480 in the 16 game test suite

4. Overclocking - We see there that the MSI 480 overclocks 8.6% and the MSI 1060 overclocks 15.1%.. So when the 1060 (10% performance advantage) is overclocked, the relative difference would be:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/26.html
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X/27.html

110% x (115.1 / 108.6) = 116.6% of the 480s speed or 16.6 % faster

As for difference between brands ... the various brands trade wins depending on generation and model line but the EVGA SC is one to avoid as, unlike the competition, they use a reference PCB and cooling.

5. Driver improvements - AMDs driver improvements have improved the performance of the 480 since orginally tested. As we can see from the link here, TPU tested the results from the latest driver improvements and found an increase if 2.1% at 1080 p average across 21 games:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Radeon_Crimson_ReLive_Drivers/6.html

Unfortunately, we have no info on what improvements have resulted from newer nVidia drivers but suffice to sat, those improvements have not erased that 10% gap outta the box (16.6% in both overclocked.

6. Cost - Last I looked (yesterday) the MSI 1060 6GB was about $15 more than the MSI 480 8GB on newegg. But there are other costs worth conbsidering

7. Power - There is a significant difference in power usage between the two cards. One of the reasons for the MSI 480s performance,as stated in the review, is because it is able to use more power than many other 480s. That's 75 watts in typical gaming and 99 watts peak

The MSI 480 draws from 196 - 224 watts
The MSI 1060 draws from 121 - 125 watts

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/21.html

8. Power Costs - While this is something you normally wouldn't consider, when cards are very close in performance, it may be of significance to many users, especially those in Europe and especally in urban / suburban locales.

75 watts x 35 hours per week x 52.14 weeks per year x 3 years usage x $0.131 US average electric cost per kw-hr / (1000 watts per kw=hr x 85% efficiency) = $63.28

9. Case Cooling - The rule of thump for case fans in a relatively quiet system is one (1) case fan per 75 watts for power. So for comparable interior case temps, you might want to include the cost of an extra case fan.

10. Noise - The 480 is 3 dbA louder than the 1060

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/22.html
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X/23.html

So ... that's the data ... it's up to you to look at what you want to do with it ...

- If you don't use MSI Afterburner, then the OC advantage will be of no interest to you
- If you wear headphones, then the noise advantage will be of no interest to you
- If you already have an oversized PSU then the power advantage is of no interest to yuo
- If you don't pay for electricity cause it's included in rent, then the power advantage is of no interest to you
- But most of all, if those 16 - 21 games that TOU uses for testing ar not ones you play, then you need to pay specific attention to how each performs in games you do play... so start here and see how each performs in th games you are interested in.

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/6.html
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X/6.html

How each individual arrives at their choice will be different for everyone, there is no "wrong choice" here.

=====================================================

As for the cards listed:

Asus 480X Stix - (TPU Rating 9.1) isn't a bad choice outside the noise level, per se but has been way way overpriced ever since release
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/RX_480_STRIX_OC/

RX 480 G1 - Not reviewed

RX 480 Nitro + - Not reviewed

GTX 1060 G1 - See below
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GTX_1060_Xtreme_Gaming/

GTX 1060 FTW - Would avoid

GTX 1060 Windforce - See below

Gigabyte GTX 1060 Xtreme Gaming 6 GB (TPOU rating = 9.90)
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gigabyte/GTX_1060_Xtreme_Gaming/

MSI 1060 Gaming X and 1060 OC
(9.8 Rating) https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X/
(9.7 Ratinghttps://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_OC/

MSI 480X - As TPU said here:
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/RX_480_Gaming_X/28.html

if you consider how much better the MSI RX 480 Gaming X performs in every single test in this review. In my opinion, this is thus far the only RX 480 that looks like it can compete with the GTX 1060 and its custom designs.

If I was getting the 480X, it would be the MSI. According to the numbers, the 1060 has the edge ... the H U G E edge on overclocking headroom being the biggest deciding factor ...and the MSI is the best of the bunch ... if that's not available, I'd get one of the Gigabyte model as Boost 3 pretty much nerfs the components doifferences between the various nVidia cards from each vendor .

 

[franches]

Damn, alright thanks for the elaborate response, I checked and the 480 Gaming X is only 265$ Here, so I'd assume its my best bang for buck. I'd still have around 30 - 40$ left which I dont know exactly where to spend, I already got the 2x8 gb and an decent SSD. Maybe upgrading the case to a NZXT S340 Elite?

 

[elbert]

First let me say if your CPU is an old AMD scrape the whole list. I would only suggest 1050, 1050ti, or RX470 at the most. Now if its a fast new Intel dual or quad core get the 1060 G!. If its a bit older slower Intel get the RX480, 1060 3G, or a RX470. In the RX480 line the Nitro would be my pick.

a 7700 non K, regardless the rx 480 nitro 8gb is only 250$ where I live. While the rest of the cards sit at 310$+

At $60 cheaper go with the Nitro for sure. The bit of overclocking on the same chip does't help that much.

 

[franches]

First let me say if your CPU is an old AMD scrape the whole list. I would only suggest 1050, 1050ti, or RX470 at the most. Now if its a fast new Intel dual or quad core get the 1060 G!. If its a bit older slower Intel get the RX480, 1060 3G, or a RX470. In the RX480 line the Nitro would be my pick.

a 7700 non K, regardless the rx 480 nitro 8gb is only 250$ where I live. While the rest of the cards sit at 310$+

At $60 cheaper go with the Nitro for sure. The bit of overclocking on the same chip does't help that much.

Alright yeah, The nitro is only like 240$ now (They change the prices around +/- 10) However the Gaming X is only 265. Would it be worth it? Till now I only saw that the nitro was the best performing 480 out there

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I prefer the STRIX series , superior GPU's.

 

[elbert]

First let me say if your CPU is an old AMD scrape the whole list. I would only suggest 1050, 1050ti, or RX470 at the most. Now if its a fast new Intel dual or quad core get the 1060 G!. If its a bit older slower Intel get the RX480, 1060 3G, or a RX470. In the RX480 line the Nitro would be my pick.

a 7700 non K, regardless the rx 480 nitro 8gb is only 250$ where I live. While the rest of the cards sit at 310$+

At $60 cheaper go with the Nitro for sure. The bit of overclocking on the same chip does't help that much.

Alright yeah, The nitro is only like 240$ now (They change the prices around +/- 10) However the Gaming X is only 265. Would it be worth it? Till now I only saw that the nitro was the best performing 480 out there

They both have fair coolers and for the price I would stick with the Nitro. That both have the same GPU so $25 is bit much to ask IMHO.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I prefer the STRIX series , superior GPU's.

Curious ... Upon what data / testing has this conclusion been reached ? I would like to understand the basis of the conclusion. Hand picked GPUs, better PCB components, better performance ? Sources ?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Damn, alright thanks for the elaborate response, I checked and the 480 Gaming X is only 265$ Here, so I'd assume its my best bang for buck. I'd still have around 30 - 40$ left which I dont know exactly where to spend, I already got the 2x8 gb and an decent SSD. Maybe upgrading the case to a NZXT S340 Elite?

Upgrade the HD to an SSDHD ?

Add case fans ?